Henokiens Association

In the process of preparing a presentation on my research to deliver to students at Hanze University in the Netherlands, I discovered an organization whose members are generational family-owned firms that are over 200 years old.  Called the Henokiens Association, this group shares common values which bring them together - values that echo the results of my research on 100-year-old companies in the U.S. and Japan.  200-year-old companies are unique in today's economic landscape and Henokiens members agree that it is these values that have enabled their extraordinary longevity, chief among them being respect for product quality and human relations, and special "know-how" passed with passion from generation to generation. 


The Henokiens Association today consists of 40 member companies, most of them European plus several Japanese firms.  Having identified at least three U.S. companies that qualify (in addition to being over 200 years old, the firm must be managed by a descendant of the founder, the family must still own the company - or at least the majority of shares, and the company must be in good financial health), I'm hoping to see American members in the future.  If you know of a company that qualifies to be a Henokien, please let me know!

Do Old Companies Tend to Exist in Geographic Clusters?

Recently I've been communicating with a woman from Philadelphia who has an interest in the unique concentration of old companies in the Italian Market area of South Philadelphia.  I have noticed a similar clustering in both Grand Rapids and the Holland/Zeeland area of West Michigan. This observation raises the question of whether it is the community that supports these companies leading to their long lives, or if there is some sort of mutual support system going on among the businesses themselves, or if there is something else leading to these clusters.  My research on 100-year-old companies does indicate that these firms feel a deep connection to their local communities, so perhaps this focus on relationships translates into a support system that keeps the businesses going.

Last week I saw the documentary film "Spinning Plates" which profiled a family restaurant (Brietbach's) in Iowa that was founded in 1861.  It had burned to the ground twice in recent years and both times the community and customers rallied to support the rebuilding.  It seems that many of these old businesses - particularly the generational family businesses - become treasured members of the community that everyone wants to see survive.  I can remember walking with my young children in downtown Holland (Michigan) one weekend when my daughter remarked "we are so lucky to live here."  When asked why she felt that way, she replied "because we have the Peanut Store!"  One of several 'century' businesses located on a three-block long main street, this candy store is one of our community's treasured  businesses, so associated with downtown Holland that if it were ever to close it would feel like losing a dear friend - not just for my family but for many, many others.

100 Year Old Company Profiles

Rather than duplicate entries, if you want to see the profiles of 100-year-old companies I'm posting this year, check out my tweets @vtenhaken on Twitter.  Today's was AmeriPride Services, one of the largest uniform rental and linen supply companies in North America, headquartered in Minnetonka, MN, still private and family-owned after 125 years.  I am in the middle of a list of companies founded in 1889 to highlight their 125th anniversary.  On the list so far:  Pendleton Woolen Mills in Portland, Oregon; McCormick & Company (spices) in Maryland; Modell's sporting goods stores in NY; and Varnum, a law firm in Grand Rapids, MI.  Though there are many financial institutions celebrating 125 years in 2014, you might be surprised at some of the others, so stay tuned!

150-year-old firms I profiled earlier include Renault Winery in Egg Harbor, New Jersey; First Horizon bank in Memphis; and Glatfelter - a global leader in specialty papers and fibers headquartered in York, PA.

Additions to Michigan's 100 Over 100

Last year I published a list of Michigan companies over 100 years old.  Since my list at the time came to exactly 100 firms I titled it "100 Over 100."  Two more old companies have come to my attention - both from Grand Rapids, making it a real 'hotbed' of companies that have thrived for over a century. The additions:

Varnum, established 1888; legal services
Koeze Company, established 1910; peanut butter, nuts & chocolate

I would love for my list of companies over 100 to grow even further, so please let me know when you find one.

