Miller Paint
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1890 |
| Founder | Ernest Carl Bernard Mueller |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon, US |
Key people | Jason Palumbis (CEO and President) |
| Products | Paint |
| Website | millerpaint |
The Miller Paint Company is an employee-owned paint manufacturing company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The company has more than 60 stores in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.[1]
History[edit]
Miller Paint was founded in 1890 by Ernest Carl Bernard Mueller, a muralist and house painter who emigrated from Germany to Portland, Oregon.[1][2] After changing the spelling of his last name to Miller, he began doing business as Ernest Miller & Co., and established a storefront in downtown Portland in 1895.[2]
Miller Paint Company was founded in 1890 by Ernest Miller. German born, and trained as a scenic artist, he immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1865. Miller settled in Oregon in 1885 and made his living working as a house painter and scenic artist, painting murals and asbestos curtains used in theatres. He and his wife had three sons; Ernest Jr., born in 1893. Herbert, born in 1895, and Walter, born in 1900.
In 1890, Ernest Sr. purchased a stone mill and began manufacturing his paint. The mill was located in the corner of his workshop in a barn on San Rafael Street in northeast Portland. His paint became known for its quality, and other paint contractors soon asked if they could use "Ernest Miller House Paint." Soon the paint and color quality created enough demand for a second mill. A horse-drawn delivery wagon was used in 1901 to deliver paint to his customers.
The first world's fair on the West Coast was held in Portland, Oregon, in 1905, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. Ernest Miller painted and displayed a large canvas mural of "a bird's eye view" of the Columbia River, from Portland to The Dalles. The canvas was suspended on two rollers in a tent, and a small electric motor rolled the scene along for fairgoers to watch. It was booked as the longest mural in the world.
The first Miller Paint store was opened in 1905 on S.W. Front Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Two years later, the store relocated to First Avenue, near Yamhill St. As Miller's sons grew older, they became active in the family business until World War I, when Ernest Jr. and Herbert joined the armed forces. Walt quit high school in 1916 to work the business full time. After the war, the two older brothers returned to the prospering business.
In 1926, a new location was built to house the factory and a new retail store. Miller Paint Company's landmark store still stands at 317 S.E. Grand Avenue. Over the years, the retail space has expanded, and the factory relocated twice before building the present factory on Whitaker Way.
John Buckinger Sr. joined the company in 1931. He was responsible for manufacturing and formulating paint, utilizing new developments in raw materials. He continued to improve Miller's product, which was created for use in the wet Northwest climate.
1935 marked a year of change for Miller Paint Company. Ernest Sr. passed away at the age of 70. That same year, the Miller sons and John Buckinger Sr. purchased a store in Seattle, adding a third retail location for the company. One of the two original outside salesmen was hired: Bill Potts. Potts was instrumental in building the contractor trade and eventually in charge of sales until his retirement in 1988.
Since the Miller family name is derived from the milling profession, Herb Miller liked incorporating a windmill into the company logo. He purchased a secondhand restaurant sign of a windmill, which evolved to become the company trademark. In the late '30s, as the Depression was easing, the popular comment that "things looked better" led to Walt Miller developing the slogan "Things are looking better with Miller Paint."
America entered World War II in 1941, and Miller Paint Company manufactured paint for the war effort. Much of the paint was made for the Navy and Merchant Marine. The three brothers ran the company until 1948 when Herbert died. Ernest Jr. and Walter co-managed the company until 1959 when Ernest Jr. passed away. Walt continued on with the family tradition.
Herb Miller Jr. joined the company in the late forties after his tour in the Navy and shortly thereafter became a Miller Paint dealer in Vancouver, Washington. He later became a paint buyer for Western Auto and eventually a Western Auto dealer in Maryland. He returned to Portland upon his retirement.
By 1978, all production had been moved to the new facility on Whitaker Way. John Buckinger Sr., Vice President of Manufacturing and head chemist, passed away in 1980 after 49 years with Miller Paint Company. His son, John Jr., had joined the company full-time in 1965. After his father's death, he assumed the position of Vice President of Manufacturing.
Walt Miller decided to change in the early eighties and initiated a Company stock bonus plan to spread ownership to a broader base of Miller employees. The decision to reward employees with company stock was pivotal in adopting the current 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 1999.
Miller Paint Company celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1990. This year also marked the passing of Walter Miller at age 90, who spent his life working and building the family business.
Walt Miller's death restructured the management team. Herbert Miller Jr. was named Chairman of the Board, and John Buckinger Jr. became President and CEO.
The factory completed an expansion in 1995, adding a 27,000-square-foot warehouse, making the manufacturing facility a total of 80,000 square feet. With the new warehouse, a 9,000-square-foot office space was added for the corporate headquarters. Currently, the factory is undergoing further restructuring to provide a more efficient production and warehousing facility.
With the new millennium came many changes for Miller Paint Company. As the company celebrated its new status of being employee-owned, the President and CEO, John Buckner, retired. Steve Dearborn, who joined the company in 2000 as Chief Operations Officer, was promoted to President and CEO. A new senior management team evolved and quickly developed a strategic plan to grow the company.
A whirlwind of operational and manufacturing improvements began with the opening of several new stores and the relocation of others, guided by the strategy set forth by the new management team. The Sales and Marketing division was restructured and expanded, and a new look and feel for the company was incorporated to enhance the company's historic reputation in the Northwest.
In 2001, Miller Paint partnered with artist Gretchen Schauffler to create a new interior paint line. The Devine Color line was designed with a specific focus on regional color and was received with phenomenal success. The new line has expanded to nationwide distribution and marketing and recently has entered international markets.
Miller Paint Company has a proud tradition and history in the Northwest. Its strong reputation for the highest-quality products and superior customer service is unsurpassed. Miller's history of involvement in community projects, historic renovations, and community service lends itself to the company's mission. Employee ownership will ensure Miller Paint Company's long-standing reputation.
Ernest Miller died in 1937 and was succeeded by his son Walt, who served as CEO and President until 2000.[3] In 2020, Jason Palumbis became the company's fourth CEO, succeeding Steve Dearborn.[1][3][4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (March 3, 2020). "Portland's Miller Paint Co. marks 130 years with souped-up neon sign". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ a b "Our History". Miller Paint. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ a b "Our Founder's Story". Miller Paint. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ "Miller Paint Opens Two New Stores". Coatings World. October 28, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2023.