Flexsteel Industries history

By 1901, they sold the company to four tradesmen who set the foundation for Flexsteel

1902: The firm's first catalog is introduced.

The company’s 1903 catalog included sofas, sofa sleepers, divans, and chairs as well as hotel, lodge, lounge, and church furniture.

In 1917, Frank Bertsch bought out the remaining partners’ interest in the company, and soon after, brought his son into the business.

He was able to sell the spring design for use in the seats of European railroad cars, and upon immigrating to the United States in 1918, he founded the Sanitas Spring Company in Minneapolis.

The Grau&Curtis Co. next attempted to move into other areas of the furniture industry, purchasing a dining room and bedroom furniture maker during the 1920s.

1927: Flexsteel spring is added to furniture designs.

In 1934, the Sanitas Spring Company became the Flexsteel Spring Corporation.

Northome furniture continued to be built by hand until 1936.

1946: Company-owned trucks begin delivering furniture.

In 1948, Frank Bertsch died, and Herbert Bertsch took over the company.

1955: A plant is established in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

In 1958, the Harrison, Arkansas, plant was developed as a central source for frames.

In 1965, Flexsteel created the Brunswick Converting Division for production and printing of its own 'space age' nylon fabrics.

The company went public in 1969, after posting a net income of $1.17 million on revenues of $25 million.

The company made a cash purchase of the National Furniture Manufacturing Co. in Evansville, Indiana, in 1970, and entered the exposed-wood furniture market with the introduction of its Charisma chair division.

Flexsteel also brought in computerized automation to its production line, beginning in 1974 with the introduction of Gerber fabric cutting machines.

The company opened a new plant in New Paris, Indiana, in 1982, moving part of its RV seating capacity closer to the van conversion center of Indiana.

The Commercial Seating Group was launched in 1984, serving the healthcare, hospitality and institutional markets.

In 1985, Flexsteel's Ergo Touch adjustable lumbar support system won an endorsement from the International Chiropractors Association.

1991: Revenues drop due to a recession.

By 1992, however, Flexsteel was growing again, outpacing the furniture industry as a whole.

1993: The company celebrates its centennial and launches the Centennial Royale Collection.

RV products were particularly strong, growing at ten to 18 percent through 1994, and making up as much as 35 percent of total revenues.

By 1995, Flexsteel had rebuilt its employee levels to nearly 2,400 workers.

Flexsteel ended 1996 with a 9 percent sales gain.

In 1997, Flexsteel began supplying Carver Yachts with captain's chairs, sofas, and dinette chairs, for its motor yachts that were between 27 and 50 feet in length.

By February 1999, there were 14 Flexsteel Comfort Seating galleries in operation, primarily in the Midwest.

John St John, Flexsteel’s merchandise manager for recliners, stated in a May 2000 HFN article that the company is “growing the business to sell a more fashionable product because we’re selling consumers who would not have ever bought a recliner before.”

By early 2001, however, a slowdown in spending due to faltering consumer confidence and a weakening economy began to slightly impact Flexsteel's revenue levels.