A Little History

Barton and Schlichter have been friends since the third grade and had often talked about going into business together. “In the mid-eighties I began to see the potential of futon furniture,” said Barton, who had been the production manager for early futon frame manufacturer Ed Davis of Davis Furniture in nearby Black River Falls, WI (Futon Life V3N1, Spring 1991). “Ed was making futon frames for the Company Store, a very successful catalog house. The company was making quality, promotional futon furniture and was also very profitable,” said Barton.

Back then, with fine woodworking in his blood, Barton wasn’t satisfied with Davis’ direction. “We had a different direction in mind for this little known product back then,” said Schlichter, who together with Barton made a bid to buy Davis’ company. But the timing and circumstances weren’t right and their deal was never consummated.

“We believed back then, as we still do now, that futon furniture is a legitimate and very viable product category. Our interest in becoming a furniture manufacturer lead us to Boyd, and Lotz,” said Schlichter. “We saw in Lotz a machinery rich company with all the capabilities and capacity we needed to produce futon furniture,” added Barton.

In 1991, Schlichter and Barton bought Lotz Wood and proceeded to enter the futon furniture business. Being a pure, vertically integrated manufacturer, the partners sought out a channel for marketing their products. “We entered the futon furniture industry with a single purpose,” said Schlichter, “to build the best furniture in the futon industry.” A goal many would agree they have achieved.

But along the way, as it always seems to do, adversity entered the picture. Lotz Wood and their only marketer and distribution point, the now radically restructured Casual Lifestyles, began to have some struggles. These difficulties eventually ended in a parting of the ways, and a lengthy and difficult legal battle which many observers believed would end with disaster for both parties. In the end, Casual Lifestyles was sold and Lotz remained intact, still growing and serving its customers. “We did all we could to remain focused on our mission,” said Schlichter, who announced an out of court settlement with Casual last spring.

continues on next page