How a financial wizard took over a giant of American retailing, and presided over its epic decline:
Imagine a retailer that began by specializing in just one product, then grew into a mammoth that redefined the American shopping experience.
Among its innovations: No matter where you lived, it shipped your order directly to you, whether you were looking for cast-iron cookware, a mandolin, the newest technological marvel, or the latest in petticoats.
Amazon, right? Actually, it was Sears — a century ago.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/business/the-incredible-shrinking-sears.html