Lowe's to Sell Craftsman Tools, Showing Sears What Could Have Been

Although some Craftsman tools have been available to buy at smaller hardware store chains like Ace Hardware, Atwood Ranch & Home, and Blain's, they've largely been items exclusive to Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD).

But earlier this year the retailer sold the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK), and in the first major expansion of the tools' availability, they'll soon begin appearing at Lowe's (NYSE: LOW). Perhaps if Sears not been so proprietary about how it markets its brands, it might not be in the financial straits it finds itself, and maybe wouldn't have had to sell Craftsman in the first place. The Stanley deal with Lowe's shows Sears what could have been.

Image source: Sears Holdings.

Source: Fool.com