In 1969, Bill and Dottie Coley opened a 7500 square foot factory in Newton, North Carolina, hired 10 people, and began crafting wood-framed upholstery pieces. In 1972 Chic Robinson joined the team as Executive Vice President in charge of financial, production, and administrative functions and helped propel LEE to a new level. From that humble beginning, LEE has expanded to four manufacturing plants and has grown to be a leader and innovator in environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.

As their company … and their family … grew, LEE expanded their product offering to include leather, machine washable slipcovers, exclusive designer collections, outdoor furniture, and the naturalLEE line of products.

LEE knows that a healthy community is the best way to support healthy manufacturing. In 2014, LEE introduced their LEE Loves Local campaign, a program that encourages communities to shop their local retailer and showcases artisans and small shop owners in the same community.

That same year, LEE celebrated the revitalization of downtown Conover, North Carolina, recapturing an abandoned furniture facility to create new corporate offices and manufacturing space for LEE in the heart of this small southern town.