H. J. Wilson Co.

H. J. Wilson Co.
Wilson's
IndustryRetail
Founded1947
FounderHuey John Wilson
Defunct1985
FateAcquisition by Service Merchandise
SuccessorService Merchandise
Headquarters
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Number of locations
80
Area served
Southern United States
ProductsJewelry

H. J. Wilson Co., also known as Wilson's, was an American catalog showroom chain based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Founded in 1947 as a jewelry store, it was acquired in 1985 by Service Merchandise.

History

The store was begun by Huey John Wilson in 1947 as a jewelry vendor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Ten years later, Wilson opened his first catalog showroom. By 1982, Wilson's was the third-largest catalog showroom chain in the United States.[1] At its peak, it had 80 stores in 12 states. In 1985, rival chain Service Merchandise purchased all 80 of the Wilson's stores.[2]

Wilson died on February 8, 2008, at age 80.[3]

References

  1. ^ Walker, Ruth (26 October 1982). "Wilson's: retailing by the (big) book". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  2. ^ Kellerhalls, Merle D. (15 May 1985). "Service Merchandise buys Wilson's". The News and Courier. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Huey John Wilson obituary". The Advocate. 10 February 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2013.