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After leaving the wholesale business, they opened Service Merchandise, Inc., the first of what evolved into a chain of catalog showrooms. It opened in 1960 at 309 Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. [1] Older logo mainly used in the 1970s–1985. During the 1970s and 1980s, Service Merchandise was a leading catalog-showroom retailer.
Best employed the "catalog showroom" concept for many of its product offerings. Although some product categories (such as sporting goods and toys) were stocked in traditional self-serve aisles, the majority of products (notably consumer electronics, housewares, and appliances) were featured as unboxed display models.
Ellman's – acquired by Service Merchandise in 1985 [39] [40] H. J. Wilson Co. – Southern states, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; acquired by Service Merchandise in 1986 [39] [40] K's Merchandise Mart – liquidated in 2006; Luria's – originally L. Luria & Son, was a chain of catalog showroom stores in Florida, from 1961 to 1997.
The Consumer Reports investigation found deals where a $600 computer cost nearly $1,900 after less than year's worth of payments, and a washer-dryer combo with an original price tag of $1,000 cost ...
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Consumers Distributing aimed to reduce costs for customers by stocking merchandise in a warehouse-type stocking system instead of displaying them in a costly showroom. Customers made their selections from a catalogue, filled out a form listing the items they wanted, then waited for stock staff to retrieve the items from the warehouse.
It helps tell the story of Service Merchandise and its legacy. From the existing article: "With only 200 catalog showrooms remaining, the stock was valued at less than one cent per share. With no profitability in sight, Service Merchandise ceased operations and shuttered all of its remaining stores by early 2002."
While many beloved catalogs — think Sears, Penney's and Victoria's Secret — have gone away, our memories are fond as ever. Here are some we still miss.