Celebrating the Creative Legacy of Michael Bannon

Bob's Discount Furniture is honored to recognize longtime Creative Director and Producer Michael Bannon, who retired this June.

Michael has been with Bob's since the company's inception in 1991 and has left an enduring mark on the business-from its earliest commercials featuring talking sofas to its renowned stop-motion animation studio and Little Bob, one of the most recognizable brand mascots in the country.

For more than three decades, Michael helped shape the Bob's brand, transforming creative ideas into unforgettable advertising and bringing joy to millions of customers along the way. His impact is also reflected in the legacy he leaves as a mentor to countless employees and as a driving force behind the creation of the brand's in-house creative agency, LB&Co.

Before Little Bob

Michael's journey with Bob's began long before Little Bob ever appeared on screen - in fact even before the company became Bob's Discount Furniture.

At the time, Bob's co-founder Gene Rosenberg owned a furniture sales promotion company when Michael approached him with a simple idea:

"There's probably a better way to sell furniture."

To prove it, Michael created two unconventional stop-motion clay animation commercials. One featured a talking chair; the other starred aliens pitching furniture savings from outer space.

After watching the spots, Gene had a simple response:

"That's weird enough to work."

That moment sparked a creative partnership that would help shape the future of Bob's Discount Furniture and redefine how furniture was marketed to consumers.

Making the Brand

When Bob's Discount Furniture launched in Newington, Connecticut, Michael came onboard creating their first television commercials, which placed Bob's co-founder Bob Kuafman at the center of the brand's memorable and impactful advertising campaigns.

"There was something different about Bob," Michael reflected. "What struck me about him was that he was real. From store number one, he cared about the people. He was people-first and he impressed me as a human being."

As their working relationship grew, Bob's commercials featuring Bob touting the company's "no gimmicks" shopping experience, became engrained in the local media zeitgeist.

Bob reflected, "From the early days of driving a truck full of furniture to Michael's studio in New Hampshire to creating ads, to the incredible creative team he helped build, I'm grateful to Michael for making Bob's what it is today, for helping to shape what it continues to become and for the legacy he leaves behind."

Little Bob is Born

Bob's advertising department continued to evolve as the business grew and in 2003 Michael finally had the opportunity to create something he had in mind for years: Little Bob.

"A lot of places come up with animated gimmick to catch people's eyeballs," said Michael. "Little Bob is a manifestation of real human being with a different philosophy of how to sell furniture. He is a manifestation of a real person who changed the way furniture is bought and sold in the country."

Michael described Little Bob as more than a mascot. He saw the character as an extension of Bob's personality and values.

"Bob is an unbelievable guy, since minute one. This guy is the real deal. He's authentic," Michael said.

That authenticity became the foundation of a character customers came to know, trust, and welcome into their homes. Through Michael's artistry and storytelling, Little Bob became a symbol of the Bob's brand and its commitment to making furniture shopping approachable, fun, and honest.

"The reason Little Bob is so successful is that he is so intertwined with the real Bob that they are indelibly connected," said Michael.

"Michael's creativity and genius is woven throughout the success story of Bob's culminating in the life of Little Bob - a spokespuppet that has allowed the brand to continue after I stepped away from filming commercials and afforded me the incomparable gift of time with my life partner, Joann, before her passing," said Bob.

Michael's Legacy

Today, with over 200 stores across 27 states, Bob's advertising has continued to make an impact with Little Bob as the spirit of the brand's ethos.

Michael expressed pride not only in the character he created, but in the team, he helped build, and the future of the brand he loves.

"I can walk away and not look back or worry about anything going away," he said. "It's a good place to be leaving it."

"Michael's influence extended far beyond the commercials audiences saw on television," said Steve Nesle, Chief Marketing Officer at Bob's Discount Furniture. "He was a mentor, collaborator, innovator, and builder of teams. His dedication to excellence helped create a creative culture that continues to thrive today."

Today, Michael's creativity lives on in every Little Bob appearance, every commercial, and every smile those moments bring to Bob's customers.

"Michael will be missed more than he knows," said Steve. "The legacy he began will endure, and while Little Bob was originally an avatar for Bob, you would be forgiven for seeing just as much Michael Bannon in that two-foot-tall manifestation of the Bob's brand."

We are profoundly grateful for Michael's vision, friendship, artistry, and dedication. His work helped define who we are, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of Bob's associates, creative storytellers, and customers alike.

Thank you, Michael. See what Michael Bannon is up to here on his website: http://mikebannon.com/