The Wanamaker order was an important one for business , as it was a credible name investing in the Bissell carpet sweeper .
Years later , in the 1890s , Queen Victoria provided another invaluable endorsement . She was said to have the palace “ Bisselled ” every week .
For good reason , Anna , who one employee referred to as “ a crackerjack saleslady ,” was in charge of sales and marketing .
Sweepers Ablaze
In Bissell ’ s early years , the sweeper business moved homes a few times as the company grew quickly .
For the first two years , Bissell ’ s sweepers were manufactured at 27 Canal Street in Grand Rapids . Then , in 1880 , a new plant was opened in the city ’ s old Iron Clad Building , at the foot of Erie Street . Then , in 1882 , Bissell built a large new brick factory nearby , along the Grand River . Two short years later , at about 7 a . m . on the cold , windy morning of March 12 , 1884 , a fire broke out that destroyed several businesses , including the newest Bissell building . All of Bissell ’ s 90 employees made it out safely .
Anna was apparently a trustworthy individual . After the fire destroyed their plant , she and Melville needed to keep operations going . Anna was in charge of seeking loans from the local banks after the business suffered $ 150,000 in losses . According to the Greater Grand Rapids Women ’ s History Council , “ On only her handshake and a good name , she secured funding that enabled production to begin again within 20 days of the fire .”
Sweeping the World
In 1889 , Anna ’ s husband Melville passed away from pneumonia at the age of 45 , leaving Anna to care for the burgeoning business and their four children . ( Anna was a mother of five , but one of her children died young .)
Always a philanthropist , she made it a point to volunteer in her community , even immediately after her husband ’ s passing . It helped her to focus on something else and give to people who were “ more unhappy ” than she was .
Soon after Melville ’ s death , Anna took over the Bissell Carpet Sweeper Company , which sold sweepers with whimsical
names like “ Queen ,” “ Mystic ,” “ Defiance ,” “ Superior ” and “ Prize .”
When Anna was promoted to the role of president , it was a fairly seamless transition . She had been involved in nearly every part of the business with her husband from day one , just as they had been equally involved in their early crockery business . In fact , it was said that Anna “ studied business the way other women studied French .”
In an 1899 Woman ’ s Journal interview , Anna was asked how she was able to manage such a large business . She modestly gave credit to her employees . “ I have good men around me , most of whom have been in the business from 10 to 20 years . When a man gets into Bissell ’ s factory , he is regarded as having secured a place for life , if he does his work well .”
Despite her remarks crediting the men of the factories , Bissell also gave opportunities to women . One article placed at least 50 women working on the brushes in the 1890s .
Early Bissell Carpet Sweeping Co . storefront .
Anna ’ s official title was president from 1889 to 1919 , and she was the top executive . It would not be until the 20th century that professionals would don the title of chief executive officer , or CEO . But in every right , Anna is considered to be the first CEO in practice , since she sat at the top of the organization ’ s leadership chart . In 1919 , she stepped down as president , but she continued to serve as chairman of the board until 1934 .
An article from 1900 acknowledges that Anna “ took no small part in the earlier development of the business ” and was “ probably the only woman in the world occupying the position of manager of an institution of this character and of such importance . She gives her entire attention to the business and has handled the affairs of the company with eminent success .”
Anna “ championed the business , aggressively marketing the sweeper and organizing assembly and production ,” the Bissell website states today . Plus , she was
Grand Rapids Public Museum
26 FINANCIAL HISTORY | Winter 2024 | www . MoAF . org