Specialty Sleep Association - The Future of Sleep

July 28, 2010 - The Specialty Sleep Associations’ (SSA) Safety and Environmental Program (SEP) consultant, Vicki Worden, will hold a series of special briefings for manufacturers and retailers at the Summer Las Vegas Furniture Market that begins Aug. 2nd. The four briefings will educate participants on how to sell more sleep products by addressing the safety and environmental concerns of consumers. Participants will learn how to use the right terminology and how to use the recently released SEP seal to help them sell more environmentally friendly products to consumers.

After more than a year of research and industry involvement, the SSA created a two-step label and seal that will appear on mattresses from manufacturers who join the program that informs the consumer about the minimum environmental and safety compliance levels the particular product adheres to, along with a label that lists components in the mattress.

Manufacturers in the program pay a fee to the SSA to use the label and seal, and complete an extensive application process with documentation that backs up claims. Consumers wanting further information beyond the seal and label will be able to go the SSA’s website for more detailed information and can contact the organization if they wish to learn more about a specific manufacturer’s component filing.

“These seminars are an opportunity to reach manufacturers and retailers to talk about a credible solution to the green washing that takes place in the market each day when it comes to selling environmentally friendly products. The SEP approach is a great way for the industry to engage, educate and inform consumers about a topic that is the number one concern of female consumers in particular,” said Vicki Worden, a consultant to the SSA and president of Worden Associates, Inc.

The seminars will take place in the SSA showroom (C-1350). On Monday, Aug. 2, the session will be from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 3rd from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.; and Wednesday, Aug. 4th from 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Founded in 1995, the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) is a national not-for-profit organization created to facilitate the growth and positive awareness of the specialty sleep category. Its members develop and/or sell specialty sleep products, including natural and organic bedding, latex, memory foam, air, gel, water, adjustable, new spring technologies and related products. SSA membership is comprised of more than 100 manufacturers and retailers ranging from small, family-owned businesses to large corporations.

Retailers interested in learning more about air, water, memory foam, latex, gel, adjustable beds and green or all natural sleep products should contact SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones at: (559) 868-4187 or (559) 676-8639 or tambra@sleepinformation.org.

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Specialty Sleep Association Launches Safety & Environmental Seal Program

Focus of Program is Consumer Education & Awareness

July 26, 2010 - The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) is launching the mattress industry’s first Safety & Environmental Program (SEP) to better educate and inform consumers of the components in the sleep products they buy. After more than a year of research and industry involvement, the leading trade association has created a two-step label and seal that will appear on mattresses from manufacturers who join the program that informs the consumer about the minimum environmental and safety compliance levels the particular product adheres to, along with a label that lists components in the mattress.

To display the Level I seal, a manufacturer must meet all federal safety flammability requirements; provide a warrantee for the product; meet all safety requirements for children’s products if applicable; disclose material construction with a descriptive label content; participate in an annual survey to identify carbon footprint issues and has committed to continuous improvement; and meet standards set by the Montreal Protocol Act when applicable, for reduction or elimination of ozone depleting substances. For the Level II seal, a manufacturer would have to meet all the requirements of the first threshold and in addition: meet California Section 1350 testing for low VOC emissions and validate that the mattress’ textile covering contains no harmful substances.

Several manufacturers have already signed onto the program and plan to show mattresses in compliance with the program at the forthcoming Summer Las Vegas Furniture Market beginning August 2nd. A leading industry supplier has provided the preliminary funding to launch a consumer education program through the enhancement of the current SSA website and a new social networking initiative that will launch when the first mattresses are expected to hit retailer’s floors.

“Purchasing safe and environmentally friendly products is an overwhelming concern of consumers. The SEP program represents the best way to finally deliver a clear message, through a revolutionary new label and education program, that the bedding industry is listening to that concern. The SSA is proud to have taken a leadership role in this important task of creating clarity in defining the broad terms being used to define environmentally friendly products as part of our ongoing mission to promote natural, healthier and safer sleep solutions for consumers,” said SSA President Dale Read.

“The SEP program is all about transparency and education. It represents a unification of suppliers, manufacturers and retailers around a set of environmental terms and definitions that will reduce confusion and bolster sales to consumers anxious to purchase environmentally friendly products,” he added.

SEP is the result of the SSA’s “Green Initiative,” which brought together 15 leading manufacturers, suppliers and retailers who studied and debated how the industry represented various environmental terms like “green” and “natural” to consumers. The group conducted a major study of consumers and retail sales associates to provide input, as well as looking at numerous certification programs and standards currently in use around the world. The process culminated in a comprehensive report delivered to industry leaders earlier this year.

“The Safety and Environment Program is the next step in standardizing the information about environmentally-friendly sleep products available to consumers. The SEP seal will not only provide an industry standard for what is green, sustainable or natural, but will also give retail sales associates the opportunity to discuss mattress safety, female consumers’ number one concern,” added Read.

Founded in 1995, the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) is a national not-for-profit organization created to facilitate the growth and positive awareness of the specialty sleep category. Its members develop and/or sell specialty sleep products, including natural and organic bedding, latex, memory foam, air, gel, water, adjustable, new spring technologies and related products. SSA membership includes more than 100 manufacturers and retailers ranging from small, family-owned businesses to large corporations.

For more information regarding the SSA, please contact Executive Director Tambra Jones at: 559-868-4187 or 559-676-8639 or by email: tambra@sleepinformation.org.

