The people behind it
A family company, still
Our story →
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Carlyle WeinbergerFounder, 1945
Started the business in Chicago as a sales operation for furniture accessories. What began as a one-man venture became the company that now builds more furniture than anyone else in the world.
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Ron WanekChairman
Bought into a small Arcadia furniture maker in 1970 and merged it into Ashley, then moved the head office to Wisconsin in 1982. He is the reason the company is run from a town of a few thousand people.
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Todd WanekChief Executive
Runs the company today, second generation. Under the family, Ashley grew past ten billion dollars in annual revenue and into more than 123 countries.
Behind them are roughly 35,000 people, and the work splits into a handful of trades that have not changed much in eighty years.
Frame shopCuts and joins the hardwood and panel skeleton every seat is built on.
Cut and sewMatches pattern across seams and sews the covers that get pulled over the frame.
Finishing lineSands, stains and topcoats case goods in stages, with drying time between.
Quality and packChecks finish, function and fit, then boxes each piece with its hardware.