Sears

Overview

Founded in 1886, Sears was once the world’s biggest retailer and America’s largest private-sector employer. The department store’s former Chicago headquarters was even the world’s tallest building until 1996.

But since its bankruptcy filing and delisting from the Nasdaq in 2018, the company has struggled financially. As of June 2025, Sears had only eight stores left in the US—down from the roughly 4,000 stores it had at its peak in 2012.

Before Sears and its famous Sears catalog, most people had only purchased items they could touch and feel in person before buying, and they typically bought those goods from someone they knew and trusted. The Sears catalog changed that, normalizing the consumer behavior that e-commerce giants like Amazon and eBay now thrive on.

1440 Findings

Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.

Explore Business & Finance

The United States is home to more than 33 million businesses, the vast majority of which are small businesses, with millions being created (and others closing shop) every year. These businesses often rely on loans, provide the goods and services that keep the economy flowing, and sometimes even grow large enough to enter public markets or provide private investment opportunities. Explore key topics central to business and finance, from the role of the Federal Reserve to how initial public offerings work, how millions of American students finance higher education, and more.

View All Business & Finance