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Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI) to Unveil Newly Designed Las Vegas Showroom

July 23, 2010 - Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI), the nation’s leading manufacturer of organic mattresses and accessories, announced it will unveil a newly designed showroom at the Las Vegas World Market Center, August 2 – 6, 2010. The new space, conveniently located across from Tempur–Pedic® at the base of the elevators and escalators, is a strategic move by OMI to accommodate heavier foot traffic, increase visibility and make the brand more accessible to buyers interested in organic bedding products.

“As our brand grows, the merchandising of our products becomes much more important,” said OMI President and CEO Walt Bader. “The new showroom allows us to maximize and better showcase our products to retailers. Our fully integrated organic bedding systems will be presented in visually appealing vignettes, offering our retailers additional merchandising ideas while capitalizing on the new convenient location on ‘mattress row.’”

Located in Building C, space 1515, the new showroom is at the center of the 15th floor’s most visited area.

The company’s full line of mattresses, toppers and accessories, including the newest customizable mattresses in the OrganicPedic by OMI® Collection, the OrganicPedic 81 and the OrganicPedic Duo, will be on display. To celebrate their new location, OMI will host a cocktail party at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3rd.

Made in the USA in the only GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) large-scale facility, OMI is a full-circle environmental company dedicated to supporting America’s organic and sustainable farmers. OMI’s handmade, custom organic mattresses are manufactured in Northern California in the only Eco-Factory™ in North America built solely to manufacture organic products. OMI mattresses are also Greenguard-certified and qualify under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s LEEDs indoor air-quality program.

For more information, go to www.organicpedicbyomi.com.

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Chris Schriever Now Publisher, Dale Read Editor

Emeritus/Senior Writer of BEDROOM Magazine

July 23, 2010 - Dale T. Read President and CEO of The Marketing Arm Group, Inc. of Charlotte, NC and former owner of BEDROOM Magazine, and Christopher Schriever Principal of Blue House Design, LLC of Washington, DC, announced today that Mr. Schriever would assume the duties and responsibilities as Publisher of BEDROOM Magazine. Read, who created BEDROOM Magazine in February of 1995, will remain affiliated with the magazine as Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer for the mattress and bedding industry trade journal. Schriever, whose firm has designed and printed the magazine for more than six years, has purchased the publication and will immediately assume the duties of Publisher.

This transition will assure the magazine's sound financial footing and offer new energy and resources to help the publication address opportunities that arise from the recovering economy. This will also give Read the opportunity to place more focus on his role as President of the Specialty Sleep Association and author of the "Green Initiative", as well as pursue other opportunities within the mattress/bedding industry. As the Senior Writer for BEDROOM Magazine, Read will continue doing what he enjoys the most, namely advocating, through the publications editorial articles for the products and marketing offered by manufacturers and suppliers to retailers.

"Sixteen years ago there was no serious coverage of the mattress/bedding industry to the mattress retailer. I saw the opportunity to become a vocal advocate for the manufacturers and the suppliers to the retailers. Over the years we expanded the circulation from just under 5,000 retailers up to 22,000 at one point", said Read. Recent store closings and consolidations, as well as greater circulation focus, put retailer distribution for the Summer 2010 issue at 18,347.

Read noted the Blue House team had recently made new and vibrant changes to the look and format and had introduced new departments and features. "This team of young, high-energy, 20- and 30-something designers, copywriters, sales people and editors are bringing new life to this industry magazine", said Read. "I'll stick around as Senior Writer and work closely with the hundreds of manufacturers and suppliers who have become friends and colleagues. I'll still be telling their stories, but this new team will be running the show."

Schriever added, "I've enjoyed getting to know the industry over the past six years and am thrilled to be further invested with BEDROOM Magazine. We will continue in the tradition of providing coverage of current product insights, trends in marketing and the latest information from a myriad of mattress and bedding manufacturers. This information should help retailers better stock their showrooms with products that will sell and in turn improve margins."

The team is not revealing the details or terms of the deal, nor the specific transition of BEDROOM Magazine from The Marketing Arm Group to Blue House. The website www.BEDROOM-Mag.com remains, for the present time, under the ownership and management of The Marketing Arm Group working in conjunction with the Magazine and Blue House.

For more information contact: Christopher Schriever chris@bluehouse.us

About BEDROOM Magazine

BEDROOM Magazine has been the champion and advocate covering the innovative, new technology driven sleep products industry for more than 16 years. BEDROOM provides retailers, manufacturers and suppliers with the foundation and knowledge of sleep products industry.

For more information, visit www.BEDROOM-Mag.com.

About Blue House Design, LLC

Blue House is a design firm with extensive marketing and publication-management experience. Services include marketing strategy, concept development and design; advertising, exhibit and sponsorship sales; as well as print, mail and distribution management.

For more information, visit us at www.bluehouse.us.

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Ergomotion Will Exhibit New Lines in Two August Market Showrooms

July 23, 2010 - Adjustable bed base innovator Ergomotion will show its new product lines in Space C 1415 as well as a second exhibit in the Specialty Sleep Association Space C 1350, unit C76, during the August 2 – 6 Las Vegas Furniture Market, Ergomotion President Kelly Clenet announced.

The exhibits will focus on the “Ease to Add Some G’s” to mattress sales by training retail sales associates to include an Ergomotion base in each presentation. This increases an average retail sale by about $1,000. Ergomotion has developed its business to make ordering and inventorying, in-store display, selling and delivery—the entire marketing process—easier for its customers. The company will roll out a new adjustable base with built-in skirt and a new wall hugging mechanism.

