Representatives of more than 150 furniture dealers throughout the western United States concluded a two-day visit to Salt Lake City Thursday for a convention sponsored by the La-Z-Boy Furniture Co.
A spokesman said the focal point for the convention was visits to R.C. Willey Home Furnishings' new corporate offices, 400,000-square-foot central distribution center and 76,000-square-foot retail store at 2301 S. 300 West.The dealers also visited La-Z-Boy's manufacturing plant in Tremonton, said to be one of the largest of its type in the United States. The facility employs 710 in the 720,000-square-foot plant.
Bill Child, chief executive officer of R.C. Willey, and Sheldon Child, president, addressed the group in keynote remarks at Little America Hotel. They noted the two companies' long association that has made La-Z-Boy and R.C. Willey household names.
The spokesman said many of the furniture store representatives were from operations much smaller than Willey's and were "fascinated and overwhelmed" at the scope and efficiency of the operation.