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The History of Store Opening Solutions
Store Opening Solutions (SOS) 
was founded in July 1995 as a
subsidiary of Famous Fixtures, a store fixture manufacturer and subsidiary of Famous Footwear.
SOS management analyzed the supply chain process recognizing that significant savings could be achieved by consolidating the delivery of store fixtures and graphics, as well as providing a wide array of services to retailers as part of an integrated project solution. Over time the SOS concept was refined, a centrally located distribution center established, and experienced management teams were brought together. In the fall of 1995, SOS began providing retailers these integrated services.
In January 1998, The Marmon Group acquired Store Opening Solutions making it a member of Marmon Retail Services Group. Since that time, significant investments have been made in staff infrastructure, facilities, and systems capabilities. The Marmon Group is an international association of more than 100 autonomous manufacturing and service companies with collective sales of $7 billion. Forbes magazine has placed The Marmon Group at 36th on its list of the largest privately held companies in the United States in 2007.
In 2005, Marmon purchased Alexander-Otto (AO), a company that had previously been a strategic partner of SOS . AO has been in business for over 10 years providing fixture and millwork installation and construction management services to the retail market. In 2007, Alexander-Otto’s business was absorbed into Store Opening Solutions. Crews were based nationwide and dispatched in company trucks complete with tools and equipment. SOS also provided an experienced project/construction management team to work with the retailer's internal resource teams to extend field capabilities. Our teams utilized our project and warehouse management applications giving a “window” into each project and providing daily progress and issue reports in real time.
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway purchased 60% of The Marmon Group, with a committment to purchase the remaining 40% by 2013.
In 2009, Store Opening Solutions decided to form separate companies of the two divisions - Store Services and Store Support. The Store Support Division, which consists of all activities that occur prior to reaching the store, remains part of The Marmon Group. The Store Services Division, in an effort to focus on those activities that are performed at the store location, was purchased by independent investors, inlcuding Division management. Both companies continue to work as partners to provide retailers the best service offering available.
The SOS vision remains focused on executing and managing all store projects, giving the retailer one point of contact. Today, SOS has the capability of addressing any requirement in a seamless fashion, bringing simplicity to any retail project.
