While the retailer is letting go workers dedicated only to selling appliances, Brathwaite said that other Kmart associates will now be trained to assist customers with questions about appliances. There will also be a toll-free number that customers can call for additional assistance, he added. Kmart, which in February expanded the number of stores carrying appliances to the entire chain of 1,300 stores from about 270, employs about 100,000 associates. Sears has been criticized by analysts in the past for relying too heavily on cost-cutting to boost profit, rather than upgrading its stores and improving its customer service. It faces tough competition from Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy in the appliance arena. Sears shares closed up $2.66 at $74.02 Friday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)