In the midst of the heartaches of World War II, the discovery of concentration camps, D-Day, and the debut of “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”, one man, Milbert Moritz (Mill), began a sole proprietorship selling paint and body shop supplies to local auto and truck repair shops. It was a business plan that would be an uphill climb, but in 1944 there was no reason to hold back, it would succeed or fail, and succeed it was. During those early years Mill adopted the policies that Mill Supply, Inc. still uses today. He discovered what his customers really wanted; fast shipping, quality parts, and competitive prices.
All Businesses Need to Grow
As the years passed and customer demands increased,
Mill expanded his business to sell to fleets, hence Mill Auto Supply became a
supplier for Step Van Parts. Growing involved moving into a larger facility and
in 1968 Mill Auto Supply moved from 65th and Hough to 33rd and Superior in Cleveland,
Ohio. By doubling their size with the new facility there was enough room to take
on other products and he began selling aftermarket automotive replacement panels
that were no longer available from dealers.
It’s Time to Sell
In 1975 Milbert Moritz decided it was time to sell
but not retire. In fact, Mr. Moritz never did retire until he was laid to rest
in 2001. Many can still remember when he would call in an order from his home
in Florida. It was his desire to have personal contact with each local customer
and as far as we know, he did.
Some Names Linger
By 1981 Mill Auto Supply began selling to others
besides fleets and body shops. A name change was in order, hence Mill Supply,
Inc. became the official name. Even at the turn of the century our original customers
still used the old name without any intention of changing, though it was a change
that was needed. For in 1986 Mill’s market was expanded to include snow
plow parts. Today our “Discount Snow Plow Parts” catalog reaches snow
removal professionals across the country. The line includes parts for Meyer, Western,
Fisher and Diamond plows plus many other related winter items. You can jump to
our web site at www.discountsnowplowparts.com
and discover the variety of related products we now offer to the snow plow industry.
Busting at the Seams
Thirty years in one place is enough. Lofts and
second levels in rooms that were designed for one floor were choked to inefficiency.
The travel between a local second warehouse wasted time for packers and warehouse
employees. Office space was saved by using smaller desks and cubical walls were
used to absorb some of the sound. We had maxed out all available space renovation
options and it was time to move on. After literally years of searching, an adequate
facility with sufficient warehouse and office space for both the present and future
needs was located in Warrensville Hts, Ohio. With careful planning Mill Supply,
Inc. made its major move in one weekend after months of preparation; no down time,
no slack in order fulfillment.
With the increase in warehouse space, expanding the automotive industry from just rust repair panels was without question. Our customers demanded more products; thus we added radiators, fuel tanks, mirrors, lamps, oil pans, brake pads and the list goes on. And that was just for the body shop and the home mechanic. Our step van line increased to include chassis and suspension parts, brakes, bumpers and more. Recently, we have introduced equipment parts for the commercial landscape industry. And all this because we moved into a space where we could make dreams come true.
Milbert Moritz’ dream began in 1944. Three generations of owners later the dream still grows with the same original principles; fast shipping, quality parts, and competitive prices.
It Takes More
Without keeping up with the times, Mill Supply,
Inc. would not be here today. Providing accessibility for our customers through
the internet, updated catalogs, toll-free phone lines and knowledgeable sales
people is what you have come to expect from Mill Supply. Mill also has goals to
add related products, increase efficiency, shorten lead times, and add a greater
emphasis on research and development.
Thank You
All of us at Mill Supply realize that you are the
most important part of the business. Please come and visit us when you are in
the area (for a map click here). Thank you for enabling us to continue our steady
growth.
Mill Supply’s Mission Statement
Our focus is to provide prompt, courteous, dependable
service and offer quality merchandise at a competitive price while developing
our product line to meet the demands and needs of our customers. We will promote
integrity through mutual trust and sincere respect for customers, employees, and
vendors. Each department will operate in an organized and efficient manner with
clear procedures that produce accurate results. We will increase market share
and customer base through the media, direct marketing, and the internet.
Guarantee
Mill Supply’s guarantee is equal to or better than what each manufacturer furnishes. In no case is it greater than the cost of the merchandise.