Working for Old Companies

I just returned from visiting my parents (who are in their 80s and living in Florida).  Though my father has been retired for many years, the visit reminded me that my work background must have subconsciously influenced my research on old companies.  For all but two years of his life, my father worked for and then owned a small, country bank.  I worked there during high school - the beginning of what turned out to be a career of working for 100-year old companies: they were proud of the fact that - despite an armed bank robbery and the great depression - this little bank had always been open for their customers.   It was only when I was preparing a presentation for the Forbes/IBM conference a few years ago that I realized every organization I had worked for during my 45-year career is over 100 years old:  The Bank of Birnamwood (now Banner Banks but still independently owned); The Bank of Madison (subsequently M&I Bank, unfortunately a casualty of the recent financial crisis); Bunte's Pharmacy (a college gig - great fun working the soda fountain); General Electric; Herman Miller, Inc.; and now Hope College.  Given my research that has shown how the organizations that have survived for over 100 years tend to exhibit behaviors focused on building relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and their communities, I feel privileged to have had such positive work experiences.  As we prepare to enter a new year, my wish is for more organizations to understand and begin to model the behaviors the old companies embody.  These companies are national treasures I feel we should honor - they deserve more attention and appreciation than our country gives them (as compared to Japan, where old companies are such treasured institutions they even have a name for them: shinise.)  So next year I will dedicate this blog and my twitter entrees (@vtenhaken) to profiles of our 100-year-old companies.

The Michigan 100

Over the summer I posted on Twitter 100 companies in Michigan that are over 100 years old.  My hope is that we can convince Governor Snyder to start a "Century Club" honoring these businesses that have helped keep our state's economy running through good times and bad.  Here, in alphabetical order, is my list of the Michigan 100 over 100.  Let's celebrate them!

Acme Mfg.                             1910                            Auburn Hills

American Seating                     1886                           Grand Rapids

Armstrong Int’l                                                          Three Rivers                 5^th gen

Bahle’s (dept. store)                1876                             Suttons Bay                             

Bauer’s Jewelry                      1891                             Saginaw

Bissel                                     1889                             Grand Rapids

Bond Decorating                     1891                             Iron Mtn.

Brammal Industrial Supply       1873                              Benton Harbor

Buchley’s Shoes                     1894                              Bad Axe                       4^th gen

Buis Mattress                         1913                              Holland

Bulman Products                    1905                              Grand Rapids              

Cascarellis Restaurant              1909                             Albion                          4^th gen

Central Michigan Paper            1885                             Ada

Chelsea Lumber Co.                1908                             Chelsea

Chelsea Milling                                                           Chelsea

Chris Engel’s Greenhouse        1883                             Detroit

Corbishley’s Clothing              1876                             Bad Axe                       4^th gen

Crandill Funeral Homes            1902                            Fremont, White Cloud

Daniel Orr Sons Hardware       1875                             North Branch

Dekker’s Jewelry                                                       Zeeland

Detroit Store Fixture Co.          1898                            Detroit

DeVries Jewelers                     1901                           Grand Rapids

Dickenson’s Hardware             1876                            Fennville

Diltrich Furs                            1893                            Detroit

Doncker’s Candies & Gifts       1896                            Marquette

Dykstra Funeral                                                          Holland

Ebonex Corp.                          1878                            Detroit Area

Edge- Sweets (ESCO)              1887                            Grand Rapids

Ford Motor Co.                       1903                            Dearborn

Frankenmuth News                  1906                            Frankenmuth

Fris Office Outfitters                1900                            Holland                        5^th gen

Fritz Family Restaurant             1902                            Richville                        5^th gen

GB Russo & Son                       1905                            Grand Rapids  

Getz Dept. Store                       1880’s                         Marquette

Gilbert Chocolates                                                        Jackson

Golden Shoes                                                               Traverse City

Gordon Food Service                 1897                            Grand Rapids  

Graafscap Hardware                  1869                            Holland           

Groskopf’s Luggage                                                      Grand Rapids

Harley Ellis Devereaux                1908                            Southfield                    

Henry the Hatter                         1893                            Detroit

Herman’s Boy (Coffee Roaster)   1901                            Rockford

Herman Miller Inc.                      1905                            Zeeland                       

Herter Music                              1903                            Bay City

