Sears, Roebuck and Company
/ˌsɪəz ˌrəʊbʌk ən ˈkʌmpəni/
/ˌsɪrz ˌrəʊbʌk ən ˈkʌmpəni/
(also Sears, Sears and Roebuck)
- any of a very large group of US department stores (= large shops where many types of goods are sold in different departments) selling a wide range of products for the family. The company was begun in 1886 in Minneapolis by Richard Sears (1863-1914). He was then joined by Alvah Roebuck (1864-1948) when he moved to Chicago in 1887. In 1896 they began the company's famous mail-order catalogue (= book showing items that can be ordered by post). In 2005 the company was bought by Kmart. see also Sears Tower