Ergomotion products are known for crisp user-friendly designs, technological innovation, and safety features in each adjustable bed. Ergomotion fits into any frame and elevates to a full sitting position. Seven sizes are available. Beds set up in minutes, simply requiring installers to hand tighten four legs, then plugging in the unit. All are wall-friendly and feature removable height-adjustable legs. Snap-in replacement parts require no tools. Service issues are handled by a 24 hour toll free consumer telephone line. Ergomotion’s factory is ISO 9000 certified.

Retailers seeking additional information please visit www.ergomotion.us or call 888 550-3746.

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Embody by Sealy Wins Polartec APEX Award for Innovative Design

July 23, 2010 - On June 2, 2010, Sealy, North America’s No. 1 mattress brand, was selected as one of Polartec’s 12 North American APEX Award winners for its innovative use of its fabric in the new Embody™ by Sealy mattress.

Winners of the award were selected based on their use of the Polartec and APEX fabrics. These products must exhibit versatility, function and be unique in design with an emphasis on aesthetics.

Embody by Sealy successfully combines breathable Polartec-based fabric with the signature comfort of Sealy mattresses. The result is a mattress that enhances air circulation and works with the body’s natural ability to regulate temperatures. In addition, the line offers a sleek, contemporary design of memory foam and latex foam mattresses that provide consumers with a choice of clean, breathable products for a healthy sleep environment.

About Sealy

Sealy is the bedding industry's largest global manufacturer with sales of $1.3 billion in fiscal 2009. The Company manufactures and markets a broad range of mattresses and foundations under the Sealy®, Sealy Posturepedic®, Sealy Embody™, Stearns & Foster®, and Bassett® brands. Sealy operates 25 plants in North America, and has the largest market share and highest consumer awareness of any bedding brand on the continent. In the United States, Sealy sells its products to approximately 3,000 customers with more than 7,000 retail outlets. Sealy is also a leading supplier to the hospitality industry.

For more information, please visit www.sealy.com.

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Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI) to Feature Dual Core Mattress

Beautifully Designed For Two in Vegas

Company Expands Comfort Line Based on Recent Success of Customizable Products

July 23, 2010 - Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI), America’s #1 manufacturer of organic mattresses, will introduce a new dual-core sleep system at the Las Vegas Market this August 2-6, 2010. The OrganicPedic® DUO by OMI mattress allows each partner to select individual comfort preferences on each side of the same bed.. According to an OMI company spokesperson, consumer demand for customizable organic mattresses is on the rise.

“We all know sleep is vital for physical and emotional well-being, but many couples find sharing a bed difficult,” said OMI President and CEO Walt Bader. “For far too long, the organic consumer has had to accept products that did not meet the same comfort and posture support quality level as mainstream or other specialty sleep offerings. People were sacrificing comfort for healthy sleep.”

The DUO allows OMI to give their customers more comfort choices. The zippered organic cotton quilted cover allows easy access to the interior layers, starting with OMI’s signature 3-inch, 100-percent natural rubber latex sculpted top layer. Underneath this layer there are two individual adjustable comfort layers on each side, nestled together to form the bed’s core. Each interchangeable layer is individually labeled to identify the mattress’ comfort options – extra soft, soft, medium, and firm – that the sleeper can position each component to create her or his exact comfort level.

“Our retailers requested organic mattresses with more customizable sleep options,” adds Bader. “Along with our OrganicPedic® 81 by OMI, which we recently introduced, our latest introductions relieve retailers from the headache of comfort exchanges and give consumers control of their comfort by adjusting a layer, if needed.”

The DUO queen mattress has a suggested retail price of $3,995. From the contrasting colored detailing to the brass zippered cover, the DUO’s fine tailoring is evident throughout its design.

Made in the USA, OMI is a full-circle environmental company dedicated to supporting America’s organic and sustainable farmers. OMI’s handmade, custom organic mattresses are manufactured in Northern California in the only Eco-Factory™ in North America built solely to manufacture organic products. OMI mattresses are also Greenguard-certified and qualify under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s LEEDs indoor air-quality program.

To experience the OrganicPedic DUO by OMI, along with other handcrafted products by OMI, visit their permanent showroom, World Market Center Las Vegas space C-1515.

For more information, visit www.organicpedicbyomi.com.

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Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group Introduces Ten New Beds in Las Vegas

July 22, 2010 - Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group will introduce more than 10 new beds to our Leggett & Platt® Fashion Bed™ collection at the Las Vegas Market in August. Two of the new ornamental beds we will be highlighting are:

Leggett & Platt® Fashion Bed™ “Kendall” – a wood and metal bed

Style/Description: Contemporary styling blends a beech wood finish with a glossy black sapphire metal finish to fit into a variety of bedroom décors. The headboard height is 48”, and the footboard height is 34”. Available in queen and king. Approximate Retail Price: $599 (queen)

Leggett & Platt® Fashion Bed™ “Memphis” – a metal bed

Style/Description: An iced bourbon finish and open scroll design in a transitional style allow this bed frame to coordinate with traditional or modern décor. The frame features a powder coat base with hand‐finished highlights. The headboard height is 54 ½”, and the footboard height is 29 ½”. Available in queen and king. Approximate Retail Price: $499 (queen)

About Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group

Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group, a division of global diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt, is the premier provider of bedding products and accessories to the retail community. Based in Whittier, California, L&P CPG is committed to delivering innovative, high‐performance products at an exceptional value and offers a complete range of consumer bedding products and sleep accessories, available in retail furniture and bedding stores nationwide.

