Kmart Wasn’t Always Called Kmart – Discover Its Original Name and What the ‘K’ Really Stands For!
September 10, 2024
source: Getty Images
The history of Kmart started with S.S. Kresge Corporation which was established in 1899 by Sebastian S. Kresge and John McCrory. The company was initially founded as a chain of five-and-dime stores which sold items of daily use and at low prices which were well received by the American public. These small stores paved way to the future of retail business that will take years to come.
By 1962, Kresge made a drastic move of venturing into the discount retailing business through the opening of the first Kmart Store in Garden City Michigan. This new venture enlarged on the original concept of Kresge’s Thrifty House which was to sell inexpensive goods but on a much greater level. As for the name Kmart, the letters ‘K’ was derived from Kresge, the name of the founder, which underlined the company’s development without forgetting about its origins.
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Kmart’ s product lines offered a wide variety of items, and they started the concept of the ‘Blue Light Specials’ which were on the spot discounts in the store that created much joy to the customers. Soon, it became one of the biggest discount retailers in the United States of America. It was in 1977 that the S. S. Kresge Corporation changed its name to Kmart Corporation thus finalizing its modern name.
Kmart used to have thousands of stores across the country providing a variety of products for customers at a cheap cost. Even today, with the changes of the retail environment, new technologies, and new competitors, Kmart is still there. It not only influenced the manner in which consumers in America shopped but also provided a new direction to the growth of retailing integrating affordability and convenience in its operations.
