Once Sears & Roebuck became a household name and opened mercantiles across the nation, they needed a way to boost mail order sales from their massive warehouse in Chicago, IL so they sought someone to print a catalog that showcased all kinds of household items, new gadgets, dishes, and anything you could imagine like shoes, bed sheets and the like.
The 1908 catalogue (their spelling) from my book collection had 20 pages featuring watches (Several railroad watches that launched their fortunes).
And, the rest of the story. A bum off the streets, had an idea, and walked into their corporate board room with a plan to print a color-covered catalog for a ridiculous price. He was a slick talker, and convinced the directors he was a legitimate printer. They accepted his offer, and on the strength of a contract, he was able to walk around the corner, get a bank load to buy printing equipment, and hire employees to print the catalog. That bold move made him a millionaire over time, and for a company whose slogan was, "We Have No Agents Or Solicitors -- Persons Claiming To Be Our Representatives Are Swindlers," never learned of the ruse. Can you imagine all the individual engraving that had to be done in 1908...every small item had to be engraved as a cut. Look at the prices for a solid gold watch...