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- Floral City Furniture Company "Lazy Boy" Reclining Chair with Detachable Back and Seat, 1929 - This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company "Lazy Boy" Reclining Chair with Detachable Back and Seat, 1929
This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- Jewelry Box and Mirror, Built by Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, 1925-1935 -
- 1925-1935
- Collections - Artifact
Jewelry Box and Mirror, Built by Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, 1925-1935
- Billboard for Floral City Furniture Company, "Relax with La-Z-Boy Chair," 1940-1949 - In 1927, cousins Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company (La-Z-Boy). Knabusch concentrated on marketing the company's products though both traditional media and his own unique approaches. The billboard seen in this photograph presented the technological innovation of the La-Z-Boy reclining chair -- but with a marketing twist: the illustration of the chair in use extends above the billboard to capture attention.
- 1940-1949
- Collections - Artifact
Billboard for Floral City Furniture Company, "Relax with La-Z-Boy Chair," 1940-1949
In 1927, cousins Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company (La-Z-Boy). Knabusch concentrated on marketing the company's products though both traditional media and his own unique approaches. The billboard seen in this photograph presented the technological innovation of the La-Z-Boy reclining chair -- but with a marketing twist: the illustration of the chair in use extends above the billboard to capture attention.
- Annual Lamp Show at Floral City Furniture Company Store, Monroe, Michigan, March 1937 - In 1927, cousins and business partners Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company (La-Z-Boy) through a combination of invention and marketing savvy. From the start of the partnership, Edward Knabusch developed and implemented innovative marketing strategies. This photograph shows "the world's largest lamp," created to draw attention to the cousins' Floral City Furniture store in Monroe, Michigan.
- March 01, 1937
- Collections - Artifact
Annual Lamp Show at Floral City Furniture Company Store, Monroe, Michigan, March 1937
In 1927, cousins and business partners Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company (La-Z-Boy) through a combination of invention and marketing savvy. From the start of the partnership, Edward Knabusch developed and implemented innovative marketing strategies. This photograph shows "the world's largest lamp," created to draw attention to the cousins' Floral City Furniture store in Monroe, Michigan.
- Floral City Furniture Company La-Z-Boy Reclining Chair with Ottoman, 1929 - This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company La-Z-Boy Reclining Chair with Ottoman, 1929
This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- Floral City Furniture Company "Gossiper" Telephone Stand, 1928 - La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch began their company (originally called the Floral City Furniture Company) by producing novelty furniture. One of their most successful early efforts was the "Gossiper," a combination telephone stand, bench, and built-in telephone book rack. The cousins continued producing innovative furniture, eventually creating the iconic La-Z-Boy reclining chair.
- 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company "Gossiper" Telephone Stand, 1928
La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch began their company (originally called the Floral City Furniture Company) by producing novelty furniture. One of their most successful early efforts was the "Gossiper," a combination telephone stand, bench, and built-in telephone book rack. The cousins continued producing innovative furniture, eventually creating the iconic La-Z-Boy reclining chair.
- Floral City Furniture Company "Lazy Boy" Reclining Chair, 1929 - This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company "Lazy Boy" Reclining Chair, 1929
This reclining chair was one of the first upholstered chairs produced by La-Z-Boy co-founders Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch. The earliest La-Z-Boys featured a patented reclining system and included a separate ottoman. Later technical refinements would produce a built-in footrest, eliminating the need for an ottoman and leading to the modern La-Z-Boy recliner.
- Floral City Furniture Company Showroom with Goldfish Pond, 1934-1941 - In the 1930s, Edward Knabusch -- La-Z-Boy's co-founder and marketer -- created a goldfish pond at the entrance to his Monroe, Michigan, furniture store to amuse children while their parents shopped. The fishpond became a memorable attraction for customers shopping at Floral City Furniture. Future company promoters learned from Knabusch and continued to push the business's marketing strategy well beyond the norm.
- 1934-1941
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company Showroom with Goldfish Pond, 1934-1941
In the 1930s, Edward Knabusch -- La-Z-Boy's co-founder and marketer -- created a goldfish pond at the entrance to his Monroe, Michigan, furniture store to amuse children while their parents shopped. The fishpond became a memorable attraction for customers shopping at Floral City Furniture. Future company promoters learned from Knabusch and continued to push the business's marketing strategy well beyond the norm.
- Floral City Furniture Advertisement, "Growing with Monroe," December 31, 1927 - In 1927, cousins and business partners Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch co-founded the Floral City Furniture Company and began producing novelty furniture. They were a perfect pair: Shoemaker was fascinated with technology and Knabusch was a master marketer. The cousins would go on to create a reclining armchair that became a furniture icon -- the La-Z-Boy recliner.
- December 31, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Advertisement, "Growing with Monroe," December 31, 1927
In 1927, cousins and business partners Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch co-founded the Floral City Furniture Company and began producing novelty furniture. They were a perfect pair: Shoemaker was fascinated with technology and Knabusch was a master marketer. The cousins would go on to create a reclining armchair that became a furniture icon -- the La-Z-Boy recliner.
- Floral City Furniture Company Delivery Truck and Crew, 1946 - From the company's founding in 1927, La-Z-Boy (known as Floral City Furniture Company in its early years) looked for every opportunity to advertise. Delivery trucks offered the company a way to extend its marketing strategies onto city streets and into neighborhoods. This delivery truck included standard information alongside an illustration showcasing the company's signature product--the reclining chair.
- 1946
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company Delivery Truck and Crew, 1946
From the company's founding in 1927, La-Z-Boy (known as Floral City Furniture Company in its early years) looked for every opportunity to advertise. Delivery trucks offered the company a way to extend its marketing strategies onto city streets and into neighborhoods. This delivery truck included standard information alongside an illustration showcasing the company's signature product--the reclining chair.