For additional information, please visit www.leggett.com\consumerproductsgroup.

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Jacuzzi Brand Luxury Bedding Products Launched

July 22, 2010 – Today, Jacuzzi Inc. celebrates the nationwide launch of luxury bedding products that extend the Jacuzzi® brand name beyond hydrotherapy. Under the terms of a licensing agreement, JelSleep LLC will manufacture and market a variety of upscale products under the Jacuzzi™ Bed Collection mark.

Jacuzzi™ Bed Collection mattresses feature a proprietary comfort layer comprising JelSleep™ technology combined with latex. This exclusive comfort layer is available over four different support structure options: engineered foam, individually wrapped coil, latex or an adjustable air core that allows the consumer to independently adjust the firmness in the head, lumbar and foot sections of the sleep surface. In addition, the Jacuzzi™ Bed Collection offers adjustable bed frames, pillows and sheets.

“We have looked at a number of Jacuzzi® brand extensions over the years to equate the luxury and relaxation experience that made our brand famous. This is the first system that captures the Jacuzzi® brand experience while you sleep,” notes Jacuzzi Group Worldwide CEO, Tom Koos. “We are very excited to be working with JelSleep LLC and look forward to the experience they bring in the luxury bedding product category.”

“We have found a great partner in Jacuzzi who reflects the same commitment to product excellence, health and well-being that is at the heart of the Jacuzzi™ Bed Collection product line,” notes Rick Feingold, President of JelSleep LLC.

The Jacuzzi™ Bed Collection features the new proprietary and revolutionary JelSleep™ material, the main ingredient in the new comfort layer, incorporating a patented technology. It automatically bio-adjusts to different body shapes and body temperatures at the same time, creating the ideal sleeping environment.

Research has shown that temperature plays a pivotal role in sleep. Experts note that during sleep, the body naturally tries to cool down to a lower set point. As the body lowers its core temperature, heat is released through the extremities.

JelSleep™ technology assists in the temperature reduction process, using its heat-diffusing properties to draw excess heat away from the body and dissipate it away from the comfort layer. The self adjusting system allows each individual body to fulfill its own natural desire to lower its temperature when sleeping, a critical factor in getting the quality sleep necessary to regenerate the body and mind for the next day, according to Feingold.

The unique JelSleep™ material stretches in all directions allowing it to conform to the body without causing it to sink, for optimum body support and proper spinal alignment. Additionally, JelSleep™ distributes weight evenly, relieving pressure and reducing the body’s need to reposition itself, allowing sleepers the opportunity to wake up free of aches and pains. JelSleep™ also responds to weight shifts immediately, allowing each sleeper to change positions without disturbing his or her partner. By eliminating endless body movement, both sleepers are better able to enter and maintain deep, restorative sleep, says Feingold.

About Jacuzzi Group Worldwide

Jacuzzi Brands Corp., d/b/a Jacuzzi Group Worldwide, through its subsidiaries (including Jacuzzi Inc.), is a global manufacturer and distributor of high quality and innovative branded bath, plumbing and backyard products for the residential, commercial and institutional markets. Product offerings include whirlpool baths, outdoor hot tubs, showers, sanitary ware, bath tubs, as well as fixtures and accessories. These products are marketed under our portfolio of brand names, including the flagship JACUZZI® brand as well as, SUNDANCE®, and ASTRACAST®.

Retailers who wish to carry the Jacuzzi brand JelSleep should contact:

JelSleep LLC

Rick Feingold

847-441-3222

rick@jelsleepbeds.com.

Learn more at www.jacuzzi.com.

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Simmons to Introduce Advanced Design, Innovative Beds at the August World Market Center

July 20, 2010

ComforPedic and ComforPedic LOFT 2010 Introductions

Simmons’ specialty sleep product guru Anne Kozel and Scott Smalling , who is the President of the Simmons Specialty Sleep Division have informed BEDROOM Magazine that Simmons is launching a new ComforPedic™ collection at this upcoming Las Vegas Furniture Market. The new specialty sleep line combines technology and luxury with modern aesthetics to create a better memory foam mattress. The line features a combination of the brand’s Advanced NxG™ Memory Foam and NxG™ Memory Foam with their heat dissipation, quicker recovery and consistent comfort benefits and includes 360 Gradient Edge™ Support, which firms up the sides of the bed for support while sitting and extends the sleeping surface of the mattress all the way to the edge. All models are available in firm or plush feels and feature a layer of latex for added comfort, while select models incorporate Progressive Support Latex for superior support and pressure relief. In addition, the line includes Transflexion™ Comfort Technology, a patented process that removes false loft from the mattress’ base foam, helping to ensure a consistent comfort throughout the life of the mattress and minimizing reasons consumers return mattresses. Each bed in the collection features a stretch knit fabric cover with a modern geometric design, and dealers may choose from a bold “chocolate” or more conservative “fawn” color for the beds’ luxurious velour border fabrics.

