EVERETT — Electric Mirror, the family-owned company that makes high-tech mirrors for hotels, stadiums and expensive homes, celebrated on Friday the opening of its new headquarters and manufacturing plant in Everett.
Hundreds of employees and community guests gathered at the 125,000-square-foot facility at 6101 Associated Boulevard, Suite 101, in Everett.
“About 20 years ago, the Mischel family had a vision and that vision and a million mirrors later brings us to this point,” Electric Mirror’s chief operating officer Donald Jacques told the crowd. “The story we have to tell is a phenomenal one. This is truly an American dream come true.”
The Mischel family, president and CEO Jim Mischel Jr. along with his parents — Jim Mischel Sr. who goes by Doc, and Faith — and siblings Aaron and Mia, began the business in the family garage in 1997, moved it to different locations before opening its new plant in February.
“It was based upon a pretty simple idea,” Jim Mischel Jr. said. “Let’s build products in America, let’s create jobs that transform lives in our community and let’s do it on a simple foundation of ‘In God We Trust,’ you see that right here on our sign. I’m so grateful we’ve been faithful to that vision.”
Electric Mirror started with a high-end defogging mirror, but has moved onto a product line that features mirrors with lights, televisions, Bluetooth technology and other innovations. Electric Mirror expects $60 million in revenue this year and employs 400 people including 25 engineers.
The company’s products have won dozens of awards, including the aptly named I Need That in My Hotel award by Hotel Interactive Connect. Executive vice president Aaron Mischel travels the world for the company selling the mirrors at hotels and elsewhere.
“We’ve done high-end celebrities’ homes, all the celebrities and sports stars you can think of,” Aaron Mischel said. “We’re in the Dallas Cowboys stadium, the Redskins stadium, the Yankees stadium, all the big-fun stadiums.”
Faith Mischel called out by name the workers who are expecting children. She then brought up her grandchildren to sit along the stage. She praised the workers of the company.
“We are so appreciative of each and every one of you and we try to get to know you and your stories and your life,” said Faith Mischel, who then spoke on her religious beliefs, saying it’s important to “serve the God of the universe.”
Snohomish County Council chairman Terry Ryan praised the family and the company for what it has accomplished.
“This is a great American story about innovation, ingenuity, having an idea, a dream, taking a risk and making it happen,” Ryan told the crowd. “This is what America is all about.”
Jacques, the COO, told the crowd that 70 percent of what Electric Mirror fashions is highly custom and about half of that “is a true works of art.”
“We don’t produce a product and put it on a shelf and hope to sell it,” Jacques said. “The actual job just requires so much creativity and innovation.”
He then praised the Mischel family for setting the stage for the next 20 years.
“This family and this company created this market…,” Jacques said. “We created it, we lead it and, right now, we’re redefining it.”
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