Herman Miller

Herman Miller manufactures classic pieces of furniture. The company started in 1906 when it was called Michigan Star Furniture. At the time they only manufactured residential furniture. The company hired a store clerk by the name of Dj Depree when he was 18. Ten years later the company made him the president. In 1923 they sold the company to Depree when he was 32. Depree did not have the finances to purchase the company so he ask his father-in-law, Herman Miller to help him buy it. Because of this Depree named the company after his father-in-law. In 1930 when Herman Miller was manufacturing all residential furniture, the Great Depression hit. Depree contacted Gilbert Rohde to help him save the company. Rohde told Depree in order to sell furniture during the depression was to start manufacturing modern furniture. By 1933, the first line of modern furniture was available in Chicago, IL. Herman Miller also hired George Nelson, who designed the Herman Miller Logo, Ray and Charlie Eames, Alexander Propst, and Bill Stumpf. Over the years Herman Miller also bought out these companies: Geiger, Nemschoff, Maharam, and Design Within Reach.

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