Roebuck and Company Sears

Founded in the 1890s by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck, Sears, Roebuck and Company grew from a watch business into a hugely influential mail-order retailer. Its catalog became famous for bringing a wide range of goods to customers far from major cities, helping reshape everyday shopping in the United States.

As the company expanded, it moved beyond catalogs into department stores and became a major force in American retail. Sears was long associated with household brands, large-scale distribution, and a strong presence in both urban and rural life.

This overview is about a company rather than a single author, so the portrait image shown is of co-founder Richard Sears.