La-Z-Boy meets La-Z-Girl

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Recliner-makers are trying to boost sagging sales with new chair designs aimed at women, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The new chairs are not only about 25 percent smaller than the traditional overstuffed chairs, but sleeker, with tiny recliner levers tucked into the arms, or even remote controls. Some feature baby-bottle holders. Eggshell, raspberry and buttercup yellow are some of the new color options, the Journal said.

The new strategy makes sense in that women are often the ones picking out the furniture.

The term recliner is also out.

"We absolutely did not want to use the word 'recliner,'" said George Weldon, director of licensing for VF Corp.'s Wrangler, which rolled out its furniture line this October. "It has a lot of negative connotations for women, like football."

'Motion upholstered furniture' sales have fallen in recent years, even as general furniture sales have improved.