Sears Transforms E-Commerce with IBM and My Virtual Model

Broadline retailer Sears (NasdaqGS: SHLD), information technology company IBM (NYSE:IBM) and My Virtual Model Inc, a provider of virtual identity products, on 17 September unveiled a new updated Sears site at Sears.com.

This new site will reportedly significantly improve and enhance the

Sears is reportedly the first retailer to apply both a visual search and virtual model to an entire catalogue online.

The companies said that the updated Sears site, powered by IBM WebSphere Commerce and My Virtual Model, will allow consumers to recreate their in-store shopping experience online by enabling them to search for merchandise using images versus words.

It will also allow customers to virtually 'try on' selected items using a personalised model of themselves to ensure that the style, colour, pattern and fit are right before purchasing.

The Sears site will also enable shoppers to search on specifics and find products from the company's expansive catalogue of clothing, shoes and accessories using 3D images versus words.

This Sears deployment also reportedly represents the first collaboration between IBM WebSphere Commerce and MVM.

Sears.com is expected to go live with Visual Search in late October 2008.

Financial details were not available.

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