What strategic error is widely considered the primary reason for Montgomery Ward's bankruptcy and closure in 2001 after 129 years in business?

Montgomery Ward was once one of America's retail giants, standing alongside Sears as a pioneer of catalog sales and department stores. Founded in 1872, it survived the Great Depression and two World Wars, but couldn't adapt to the changing retail landscape of the late 20th century. This poll tests your knowledge about one of the most significant retail collapses in American history - a cautionary tale of what happens when established companies fail to innovate.

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They rejected an opportunity to be the exclusive retailer for Cabbage Patch Kids dolls in the 1980s, missing a billion-dollar phenomenon
They decided to close their catalog business in 1985, just before the rise of direct-to-consumer shopping that would have positioned them perfectly for e-commerce
They invested heavily in VHS rental departments in all stores right before DVD technology made VHS obsolete
They expanded aggressively into Canada in the 1990s, opening 200 stores that all failed within three years