Is Sears (Canada) Discontinued? What Happened?

Sears Canada started in 1952 as a partnership between Simpsons, a Canadian retailer, and Sears, Roebuck, the large American department store company. The idea was to bring Sears-style catalog shopping to Canada. Families across the country received thick mail-order catalogs and could order clothing, appliances, tools, and home goods without leaving the house.

Through the 1960s and 1970s the company grew steadily. It opened large stores in shopping malls from British Columbia to Newfoundland, added auto service centres in many locations, and sold licensed brands like Kenmore appliances. In 1984 the company changed its name from Simpsons-Sears to Sears Canada. By that point it was one of the most recognized retail names in the country.

The catalog business started shrinking in the 1990s and was eventually shut down. The stores kept going, but by the 2000s the chain was losing customers to online shopping, discount retailers, and stores that focused on single categories like electronics or home improvement. Sears struggled to stay relevant and cut costs over several years without finding a way to bring shoppers back.

In June 2017 Sears Canada filed for creditor protection under Canadian law after sales had fallen for years and the company could not cover its obligations. The company tried to find a buyer but no successful deal came together. The final stores closed in January 2018 after more than 65 years in Canadian retail.

A lot of Canadians grew up with a Sears catalog in the house and remember going to Sears with their families for back-to-school shopping or appliances. The closure was widely covered and felt like the end of something that had been around for most people’s entire lives.