Simmons is also launching a new ComforPedic Loft™ model featuring GelTouch™ technology at Las Vegas Market. Nestled within a layer of NxG™ Memory Foam, the GelTouch layer is positioned in the center third of the mattress, where it provides a cooling sensation along with greater conformability. Simmons originally introduced GelTouch technology into its memory foam offerings in 2008 with the ComforPedic™ Capri™ model, and this introduction makes GelTouch technology available to consumers at a more affordable price point.

Beautyrest Black 2010 Introductions

Simmons’s marketing executives further announced that the company is introducing a new Beautyrest Black™ collection at the August 2010 Las Vegas Furniture Market, and this year the collection is divided into two distinct categories—Beautyrest Black and Beautyrest Black Beyond™. Beautyrest Black models provide an unforgettable sleep experience by combining unique product aesthetics, 850 density Variform Advanced Pocketed Coil™ springs and layers of superior comfort foams like NxG™ Memory Foam and Progressive Support Latex. Beautyrest Black Beyond mattresses take luxury to the next level with the additions of striking aesthetic differentiation and even more opulent materials like Advanced NxG™ Memory Foam and GelTouch™ technology for exceptional comfort and support. All Beautyrest Black and Beautyrest Black Beyond mattresses incorporate Transflexion™ Comfort Technology, a patented process that removes false loft from the foam comfort layers, helping to ensure a consistent comfort throughout the life of the mattress and minimizing reasons consumers return mattresses. The collection also features fine aesthetic details such as unique tack and jump borders, jeweled ribbon borders and performance enhanced quilt designs, creating a visual combination that embodies the world’s finest Beautyrest™.

Retailers interested in learning more about the new Simmons mattresses are encouraged to attend the World Market Center Building A-525 Or visit: www.simmons.com.

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FabricTech Introduces “PureCare” as the New Premium Brand Platform for its Antibacterial Silver & OmniGuard™ Products

July 16, 2010 - Fabrictech International, the innovative leader in health and allergy protection in the sleep products industry, has completed the re-branding of its premium protection lineup called “PureCare™”, which highlights the performance fiber characteristics found in its new Antibacterial Silver mattress and pillow protectors.

The company spent the past several months rebranding the program in order to help retailers showcase the benefits of premium health and allergy protection products that raise the industry’s performance bar to “allow the consumer to take back their bedroom” by killing bacteria on contact, as well as providing complete protection against bedbugs, dust mites, allergens and moisture.

Retailers can now sell making the bedroom a healthier place to sleep

“Fabrictech products enable the retailer to have a completely different conversation with their customers. Instead of just talking about a protector in the context of a warranty, they can raise the bar and also talk about making the bedroom a healthier place to sleep,” said Fabrictech President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Bergman. “PureCare Antibacterial Silver allows us to take health and clean to a new level. Our mattress and pillow protectors not only guarantee the manufacturer’s warranty, but they create the cleanest surface for the sleeper while not altering the comfort of the new mattress and pillow.”

In addition to the rebranding program that affords new packaging and POP tools, Fabrictech also provides its dealers with extensive retail-focused training to help RSAs better sell accessories in today’s competitive business climate.

Bergman said the company will use the PureCare brand as a platform for future premium products. “We are exploring how to integrate other additives into our mattress and pillow protection products that will enhance the health, safety and comfort of our customers. PureCare will be our brand platform for this future innovation,” he said.

The PureCare™ Antibacterial Silver system safeguards your mattress and pillows from bacteria, mildew and fungi with silver ions that locate bacteria and deactivate it while suppressing the reproduction of dust mites and their allergens. Combined with Fabrictech’s OmniGuard™ Ultra fabric that is bedbug, dust mite and allergen proof, FabrichTech tells BEDROOM Magazine that the new PureCare™ Antibacterial Silver products provide the healthiest and cleanest mattress and pillow protectors available today.

A byproduct of the sterilization of bacteria is a hygiene function that protects against its resulting unpleasant odors. Additionally, the reproduction of dust mites and their allergens are effectively inhibited. The product is dermatological tested and safe and Oeko–Tex certified. The silver thread fibers in the fabric provide unique protection, yet are small enough not to impair the comfort and contour of the sleep surface.

Fabrictech’s PureCare™ Antibacterial Silver mattress protection products range in suggested retail price from $119 to $169 in queen size. Its pillow protection product is $39.

“The Fabrictech brand is continuing its steep growth because we deliver high quality, health protection, value and outstanding service to our retailers. We remain dedicated to providing the finest products that provide the best possible margins to our customers,” said Fabrictech Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Arnold Hershbain.

Visit Fabrictech International at the Summer Las Vegas Furniture Market at Showroom C-1532.

Founded in 1992, FabricTech International provides consumers with a safer and healthier sleeping environment by utilizing the most advanced technology, the finest materials and highest quality workmanship. In addition, all FabricTech International products adhere to strict medical guidelines. FabricTech International is the exclusive provider of mattress protection products for The Style Network.

For more information about FabricTech International visit www.fabrictech.com or call 800-758-8563.

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FabricTech International Positions Itself as the Premium

Mattress and Pillow Protection Brand to Top 100 Retailers

July 15, 2010 - FabricTech International, the innovative leader in health and allergy protection through advanced technology in the sleep products protection industry, continued its record growth into 2010, nearing the 1,500-door count with the addition of many of the nation’s Top 100 retailers.

FabricTech International products are now available at such leading retailers as Mor Furniture, America’s Mattress, RC Willey, Sit ‘N Sleep, Bob’s Discount Furniture and Ashley Homes Stores.

