Ground is broken for new headquarters complex in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Brand Central’s nationwide rollout is completed.

Sears launches the HomeLife specialty stores.

Craftsman Club is launched.

Former Sears Chairman Edward Telling retires from the board of directors.

Sears introduces KidVantage WearOut Warranty and Frequent Purchase programs to reduce the expense of children's clothes.

Sears moves corporate headquarters to the new Hoffman Estates complex.

Sears begins accepting Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards.

Sears spins off Dean Witter, sells 20 percent of Allstate, and sells all stakes in Coldwell Banker and the Sears Mortgage Banking Group.

The popular “Come see the softer side of sears” ad campaign debuts.

Sears closes the traditional U.S. catalog operations.

“Shop-At-Home” unit is formed to develop the specialty catalog business.

Sears begins a five-year, $4 billion store-upgrade program.

Sears launches Nuestra Gente magazine for Hispanic readers.

Sears introduces "Todo Para Ti" ("Everything for you"), a Hispanic-American marketing campaign.

Ownership of the Sears Tower is transferred to a trust.

Sears launches Sears Hardware specialty stores.

Arthur Martinez is appointed chairman.

Sears sells Homart Development Company to General Growth Properties, Inc.

Sears adopts the theme "Making Sears a compelling place to shop, work, and invest."

Sears combines its repair services and home-improvement products and services into one operation, Sears Home Services.

Sears launches the Craftsman Kids Club.

Sears buys the Orchard Supply Hardware store chain.

Sears becomes a founding sponsor of Gilda's Club, a support community for people and families affected by cancer.

Sears launches NTB (National Tire and Battery).

Sears opens its first The Great Indoors store.

Sears becomes a founding sponsor of the (WNBA).

Sears opens its 500th hometown store.

Sears introduces 1-800-4-MY-HOME, for purchases from special catalog.

Sears launches Wishbook.com.

Sears Direct is launched, combining specialty catalogs, telemarketing, direct mail and the Internet into one, customer-responsive function.

"Good life at a great price guaranteed" campaign debuts.

Sears launches Sears.com.

Sears sells off HomeLife furniture chain.

Sears launches the PartsDirect online appliance parts program.

Sears introduces the Kenmore Elite line of appliances, which generates more than $500 million in sales in its first two years.

Alan Lacy is appointed chairman.

Sears launches the Sears Gold Mastercard.

Sears initiates the Customer Care Network, providing customers with a single point of contact.

Sears opens a flagship store on State Street in Chicago.

Sears adopts an organization-wide "Six Sigma" quality program to ensure responsiveness to customers' needs.

Sears develops "Room for Kids" specialty catalog and accompanying Web site.

Sears remodels stores and adds centralized cash registers to speed merchandise checkout for customers.

Sears acquires apparel giant Lands' End for $1.9 billion.