Thursday, June 18, 2020

20 Companies Celebrate 120 Years in 2020


That's a lot of 20s! 1900 saw the start of a new century and the founding of these companies, who survived to see another century. Only one of these is a public company and most (three-quarters) are generational family firms. Congratulations to these Century Club Companies celebrating their 120th anniversaries this year.

Armstrong International, Three Rivers MI (5th generation)

Bamonte's, New York City NY (4th generation) This Brooklyn restaurant was the setting for several episodes of The Sopranos

Banner Banks, Birnamwood WI

Block Communications, Toledo OH (3rd generation)

Dykstra Funeral Homes, Holland MI (3rd generation)

French Oil Mill Machinery, Piqua OH (4th generation)

Fris Supply Shop, Holland MI (4th & 5th generations)

Getz's, Marquette MI (4th generation)

Gilbert Chocolates, Jackson MI

Graniterock, Watsonville CA (5th generation) 

H.H. Hankins & Brother, Bridgeton NJ (3rd generation?)

Mans Lumber, Trenton MI (4th generation)

McNerney Companies, Northwood OH (4th generation)

NEP Telephone, Forest City PA

Ralph's Restaurant, Philadelphia PA (5th generation)

Rosa Food Products, Philadelphia PA (4th generation)

Schramm, West Chester PA (4th generation)

Shiver Lumber, Americus GA (4th generation)

Weyerhaeuser, Seattle WA (public)

Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, Little Rock AR




Thursday, June 4, 2020

16 Companies Celebrate 125th Anniversaries in 2020



125 years in business means your company started in 1895 and has survived well into another century. Though 2020 has not been what any of us expected, those firms operating on longevity principles uncovered in my research ("Lessons From Century Club Companies: Managing for Long-Term Success") will likely survive another year. Ten are generational - even two of the public companies are closely held with family board members; one is employee-owned and one a co-op (basically customer-owned). So now, let's take a moment to celebrate:

Albany International, Rochester NH (public)

Capital City Bank, Tallahassee FL (3rd generation)

J.C. Newman Cigar, Tampa FL (4th generation)

Kansas City Life Insurance, Kansas City MO (public; 4th generation)

Kirlin Lighting, Detroit MI (4th generation)

Lennox International, Richardson TX, (public, 4th generation)

Lincoln Electric, Euclid OH (public)

Louis' Lunch, New Haven CT (4th generation)

McNulty's Tea & Coffee, New York City NY

Mid-Cape Home Centers, South Dennis MA

Rudolph's Meat Market, Dallas TX (3rd generation)

Rumsey Electric, Conshohocken PA (employee-owned)

Stanford Grain, Stanford IL (co-op)

Swann's Furniture, Tyler TX (4th & 5th generations)

Vowell & Sons, Martin TN (5th generation)

W.W. Fairbairn & Sons, Alanson MI (5th generation)


Monday, June 1, 2020

17 Companies Founded 1890 Celebrate 130th Anniversary





Seventeen companies founded in 1890 are still around today to celebrate their 130th anniversaries: four of them public, one 100% employee-owned and nine generational family firms. Congratulations all!

A.M. Castle & Company, Oak Brook IL (public) 

Bartell Drugs, Seattle WA (2nd generation)

Church's Lumber Yards, Auburn Hills MI (4th generation)

Curtis Lumber, Ballston Spa NY (4th generation)

Emerson Electric, Ferguson MO (public)

Engquist Lumber, Harcourt IA (4th generation)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, Oak Brook IL (public)

Marshalltown Company, Marshalltown IA

Muskegon Awning & Fabrication, Muskegon MI

Oliver Products, Grand Rapids MI

Pomeroy Funeral Homes, Croswell MI (3rd generation)

Stifel Financial, St. Louis MO (public)

Sundt, Tempe AZ (employee-owned)

Teufel Nursery, Hillsboro OR (4th generation)

Ward Lumber, Jay NY (4th generation)

Wheelwright Lumber, Ogden UT (3rd generation?)

Whitehead's Cutlery, Butte MT (3rd, 4th & 5th generations)