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Kmart, the iconic discount department store chain, is set to close its last remaining location in the mainland United States.
The store, in Bridgehampton, New York, on Long Island, is due to close October 20.
At its peak, Kmart had nearly 2,500 locations in the U.S. and was one of the largest retailers in the world.
In 1962, the first Kmart store was opened in the Detroit suburb of Garden City, Michigan. They would open 17 more Kmart stores that year. Each location offered a massive array of items – clothes, toys, sporting goods, auto parts, and school supplies, among countless other departments. Kmart quickly became the largest retailer of lawn and garden products in America. Back then, it was unheard of to find such a wide variety of merchandise under one roof. There were large departments stores, such as Sears, but they were limited to downtown locations, whereas Kmart locations were built in the growing suburbs, where the stores were newer, larger, and featured convenient parking.
By the end of the decade, Kmart had more than 800 locations across the country and became America’s second-largest retailer, behind Sears.
A trip to Kmart was more than just a shopping excursion - it was an experience. In-store cafeterias offered a place to take a break and enjoy a meal, featuring popcorn and cherry icees. As you were shopping, you could have your car worked on in the Kmart auto center. The retailer was also amongst the first to offer a Layaway program, allowing customers to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
But perhaps the most memorable part of a trip to Kmart was the “Blue Light Special.” You would hear the crackling of the store’s P.A. system, with an employee declaring, “Attention Kmart shoppers…” A blue light would begin flashing, and like moths to a flame, deal-crazy shoppers would rush to see what item was being discounted. It added an element of both intrigue and excitement.
Business historian Michael Lisicky says Kmart was a part of Americana: “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here.”
In 1976, Kmart made history by opening 271 stores in one year, a record for an American retailer. Within a decade, Kmart would have nearly 2,500 locations! The brand was flying high. Kmart sponsored several NASCAR races. They brought on Martha Stewart to design her own line of furniture, towels, and other home decor.
But while Kmart rose to be the 15th largest corporation on the planet, things started to unravel in the late 1980’s.
I mentioned earlier that Kmart started in 1962. But two other retailers also began that same year: Walmart and Target.
While Kmart grew the fastest, Walmart and Target were more deliberate with their expansion. And by 1990, Walmart had surpassed Kmart in sales. Consumers were being lured away by Walmart’s lower prices and Target’s trendier offerings.
During the days of Kmart’s massive growth, all of their focus went to opening new stores, and they neglected their existing ones. As a result, the older stores began to look shabby and outdated. The situation got so bad that even Martha Stewart expressed concerns with the quality of her own product line and the state of the stores. During a live interview on CNBC, she quipped, “Have you been into a Kmart lately? It’s not the nicest place to shop.”
And while Walmart and Target invested in newer technology to track inventory, Kmart was slow to do so, resulting in their stores being “out” of what consumers wanted to buy.
In the early 1990’s, feeling desperate and fearing losing even more market share, Kmart went on a buying spree, gobbling up such companies as The Sports Authority, OfficeMax, and Borders.
But those deals proved to be disastrous, and Kmart had to unload all of them within a few years, losing billions of dollars. And while Walmart was a visible threat, Kmart all but ignored another looming competitor: Amazon.
The bottom fell out for Kmart, and in 2002 they filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, the largest in American retail history up to that time. The restructuring did allow Kmart to shed some of its debt.
Just two decades earlier, Kmart and Sears were the largest retailers in the country. So it was ironic that, in 2005, Kmart purchased Sears. Both companies were circling the drain in a downward spiral. And as we read about Kmart shuddering their last store in the United States, the fate of Sears is no brighter – there are currently only nine Sears stores nationwide.
Let me note that there are two remaining Kmart stores in the Virgin Islands and one on the island of Guam, both of which are U.S. territories. There is technically one remaining Kmart store in Miami. But it is an unusual situation because the failing Kmart store was forced to give up its lease to a competing retailer, who agreed to let the Kmart store rent back 20% of the retail space. The only blue lights flashing there are from the police cars patrolling the crime-ridden neighborhood.
But despite being a titan of industry for a few decades, the long-term success of Kmart simply didn’t exist. They had a poor strategy (if any at all.) They didn’t plan well. They didn’t anticipate changes in consumer behavior. They were ill-prepared for the long haul..
It’s been said that "Beginning well is a momentary thing; finishing well is a lifelong thing."
In Luke 14, Jesus lays out the terms of discipleship. There were large crowds following Him. Everyone loved the miracles and the healings and the assurances of God’s power and presence. Jesus had become the talk of the town, but for some, that merely meant that He was the latest fad. He knew they desired the benefits of what He did rather than an understanding of who He was. They loved the gifts more than the giver. So He explained what it takes to be one of His followers:
Luke 14:28-30 - “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”
Obviously, we can’t earn our salvation through what we do – it’s only through faith in Jesus that we are forgiven. But when we choose to follow Christ, we surrender control of our lives. When Jesus is in control, pure living results.
But it’s a long-term journey, not a short-term project. What are you doing to strengthen your long-term faithfulness to God? It’s not uncommon to have a powerful spiritual experience. But it’s not always so easy to sustain it in the midst of the daily grind and the hustle and bustle of daily life. It takes long-term commitment, and not merely a one-time decision, to fully experience all that God has in store for us. Yes, a one-time decision does bring salvation, but true discipleship – a life with Christ – means long-haul commitment. As a Pastor, know that I am honored to come alongside you on this spiritual journey, and know that I am always willing to meet with you, pray with you, chat with you, and support in whatever ways I can.
I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday. Until then, know that you are loved.
Joe
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