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Select Media Services is part of the Jim Pattison Group, a financially sound company with over $1 Billion in assets and $6 Billion in annual sales.

History

 

Select Media Services, LLC (SMS), a Jim Pattison Group company (JPG), was formally incorporated in 1997 but was initially formed in 1994 as the Specialty Retail division within The News Group (TNG). The specialty retail division was borne out of a 1993 business arrangement with The Home Depot (THD). THD agreed to test magazines in 2 of their Atlanta area stores, and pleased with the results, approved a rollout of 65 stores in the Southeast region of the US.

The home improvement product mix at these stores was enriched with magazines displayed on mainline fixtures and in pockets at the checkouts. Products were shipped via small package carrier as opposed to company owned truck delivery (standard in the traditional magazine wholesale business). Additionally, service representatives were sent to the stores to merchandise the product and process returns.

The Home Depot was so impressed with the outcome that they decided to award SMS book business as well. THD books had been supplied solely on a direct basis from the book publishers. SMS began designing fixtures for THD's books and magazines to create an idea & information center. In addition to this mainline area, SMS developed a cross-merchandising program to display publications in specific departments, conveniently located near related products.

During the years following incorporation, SMS was awarded additional THD divisions, propelling SMS to the national level. Revolutionary formatting and a national infrastructure became the foundation for a strong business and inevitable growth as SMS continued to build its base of specialty retailers in several classes of trade, from Office Supply and Consumer Electronics to Baby Goods and Toys. In the spirit of continuous improvement, SMS supplies the most innovative and unbiased programs to specialty retailers throughout the nation.

SMS acquired Time Media Direct in 2008, positioning SMS to become the top national merchandising service supplier. SMS services all retail partner stores nationwide using solely SMS merchandising representatives supervised by four levels of field management. The acquisition allowed SMS to increase the level of service and accountability it offered retail and publisher partners.

In response to favorable results in THD candy and DVDPlay kiosk merchandising services, SMS expanded its merchandising services to include one-stop front-end management capabilities, just one more way we save our retail partners time and money. In any one visit, SMS merchandisers efficiently perform multiple product merchandising tasks, increasing retail sales by keeping locations in stock and shoppable. To further increase the density, versatility and capacity of our merchandising staff and services, The News Group (a sister company) began a staged merger of its national merchandising branch with that of Select Media Services in May 2009.

SMS also serves its publisher partners by providing distribution services for book and magazine titles to thousands of specialty retailers throughout the United States and its territories. Our three distribution centers provide efficient, cost-effective service and competitive lead times throughout the US. SMS has expertise in logistics, versatile in-store service, custom displays, unbiased category management and legendary customer service.

SMS demonstrates continued growth through expanding partnerships with national retailers in diverse markets. Our business model: understand the the needs of specialty retailer's customer needs and behaviors and work hard to sustain loyal business partnerships with major customers through sales, promotions and accountable, value-added service.