(Alive To Die?!) Kmart The Complete Story Updated - S05E10

Updated & Remastered
Kmart is an American big box department store chain headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States. The company was incorporated in 1899 as S. S. Kresge Corporation and renamed Kmart Corporation in 1977.
The first store with the Kmart name opened in 1962. At its peak in 1994, Kmart operated 2,486 stores globally, including 2,323 discount stores and Super Kmart Center locations in the United States. From 2005 through 2019, Kmart was a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation and is now a subsidiary of Transform SR Brands LLC.
As of April 2022, Kmart is down to only 3 locations that remained in the United States: in Miami, Florida; Westwood, New Jersey; and Bridgehampton, New York. On August 2, 2023, it was announced that the store in Westwood would be closing, leaving the Miami and Bridgehampton locations as the last two Kmart stores in the United States.
#deparmentstore #nostalgia #retail

[@ThisIsMyRealName]

First channel out of dozens that actually got the history right. Very well researched and presented 👍 In the end Lampert and Sears killed Kmart. Sears had been "dead" for years Lampert so wanted to save the Sears name he completely sacrificed Kmart in the process.

[@sherroncapitano]

So sad. Kmart was my first job out of high school in 1987. Started as part-time cashier. Spent 13 years with company and my last position was pricing analyst for Super Kmarts…I worked out of a Super Kmart in Charlotte.

[@tubby_1278]

13 years at Kmart?? God lord..

[@cactifunguy]

Just so you Americans know, Kmart thrives in Australia.

[@pamelaharnage]

Must not be thriving too well marts closed there too

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

I'm still wearing Kmart clothes. When all the Kmarts near me were closing I bought all the dress shirts and pants in my size. Great quality and low pricees.

[@bestiefswlady5251]

Agreed!!!! I wish I could find the Kmart women’s T-shirts again. No one makes things in 100% cotton anymore with soft cotton. I would cheerfully buy them for 10 or $12 each, even though their price was 599 just for years ago. I thought they would liquidate all their merchandise to the remaining seers stores, but that did not seem to be the case, at least in my physical searches when the Kmarts near me closed about three years ago.

[@tomedwards53]

I worked for K-Mart in California back in the 1970's when they could do no wrong. Strangely enough we looked at Sears as our number one competitor and wondered if we'd ever be able to match their sales numbers. I remember telling my district manager that Sears was using a state-of-the-art computer system (even then) that allowed them to scan all items at checkout and it performed a basic inventory/reorder at the same time. At K-Mart we were still using old NCR mechanical registers that were dumb and our inventory was still being tallied with a pencil. My question to my DM was "shouldn't we be getting more computerized?" His answer was simple, "Do you know how much that stuff costs"? He was an old Kresge store manager and just didn't understand the emerging computer age-- but Walmart did.

[@stevebrien1041]

The problem was when they decided to use computers they didn't know how. As a KMART Canada CoManager in the 80s I can tell you that they threw away all the history they had in their weekly books and decided automatic replenishment would solve everything but they didn't know how to use the data. Move forward to current day and I can tell you Walmart is no smarter operationally or in merchandising but they are good at moving through the supply chain

[@ronaldplesz7994]

Kresge's used to have a pet department in the sixties .You could buy a Minah bird, parakeets, tropical fish ,goldfish baby turtles as well as all supplies tanks, Cages , food needed. a friend of mine bought a baby alligator in one!

[@user-nm4xe8zu8z]

I love the Kmart. It is very sad. Good work on the video.

[@kennethscalir3092]

There are actually 13 nonclosing Sears left: Here is a list of those locations: 1 Concord, California 2 Burbank, California 3 Stockton, California 4 Whittier, California 5 Orlando, Florida 6 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 7 Miami, Florida 8 Tukwila, Washington 9 Union Gap, Washington 10 Braintree, Massachusetts 11 Jersey City, New Jersey 12 El Paso, Texas 13 San Juan, Puerto Rico. There are also 6 nonclosing Kmarts left. Here is a list of those locations: 1 Bridgehampton, New York 2 Miami, Florida 3 Tauming, Guam 4 St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 5 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Tutu Park Mall) 6. St. THomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Lockhart Gardens Shopping Mall) There is also a Sears Mexico, which is a separate company, and a Kmart Australia, which is also a separate company

[@pathough2100]

I worked for SS Kresge’s for five years in the 70s. It was a good experience. So sad to see them go down so far and close most of their stores.

