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- Kna-Shoe Manufacturing Company Reclining Porch Chair, 1928 - In 1927, Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, established the Kna-Shoe Manufacturing Company (Floral City Furniture Company and later La-Z-Boy, Inc.) in Monroe, Michigan. Among their first products was a comfortable wood-slatted porch chair. They marketed the chair too late in the season but were encouraged to create an all-season upholstered chair. They did, and it became the origin of the now iconic La-Z-Boy recliner.
- 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Kna-Shoe Manufacturing Company Reclining Porch Chair, 1928
In 1927, Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, established the Kna-Shoe Manufacturing Company (Floral City Furniture Company and later La-Z-Boy, Inc.) in Monroe, Michigan. Among their first products was a comfortable wood-slatted porch chair. They marketed the chair too late in the season but were encouraged to create an all-season upholstered chair. They did, and it became the origin of the now iconic La-Z-Boy recliner.
- 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.
- Intercom Used by Edwin Shoemaker at His Floral City Furniture Company Office, circa 1935 - Office intercom systems allowed people to communicate while located in different rooms or different areas of a large building. The term itself is an amalgam of "internal communication." Intercoms can be permanently wired into a building, replacing rudimentary "speaking tubes." The most common form is a desktop "two station system," used between a supervisor and assistant in office environments.
- circa 1935
- Collections - Artifact
Intercom Used by Edwin Shoemaker at His Floral City Furniture Company Office, circa 1935
Office intercom systems allowed people to communicate while located in different rooms or different areas of a large building. The term itself is an amalgam of "internal communication." Intercoms can be permanently wired into a building, replacing rudimentary "speaking tubes." The most common form is a desktop "two station system," used between a supervisor and assistant in office environments.
- Floral City Furniture Company Store, Monroe, Michigan, 1965 - In 1927, cousins Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company (La-Z-Boy) through a combination of invention and marketing savvy. The cousins opened a furniture showroom in their Monroe, Michigan, factory in 1933, and soon after they built the company's first retail outlet. This photograph shows the company's flagship store in the 1960s.
- 1965
- Collections - Artifact
Floral City Furniture Company Store, Monroe, Michigan, 1965
In 1927, cousins Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful furniture company (La-Z-Boy) through a combination of invention and marketing savvy. The cousins opened a furniture showroom in their Monroe, Michigan, factory in 1933, and soon after they built the company's first retail outlet. This photograph shows the company's flagship store in the 1960s.
- 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.