Browse Marketing History via the Wayback Machine

What did some major marketing brands look like on the web 5, 10, or even 20 years ago? You can find out by checking the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.

Not only is this a good way to see the evolution of web design, you can also follow along as logos change, brand ownership changes, and offerings change.

At top, how the Wayback Machine shows the number and timing of Sears.com web pages captured and saved since January, 1997 to today.

At right, the Sears "about us" page in 1997. This is obviously before the acquisition by Kmart was announced in 2004 and completed in 2005. The brand's logo is prominent along the header and navigation is along the bottom as well as via links embedded in the body copy.

At left, the "overview" page from the corporate page of Sears Holdings, which owns Sears and Kmart today.  Navigation is along the side and along the bottom (not shown in this capture).

There is a link to the Sears Archives, where the distinctive blue-and-white logo is prominent at top left of web page. Check this page for the history of the venerable Sears, Roeback & Company, a true pioneer of legacy retailing.

Marketing Earth Day, April 22

Thanks to the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, we can see how the EarthDay.org website looked last year and years earlier.

Above, one of the screens that rotated on Earth Day's home page last year.

At right, an image from Earth Day's home page in 2011.

And below, an image from Earth Day's home page in 2006.

Clearly, the site has become increasingly sophisticated and image-oriented. It captures the imagination by vividly portraying our Earth and showing how people can preserve its beauty and natural resources.

This year, Earth Day is April 22.

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