“Lands’ End was one of the most brilliant brands of the 20th century, and under Sears, one of the most irrelevant brands of the 21st century,” said Burt Flickinger III, managing partner at the Strategic Resource Group, a retail consultant in New York. “Lands’ End in the Sears stores is poorly positioned in between men’s suits, snow blowers, tools, denim and work clothes.”
As for bringing Lands’ End products into the Kmart stores, Mr. Flickinger said: “J. Crew, Eddie Bauer and Abercrombie & Fitch would never stand to have their brand image eroded by going down-market to Kmart. Kmart is associated more with a rough-and-tumble blue-collar consumer.”
It seems obvious that Lands End will be spun off or sold at some point.