One of the giants of the Canadian retailing business and an acknowledged corporate leader, Sears Canada Inc. is the largest department store in Canada operating under a single name. In 1987, Sears had over $4 billion in sales. Currently, this retail household name has 50,000 full-time and part-time employees.

Sears Canada is relatively young. Its origins date back to 1952 when Simpsons Limited of Canada and Sears, Roebuck and Company of Chicago signed a partnership agreement to form a new Canadian catalogue order and retail company, "SimpsonsSears Limited". Simpsons invested its catalogue order business in the new venture. Sears, Roebuck and Company brought both cash and its considerable experience in marketing.

One year later, Simpsons-Sears opened its first retail store in Stratford, Ontario. The Torontobased catalogue order business was already in place. The new company had several assets: the experience of both parents, a large and expanding market in the rapidly growing suburbs and a determination to recruit and retain employees with drive, loyalty and a real concern for customer satisfaction. Given these advantages, Simpsons-Sears grew rapidly and by 1977 had established a strong national presence with sixty-three stores from coast to coast.

In 1978, The Hudson's Bay Company acquired approximately 35% of the outstanding shares of Simpsons-Sears Limited. Eventually, in 1983, Sears, Roebuck and Company succeeded in securing approximately 60% of all shares of Simpsons-Sears. The following year the shareholders voted to change the official corporate name to Sears Canada Inc.

1. Sears operates over 80 stores coast to coast and more than 1600 separate catalogue sales offices in smaller communities. 2. The Sears All Purpose Account Card has become the largest single department store credit card in the country. were streamlined into an effective, highly coordinated team. A complete line-by-line, product by-product analysis of merchandise followed, in order to maintain those products that dominated the market, strengthen those that offered potential for growth and eliminate those that did not.

In 1979, after twenty-five years of rapid expansion, the company, under the chairmanship of C. Richard Sharpe, undertook a massive study of all of its operations that would set Sears Canada on a new cost effective course with strategies and tactics in place to meet the significant changes taking place in the retail business. Sears long range plans were to expand and modernize selling operations while consolidating administrative and support services. Merchandising and selling personnel were streamlined into an effective, highly coordinated team. A complete line-by-line, product by-product analysis of merchandise followed, in order to maintain those products that dominated the market, strengthen those that offered potential for growth and eliminate those that did not.

As part of the strategy to reach more customers and get more market share, the "store-of-the-future" concept was launched in the Mississauga, Ontario store in the Square One Shopping Centre. This prototype was designed to carefully market-test new display ideas, packaging, product alignment and department layout. The result was a store stocked with attractive merchandise, well displayed, easily identified and properly located ... the "store-of-the-future" for the customer of today. Successful techniques from this store are now systematically being passed on to other Sears stores.

Over the years Sears products whether purchased from the catalogue or in retail stores have become synonymous with quality, reliability and value. Among these, Sears own exclusive brand products such as Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard, Winnie-the-Pooh and more, have inspired wide customer acceptance and confidence. In fact over 100 Sears products have become "Canada's Best Sellers". "Best Sellers" are based on current independent national research surveys which indicate that Sears sells more of these items than any other retailer.

1. Sears catalogues have been serving the needs of Canadians for over three decades. 2. More than 1,000 Sears technicians across Canada respond to customer service calls fulfilling the promise of "We service what we sell".

The Sears catalogue has been a centrepiece of corporate operations since the company's inception. People from all parts of Canada can buy a bed or washing machine or running shoes from one of the general or seasonal catalogues. In an average year over sixteen different Sears catalogues are produced and over four million Canadian families receive copies of each. These catalogues fill a wide variety of customer needs providing convenient shopping for Canadians in all areas of the country.

Most Canadians know Sears Canada as a retailer, but it is many other things. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Sears Acceptance Company Inc., Sears offers credit to over 4.2 million Canadians. Another wholly owned subsidiary, SLH Transport Inc., operates a large trucking fleet. Sears also owns a 45% share interest in Photo Engravers and Electrotypers Limited, which produces Sears catalogues, and a 25% share of Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, which has locations in most Sears department stores.

In addition to its varied business activities, Sears Canada has long recognized its role as a socially responsible corporate citizen. The company is concerned with improving the quality of life for Canadians and generously lends its support to a wide range of areas from health and welfare to education and the arts. In the field of education, Sears has long assisted higher learning institutions and provides for a scholarship program for the children of its employees. Since 1967, Sears has been donating each new volume of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography which is published in both official languages to every secondary school in the country. The company has also been a longtime supporter of junior Achievement of Canada which provides students with a better knowledge of the free enterprise system and the business world. Sears is a contributor to hospital and university capital projects and to major associations for the disabled. Over the years, Sears employees have also demonstrated a keen interest in making their communities better places in which to live. Employee charitable funds that are managed by employee groups, tirelessly raise monies annually for local United Way chapters and the many registered agencies they support. Employees in many of the retail stores donate their personal time to hold special shopping nights for senior citizens and the disabled, when they can shop in the comfort of an uncrowded store.

Sears Canada has built its reputation and its continuing success on the principle of satisfying Canadians' needs for products and services through retail and catalogue shopping. The fundamental commitment to service and quality has guided the company's growth from the day it was founded into one of Canada's largest merchandising organizations.