Blish-Mize Celebrates 140 Anniversary
Blish Mize Connor
Communications Director
913-375-2505
Blish-Mize Celebrates 140th Year of Business
ATCHISON, KAN.,–January 31, 2011—
Leading hardlines distributor Blish-Mize Co. of Atchison is celebrating 140 years of business. One of the oldest American companies that is still family-owned, into the fifth generation leadership, continuing to provide energy and innovation and staying on the forefront of customer care.
The company was founded in 1871 by three brothers-in-law: David P. Blish, Edward A. Mize and Jack B. Silliman. The company got its start by outfitting wagon trains headed west from Atchison. In just a few years, Blish Mize & Silliman was distributing to general stores and eventually getting about 1900 goods out the door to approximately 800 stores throughout five Midwestern states.
But, by the mid 1930s, most Blish, Mize & Silliman clients had converted to hardware stores so the growth and focus of the company began—distributing became the main business. There were also two name changes—to BM & S in the 1970′s and then to BLISH-MIZE CO. in the 1980′s.
The successful distributor has survived and thrived in the best and worst of times. From drought, depression, war and recession, Blish-Mize Co. has found a way to move forward. Evolving in the marketplace and offering know-how to customers, has given the company a storied past and promising future. During the most recent economic downturn, Blish-Mize purchased two companies in an effort to make business grow. Timely innovation has made Blish-Mize one of the most enduring companies in the nation.
Blish-Mize customers include hardware stores, retail home centers, building materials dealers, lumberyards and paint stores. Still selling to one of the same stores that they did at the turn of the century and still buying from original suppliers. The company is built on a customer-centric business philosophy and is looking forward to many more years in the business.
From axel grease and horseshoes in the 1800′s to state of the art marketing and retail programs in the 2000′s, Blish-Mize has consistently delivered reliability and profitability to its customers.