Catalogues and Counters
A History of Sears, Roebuck & Company
A history of Sears, Roebuck & Co., covering their origins as a mail-order catalog delivering orders via railroad. Mail-order was one of a few major new retail models developed in the late 1800s, alongside department stores and grocery chains (which in the 20th century evolved into supermarkets). All of these models had as a primary feature lower prices through higher efficiency (including lower financing costs) and cutting out middlemen.