The first Sears store was opened in Chicago in 1925 and it expanded quickly, with 300 department stores across the US by 1929. The chain bucked the trend of declining sales during the Great Depression by selling affordable staples such as socks, underwear, sheets and towels. It didn’t just survive the decade but came out far stronger, having almost doubled the number of its stores and expanded even further across the nation.

It hasn't been as plain sailing for Sears recently. Read more about the business and the most disastrous takeovers ever

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