The history of Sears

1886 Richard Sears starts selling watches

1887 Sears settles in Chicago and hires watchmaker Alvah C. Roebuck

1888 First catalog, featuring only watches and jewelry

1893 Corporate name becomes Sears, Roebuck and Co.

1896 First large general catalog

1925 First Sears retail store opens on Chicago’s west side

1927 Sears launches Craftsman and Kenmore brands

1931 Allstate Insurance Co. established

1973 Sears moves its headquarters from the west side to Sears Tower

1981 Sears diversifies into financial and real estate services

1992 Sears moves headquarters to Prairie Stone Business Park in Hoffman Estates

1993 Sears begins selling off its financial services companies, including Allstate Insurance

1999 Sears launches Sears.com.

2005 Kmart buys Sears to form Sears Holdings Corp.

2011 Sears considers relocating its headquarters