The Fall of Sears: What Happened to Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard?

America's Store, Dismantled

In 1969, Sears was the largest retailer in the United States. It was also the largest private employer. More than half of all American households had a Sears credit card. Then it collapsed. Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy in October 2018. By 2026, fewer than 10 Sears and Kmart stores remain open across the entire country.

But the brands that made Sears famous did not disappear. Craftsman, Kenmore, and DieHard were worth more than the company that owned them. They were sold, licensed, and scattered to new owners who recognized that brand equity can survive even a complete corporate failure.

Here is where each of them ended up.

The Three Crown Jewels

Craftsman: Sold to Stanley Black & Decker

Sold: January 2017, for $900 million Current owner: Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK)

Craftsman tools were a Sears exclusive for over 90 years. The brand came with a famous lifetime warranty and was among the most trusted names in American hand tools. When Sears' financial position deteriorated, it sold Craftsman to Stanley Black & Decker in early 2017 for $900 million.

• Distribution expanded to Lowe's, Ace Hardware, Amazon, and other retailers
• New product lines added across power tools, hand tools, and storage
• The brand is widely available where it was previously Sears-exclusive
• Craftsman remains one of the best-selling tool brands in North America

Stanley Black & Decker's 2022 annual report described Craftsman as a key growth brand within its Tools and Outdoor segment.

DieHard: Sold to Advance Auto Parts

Sold: December 2019, for $200 million Current owner: Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP)

DieHard batteries were introduced by Sears in 1967 and grew into one of the most recognized battery brands in America. Sears' successor entity, Transformco, sold the DieHard brand to Advance Auto Parts in December 2019 for $200 million.

• DieHard batteries are now sold at Advance Auto Parts stores, Walmart, and other retailers
• The brand has expanded beyond automotive batteries into portable power and lighting
• Brand recognition has held despite Sears' collapse

Kenmore: Still with Transformco (Partially)

Current status: Complex licensing arrangement Owned by: Transformco (Sears' successor entity)

• Kenmore appliances are available at Lowe's
• Some Kenmore products appear on Amazon
• The brand is manufactured by various companies including LG, Whirlpool, and others under license

Unlike Craftsman and DieHard, Kenmore has not been cleanly acquired by a single company. The brand's future remains uncertain as Transformco continues to manage (or wind down) remaining Sears assets.

Other Sears Brands and Assets

How Sears Fell

The collapse of Sears was not sudden. It was a slow decline driven by multiple factors:

1. Failed leadership strategy. Eddie Lampert, the hedge fund manager who took control of Sears in 2005, was widely criticized for prioritizing financial engineering over retail operations. He merged Sears with Kmart, creating Sears Holdings, but underinvested in stores, technology, and customer experience.

2. E-commerce failure. Amazon and online retail changed how Americans shop. Sears' catalog business was, in a structural sense, the original e-commerce. The company could not translate that legacy into a competitive digital presence.

3. Competition from specialists. Home Depot and Lowe's took the tools and home improvement market. Best Buy took electronics. Walmart and Target took general merchandise. Sears tried to compete in all categories and lost in each one.

4. Real estate asset stripping. Lampert sold Sears' valuable real estate, including spinning off Seritage Growth Properties (a REIT) in 2015. While this generated cash, it left Sears without the physical assets that anchored its retail presence.

5. Brand neglect. Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard were Sears' greatest competitive advantages. Years of underinvestment, combined with keeping them as Sears exclusives while foot traffic declined, wasted that potential. By the time Craftsman sold for $900 million in 2017, it was Sears' most valuable asset, even as the company was collapsing.

The Brand Lesson

Brands can outlive the companies that created them. That is the central lesson of Sears.

Craftsman sold for $900 million while Sears was heading toward bankruptcy. DieHard sold for $200 million. The value was not in Sears the retailer. It was in decades of consumer trust built through quality products and consistent marketing.

• Toys "R" Us brands were acquired by WHP Global and continue through licensing
• Barneys New York name was acquired by Authentic Brands Group
• Brooks Brothers was acquired by Authentic Brands Group and SPARC Group
• J. Crew restructured and continued operating after bankruptcy

In each case, the brand name was worth more than the business attached to it.

Where Sears Stores Stand in 2026

As of early 2026, fewer than 10 combined Sears and Kmart stores remain open nationwide, operated by Transformco. Most are operating with reduced hours, limited inventory, and uncertain futures. The Sears name still appears on home services (appliance repair) and some licensed products, but the retail empire that once employed over 300,000 people has effectively ceased to exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns Craftsman tools now?

Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) acquired the Craftsman brand from Sears in 2017 for $900 million. Craftsman tools are now available at Lowe's, Ace Hardware, Amazon, and other retailers.

Who owns Kenmore appliances?

Kenmore is owned by Transformco, the successor entity to Sears Holdings. Kenmore appliances are manufactured by various companies (LG, Whirlpool, etc.) under licensing agreements and are available at Lowe's and other retailers.

Are there any Sears stores still open?

As of early 2026, fewer than 10 combined Sears and Kmart locations remain open in the United States, operated by Transformco.

What happened to Lands' End?

Lands' End was spun off from Sears as an independent, publicly traded company (NASDAQ: LE) in 2014, before Sears' bankruptcy. It continues to operate independently as an apparel and home goods retailer.

The Bottom Line

Craftsman found a strong home at Stanley Black & Decker. DieHard landed at Advance Auto Parts. Kenmore is still in limbo under Transformco. The company that created all three is effectively gone.

The retail empire that once employed over 300,000 people and served more than half of American households now occupies fewer than 10 stores. The brands it built outlasted everything else.

Explore retail brand ownership on WhoBrands or browse retail brands.

Sources

1. Transformco. Corporate information. transformco.com 2. Stanley Black & Decker. "Craftsman Acquisition." Press release, 2017. 3. Advance Auto Parts. "DieHard Brand Acquisition." Press release, 2019. 4. Investopedia. "Top Companies Owned by Sears." Updated 2025. 5. Alibaba SmartBuy. "Sears Business Status in 2025." 2025.

All brand ownership data verified through WhoBrands.com's research methodology. Last updated: January 22, 2026.