Former Lane Venture President and CEO Arthur “Art” Thompson died on March 21 in Charlotte, North Carolina, at age 82.
Thompson began his career in the furniture industry as a buyer for JCPenney. He eventually became CEO of Lane Venture at the age of 44 and received the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) Lifetime Achievement award in 2009.
“With a remarkable 40-year career in the furniture industry, Art was celebrated as a visionary who transformed outdoor furniture from simple products into aspirational experiences,” Lane Venture said in a post on social media. “As a longtime president and CEO of Lane Venture, Art led the company’s marketing vision, championing the belief that great products are built around meaningful experiences. He valued every detail but always prioritized people above all. Energetic and inspiring, Art was deeply committed to developing his team and nurturing future talent.”
Thompson was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Port Washington, New York. He graduated from C.W. Post College in 1965 with a degree in business administration. While in college he met his future wife, Katherine “Kate” Frances Bannon, whom he married in 1966. They were married 48 years until her passing in March 2014.
Thompson served in the United States Army in Wurzburg, Germany, where he supported military intelligence.
After retirement, Thompson served as a mentor for students in Appalachian State University’s entrepreneurship program.
“Lane Venture is an iconic brand in our industry and has been around for over 53 years—Art Thompson was a pivotal leader who left his mark on Lane Venture that still holds up to this day,” said Schon Duke, vice president of sales and marketing, Lane Venture.
Thompson is survived by his daughter Lauren (John); son David (Lisa); five grandchildren, Lizzie, Andrew, Millie, Charlie and Martha; and his sister Mary.
“He was above all a storyteller. He believed in a selling through a story and not price. Every collection we did had an extraordinarily storyline,” said Paul Oliveira, sales representative, Lane Venture. “The prime example was when we collaborated with Frances Mayes on a Tuscany collection. He set up a bocci court in the midst of the collection to get everyone engaged. It was magic. The limoncellos were flowing.”
Oliveira said that Thompson’s passion for furniture and storytelling was matched by his love of his country.
“His finest moment was a video recording that he did in the hallway of the Merchandise Mart (empty and dark) on 9/11. It was unbelievably emotional and it cut deep. He was a patriot and it cut him deep,” he said. “He answered the following year with the biggest launch on our history as we went into outdoor kitchens. He rented out a section of the lobby and flew in Lee Greenwood for the launch. What a showman!”
