Type Private corporation Revenue $800 million (2008) Founder Melville Reuben Bissell Number of employees 2,500 | Genre Home Care Motto Home To A Deeper Clean Founded 1876 | |
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Key people Mark J. Bissell, President Products Vacuum cleaners and other floorcare products Headquarters Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Profiles | ||
Bissell Inc., also known as Bissell Homecare, is a privately owned vacuum cleaner and floor care product manufacturing corporation headquartered in Walker, Michigan in Greater Grand Rapids. The company is the number one manufacturer of floor care products in North America in terms of sales, with 20% marketshare.
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Bissell powerlifter pet vacuum 1309
Company history
Melville Bissell developed an early carpet sweeping machine to aid in cleaning the crockery shop he and his wife Anna owned and operated. The device was patented as the Bissell Carpet Sweeper in 1876. In 1883 Bissell built the company's first manufacturing plant in Grand Rapids. By the 1890s the company had an international presence and was producing 1000 sweepers per day.
Melville Bissell died in 1889, and his wife Anna took over as leader of the company. She served as the company president from 1889 - 1919 and chair of the board from 1919 - 1934.
Over the years the company expanded from manufacturing only mechanical sweepers to producing vacuum cleaners and carpet shampooers.
Today
In 2004 the company acquired a license for the Woolite trademark for all carpet and upholstery cleaning formulas for $62 million. It has also moved into the pet-care industry, manufacturing attachments and solutions designed specifically for cleaning up pet hair and stains. Whereas other competitors saw sales decline by numerous percentage points during the economic downturn, Bissell's sales remained steady. In 2009 they outpaced Hoover to take the number one position for floor-care sales in North America.
Bissell Pro Cycling Team
Bissell Inc. is the title sponsor for the Bissell Pro Cycling Team.