Remembering the Golden Age of SEARS

A Fond Look Back at the Golden Age of SEARS...

Dive into the captivating story of Sears, Roebuck, and Co., an American institution that defined the retail landscape for over a century. From its humble beginnings as a mail-order watch company in 1893 to becoming the largest retailer in the world, Sears was synonymous with the American Dream, shaping consumer culture and revolutionizing the way we shop.

Discover how the Sears catalog, once known as "the Consumer's Bible," brought a world of products to the doorsteps of American families, democratizing shopping and transforming Sears into a household name.

Witness the golden era of Sears in the mid-20th century, when it dominated the retail market with its innovative business strategies, quality products, and a customer-first approach. From the legendary Craftsman tools and Kenmore appliances to the iconic Sears Tower, the company's impact on American life was unparalleled.

Join us as we pay tribute to Sears, Roebuck, and Co.—a company that once captured the hearts of American shoppers and left an indelible mark on the retail world. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a retail aficionado, or someone fascinated by the stories of American enterprise, this video is a must-watch exploration of the legacy of Sears and what the future may hold for retail in America.

Thanks for joining me in The History Lounge,

- Kevin

#sears #lifeinamerica #nostalgia

[EmilyTienne]

Sears had Craftsman (not today’s cheap craftsman knockoffs) excellent Kenmore appliances, high quality clothing, everything you could ask for. Walmart will never hold a candle up to what Sears was.

[Dbodell]

I miss Sears so much. Sears was part of my childhood and early adult life. Loved the Craftsman tool line.

[jarekstorm]

The Wish Book. Every Christmas was made magical by that enormous Sears catalog, and all of the toys and gifts inside of it. Every year.

[debishaw]

My husband and I bought our first Christmas ornaments at Sears in 1973! I still have them

[MarkWG]

I can't imagine growing up without Sears in the 1960's and 1970's. That's where Santa was every Christmas. Who could forget salivating over the Sears Christmas catalogue with nearly half of the book dedicated to toys! We would rip the pages out and show Santa what we wanted him to bring. So many good memories. They had great soft-serve ice cream too.

[Thomas-yrln]

I remember looking through the catalogs when I was a little boy trying to see what toy I wanted for Christmas. No other child will ever have that happy memory nowadays.

[squirrelsarepeopletoo]

As a child, we would go to Sears once a month on Saturday night. My mom would get me a hot dog and a Hires root beer. She would do her shopping and I'd go downstairs to the toy department. We'd get home in time to watch Gilligan's Island.
Good memories 😆

[markgoostree]

My wife and I both worked at Sears. I got my first rifle from Sears. I have never understood how the first "catalog mail order giant" could have missed out on today's online business model. My cousin's wife also worked in the candy counter. Sears should be the monster retail giant of today!!

[doug]

My parents always took us to sears before school started .To get our new school cloths .
So many memories !!

[batwithglasses]

This brought tears, worked for Sears...miss those days dearly.

[ROGER]

My dad gave me a Craftsman hacksaw that he got in the 40's. I used it for a long time until a pin broke that held the blade on. In the catalog, they often had several to choose from which they categorized as "Good", "Better" and "Best." This hacksaw would have been a "Good." Anyway, in 1985 I took it to the local Sears and with no hassle at all they replaced it with a Craftsman "Best" one which I still have, still use, and is still guaranteed for life. I never hesitated to buy Sears Craftsman tools.

[timlabell]

Did you see that beautiful cursive spelling. 😊 How nice the word Sears written out in cursive. Children of today have no idea how to write like that 🤔🤦‍♂️ how I remember. Sears and Roebuck ❤

[ronhoover]

I still remember being 10 and getting a new pair of Sears Winner II tennis shoes! They were made by Converse and very closely resembled today's Chuck Taylors. The whole process was nothing like that of today. You went in the Sears shoe department, and the clerk had you stand on a metal contraption that measured your foot (remember those?). Then he went in the back and came out with your size and actually laced it on your foot! Then he asked if you wanted to wear your new shoes or your old ones and your parents paid for them. It was like being on another planet.

[cynthiawilliams]

In the 1920's my husband's Grandfather bought a kit from Sears to build a house everything he needed came packaged the nails, screws, wood, roofing, shingles everything was sent & he built a lovely two-story home that stands today he was an Engineer so inside the house he customized it himself but certain he bought the supplies at local hardware stores he also got a two-car garage kit from Sears!

[jerrycallender]

Yes, Sear's & Roebuck sold EVERYthing, and their paint was THE BEST!
In 1947 my dad was killed in a mid-air collision and Mama bought a white Carrara marble headstone from Sear's.
As a child, one of my favorite entertainments was leafing thru the Sear's & Roebuck catalog.
For Birthday and Christmas, Mama gave me a dollar figure I could 'spend' picking out what I wanted.

Our first radial tires were Sear's branded Michelon tires in 1967, which were on every one of our cars into the 1990's.
SO sad Sear's is gone.

[PUNKMYVIDEO]

Put on your Sunday best kids, we're going to Sears!

[collinsje]

Sears died from the same thing that killed Borders - astonishingly inept management. It is a real shame that nobody bought Kenmore. My mother bought a Kenmore dryer in 1980, and it was still going strong when she sold her house in 2021. Good that Craftsman and Die Hard were rescued, because both offered superior products. By the way, Sears, we Chicagoans will stubbornly continue to call the skyscraper Sears Tower no matter the reality.

[shanesmith]

Imagine that. Shutting down your catalog department just as you were capable of being in a position that Amazon is today.

[markdanielczyk]

Worked for Sears, absolutely loved it. The real downfall started when they sold the credit card division, which was making money. Then came "Fast Eddie ". Proud to be from Sears Hardware #5181!

[notmyrealname]

As a kid growing up in the 1960s and 1970s I couldn't wait for their annual Christmas wishbook.