[@chargermopar]

Kmart was a cleaner, better looking store than Walmart and a lot more fun as well. They had everything including an attached grocery store. Even out front they had those silly kiddie rides. They went downhill in the 1990's especially replacing their classic signs. Prices were competitive and they had the "lay away".

[@Danica_Sue_Patrick]

Hopefully they make a comback

[@chargermopar]

@@Danica_Sue_Patrick Yes but even if they do they will never be the same.

[@SmackdownsRKO2024-xk9ew]

I agree once they changed the logo to that Big K crap it went downhill fast

[@chargermopar]

@@SmackdownsRKO2024-xk9ew Corporations never use their uniqueness to bring in customers. They always go in 25-30 year cycles and then fail from their central planning. Debt is what destroys them.

[@philwhite8749]

Nice video, I worked there from '94-'96 and my mom '88-'92

[@ronaldplesz7994]

Kresge used to sell plastic model kits in it's stored but they sold at retail KMart had a Hobby Shop that sold everything at discount. They were huge and a one stop shop and even put an ad on the paper what they had for sale.that week.

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

We had a K-Mart across the street from 1982-1986. There were 3 more close by. the closest being about 3 miles away.

[@wkat950]

I could tell by 1992 that Kmart was trying to polish a youknowhat. Walmart was on the move. I worked at a Walmart and could tell by the mid 90s that Kmart was in trouble and trying to stop its bleeding. It built new stores but not so much because it was on its way up. Yep, they got it and got it good. They're almost completely dead.

[@galimirnund6543]

K-mart closed here. That slimy corporation Kroger is building a super store on the lot. The Target here is basically K-mart. You walk in the front doors and there are all of those bins with just the cheapest made in China crap you can think of marked up 500 percent lol. I'm not surprised K-mart went under... they just sell the cheapest crap for so much!

[@masterpainter72]

There were plenty of Kmarts that closed in my home state of Michigan.

[@pacificbuildingcare]

Sears claims they plan to open 2 to 3 Kmarts next year as Sears is reopening Burbank store in California and Union Gap store in Washington in November. I prey they will get a new concept Kmart in motion as that's plan I hear

[@kennethscalir3092]

I there evidence of this?

[@pacificbuildingcare]

