Sears and Roebuck

Business and Industry, 1886

In 1886, Richard Sears bought an unwanted shipment of gold watches from a Chicago jewelry shop. The purchase changed the course of his life. The sales that he made from those watches launched a career as a watch retailer. Later, Sears hired watchmaker Alvah C. Roebuck to assist him. After some time working together, they decided to start a company by the name of Sears, Roebuck and Co. It was not until 1896 that Ward experienced his first serious competition, Sears, Roebuck and Co., which managed to surpass Ward's business in 1900.

The company became very profitable, and in 1895 the partners offered their mail-in catalog, which illustrated shoes, garments, wagons, fishing tackle, stoves, furniture, saddles, bicycles, and much more. The move brought Sears into direct competition with Montgomery Ward's "Wish Book" that had been in circulation since 1883. As the demand for more products grew, Sears, Roebuck and Co. built numerous stores throughout the United States, which became a record expansion over a six-year period. Today the company is the owner of such major brand name products as Kenmore, Craftsman, Die-Hard, and Tuff-skin.