“Over the past 18 months we have not only built out a full sales and training network in the United States, but we have made significant logistics enhancements that secure our ability to service large retailers across many geographies,” said FabricTech President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Bergman. “New packaging and point-of-purchase materials have also had a huge impact at retail, giving RSAs an edge in explaining to consumers the benefits of our products.”

According to FabricTech Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Arnold Hershbain, while the company has always offered a high-quality premium line, the infrastructure improvements were a necessary investment to grow the brand.

“Today, we are increasingly viewed by quality retailers as the premium protection product brand on the retail floor. Our product innovation, sales training, marketing, branding and logistics have become recognized as a strategic tool for the retailer to increase their margins in the sleep essentials arena,” he said.

For more information about FabricTech International visit www.fabrictech.com or call 800-758-8563.

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Simmons Bedding Appoints Gary Fazio as New Chief Executive Officer

Top Industry Executive Brings Extensive Manufacturing

and Retail Bedding Experience to Lead the Company

July 8, 2010 - Big news among the ranks of the top mattress/bedding manufacturers! Simmons Bedding Company, a leading provider of premium-branded bedding products, announced today the appointment of Gary Fazio as its new Chief Executive Officer effective July 8, 2010. Mr. Fazio brings more than 38 years of experience in the bedding industry and will be based at the company’s headquarters in Atlanta.

"I am thrilled to be joining Simmons at a time when the company is enhancing its strong brand and product portfolio as well as continuing to build on its long history of developing high quality and innovative products,” said Mr. Fazio. “Our opportunities are broad, and I look forward to joining the leadership team of such a distinguished company.”

Mr. Fazio has served as a top executive at both Sealy, Inc. and Mattress Firm, both in the manufacturing and retail sales of bedding resepctively. From 1981 to 2001, he worked at Sealy, Inc., eventually becoming Vice President and General Manager. From 2001 until 2010, Mr. Fazio served as CEO at Mattress Firm and has been its Chairman since February 2010.

After five years of dedicated leadership and service to Simmons, and guiding the company successfully through its restructuring, President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Fendrich will be leaving the company.

About Simmons Bedding Company

Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company is one of the world's largest mattress manufacturers, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of products including Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®, Beautyrest NxG®, Beautyrest Studio™, ComforPedic by Simmons™, ComforPedic Loft™, Natural Care®, Beautyrest Beginnings™ and BeautySleep®. Simmons Bedding operates 19 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities and one juvenile bedding manufacturing facility across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding also serves as a key supplier of beds to many of the world’s leading hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons Bedding is committed to developing superior mattresses and promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around the world.

For more information, visit Simmons Bedding's website at www.simmons.com.

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Specialty Sleep Association and National Cotton Batting Institute Team on the SSA’s Safety and Environmental Program For Consumer Education

June 28, 2010 - Manufacturers and retailers in the mattress/bedding industry have become quite familiar with the “Green Initiative” program spearheaded by the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA). The program is focused on defining eco-friendly sleep and providing clarity for consumers shopping for mattresses and bedding. Now, the SSA is pleased to announce that the National Cotton Batting Institute (NCBI) has joined the SSA and the SSA has joined the NCBI to team on this important effort.

According to Dale T. Read, president, SSA, “The NCBI has a long history of advocating cotton as an element in natural and all natural mattresses, pillows and bedding. We share a common goal of educating the consumer about natural components in mattresses and bedding. It is a benefit for the SSA to support the NCBI, and to have their support for our SSA Safety and Environmental Program for Consumer Education."

“Since a high percentage of our product is entirely natural --- reclaimed cotton waste converted into batting --- we were extremely interested when the SSA began conducting surveys to define what is ‘green’,” said NCBI president Weston Arnall. The National Cotton Batting Institute represents U.S. companies that manufacture and sell batting for use in mattresses, futons, home furnishings, and upholstered products. NCBI provides a range of services to assist its members in expanding markets, monitoring and contributing to legislative and regulatory decisions that affect the industry, and conducting consumer education and information programs

The SSA industry-wide product labeling effort is the core element of its Safety & Environmental Program. The ongoing national initiative is centered on addressing a key industry challenge: helping to bring “transparency” to acceptable practices in the marketing of eco-friendly sleep products.

All aspects of the SSA program are based on in-depth national research and input from manufacturers, retailers, retail sales associates (RSAs), and the market at-large – as well as analyses of applicable consumer protection laws at the federal and state levels.

Founded in 1995, the Specialty Sleep Association is a national not-for-profit organization created to facilitate the growth and positive awareness of the specialty sleep category. SSA membership is comprised of more than 100 manufacturers and retailers ranging from small, family-owned businesses to large corporations.

Those interested in learning more about the SSA, should contact Tambra Jones, executive director, SSA, 559-868-4187 or 559-676-8639, tambra@sleepinformation.org.

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In Memoriam: Michael Pino, International Director of Sales for Natura

June 23, 2010 - It is with deep regret and extreme sadness that Natura announces the death of International Director of Sales, Michael Pino. His battle with cancer ended on June 22 2010 – Michael was 56 years old.

Michael is survived by his wife Wendy, son Jonathan (23), his older brothers, Joseph and Robert, three niece, a nephew and best friend Tammy.

A service will be held on Saturday, June 26 at St. Joseph’s Church in Swedesboro, New Jersey. Friends and family are invited to visit Daley’s Life Celebration Studio (adjacent to the church) between 8:30 and 10:00 am. Michael will be laid to rest in St Joseph’s Cemetery beside his mother and father.

