Flanders, Kagan, Kuo, Moray Named to Hall of Fame

June 21, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Industry, Special Events   

The four – the late Donald H. Flanders, Sr., founder and chairman of Lloyd Flanders; the late Vladimir Kagan, contemporary furniture designer; Samuel Kuo, co-founder and chairman of Samson Holding Ltd.; and Bernard D. Moray, chairman of Gorman’s Home Furnishings & Interior Design – will join the Hall of Fame’s current 108 members at an induction celebration Oct. 15 during the High Point Market.

“We look forward to honoring these four extraordinary leaders, each of whom has transformed the home furnishings industry in powerful and significant ways,” said Bob Maricich, president of the Hall of Fame Foundation board of directors. “Throughout their careers, each has demonstrated ongoing excellence and innovation in their field and have earned the respect of both colleagues and competitors.”

A seven-member selection committee, composed of three Hall of Fame Foundation board members and four representatives from diverse segments of the industry, chose inductees based on their contributions to the growth and development of the home furnishings industry in America.

The committee used a points-based evaluation system grounded on four foundations: enduring excellence, superior accomplishments, innovation and creativity, and philanthropic generosity.

Ken Fulp, a CPA, with the Foundation’s accounting firm Sharrard McGee & Co., tabulated the results.

“Our selection committee searches diligently across all facets of the industry for exceptional individuals who are worthy of receiving the highest honor bestowed in home furnishings,” Maricich said. “The 2017 inductees have made extraordinary contributions, not only to the industry but to their colleagues and communities.  Each made a definite impact on the U.S. home furnishings industry and for that, we congratulate them and their families.”

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will deliver the keynote address at the induction celebration, which will take place Oct. 15 at the Sheraton Greensboro Four Seasons. Tickets may be purchased at www.aspiretolead2017.com.

Below are biographies of the new inductees, as provided by the Hall of Fame Foundation.

Donald H. Flanders, (1924-2012) co-founder and former chairman of Lloyd Flanders Inds., transformed outdoor furniture in 1985 when he introduced consumers to weather-resistant furniture that looked like traditional natural wicker. He acquired a Lloyd Loom factory, which weaves natural fiber made of twisted cellulose (paper) reinforced with aluminum stakes, and added a weatherproof coating, thus launching a new category that would become a backbone of the casual outdoor furnishings industry.

Selling his case goods company, Flanders Manufacturing Co. with 350 employees in 1969 to Riverside Furniture Corp., he turned to outdoor when he founded Flanders Industries, later acquiring the assets of the Lloyd division of Heywood Wakefield Co. in 1982.

Mr. Flanders was a people person, who believed it was important to be a leader in the industry, not just to participate in it. He served in leadership roles for the Southwestern Furniture Manufacturers Association and the Summer and Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association, now the International Casual Furnishings Association. 

Vladimir Kagan (1927-2016) brought an organic aesthetic to modern furniture design with sensuous curves and sculptural details that ushered in a new look in American upholstery, case goods, occasional pieces and lighting.

He started designing furniture in 1946 and by the early ’50s his innovative, curvilinear pieces were considered Modern icons. Among his quintessential pieces are the Serpentine Sofa (1949), the Barrel Chair (1947) and the Floating Sofa (1952). Mr. Kagan’s furniture is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Vitra Design Museum, among many others.

Prolifically creative and ever positive, Mr. Kagan briefly retired in 1988, but by 1990, he began licensing his upholstery and case goods designs. In 1998, he reintroduced his classic designs at ICFF and reinvented his career. The Vladimir Kagan Design Group through Holly Hunt continues to produce his Classic Collection.

Samuel Kuo, is co-founder and chairman of the Dongguan, China-based Samson Holding Ltd., a global leader in furniture manufacturing founded in 1995 with his wife, Yi-Mei “Grace” Liu.

With more than 10,000 employees worldwide, its more than six million square feet in production and warehouse facilities are located in China, Indonesia, Bangladesh and the U.S. Today the diversified brand portfolio includes retailer Robb & Stuckey, Universal Furniture, Smartstuff, Paula Deen Home, Legacy Classic Furniture, Rachel Ray Home, Legacy Classic Kids, Inspirations by Wendy Bellissimo, Craftmaster Furniture, Baker, Milling Road, McGuire, Lacquer Craft Hospitality, Willis & Gambier (UK), Universal Furniture China and Athome.

In addition, the company manufactures OEM products for companies globally. Opening his first manufacturing facility in mainland China in 1992, Mr. Kuo pioneered the consolidated mixed container concept. The company’s automated storage and retrieval (ASRS) warehouse set the industry standard and is the largest fully automated warehouse facility in the world.

Bernard “Bernie” D. Moray, chairman of Gorman’s Home Furnishings & Interior Design who calls himself a modernist with a love for contemporary furniture, recognized the potential of high-end contemporary design long before it became mainstream.

When he purchased Gorman’s in 1965, he set out to create not just one of the best contemporary furniture stores in the Detroit area, but in the nation. Considered one of the most impactful retailers in the industry for his keen eye, he remains intent upon creating retail destinations offering fresh home furnishings. His mantras are that there is only one policy at Gorman’s and that is to “make it right” and that every fiber of the organization must be based on the very best quality.

A style leader offering full interior design services, Mr. Moray and his team have always been aggressive marketers, introducing campaigns to encourage consumers to compare the best 100 Brands and INTRO for first-time buyers seeking outstanding design at affordable prices.