Montgomery Wards History

Montgomery Ward enjoyed decades as the country's leading mail order catalog before opening its first retail locations in the 1920s. Increased competition from other department store chains forced the company to close many stores as the 20th century drew to a close, but Montgomery Ward maintains an Internet and catalog business today.

Origin

Montgomery Ward began as a mail order company based in Chicago in 1872. It was the brainchild of Aaron Montgomery Ward, who realized he could improve profits through direct sales to farmers.

Big Break

The Illinois Grange endorsed Montgomery Ward as its purchasing agent in 1872, creating a windfall of marketing opportunities for the fledgling company.

Growth

In the fall of 1874 the Montgomery Ward catalog expanded to 100 pages from its 32-page catalog that spring.

Best Seller

The company's best seller in the 1870s was the sewing machine. However, most of the catalog's merchandise was aimed at the farmer; it included engines, grinders and threshers.

Competition

In the 1880s, several companies started mail-order divisions, including Sears and John Wannamaker, but Montgomery Ward remained the largest, most read catalog at 240 pages.

Retail

Montgomery Ward opened its first retail stores in the 1920s, focusing on towns with populations between 10,000 and 15,000. In spite of expanding locations in the decades that followed, Montgomery Ward was forced to close many retail locations by the year 2000.

References

• Funding Universe: Montgomery Ward