Four industry leaders were inducted in the American Furniture Hall of Fame during the recent High Point Market.
The event was hosted by TV personality Susie Coehlo and was attended by an international collection of retailers, buying group members, interior designers, manufacturers, suppliers and association leaders.
The inductees were Alfred J. Audi, former president of L. & J.G. Stickley; Wogan S. Badcock Jr., former president of W.S. Badcock Corp.; K. Bruce Lauritsen, former chief executive officer of Flexsteel Industries; and Pasquale Natuzzi, founder, chairman and chief designer of the Natuzzi Group. The new members join 74 Hall of Fame members.
“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.”
Alfred J. Audi and his wife, Aminy, transformed L. & J.G. Stickley from a company of less 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 work force as Stickley Fine Upholstery. He also purchased and revitalized John Widdicomb, Cibola Leather and Madison Square.
Wogan Stanhope Badcock Jr. 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.
K. Bruce Lauritsen rose from sales trainee to president to CEO of Flexsteel Industries. 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 executive committee in 2005.
Pasquale Natuzzi 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.
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.