Founded in the United States in 1886, it is the world's largest private retail conglomerate and a large-scale department store chain that started by mail-order from farmers

Sears and Roebuck is a retail company that started out as a mail-order from farmers. Its founder, Richard W. Sears, began experimenting with mail-order merchandise in 1884, and in 1886 founded the Sears Mail Order Company, which began to specialize in the mail-order business, selling small items such as watches, bracelets, hands, jewelry, and diamonds. Sears has adapted to the changes in the market situation, constantly adjusted its marketing strategy, and developed at an astonishing speed. In 1900, when cash on delivery sales were just emerging, Sears immediately recognized that this was a very viable method and soon implemented a "buy now, pay later" approach. The change resulted in a large number of orders for Sears, and the company surpassed its rival Ward in the year, which had $8.5 million in sales, while Sears had $10 million in sales, becoming the number one seller in the U.S. retail sales list.

Beginning in 1925, Sears entered the department store business. In 1925, more than 300 department stores were opened, and in 1931 its retail turnover exceeded that of mail order for the first time. In Sears' more than 100-year history, it has been the number one retailer in the United States since the early 20th century. In recent years, the market has changed dramatically, with new formats such as supermarkets, warehouse stores, and convenience stores developing rapidly, and department stores gradually declining. It wasn't until the early 90s of the 20th century that Wal-Mart, which started as a discount store, surpassed Sears.

Sears has undergone several major changes in American social life, kept up with the trend, grew and developed in stability, and became a successful and profitable enterprise in the United States. It is known as the "Academy of Retail Sciences" in the Western business community.

"Department Store King" has endured for a hundred years, and its main successful experience is: never stick to the rules, but change with the changing situation. The needs of the peasants are not the same as those of the urban consumers, and although the purchasing power of the peasants is not high, it is a huge market on the whole, and in order to open up this market, it is necessary to adopt a set of targeted management methods, first of all, to organize production and provide commodities that meet the needs of the rural areas. Secondly, it is necessary to achieve stable price, stable supply, durable products, and overcome the difficulties of inconvenient transportation, deliver goods on time, and establish a good business reputation.

Sears was acquired by Kmart in 2005 to form the third largest retail conglomerate in the United States.