Pioneered by companies such as Sears, Roebuck, J. C. Penney's, and Montgomery Wards, catalog shopping began as a means of reaching consumers who did not have ready access to department stores. Today, catalog sales are sought by all major retailers in conjunction with Internet sales to support the consumer's need to shop at home 24/7.
Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Francesca Sterlacci and Joanne Arbuckle.