Michael’s family requests donations be made to a charity close to your heart or the Cancer Centers of America, 1331 East Wyoming Avenue, Philadelphia, 19124. You can donate directly online at www.gatewayforcancerresearch.org/donate or by calling 888-221-2873.

Condolences can be left at the Daley Life Celebration Studio online: www.lifecelebrationstudio.com/main.cfm. The online guestbook will be available on Friday June 25.

Michael Pino, a 20-year industry veteran was Natura’s International Sales Director. After graduating from Rowan University, he began his career with Therapedic and moved onto Restonic and Natura. Michael loved travel and food and fed these passions by nurturing a career that lured him to different corners of the globe on a regular basis. According to his niece, Linda, work was a passion for Michael, a calling, not a career.

Michael put his family first and enjoyed sharing his love of sports with them – he was an avid Phillies and Eagles fan.

“Michael was a remarkable ambassador for Natura in the international mattress world," said Ralph Rossdeutscher, President of Natura. “Michael was also a good friend and we will miss his sense of humor, his willingness to be there for others and his get-it-done attitude.”

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Protect-A-Bed Celebrates World Continence Week

Company Sponsors Conference, Spreads the Word About Discreet Incontinence Products

June 21, 2010 - Protect-A-Bed, a leading provider of sleep hygiene products, is celebrating World Continence Week by sponsoring and exhibiting at an incontinence-focused public health fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 23 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago.

World Continence Week (June 21-27), a creation of the International Continence Society, is designed to build awareness of incontinence issues and treatments. It's estimated that more than 33 million individuals are affected by incontinence in the United States. At the Chicago public health fair, healthcare professionals and incontinence product providers will be on hand to start a dialogue with people about incontinence and their treatment options.

"Incontinence is not something people should be ashamed of or silent about", said Protect-A-Bed CEO James Bell. "World Continence Week is all about giving individuals the tools they need to understand and manage their incontinence issues. Protect-A-Bed is proud to be involved in this valuable awareness-building initiative, and we're excited to share our discreet and comfortable bedding protection products with attendees of the Chicago public health fair."

Chicago-based Protect-A-Bed is an international provider of sleep hygiene products. The company's mattress protectors are made of a super soft, ultra thin, lightweight material that is waterproof, absorbent and easy to transport. The mattress covers feature Protect-A-Bed's patented Miracle Membrane® durable polyurethane laminate, which provides ultimate mattress protection, yet is cool, comfortable and quiet to sleep on. Protect-A-Bed mattress covers are machine washable and can be tumble dried.

Protect-A-Bed is filling a growing need for high quality, discreet incontinence products. Previously, those suffering from incontinence were limited to plastic bed covers that made sleep uncomfortable and incontinence issues obvious to others.

"Unfortunately, many incontinence sufferers are unaware of the treatment options and products available to them", said Diane Newman of the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Continence and Pelvic Health. "Companies like Protect-A-Bed are meeting an important need by creating discreet incontinence products. World Continence Week and health fairs like those being held in Chicago, create a forum for these companies and for health professionals to share their expertise with those who need it."

The James R. Thompson Center is located at 100 West Randolph St, Chicago, Ill., 60601. For additional information on the Chicago public health fair and other World Continence Week events across the country, please visit www.worldcontinenceweek-usa.org.

About Protect-A-Bed

Protect-A-Bed offers consumers a complete line of protective bedding products to create a Healthy Sleep Zone. The unique technology featured in Protect-A-Bed’s mattress and pillow protectors was developed in South Africa in 1980 before the company was officially established in the United States in 2000. Now selling in 27 countries, Protect-A-Bed is a worldwide leader in mattress protection innovation. The company developed the proprietary Miracle Membrane® and patented Bug Lock® and Secure Seal®, which help create a dry, bed bug free, anti-allergy sleep zone for people of all ages. Protect-A-Bed products are listed as a Class 1 Medical Device with the Food and Drug Administration and have received the Good Housekeeping Seal.

To learn more about Protect-A-Bed's sleep hygiene products, visit www.protectabed.com.

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World’s Leading Manufacturer of Bedding Latex Foam Components

Joins SSA “Green Initiative”

June 15, 2010 - The mattress/bedding industry “Green Initiative” program spearheaded by the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) has added a new supplier board sponsor: Latexco US, the United States/Canada division of Latexco of Belgium. Additionally, the President of Latexco West, Roger Coffey, has been named to serve on the founding board of the “Green Initiative,” which is focused on defining eco-friendly sleep and providing clarity for consumers shopping for mattresses and bedding.

According to Dale T. Read, President of the SSA, “We continue our strong outreach to suppliers in the mattress/bedding industry to further expand the ‘Green Initiative.’ Roger Coffey and Latexco are leading the way in the world of latex foam components for the bedding industry. As our Safety & Environmental Program evolves and expands in the months ahead, we look forward to their active involvement.”

Latexco produces a large range of mattress cores, toppers and pillow cores. Latexco US Holdings was the compapny’s first expansion in North America. Latexco US is part of the family owned Latexco N.V. group based in Europe with over 50 years of experience in serving the bedding industry worldwide. The company has an award-winning recycling process which turns waste product into clean, profitable alternatives.

