DID YOU KNOW?
For 125 years, the brands of Sears Holdings have served our communities with quality products and
contemporary styles at affordable prices. Whenever a new technology has changed how America lives and
shops, we have innovated with new ways to bring value to our customers. Our longstanding tradition of
philanthropy and service has benefited those in need and those who serve. Here are some fast facts from our
storied history.
R.W. Sears was a watch salesman. He teamed with watch repairman A.C. Roebuck to form Sears,
Roebuck and Co. in 1887. In 1892, the Sears’ motto was “Make a Watch, Sell a Watch.”
In 1893 the Sears catalog was created to provide modern amenities to rural farming families
From 1895 to 1907, Sears’ annual sales skyrocketed from $750,000 to $50 million
Under J. Rosenwald (President/Chairman 1908-1932), Sears established the “satisfaction guaranteed or
your money back” pledge and conducted business dealings by the creed “Sell honest merchandise for less
money and more people will buy.”
From 1908–1940, Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold about 70,000 - 75,000 homes through their mail-order
Modern Homes program.
Early in company philanthropic efforts, J. Rosenwald was famous for more than 5,000 schools established
across the south for poor, rural black youth and 4,000 libraries added to existing schools. The new schools
created more than 14,000 jobs for teachers.
The first Sears retail store opened in Chicago on February 2, 1925 in the Merchandise building. This store
included an optical shop and a soda fountain. Before the year was out seven more retail stores opened,
four of them in mail-order plants. By the end of 1927, 27 stores were in operation
Sears launched the Kenmore and Craftsman brands in 1927
General Robert E. Wood (President/Chairman/Honorary Chairman 1928-1969) measured success by the
sales of shoes and hammers – because everyone needed those two items.
The merger of Kmart and Sears as Sears Holdings Corporation was complete in 2004
Kmart was the first discount retailer to have a store in all 50 states
Sears was the first retailer to sell online
Sears was the first retailer to sell a home video game
The NORAD Santa Tracker started because of a typo in a Sears newspaper ad
SHC was recently named to the list of the Top 20 Best Places to Work for Recent Grads (experience.com
and salary.com)
In 1922, Sears launched WLS Radio in Chicago, short for World’s Largest Store
SHC raised over $27 million for 61,800 military families 2007-2011
SHC employs over 30,000 military veterans and over 1,500 active Guard and Reserve members
SHC is recognized as one of the Top 25 military employers in the U.S.
SHC includes Sears, Kmart, Land’s End, Land’s End Canvas, mygofer, Sears Home Services and The
Great Indoors