Sears Holdings Corporation ( Nasdaq )

Sears, Roebuck and Co. started formally as a company in 1893, but its history started in 1886 with Richard Sears who created R.W. Sears Watch Company selling watches to increment his income. In 1887, he hired Alvah C. Roebuck a watch repairman, both formed Sears, Roebuck and Co; by 1888, they offered their first catalog featuring only watches and jewelry.

Sears Holdings is the leading homecare, appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, fitness equipment, and automotive repair and maintenance. Sears are the largest home services provider, with more than 14 million services annually. Sears has the products for all the people- kids, ladies, men, and old age people.

Sears Holdings Corporation (SHC) is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Formed in the later part of the 19th century it was the largest retail company in the country until the early nineties. SHC is currently the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. As a result of its merger with Kmart in 2005, SHC also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart. SHC operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation.

India is standing on the threshold of a retail revolution and witnessing fast changing retail

Sears is a retail chain that offers variety of products and services to customers. These products include large household appliances, clothing, house wares, automotive services, yard equipment including sheds, sporting goods, jewelry, and tools. All of these products are competitively priced and they offer an in-house credit card for major purchases.

Retail industry in-store sales are more expensive, resulting in higher prices, therefore, large retailers have the potential to get in trouble competing against themselves.

Sears Holding Corporation operates as a retailer in the United States. Sears was founded in 1899 and headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. It operates Kmart and Sears Domestic. The Kmart segment of Sears Holding Corporation is a retail store that offers and wide range of products. Some of Kmart’s product lines, which include consumer electronics, seasonal merchandise, toys, apparel and food and consumables. Some of Sears Domestic product

Sears Holdings was formed after the acquisition of Sears & Roebuck Company by Kmart Corporation. Some of the many well-known brands and companies owned by Sears Holdings include Sears retail stores, Kmart retail stores, Metascale, Fit Studio, A&E Factory Repair, Sears Mexico, Craftsman, Diehard, and Kenmore. It is currently in the midst of a major transformation with its expansion of Shop your Way, an exclusive membership program that rewards members for making purchases. Shop your Way also has become a new way to make purchases online. It serves as an online marketplace similar to Amazon. It pulls in many vendors into one streamlined site, allowing for shoppers to more quickly find the best deal. Many specialty services are also offered, including a membership program for quick discounted shipping, and options to pick up merchandise at a local Sears or Kmart store. Customers making qualified purchases are rewarded by being able to build up cash value to spend on purchases, having the opportunity to choose

Retail is usually classified by type of products as follows: Food products Hard goods ("hardline retailers") - appliances, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, etc. Soft goods - clothing, apparel, and other fabrics. There are the following types of retailers by marketing strategy:

Sears Holding Company (SHLD) was once a very successful organization. Prior to the 1980’s, SHLD managed to generate revenue and compete among the top retailers in America (Kim, 2014). However, in more recent years, SHLD has become subject to scrutiny among industry’s critics. As of late, SHLD has made several attempts to revive their organization. These attempts involve SHLD implementing corporate, business and functional leveled strategies within their organization.

Food & grocery segment is major driver for organized retail industry. This is high unorganized sector in past and to great extent today also. But people’s mindset is gradually shifting to go to mall or hygiene, quality and brand oriented products in this sector. There is gradual increase in demand of processed and semi processed food as working couples in urban areas have time constraints and living high pace life. There are 5 million shops to serve 12 million retailers with and estimate value of US$144 billion. Organized retailing is growing at the rate of 40-50%. Major players are ITC Group, Tata, RPG Group, Reliance, AV Birla Group are the key major players.

The retail market in India is facing slowdown with the ongoing financial crisis happening across the world markets. Since the markets always have internally linked with each other, the impact of the crisis is generally shared among all. The following circumstances are creating unwelcome interruptions to the Indian retail industry. The industry hopes for the best alternations to overcome the acrimonious situations.

The Indian retail industry is the largest among all the industries, accounting for over 10 per cent of the country’s GDP and around 8 per cent of the employment. The retail industry in India has come forth as one of the most dynamic and fast paced industries with several players entering the market. But all of them have not yet tasted success because of the heavy initial investments that are required to break even and compete with other companies. The Indian retail industry is gradually inching its way towards becoming the next boom industry.

Retail is India’s largest industry, accounting for over 10 per cent of the country’s GDP and around eight per cent of the employment. Retail industry in India is at the crossroads. It has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast paced industries with several players entering the market.

Retail industry in India is at the crossroads. It has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast paced industries with several players entering the market. But because of the heavy initial investments required, break even is difficult to achieve and many of these players have not tasted success so far.