Gary C. Comer, Lands` End founder, dies
Gary C. Comer, founder of Lands` End and its chairman until 2002, died Wednesday in Chicago. "American business has lost an icon,” says David McCreight, president of Lands’ End, now part of Sears Holding Corp. “Gary Comer was a visionary entrepreneur, whose passion for excellence created a legendary company."
An avid sailor, Comer, in 1962, at age 33, started a mail-order sailing equipment business. In 1963, Comer and five partners incorporated Lands` End Yacht Stores on Chicago`s North Side. They issued their first catalog in 1965. The company was an Internet pioneer, launching a web site in 1995. Along with Amazon.com, LandsEnd.com is the only retail web site to be recognized in all 6 editions of the Internet Retailer Best of the Web Top 50 Web Sites.
In 1978, Comer moved the warehouse and phone operations to Dodgeville, WI. In 1986, Lands` End went public. Sears bought the company in 2002. Comer stepped down as president in 1990.
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