American Furniture Hall of Fame Inducts Four

October 21, 2008  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in on October 2008 Alfred Audi, Wogan Badcock Jr., Bruce Lauritsen, Pasquale Natuzzi Named to American Furniture Hall of Fame

The American Furniture Hall of Fame inducted four new members at a sold-out 20th Anniversary banquet Tuesday night at High Point Market: Alfred J. Audi, Wogan S. Badcock Jr., K. Bruce Lauritsen and Pasquale Natuzzi. (HFB)

Susie Coehlo, television personality, author and home furnishings guru hosted the induction gala, which was attended by an international collection of 373 retailers, buying group members, interior designers, manufacturers, suppliers and association leaders.

Audi (b 1938 d 2007) and his wife, Aminy Audi, transformed L. & J.G. Stickley from a company of fewer than 25 employees into a thriving international business with three factories, 14 showrooms and more than 1,600 employees. Audi purchased the Heirloom Upholstery factory and continued to employ the workforce as Stickley Fine Upholstery. He also purchased and revitalized John Widdicomb, Cibola Leather and Madison Square. This year, Stickley also acquired Nichols & Stone.

Badcock (b 1932 d 1996) was president of W.S. Badcock Corp., a company founded by his great grandfather. During his 30-year tenure, Badcock expanded the chain to more than 300 stores throughout the Southeast, providing entrepreneurial opportunities for more than 200 associate dealers in six states. He paved the way for extensive growth and innovation while maintaining the family-like atmosphere of the company.

Lauritsen (b 1942 d 2007) rose from sales trainee in 1968, to president in 1989, to CEO in 1993 of Flexsteel Inds. Flexsteel’s revenues grew from $19.9 million in 1968 to $172 million in 1989 to $425 million in 2007. Mr. Lauritsen launched Flexsteel’s first in-store gallery in 1984; today there are more than 600. A member of the board of the American Home Furnishings Alliance since 2000, he joined their executive committee in 2005.

Natuzzi (b 1940) is founder, chairman and chief designer of the Natuzzi Group, the world’s leading producer of leather sofas and Italy’s largest furniture manufacturer. Natuzzi transformed the industry by democratizing the leather sofa, a product once reserved for the elite. With revenues of 634.4 million euros and more than 8,000 employees, the Natuzzi Group today operates 12 factories worldwide. Natuzzi Americas is based in High Point, N.C.

“We are proud to honor the contributions of these extraordinary leaders in home furnishings,” said Donald Belgrad, president of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation. “Each is a shining example of leadership, service and integrity in our industry. Their pioneering achievements and steadfast dedication will continue to serve as an inspiration in the years to come.”

The inductees were elected by members of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. based on detailed information about their professional achievements, personal standards and civic involvement. The voting period began July 1 and ended July 31.