August 12

[The Story Teller]

August 12
​

Lane Cedar Chests
​

“Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job he starts.”
—Coleman Cox
​

In 1912 Edward Hudson’s father told him to start making cedar chests in an old box plant that he had just purchased. The twenty-one-year-old youngster didn’t even know what a cedar chest was, but he followed his father’s instructions. Edward got help from his former high school woodworking teacher and ordered $50,000 worth of equipment. John Lane, Edward’s father, went through the ceiling, but the terms for the machinery were good and the plant went into production. Sales of the chests were sluggish, so Edward started going on sales calls himself. After being turned down by several furniture stores, he came up with the idea of a fanciful cedar chest display. Then the stores bought Edward’s idea and his furniture.

Lane used other promotional schemes for the chests. Finding that many women cherished the European tradition of the trousseau or marriage chest, Lane promoted a line of “hope chests.” Dealers gave away millions of smaller Lane Love Chests to graduating high school girls. At one time, two-thirds of all girls graduating from high school received a miniature Lane Love Chest, which was promoted as “the gift that starts the home.” After World War II, Lane added other furniture items to its product line and continues to be a successful marketer of fine furniture.

Consider This: A product may not be profitable because it is not being sold correctly. Go into the marketplace and see how the product can most benefit people, then sell it with that information in mind.

Submitted by Richard

 

[Pushdown33]

August 12
​

Lane Cedar Chests
​

“Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job he starts.”
—Coleman Cox
​

In 1912 Edward Hudson’s father told him to start making cedar chests in an old box plant that he had just purchased. The twenty-one-year-old youngster didn’t even know what a cedar chest was, but he followed his father’s instructions. Edward got help from his former high school woodworking teacher and ordered $50,000 worth of equipment. John Lane, Edward’s father, went through the ceiling, but the terms for the machinery were good and the plant went into production. Sales of the chests were sluggish, so Edward started going on sales calls himself. After being turned down by several furniture stores, he came up with the idea of a fanciful cedar chest display. Then the stores bought Edward’s idea and his furniture.

Lane used other promotional schemes for the chests. Finding that many women cherished the European tradition of the trousseau or marriage chest, Lane promoted a line of “hope chests.” Dealers gave away millions of smaller Lane Love Chests to graduating high school girls. At one time, two-thirds of all girls graduating from high school received a miniature Lane Love Chest, which was promoted as “the gift that starts the home.” After World War II, Lane added other furniture items to its product line and continues to be a successful marketer of fine furniture.

Consider This: A product may not be profitable because it is not being sold correctly. Go into the marketplace and see how the product can most benefit people, then sell it with that information in mind.

Submitted by Richard

That was a cool story. When I graduated in 1985 I recieved a cedar box by Lane and still have and love that little box. Thank you for the story and the memories that I had forgotten.

 

[The Story Teller]

That was a cool story. When I graduated in 1985 I recieved a cedar box by Lane and still have and love that little box. Thank you for the story and the memories that I had forgotten.

You're very welcome Pushdown33.. Enjoy all the stories..