The Future of Kenmore

[ultrawash]

Greeting everyone! I'd like to hear your opinion on this. What do you think the future of Kenmore beholds? Do you think the brand will still prosper or fade off into appliance history?

 

[fan-of-fans]

Not sure, I was expecting Lowes or Home Depot to buy it, but hasn't happened.

I think it will live on, at least as a vacuum brand. I've been seeing Kenmore vacuums increasingly being sold at Target, and online at most major retailers as well as in infomercials.

None of the vacuums sold through these places seem to have any mention of Sears Holdings on the packaging, they also tend to differ in color between the ones sold at Sears.

 

[ultrawash]

I have seen their vacuums retailed at other stores but I have not seen any new appliances from them.

 

[appnut]

According to Sears web site, an 11.6 cu. ft. fridge was added March 2021 and a French Door fridge June 2020; Kenmore dishwasher May 2020; Kenmore gas range November 2016; couldn't find any relatively new washers, dryers, or electric ranges under the Kenmore brand label.

 

[repairguy]

I really don’t think it would be a good decision for someone to buy the Kenmore name because that’s all it is, a name. Kenmore may linger for a while but I believe it will eventually be gone. I believe the breakup with whirlpool started the end not to mention the end of Sears stores. I personally would not buy a Kenmore refrigerator made by Daewoo.

 

[combo52]

Future of the Kenmore brand name

Hi Melvin, this might be one of the first times I disagree with you but I think the Kenmore name will go on and Thrive, just as whirlpool has thrived with the Maytag name they bought.

Working in this business I constantly see people that want to buy Kenmore appliances in spite of the situation at Sears currently.

I do think Lowes would be a likely owner of the Kenmore name, it also could become a name that is sold through independent Appliance distributors and could be sold all kinds of independent dealers throughout the country.

John

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Kenmore!

I am interested in knowing what will happen to kenmore as far as laundry and dishwashing goes.

 

[panasonicvac]

I don't know

As a huge fan of Kenmore (Even though I agree with Melvin as it is just a brand), I seriously hope that it can be around still. But, I wouldn't be surprised if the brand does go defunct in the near future.

 

[repairguy]

Hi Alex I’ve always been a Kenmore person as that’s what the vast majority of my collection consists of. I could definitely go wandering through a Sears store in search of nothing in particular. Lol! I still think it’s a shame that it was run into the ground.

John there is absolutely nothing wrong with 2 people disagreeing on something although it usually doesn’t work out that way on this site. Lol!

 

[imperial70]

I'm surprised that Whirlpool doesn't buy the Kenmore name. Perhaps they tried and couldn't get a good deal.

 

[suedenim]

Kenmore Laundry can be bought at Costco as well.

 

[petek]

THe Kenmore brand name has already been sold.... Same with Craftsman

 

[repairguy]

I’m definitely not an internet guru but with a little searching I found that like many large corporations do when they start to get in a major bind financially the Kenmore name was sold to a company associated with Sears Holdings. It was purchased by Transformco which is affiliated with ESL investments which is CEO Eddie Lampert’s hedge fund.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Yes, even back in 2006 Sears created a separate division called KCD for Kenmore, Craftsman and Diehard. I guess at that time they were exploring options should the company go into bankruptcy. I believe that was around the time Sears started trying to sell off some of its real estate.

So now Lowes has Craftsman, Advanced Auto Parts has DieHard but Kenmore has yet to sell.

 

[user 12105]

By rights Kenmore should be Whirlpool's. Some of the most beloved,iconic and classic washers and dryers were built by them.

 

[appnut]

classic washers and dryers were built by them.

But, Sears had a design/creative team that designed all those control panels, ..... Whirlpool produced what they created.

 

[user 12105]

I understand that Bob but the name should still go to them. Any idy who owned a Key more laundry appliance up until recently owned a Whirlpool.

 

[user 12105]

*anybody and Kenmore....so much for spell correct.

 

[miele4life]

I'm sure the Kenmore name will live on in 1 form or another, just be glad it's still here now.

 

[ultrawash]

Memorabilia

I got these from Sears awhile back.

 

[seedub]

American Freight

I am supposing that as long as American Freight - formerly Sears Outlet Store - continues to exist, there will be *one* lifeline for Kenmore.

When I was shopping for laundry equipment way back in the year 1997, a Whirlpool and KitchenAid dealer advised me that when WP acquired KA, the contract changed to where Kenmore became "strictly low bid" in her words. One wonders whether they might decide when the ship of Sears sinks completely that they have three major brands that sell well, and Amana for their budget label; and they are not that greedy. Fingers crossed that they don't.

 

[man114]

Some kitchen appliances have started to surface again on online sites like Amazon, most run of the mill but notably the Ovation mixer has returned, but back to its more normal price int he $400 range. This makes more sense than the $100 liquidation type pricing during bankruptcy because I think they turned up on the bankruptcy docs costing over $150 per unit to manufacture. So far it seems to be the only what I’d consider premium Kenmore mixer to resurface.

I own two of them, one my wife actively uses, the other still in box. My wife liked it any I worried about parts availability so when they were $100 with $100 back in points I bought a spare. Probably unnecessary now that they’ve returned.