Hoekstra’s Hardware                  1867                            Kalamazoo

Homer Monumental Works          1889                            Homer

Holland Peanut Store                   1902                            Holland                        5^th gen

Irwin Sealing                                                                  Grand Rapids

Jesperson’s Restaurant & Pie Shoppe  1903                       Petoskey

Johnson’s Studio Camera                1892                           Cheboygan                   4^th gen

Kelloggs                                        1906                            Battle Creek

Kindel Furniture                             1901                           Grand Rapids

Kositchek’s                                   1865                            Lansing

Krzyske Bros Co.                           1890                            Monroe, Waltz

Langeland- Sterenlseng Funeral                                          Holland

Lokers Shoes                                1913                            Holland

Mapes Furniture                            1892                            St. Ignace

Martins Shoe House                       1846                            Monroe                                   

Masters LaLonde Shoes                  1879                            Alpena

McClillan’s Frankenmuth Woolen Mill  1894                        Frankenmuth

Metcaef&Gonkhoff Funeral            1894                            Grand Rapids               5^th gen

Michigan Ladder                                                               Ypsilanti

Milkins Jewelers                            1905                            Wyandotte                   4^th gen

Model Drug &Apothocary Shop                                         Holland

Moore & Carter Lumber                 1904                            Sandusky,  Croswell

Mosher’s Jewelers                         1898                            Port Huron                   4^th gen 

Murphy &Caris (Law Firm)            1905                            Fremont                                  

Nouman Corp. Dist. Center                                                Bay City

Oliver Products                              1890                            Grand Rapids              

Padnos                                                                             Holland                        4^th gen

Palmer Auto Svc.                                                              Frankenmuth

Perrigo                                          1887                            Allegan

Pomeroy Funeral Home                   1890                            Croswell

Power’s Clothing                            1892                            Jonesville

Raymond Hardware                        1850                            Port Sanilac

Reusch Jewelers                             1885                            Cheboygan                   4^th gen

Schaefer Bierleen Cars                     1852                            Frankenmuth                6^th gen

Sempliner’s Bride & Formal                                                Bay City

Sieb Plumbing, Heating, & A/C         1868                            Monroe                                   

Siegel Jewelers                                1889                            Grand Rapids

Skaff Carpet & Furniture                  1911                            Flint

Smith Floral & Greenhouse                                                  Lansing

Star of the West Milling Co.              1840’s                         Frankenmuth

Steelcase                                                                           Grand Rapids                          

Steven’s Van Lines                          1905                            Saginaw               4^th &  5^th gen

Sunnyside Florist                                                                Owosso

Superior Sports Store                       1909                            Holland                        4^th gen 

The Standard Companies                                                     West Michigan            

The Yale Expositor                           1882                            Yale

Vail Rubber Company                       1904                            St. Joseph       

Vredeveld Shoes                                                                  Fremont

West Branch Flour Mill                     1892                            West Branch   

Whirlpool                                        1911                            St. Joe                         

Willis Sausage Co.                                                               Frankenmuth

Winglemire Furniture                        1858                            Holly

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing            1905                            Grand Rapids

Wolverine Worldwide                       1883                            Rockford         

WW Fairbairn & Sons                      1890’s                         Alanson

Yaeger’s Shoes                                1846                            Monroe                        5^th gen

Zeeland Print Shop                           1908                            Zeeland                        4^th gen

The Michigan 100

I am nearing the end of my Twitter entries of #100over100: Michigan companies over 100 years old.  Several furniture manufacturers, five funeral homes, five hardware stores, six jewelry stores and seven shoe stores!  I didn't realize it when I started, but there are exactly 100 Michigan companies on my list of  businesses over 100 years old that I can verify.  I do have several more names, but cannot find websites, newspaper articles or other confirmation that they are still in business.  So next week (after we hit the 100 mark) I will post the full list on my blog and if anyone knows of Michigan companies that have been in continuous operation for over 100 years and are not on the list, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!