Why was La-Z-Boy tempted into the retail game?
KD: We have been associated with the retail business for about 30 years as a result of our La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries store network. Today, retail has become increasingly important and is an integral part of our company’s long-term strategy. Through an increased presence, we are building a strong foundation for La-Z-Boy’s future as there has been a dramatic shift in retail distribution with the percentage of furniture sold through both traditional furniture stores and department stores shrinking over the past five or six years. As a result, proprietary distribution has become more important in terms of ensuring that we achieve significant penetration in the major markets in which we operate. Additionally, with the La-Z-Boy brand the strongest in the industry, the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores give the consumer that brand experience. … When the consumer shops in our stores, we are focused on providing her with an easy, pleasant, and professional shopping experience. Our salesp
