Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Legacy Furniture Brand Knows Keys to Longevity
December 14,
2023 by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry 
While many global manufacturers find that longevity leads to significant challenges in staying relevant to their customers, one market leader in the home furnishings space has managed to reinvent itself with regularity, earning a reputation for anticipating trends rather than following them.
Founded in the central North Carolina town of Lexington in 1901, Lexington Home Brands has skillfully blended visionary thinking and business acumen with a willingness to take calculated risks.
Over a legacy spanning 120-years, its leadership has demonstrated a remarkable ability to anticipate change and adapt their business model to meet the moment.
In 1940, Link visited the Ford Motor plant in Detroit and brought the concept of motorized conveyers back to create an assembly line in his operation, leading to the country's first mass production furniture facility.
It was during Jeff Young's leadership that Lexington catapulted to industry prominence as a leader in licensed product development.
This new spin on branding was pivotal for the industry. As other manufacturers scrambled to add big names to their offerings, Lexington was redefining the art of product development and storytelling through these highly recognized brands, developing narratives that resonated deeply with consumers and driving demand at retail.
The shift in the industry was so profound that it persists to this day. However, a new leader at the helm saw an opportunity to guide the company in yet another groundbreaking fashion.
Phillip D. Haney, president and CEO since 2006, understood that a new paradigm was needed to keep the company on its growth trajectory. elevated the design and style of collection introductions, speaking to the emerging affluent consumer segment and raising the sophistication of product designs. His goal was to define "approachable luxury" in the home furnishings space.
During the pandemic in 2019, most furniture companies elected to curtail production. Lexington did the opposite, building inventory as quickly as possible, anticipating the need for home furnishings as consumers were compelled to work remotely.
After the pandemic, the company recognized a shift in discretionary consumer spending towards a pent-up demand for travel. In response, Lexington produced and launched an innovative television campaign highlighting the pleasure of returning home. Narrated by Grammy Award-winning singer and producer, Steve Tyrell, it echoes the sentiment that home is the place where consumers ultimately want to be. https://vimeo.com/lexingtonfurniture/lexington-corporate