Kmart

Kmart is an American discount department store chain that sells a range of goods including apparel, home products, electronics, toys, and seasonal items. It operates as part of Transform Holdco, which owns a number of former Sears and Kmart assets. Historically, Kmart was one of the largest and best-known mass merchandise retailers in the United States during the late 20th century.

Founded by the S. S. Kresge Company, the first Kmart stores opened in 1962, starting in Garden City, Michigan. The name is widely understood to combine Kresge with the concept of a "mart." The chain expanded rapidly through the 1960s–1980s, introducing large-format discount stores and growing into thousands of locations. It popularized in-store promotions such as the Blue Light Special, a timed sale announced by rotating blue lights. In 2005, Kmart merged with Sears Roebuck & Co. to form Sears Holdings Corporation, creating a diversified retail group.

Facing competition from other discount and online retailers, Kmart faced sustained financial difficulties in the 2000s and 2010s. Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy in 2018, and in 2019 the assets were sold to Transform Holdco. Since then, the number of operating Kmart stores in the United States has steadily declined, and the brand maintains a much smaller footprint, focusing on value-oriented merchandise and promotions, along with online sales and loyalty programs such as Shop Your Way (launched in 2013).

Outside the United States, Kmart-branded retailing has appeared in other markets. In Australia, the Kmart brand remains part of Wesfarmers' Kmart Group and operates independently of Transformco. The U.S. and Australian operations have become distinct entities with separate ownership.