Michigan Company Inc. (Michco) is a family run business serving the central Michigan region for over 87 years. Our motto: "You are not only a customer, but also a Friend" has helped us grow and prosper. With both a commercial store and a computerized distribution center, Michco can meet the needs of any type of commercial client.
Our constantly upgraded computer networks & hardware affords us with the necessary technology to provide our customers with superior service. Our custom programmed software keeps track of your order and monitors all inventory functions. For our commercial customers we track all purchases on line and can provide detailed usage reports upon request by departments. Our account representatives offer consultation services on ways to reduce your total facilities maintenance and operation costs through focusing on procurement, training, usage, disposal, and safety including order consolidation and single source purchasing strategies.
Our fleet of delivery trucks (and yes we wish we still had the Ford models, but we use more modern fuel efficient ones now) cover the entire Mid-Michigan area with deliveries available on scheduled routes. Prompt next business day delivery is possible if requested and orders are received prior to 3:00pm EST for all cataloged items. For special orders, deliveries are generally made within days. And we've even been known to use extrordinary means to rush that mission critical toilet paper across the state to a campground on a friday night before the Memorial Holiday when a customer ordered the wrong item!
Michco offers a complete line of Commercial quality cleaning equipment from some of the most innovative manufacturers in the industry. Featuring innovative leaders like Betco, Kent Euroclean, Minuteman, ProTeam, Inteplast Plastics, just to name a few. We stock 1,000's of parts and manuals for nearly every major machine line, and offer on line access to over 450,000 parts from 7 major manufacturers. All equipment is service with a team of skilled service technicians supported by on site parts inventory.
Call us about our Premier Customer Program for commercial accounts requiring on line ordering and order transmission. Michco’s Premier customers receive special discounts on their most frequently ordered items, desktop delivery, free stocking and delivery of custom printed merchandise, and more!
And don't forget, you can browse and shop electronically with the Michco On-line. Purchasing convenience direct from your PC!
The Following is a more detailed history:
Michco was incorporated in 1922 servicing primarily school's needs of the time. Using Ford Model "T"s and "A"'s Michco delivered to surrounding school districts selling basic school supplies like pencils, desks, chairs, and eventually cleaning supplies as school districts became larger. Our first manufactured product was sweeping compound made specifically at the request of a school district we were servicing at the time. As Michco grew, emphasis was placed on expanding into industrial markets and other commercial facilities. Most all of the products Michco sold at this time were manufactured in the lower warehouse on 400 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing Michigan (not pictured). This location no longer exists; it was demolished in the mid 1980's to provide better street access for the Impression 5 Museum.
In 1964 DeVere Curtiss purchased The Michigan Company Incorporated from then owner & founder Jack Crist to start the Curtiss Family's involvement. Mr. Curtiss ran the company with his two sons until 1979 when he retired to warmer places in Florida. During this time Michco developed into a corporate entity where sales out paced manufacturing capacity and management made a strategic decision to concentrate on distribution rather than the dual role of both manufacturing and distribution. Most all products were contracted for production and Michco manufacturing was limited to a few key products. In 1978 Michco purchased one of the first production models of the new personal computer from the Tandy Computer Division called the T.R.S.-80 Model I. This was the first commercial installation this side of the Mississippi River. From the beginning of the micro computer revolution Michco has strived to bring technology into the facility maintenance area.
With sales growth comes expansion and in 1981 our current facility was purchased and remodeled. We moved from 400 E. Michigan Ave. to 2011 N. High Street. Our current facility is 25,000 square feet with 5000 square feet of office space. We really thought we had a large building in 1981. Today, continued sales growth has consumed all available floor space and in nearly all areas between the floor and ceiling too. In 1983 an IBM System 34 was selected to replace the aging Ohio Scientific Challenger personal computer. This computer marked the beginning of multi-user departmental usage bringing the computer out to the departments. A strong focus was placed on software development geared toward placing technology in the hands of individual workers rather than the "high tech staff" in the back room. Today IBM and Microsoft hardware and software are extensively used throughout our computer network. We use technology extensively to promote communication with our customers; all account managers have Black Berry devices to speed communications. With our investment in distribution technology, we provide specialized custom services for our customer's needs and each account manager sales force is completely automated with in the field access to our mainframe.
Today Michco places great emphasis on satisfying our customers one stop shopping. Our staff no longer thinks about supplying cleaning materials, but rather every product you may need to maintain and operate a facility. We stock 32,000 items with 44 shipping points in the U.S. that supply every little detail like coffee, copy paper, pencils, toner, note pads, light bulbs, signs, fire equipment, clocks, computer equipment, fax supplies, furniture, packaging materials, mail room materials, ..... and the cleaning materials like toilet paper, bowl cleaners, degreasers, vehicle wash, floor finishes, equipment, disinfectants, glass cleaners, polishes, etc... Our current capabilities include extensive computer abilities, custom web portals for training your users, bar coding for end users, web MSDS's for most products, service for all commercial cleaning equipment, training on product use, motivational seminars, inventory control, on-line catalog search and order entry, and all backed by prompt delivery just to name a few.
We would love the opportunity to show you how you can make your life simpler and more productive so you've got more time to do the fun things in life.