Service Merchandise Company, Inc. - Specimen Stock Certificate

Specimen Stock printed by American Bank Note Company. Service Merchandise was a retail chain known for its catalog showrooms that offered a variety of products, including jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics. Established in 1934 as a five-and-dime store, the company operated for 68 years before closing its doors in 2002. The origins of Service Merchandise can be traced back to a modest five-and-dime store founded by Harry and Mary Zimmerman in Pulaski, Tennessee. Transitioning from the wholesale sector, they launched Service Merchandise, Inc., which marked the beginning of a chain of catalog showrooms. The first showroom opened in 1960 at 309 Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Service Merchandise emerged as a prominent catalog-showroom retailer, reaching a peak of over $4 billion in annual sales. As the company grew, it expanded its showroom presence across the nation, primarily near major shopping malls that were popular during the 1970s.

In the early 1980s, the headquarters of Service Merchandise relocated from Nashville to Brentwood, Tennessee, becoming one of the pioneering businesses in what is now known as Cool Springs. In May 1985, the company acquired H. J. Wilson Co. for approximately $200 million, with CEO Raymond Zimmerman seeking to strengthen the company's presence in the Sun Belt states. Many of the Wilson's locations featured an off-priced apparel department spanning about 15,000 square feet. Additionally, Service Merchandise owned several subsidiaries, including Zim's Jewelers, HomeOwners Warehouse (later renamed Mr. HOW Warehouse), The Lingerie Store, and The Toy Store. The retailer was also a notable sponsor of Wheel of Fortune and contributed prizes for various television game shows, including CBS's The Price Is Right, NBC's Classic Concentration, and The Family Channel's Shop 'til You Drop and Shopping Spree.