Hall of Fame inducts 4
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 28, 2001
HIGH POINT — Four new members have joined the American Furniture Hall of Fame.
Inducted at a market gala were manufacturer Alvin E. "Bo" Bland, co-founder of Action Inds.; pioneering designer David Wolcott Kendall; consumer education advocate Joanna Maitland, and Michigan retailer Art Van Elslander.
Bland began his career working with furniture pioneer Morris Futorian in Mississippi. In 1970, Bland co-founded Action Inds., which merged with The Lane Co. in 1972. He helped develop the mechanisms that spurred the growth of the recliner category.
Kendall (1851-1910), a widely copied designer, is credited with creating the McKinley chair, the Morris chair and the first revolving, reclining office chair. He also established the Kendall College of Art and Design.
Maitland, managing director of the Hall of Fame for the past 12 years, has been in the industry more than 25 years and was an early advocate of identifying consumer needs and wants and building market share by educating them. She was director of consumer affairs for Sperry and Hutchinson, which once owned eight furniture companies.
Van Elslander, chairman and owner of Warren, Mich.-based Art Van Furniture, opened his first store in 1959 and today has 28 stores in Michigan with a 40% market share.
| Bland |
| Kendall |
| Maitland |
| Van Elslander |
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