COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 337122

Wood Household Furniture (except Upholstered) Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

24companies1848–1962founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedRichardson Industries, Inc.FoundedRichardson Industries, Inc.
1848
FoundedKohler Company
1873
FoundedMiele & Cie. KGFoundedMiele & Cie. KG
1899
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedL. and J.G. Stickley, Inc.
1904
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedFurniture Brands International, Inc.FoundedFurniture Brands International, Inc.
1911
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedStanley Furniture Company, Inc.
1924
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedSauder Woodworking CompanyFoundedSauder Woodworking Company
1940
FoundedLa-Z-Boy Incoporated
1941
FoundedAshley Furniture Industries, Inc.FoundedAshley Furniture Industries, Inc.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedKimball International, Inc.
1950
FoundedPulaski Furniture CorporationFoundedPulaski Furniture Corporation
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedAaron Rents, Inc.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Richardson Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1848
Located in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, Richardson Industries, Inc., consists of several different divisions devoted to…
Richardson Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1848
Located in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, Richardson Industries, Inc., consists of several different divisions devoted to…
Kohler Company →
Active · founded 1873
Kohler Company is one of the largest privately operated firms in the United States.
Kohler Company →
Active · founded 1873
Kohler Company is one of the largest privately operated firms in the United States.
Miele & Cie. KG →
Active · founded 1899 · Germany
Miele & Cie.
Miele & Cie. KG →
Active · founded 1899 · Germany
Miele & Cie.
L. and J.G. Stickley, Inc. →
Active · founded 1904
Founded in 1900 by Leopold and John George Stickley, L.
L. and J.G. Stickley, Inc. →
Active · founded 1904
Founded in 1900 by Leopold and John George Stickley, L.
Furniture Brands International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1911
Furniture Brands International, Inc.
Furniture Brands International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1911
Furniture Brands International, Inc.
Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1924
Stanley Furniture Company, Inc.
Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1924
Stanley Furniture Company, Inc.
Sauder Woodworking Company →
Active · founded 1940
1990s:Company invests heavily in new production facilities.
Sauder Woodworking Company →
Active · founded 1940
1990s:Company invests heavily in new production facilities.
La-Z-Boy Incoporated →
Active · founded 1941
La-Z-Boy Incorporated is the largest independent manufacturer of upholstered furniture in the United States and third…
La-Z-Boy Incoporated →
Active · founded 1941
La-Z-Boy Incorporated is the largest independent manufacturer of upholstered furniture in the United States and third…
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1945
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1945
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
Kimball International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Once a leading piano manufacturer, Kimball International, Inc.
Kimball International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Once a leading piano manufacturer, Kimball International, Inc.
Pulaski Furniture Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
The Pulaski Furniture Corporation manufactures mid-priced dining room and bedroom furniture, curio cabinets, occasional…
Pulaski Furniture Corporation →
Active · founded 1955
The Pulaski Furniture Corporation manufactures mid-priced dining room and bedroom furniture, curio cabinets, occasional…
Aaron Rents, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Aaron Rents, Inc.
Aaron Rents, Inc. →
Active · founded 1962
Aaron Rents, Inc.
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