Morley Companies, Inc.
Our History
Morley Milestones
Morley's fascinating history began 150 years ago. See below how Morley has evolved into the customer service leader it is today.
1863:
Anton Schmitz opened a hardware business in Saginaw, Michigan, and took George and Edward Morley as partners.
1871:
The Morley family chartered Second National Bank (now Citizens Bank), one of Michigan's oldest and most respected financial institutions.
1880:
Morley Brothers became one of the largest hardware wholesalers in Michigan.
1882:
Morley Brothers opened a new retail and wholesale store believed to be one of the largest structures ever built in the United States; it was four stories of iron, brick and plate glass totaling over 100,000 square feet.
1887:
The Morley carriage and buggy repository was believed to be one of the nation's largest with over 200 vehicles on display and for sale at any given time.
1888:
Members of Morley's extended family (Burrows) provided George Eastman with the funds to establish the Eastman Kodak Company.
1892:
Morley Brothers became the second-largest hardware company in the United States, employing over 200 people.
Early 1900s:
Billy Durant, founder of General Motors Corporation, asked R.C. Morley for a loan. Instead, Morley extended him a 180-day line of credit, setting the standard for other GM suppliers.
1909:
Mershon & Morley became the largest manufacturers of portable houses in the United States.
1927:
Morley built a new four-story headquarters and warehouse in downtown Saginaw.
1933:
During the depression, Morley supplied $500,000 to help the City of Saginaw meet its payroll for many years, saving the town from bankruptcy.
1950-60:
Morley established itself as the world's largest distributor of many products, including RCA.
1974:
Morley performed a 16,000-person group travel movement, possibly the largest group travel movement up to that point in history. This was made possible through its early adoption of innovative database administration and computerization of travel-related information.
1997:
Morley initiated an international consortium to provide increased service to its clients across the globe. The Morley Global Alliance has partners in Brazil, Dubai, Mexico, Singapore and Switzerland.
TODAY:
Morley operates from its 130,000-square-foot headquarters in Michigan with sales offices in Connecticut and Detroit. The firm operates Group Travel; Business Theater; Interactive; Research; Exhibits, Displays & Experiences; and Performance Improvement programs for the world's largest enterprises.
