Seaman's Furniture
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Furnishings |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Defunct | Template:End date and age |
| Fate | Liquidation; acquired by Levitz |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Products | Residential Furniture |
Seaman's Furniture was a U.S.-based furniture retail chain headquartered in Woodbury, New York. The brand gained recognition through its advertising tagline, "See Seaman's First".
History
The initial Seaman's Furniture store was established in 1933 by Julius Seaman in Brooklyn, New York. Over time, the business expanded to achieve annual revenues of $150,000, enabling him to finance the education of his two sons at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. According to Morton Seaman in an interview with Forbes, Julius’s primary ambition was for his sons to continue and grow the family enterprise. Julius passed away from a heart attack at age 48, leaving Morton, his elder son and college graduate, responsible for assisting his mother in sustaining the business, while Carl, still a student, contributed by working part-time during weekends and school breaks.
In 1955, the company invested $1,000 in its inaugural advertisement—a full-page feature in a local newspaper. This campaign resulted in tripled sales within the same week, prompting Morton to open a second location to lower advertising expenses per unit sold. By 1971, the chain had expanded to seven stores.
In 1988, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. acquired Seaman's Furniture through a leveraged buyout. At that time, Jeffrey Seaman, Morton's son aged 28, played a significant role in managing the acquisition process. Father and son collaborated on developing an international sourcing strategy during the company’s restructuring period.
On February 8, 1990, Seaman's Furniture announced the departure of Morton and Jeffrey Seaman from the company. Their positions were subsequently filled by Matthew D. Serra, formerly president and CEO of G. Fox.
After operating for over seven decades, Seaman's Furniture consolidated with Levitz in 2005.
In popular culture
Seaman's Furniture is referenced in a track by the hip hop ensemble A Tribe Called Quest. Within the song "Electric Relaxation" from their third studio album, "Midnight Marauders," Phife Dawg delivers the provocative line: "Let me hit it from the back, girl/I won't catch a hernia/Bust off on your couch/Now you got Seaman's furniture."