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Furniture Hall of Fame inducts four new members

Audi, Badcock, Lauritsen and Natuzzi honored

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 22, 2008

AT THE MARKET — Three giants of furniture manufacturing and a leader of one of the largest U.S. furniture retail organizations were inducted last night into the American Furniture Hall of Fame.

Alfred J. Audi, Wogan S. Badcock Jr., K. Bruce Lauritsen and Pasquale Natuzzi were saluted at a market gala attended by nearly 400 guests and hosted by Susie Coehlo, TV personality, author and home furnishings guru.

Alfred J. Audi	Wogan S. Badcock Jr.
Bruce Lauritsen	Pasquale Natuzzi

"We are proud to honor the contributions of these extraordinary leaders in home furnishings," says 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."

Audi, the late president of L. & J.G. Stickley, and his wife, Aminy, transformed 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 the John Widdicomb, Cibola Leather and Madison Square brands.

Badcock, who died in 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, who like Audi died last year, rose from sales trainee at manufacturer Flexsteel Inds. in 1968 to president in 1989 and to CEO. Flexsteel's revenues grew from $19.9 million in 1968 to $172 million in 1989 to $425 million in 2007. 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 the association's executive committee in 2005.

American Furniture Hall of Fame inductees and their families prepare to receive their honorary plaques on the Walk of Fame at the High Point Market this morning morning. Don Belgrad, left, president of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation, stands with Hall of Fame inductee Pasquale Natuzzi of the Natuzzi Group; Jeanne Lauritsen, accepting for her husband, K. Bruce Lauritsen of Flexsteel Inds.; Aminy Audi, accepting for her husband, Alfred J. Audi of L. & J.G. Stickley; and Wogan S. Badcock III, accepting for his father, Wogan S. Badcock Jr., W.S. Badcock Corp., Mulberry, Fla.

Pasquale Natuzzi is founder, chairman and chief designer of the Natuzzi Group, the world's largest 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.

The inductees were elected by members of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation, based on detailed information about their professional achievements, personal standards and civic involvement.

The new members join 74 elected to the Hall of Fame in previous years.

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Hall of Fame inducts four leaders at market gala

Nov 2, 2008

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