A Strong History

From axle grease, horseshoes and firearms in the 1800′s to state-of-the-art marketing , retail programs, and over 60,000 items in the 21st Century, Blish-Mize has consistently delivered reliability and profitability to its customers.  

Today, Blish-Mize is one of the oldest and most successful distributors of its type in the nation.  We were founded in 1871 by three brothers-in-law: David Blish, Edward Mize, and Jack Silliman, who moved to Atchison, Kansas from Chicago to start outfitting wagon trains headed west from the Missouri River.

In just a few short years, the company was distributing all types of goods to over 800 hardware stores, lumberyards, and general stores thorughout a number of midwestern states.

Our valued customers today include hardware stores, lumberyards, home centers, and paint store retailers.  Some of our current customers have been with us for over a century!

Not even drought, floods, depressions, or war would prevent us from moving forward. That’s why we’ve been around longer than most businesses in the United States. We have evolved with the market place, worked hard to improve our capabilities, and have offered know-how to our customers. Without our customers, we wouldn’t have a storied past, or a promising future.