Sears stores have ALWAYS been BORING and utilitarian. They were/are this countries version of the GUM store in Moscow at its worst. Sears always felt dead-drab-something was missing. Merchandise was ok-but the catalog stuff was better. Now, with all the Amazon and online shopping they should close the stores and go back to catalog sales. They ruled that market back when.
It's amazing that they ceased their catalog operations just when online and catalog shopping were beoming even more popular.
The other one that was predictably good was Spiegal, before they were bought out by a German company that went from the practical merchandise that would be used for years to more stylish lower quality selections.
Then there's KMart which makes me want to SCREAM. Plenty of people want an alternative to WalMart. If KMart went to a Made in the USA format instead of having almost all Chinese crap it would be really popular.
How can these companies be as stupid as they are?
Their catalog and on line is at Lands End.
I seldom buy new clothes but when I do I buy them from Lands End.
One of the things I actually liked about Sears was that utilitarian thing. I know that most people want an ‘expreience’ or other buzzword when they shop. I’m among the minority that wants to get in, get out and only if needed, ask for help doing it. And I’m good with going to find a floor person to ask.
That said, Sears has indeed gone to hell. Back in the 80s they were a good solid company if memory serves. But once the catalog became a buggy whip, they clung to the old models, and refused to really adapt. Or actually adapt half way.
Yup. The basics. Sporting goods, flannel shirts, and Craftsman tools. Never meant to compete with Macy’s or Lord and Taylor. Completely different league. Sears started its circling of the drain when it dropped guns and ammo, and its “Ted Williams” line from its inventory. “Sporting goods” department grew anemic in the extreme. After Craftsman tools began reducing its footprint, there simply wasn’t much reason to shop there.
Heh. I took a course in retail management in 1980. The primary focus was the decline of Sears. It's been going on forever.
Sears was prepared for the advent of online shopping the way Digital Equipment was ready to lead the PC revolution.
I never found anything worthwhile from Sears except for their appliances, and they made the interesting move to set up separate appliance stores in a nearby mall. That might increase appliance sales, but now they’ve removed one of the few draws to the mall locations.
I totally agree with you - that’s why for decades I avoided Sears in Brooklyn and Long Island.
Recently, though, I was lured to Sears at the Gadsden Mall in Alabama for a sale on shoes.
Let me preface by saying I’m a cheap bastard who only goes to stores of this type for exactly what I came for.
While navigating towards the shoe section, it seemed to me that at least this Sears had very cleverly laid out and made displays of merchandise right up to the threshold of claustrophobia. I thought back to my impressions of the past, and how much Sears, at least here, had improved.
Then I got bombarded for all sorts of Sears this-and-that programs, incentives, and credit at the register, so it will be a cold day in hell before I go back there!