Laloli Brothers Ltd History

Laloli Furniture was established in 1942, when cabinetmaker Ivan Laloli opened a shop in Manukau Rd Epsom, Auckland, to sell nursery furniture which he manufactured in a small factory at the rear of the shop. 

The first product was a baby’s highchair, a unique design for it’s time as the “chair” could be removed from the legs, thus making it more portable. This highchair soon became a “3 in 1” model; it could be used as a high chair for feeding, then the seat had a removable flap so a child’s potty could be inserted for “potty training”; and a separate rocker could be attached to the underside of the chair to give a safe rocking chair for the baby.

Soon the range of products was extended to cots and bassinets for baby’s safe sleeping. Of course, in those days there was a plentiful supply of native timber available, tawa, rimu and kahikatea being favoured for easy machining and painting. 

Ivan was soon joined in his enterprise by brothers Raymond & Logan (Andrew Laloli’s grandfather), and Laloli Brothers Ltd was established. Shortly after the Second World War, the brothers purchased a plot of land in Great South Rd Penrose, directly opposite Church St, and built a factory to upscale production; one of the first industrial premises in the stretch of Great South Rd between Greenlane & Otahuhu. Then, Great South Rd was a concrete highway, built by the American army during their residency in Auckland. 

The post war “baby boom” fell right into the lap of Laloli Bros. The company had to ramp up production to meet the incredible demand for baby furniture during the late forties, fifties, and into the sixties. 

While some “mass production” techniques were employed, essentially the products remained true to their origins and were largely hand assembled and hand finished. Quality and durability was the priority, many examples of these original pieces remain in use today and can be found in second hand shops and on-line.

Although nursery furniture was the main focus of the business, Laloli Furniture also included bedroom furniture, dining suites, and some office furniture. Imported exotic timbers were readily available, so many of the products were produced in solid oak or mahogany, some with French polished lacquer finishes, which was a craft in itself to get perfect. Again, quality and durability were the hallmark of all the products that came out of the Laloli factory; a standard which is now being emulated in Laloli Timber Worx, as a new generation of the Laloli family produces hand made crafted pieces that will also last for generations to come.