Owner of D.A. Lewis, Fine Furniture.
The name D A Lewis & Company is etched in the minds of New Zealand business people and consumers, as one of Christchurch’s most successful and established manufacturers and retailers of the highest quality furniture for life!
In 1937, and at the age of only 12, David Arthur Lewis started making letterboxes in his spare time and sold them to Smiths City. In 1945, after completing his Cabinet-making apprenticeship, he formed D A Lewis & Company. Starting out in David’s backyard shed, the company manufactured side-tables and bedroom furniture, which were then sold through Smiths City, Holmes and Sons, and McKenzie and Willis. The Torrens Road factory was soon expanded to accommodate the additional manufacture of dining tables and occasional furniture. A significant milestone for D A Lewis & Company was the commencement of lounge furniture manufacture in 1958.
In order to meet the increased production demand for the now large variety and volume of furniture manufactured, D A Lewis and Company relocated in 1961 to much larger premises (50,000 sq. ft.) in Manchester Street.
By the late 1970’s the company was wholesaling furniture throughout New Zealand, and by the 1980’s, exporting to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Commercial contracts for hotels, motels and institutions were also being undertaken from the 1970’s on.
A fire in April 1985 almost completely destroyed the Manchester Street factory. David Lewis was quoted at the time as saying “We will do our best not to let our customers down”. He didn’t, and not to be deterred by this setback, the company bought the old H. W. Smith Timber yard on Main South Road, opposite the Wigram RNZAF Base. By April 1988 a new showroom, factory and offices had been built on the site. The new factory had a floor area of 90,000 sq ft., 40,000 sq. ft. more than the old factory and the new showroom was a massive 22,000 sq. ft with room for further expansion.
David Lewis, a man of vision and drive, built an enviable reputation in the New Zealand furniture industry. The craftsmanship and professionalism of the staff ensures that furniture from D A Lewis & Company is some of the most sought after in the country.
Today, the second and third generations of the Lewis's, have perpetuated the family’s enduring values of quality craftsmanship, personalised customer relationships and a genuine caring for staff and the local community. At the same time they continue to lead the development and growth of the business.
To ensure that all customers have access to an extensive product range to suit the wide variety of individual lifestyles and demands, the company now also imports a range of quality furniture that meet the same exacting D A Lewis & Company manufacturing quality standards.
D A Lewis & Company is simply an outstanding example of a nationally successful and enduring locally owned Christchurch business.
D A Lewis and Company continue to manufacture and sell furniture for life! with pride and passion. (http://www.dalewis.co.nz/About/Default.asp)