The History of Best
In 1962, two men turned their chair expertise into a yet unknown empire. In a small rented building the two covered all aspects of the business for quite some time. Over 55 years later, Best Chairs has surpassed all expectations becoming Best Home Furnishings, a name adopted to further describe the entire product line. Family owned and operated, our facilities cover over 1,100,000 square feet in five locations with nearly 1,000 employees and is growing to become one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world.
The company's success started with a simple theme: make the best quality product at the most affordable price. While much has changed over the years, one thing has remained constant: our promise of quality and customer satisfaction. Best's product selection has grown to 100's of styles available in 1,000 covers made to order in days, not weeks.
1962
Best Chairs begins as a small chair manufacturer in an old cannery building and repairs furniture and old truck seats. Founders Clem Lange and Ernie Prechtel Sr. establish the company on a basic principle: build the best quality product at the most affordable price. The following year, Best moves to an old store building and opens a production line with 5 employees, including the two founders.
1968
By 1968, the company expands 5 times and employs 17 people. Product line consists of modern, traditional and early American occasional chairs with 325 fabrics. Daily production ranges between 60-120 chairs.
1972
Best Chairs purchases 5.5 acres of land at Best’s current Ferdinand, Indiana location. On this piece of land, they build a 21,300 square foot plant to house 52 employees as well as operations for finishing, fabricating, and assembly divisions.
Four sales reps cover Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.
1973
The company adds a 20,000 square foot warehouse, and begins using computers to track inventory, payroll, and order processing.
By the end of the 1970's, Best grows to more than 102,000 square feet and 130 employees.
1985
Best Chairs was named as the top selling brand of chairs according to subscribers of the Professional Furniture Merchant publication.
Best Chairs also became the leading manufacturer of swivel rockers in the entire world!
1989
A 9,000 square foot expansion project for the Recliner Division began and was headed by Clem’s oldest son and current Best Chairs CEO, Glenn Lange. Employment had reached 325 people and the Best Chair’s air conditioned facilities stretched over 225,000 square feet.
1991
Fischer Chair of Tell City, IN, makers of rocking chairs, glider rockers and occasional chairs, was purchased by Best Chairs. This move allowed Best to expand its product offerings and production capabilities. The former Fischer product line became what is now known as the County Line division.
Also, Best Chairs’ shipping had a fleet of 19 tractors and 36 trailers responsible for placing Best’s products in all 50 states and over 20 countries. Best Chairs had recently purchased a building from the former Oeding Corporation of Ferdinand and glide rocker production began in that facility. By this time Best Chairs ranked 82nd among the nation’s furniture manufacturers and had experienced an annual increase in sales for 30 years.
1994
Best Chairs purchased one of its suppliers, Jasper Woodworking. This enabled Best to produce its own dimensioned frame parts, and boosted employment by 72 people.
Also during this decade, sewing operations began in Paoli, IN when Best Chairs occupied the facility formerly run by Simmons, adding another 29 employees.
1996
Best Chairs, Inc. formed Best Chairs Transit, Inc., a separate company handling warehousing and shipping. BC Transit immediately announced the addition of a 178,000 square foot warehouse and was one of the first to utilize a high tech computer controlled warehouse conveyor system to automate material handling and speed delivery. With the addition of the new warehouse, Best’s workforce exceeded 750 employees.
2003
Best Chairs launches the introduction of the Beast recliner series. It is the largest and most durable recliner in the industry accommodating up to 500 pounds of everyday use, and stretches to a lengthy 83” when reclined.
2004
In the Spring of 2004, Best Chairs, amid continued product diversification and a concentrated effort on product awareness, announced it will be identified and branded as Best Home Furnishings. The announcement came on the heels of two new product categories, stationary sofas and tables. Best Home Furnishings not only completely describes our existing product lines but allows for endless opportunities of product diversification in the future.
2010
Best Home Furnishings was honored by leading trade publication Furniture/Today as the 2010 Supplier of the Year. Best ranks 16th among nation’s furniture manufacturers according to Furniture/Today’s annual listing. Best was also honored as the #1 Glide Rocker Manufacturer by NINFRA, a trade buying group for the juvenile and nursery industry.
2012
For the sixth year in a row, Best receives the Reader’s Choice Award from Baby & Children’s Product News in the glider rocker category.
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Clem Lange, is nominated for the American Furniture Hall of Fame. Best celebrates its 50th anniversary.
2014
In partnership with Indratech, Best Home Furnishings launches an innovative and exclusive foam cushioning system called Performa Weave®. Cooler, more durable and more resilient than standard foam cushions, Performa Weave is found in over 30 products.
2015
Best breaks ground on a 100,000 square foot expansion on their Ferdinand campus. The new advanced manufacturing facility will allow the company to move production of highly tailored products, which will create more efficient processes in other areas.
2017
Joey Gase drives the No. 23 BK Racing Toyota Camry with Best Home Furnishings as the primary sponsor in a multiple race partnership for the NASCAR Monster Energy Premier Series. Gase was the highest finishing rookie during the February Daytona 500, while he shined during the Bristol night race and the July Quaker State 400 at the Kentucky Speedway.
2019
Founder and Chairman of the Board, Clem Lange, is officially inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame. The Induction Celebration, the industry’s most prestigious event, was held at Sheraton Greensboro Four Seasons where “Micracle on the Hudson” Captain Sully Sullenberger delivered an inspiring keynote address. It was here that Lange was introduced with a remarkable video highlighting his career.
2020
An abandoned warehouse adjacent to the Ferdinand campus was the location for the installation of a new foam fabrication facility. This 60,000 square foot building allows Best Home Furnishings to be more vertically aligned to help streamline the essential components of upholstered furniture: foam.
Today
Best Home Furnishings currently operates in over 1,100,00 square feet of air-conditioned, technologically advanced facilities in Ferdinand, Jasper, and Paoli, Indiana. Best’s 850 employees boast seven major product categories and claims one of the most advanced furniture plants in the industry. Best currently manufactures over 2,400 styles in over 800 fabrics and leathers in production for over 4,000 customers in 24 countries.