@@kennethscalir3092 this is translated to read in English: Sears creates an alliance with three Puerto Rican companies The company will use Puerto Rico as an example to expand its presence in other states of the United States Efraín Montalbán Ríos, THE SPOKESMAN July 27, 2023 In order to strengthen ties with consumers on the Island, the Sears department store created an alliance with three Puerto Rican companies as part of the redesign of both of its stores located in Plaza Las Américas, reported Ramón Márquez, Head of Operations and Marketing. of the company In a tour of the 200,000 square feet of commercial space, EL VOCERO verified the presence of brands with a strong presence on the Island such as Lanco paints and The Shack, a local company specializing in the sale of paddle boards, kayaks, fishing and other beach accessories Likewise, they have a strategic collaboration with Mueblerías Berríos. “The connection with the community is extremely important to us because of the loyalty we have had from customers,” said Márquez. “We made strategic alliances with businessmen here in Puerto Rico, with Mueblerías Berríos, Lanco and with The Shak. This has allowed us to bring merchandise that we were not handling in the store and connect more with the Puerto Rican customer,” he continued. After the company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in 2018, the company TransformCo acquired the shares of Sears Holdings in 2019 for about $5.2 million. Delayed by the pandemic, it was not until a year ago that the new owners began the transformation of the brand from Puerto Rico. The San Juan store has become the benchmark for replicating in other states, due to the success of customer acceptance of the changes, with which they were able to double their sales. About 120,000 people enter the store each month, drawn largely by the new brands with which they are familiar. “There is an incredible number of people who come here and that is what we are doing, capturing that market, reconnecting and rebuilding the image of Sears on the Island. With what we have learned here, we have been able to see that there is a way for us to take it to United States," Márquez announced. In November of this year, the company expects to reopen two of its stores in Washington and California, replicating the strategies implemented on the Island. In addition, they intend to reopen some of its stores in Puerto Rico. “We have been here for 61 years now, we are very attracted to our credit card, our services, and many people have memories with Sears,” said the executive, who intends to maintain the Sears experience from generation to generation. Also, given the tropical climate of Puerto Rico, the company expanded the category of sports and summer clothing and accessories, for which they will open a store called "I Love Puerto Rico." They launch a new campaign As part of this transformation strategy, Márquez reported that Sears will launch an advertising campaign called "Rediscover Sears" (Rediscover Sears) that will debut at the 'Food Fest' to be held in Plaza Las Américas from August 3 to 6. "During this event, we are pleased to announce that we will be present with an impressive exhibition of four 'booths', where we will present our new lines of household appliances and offer our customers an additional 10% discount on all exhibited products," said Márquez, who He explained that a television, a refrigerator, a grill, among other items, will be raffled. In addition, they inaugurated the "Sears Brand Central" space for household appliances, being the largest department. Also, next August, the company will launch "Sears Mattress Central", an exclusive department dedicated to 'mattress'. There is an incredible number of people that come here and that is what we are doing, capturing that market, reconnecting and rebuilding the image of Sears on the Island. With what we have learned here we have been able to see that there is a way for us to take it To united states. Ramon Marquez Chief of operations and marketing at Sears

[@thebestchannel5456]

From what sources or do you have any? I guess not

[@pacificbuildingcare]

@@thebestchannel5456 I don't get it I just forward information. Did you not read it?

[@thebestchannel5456]

@pacificbuildingcare you still got it from somewhere, duh?

[@kaitlynjett706]

Good history I’m so sad that k mart gone ❤❤❤

[@SynchroSk8]

My mom still has her Martha Stewart jadite green containers, they were awesome quality and I am sad I am unable to replace some of the items for her as they slowly wear to be unusable.

[@salem99099]

The verdict: DON'T CUT BACK THE DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENSIVE ADVERTISING CIRCULARS

[@tubby_1278]

The last time I was at a Kmart was 2015. It was the worse shopping experience I've ever had. Nothing bad happened but it was just so dull and outdated ☠️ plus the store was kind of in a ghetto area so of course the store was not really kept tidy. I didn't buy anything and just left with my parents

[@DjmDjm-hl8pt]

Worked for k mart 8 years used to be 4 stores within an hr drive. Sad. Sad. Sad.

[@stevebrien1041]

Head Office executives could never just focus on being the best discount retailer like Walmart was doing. The executives were always looking for something else besides KMart

[@jasonwb6884]

Kmart/Sears probably blames Walmart for their downfall, but Target is still around. Poor corporate management was the downfall. I don't know if it's fond memories, but I remember those blue light specials and old retired women chain smoking in the Cafe in the back waiting for blue light specials to be announced on the PA system. I remember the Cafe closing and becoming a Little Caesars. You have to adjust to consumer market and Kmart/Sears failed to adjust.

[@tubby_1278]

The Sears at my mall closed 2 years ago. Used to shop there often as a kid...man have times changed

[@jamiebarba5701]

I lived in New Jersey and last Kmart in New Jersey is closing at end year.

[@andy8060]

Sad😢

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

Maybe if they hadn't annoyingly asked every customer at checkout if they wanted their stupid credit card...

[@1L6E6VHF]

Another 5&Ten chain, W.T. Grant, tried to push credit cards, where people complained that their push became annoying.

[@alexanderpasnl]

Nice documentary, but for me you could have done without the piano or tone it down. It distracts from the interesting facts. For me at least.

[@robert1301]

narrated by a bot