The decline of an icon

published March 1, 2012

in the Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

Sears just announced that it will be closing more of its retail stores due to devastating fourth quarter losses through the holiday season. These store closings include some K-Mart stores, which were merged with Sears in 2005. As these stores fade away, we will lose another icon that many of us grew up with. It was always an exciting day when a Sears catalog came in the mail. In winter, it was like a breath of fresh air when the spring and summer catalog came, as if to bring with it a promise that we really would wear shorts, tank tops and sandals again.

Those catalogs were like a household staple, having many uses. When I was growing up, and even when my boys were little, we didn't have booster seats at the dinner table -- we had Sears catalogs. There were thick J.C. Penny catalogs, too, so depending on how big or little the kid was, we stacked catalogs two- or three-high as necessary. Then we tied a tea towel around the chair and the waist of the youngster so he wouldn't slide off the catalog/booster chair. Just try to adjust the height of your kids' booster chairs now!

Stories were told of the Sears catalog finding its way to the outhouse, too, but that didn't happen in my day. I might be old, but in my lifetime, I've never used anything other than toilet paper; thank you, very much.

A quick Internet research of the company's' history reveals a long and storied life for Sears, which got its official start as the R.W. Sears Watch Company in 1886. The first catalog, which came out in 1887, featured jewelry and other products. In 1893, the business became Sears, Roebuck and Co., and a year later, they put out a large, 322-page catalog that included sewing machines, bicycles, sporting goods, and a host of other new items. In 1895, dolls, icebox refrigerators, cook stoves and groceries debuted in an even larger catalog.

In the early 1900s, Sears offered a "Modern Homes" catalog. Entire homes would arrive by rail, and include everything from the precut lumber, nails and varnish, to such fine details as carved staircases, screened-in front porches, and "modern" baths. It was reported that more than 100,000 houses were sold between 1908 and 1940 through Sears' Modern Homes program, making an indelible mark on the history of American housing. At its peak, there were 447 different designs, all of which could be modified in numerous ways, such as reversing floor plans, or building with brick instead of wood siding. It is unknown how many of Sears' Modern Homes are still in use.

Throughout the span of its history, Sears has suffered through other times of financial crisis, but the company has always reorganized, rebounded, and come back with something to save it from total demise. Perhaps it will happen again, but I rather doubt it. I think Sears will become another relic of the past, just like me.