“At Latexco, we feel that it is imperative to give back to our industry and customers. We have always been involved with the ecology of our products and our stewardship of the environment we draw our products from. The SSA ‘Green Initiative’ is the perfect forum for our thoughts and actions to be addressed. I am excited to being a member of the Board and look forward to working with such as prestigious group to achieve the Initiative’s goals,” said Coffey.

The SSA has recently announced an industry-wide product labeling effort that is the core elements of its Safety & Environmental Program. The ongoing national initiative is centered on addressing a key industry challenge: helping to bring “transparency” to acceptable practices in the manufacture and marketing of eco-friendly sleep products.

Those interested in learning more about the SSA, should contact Tambra Jones, Executive Director, SSA, 559-868-4187 or 559-676-8639, tambra@sleepinformation.org. Visit www.SleepInformation.org.

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Sealy Names New Director of Marketing Communications

Jamie Piper Brings Robust Marketing Experience to North America’s No. 1 Mattress Brand

June 15, 2010 - Sealy, North America’s No. 1 mattress brand, today announced Jamie Piper has joined the company as Director of Marketing Communications. Piper joins Sealy from Whirlpool Corp., where she led marketing efforts for some of the most powerful brand names in the cooking, refrigeration and dishwasher businesses.

“Jamie has the diverse experience and proven track record required to not only lead Sealy’s marketing communications efforts, but also to excel,” said Jodi Allen, Sealy Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “Jamie’s product launch expertise, marketing background, as well as her brand messaging and negotiation skills, make her the perfect fit.”

During her three years at Whirlpool Corp., Piper served in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently holding the position of Senior Sales and Marketing Manager. In this role, Piper was responsible for managing the sales and marketing of all cooking and refrigeration business for Whirlpool’s Home Depot account, representing more than $300 million in annual sales. Previously, Piper served as Senior Category Manager for the KitchenAid and Jenn-Air Dishwasher brands and as Category Manager for Maytag Dishwashers, successfully managing marketing and product development, while routinely exceeding expectations and sales targets.

Piper began her professional career gaining valuable marketing and sales experience in the automotive and retail industries, first in retail sales with Limited Corporation and later as a marketing manager with DURA Automotive Systems, Inc. She received a master’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University and a bachelor of science in marketing from Oakland University. At Oakland, Piper graduated Summa Cum Laude with departmental honors and was a recipient of a Presidential Scholarship. At both universities, Piper ranked No. 1 in her class.

About Sealy Corporation

Sealy is the bedding industry’s largest global manufacturer with sales of $1.3 billion in fiscal 2009. The Company manufactures and markets a broad range of mattresses and foundations under the Sealy(R), Sealy Posturepedic(R), Stearns & Foster(R), and Bassett(R) brands. Sealy operates 25 plants in North America, and has the largest market share and highest consumer awareness of any bedding brand on the continent. In the United States, Sealy sells its products to approximately 3,000 customers with more than 7,000 retail outlets. Sealy is also a leading supplier to the hospitality industry.

For more information, please visit www.sealy.com.

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Over 100 Designers Sign Up to Serve as Magniflex Affiliates

Successful New Distribution Channel Opened Through Design Community

June 7, 2010 - Magniflex today announced that more than 100 designers have become Magniflex affiliates as a result of the company presenting its Interior Designer Affiliate Program at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) last month. The company is now expanding the discount program for designers to include additional discounts for retailers seeking to partner with designers in their local market.

“Designers have been frequenting Magniflex and other luxury bedding brands because their clients are looking for bedding that is both unique and rich in performance features,” said Marco Magni, global sales director for Magniflex. “They no longer want an anonymous white rectangle, but rather enjoy and appreciate the benefits of our aromatherapy products or our very distinctive ‘metals’ collection of silver, gold and platinum.”

The program offers designers and retailers wholesale prices on a full range of eco-friendly mattress collections for three months, followed by 30-percent discount thereafter. Now, any retailers who work with a participating designer may receive additional discounts at any time. Magniflex is promoting this extension of the program to help protect retailers’ margins.

More than 80 leading designers from across the U.S. and Canada signed on with the discount program during ICFF. They consisted of professionals from a diverse array of backgrounds, from designers with celebrity clientele to a retailer who ordered GeoEthic mattresses for the designer of a boutique hotel in New York.

Designers are invited to visit the Magniflex showroom at 59 Crosby St. in Manhattan with clients, to sample the company’s range of environmentally-friendly, specialty mattresses and pillows. Outside of New York, Magniflex is available at retail locations nationwide; select retail dealers are listed in the Showroom Locator feature on www.Magniflex.us.

All participants receive Magniflex’s guaranteed five-day delivery time directly to consumers’ homes for one low, flat rate. Once an order is placed, Magniflex delivers the mattress directly to consumers through its low-cost Quick Ship capability -- only $45 for a queen mattress to the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Magniflex has also begun shipping to Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and is promoting complimentary shipping to all of U.S. and Canada for any 10-piece orders.

All Magniflex mattresses may be shipped vacuum-rolled and compressed by up to 90 percent, providing consumers and retailers greater convenience during the delivery process.

Besides saving money during shipping, vacuum-packing significantly lowers the product’s overall carbon footprint.

Magniflex previewed select models from its Classic and GeoEthic Collections at ICFF. Of note are the Bellagio Lavender mattress ($2,699/Queen) featuring a removable cover infused with essential oils of lavender to contribute to deep, relaxing sleep, and the SeaCell Emotion mattress ($4,499/Queen) which has a temperature-regulating cover containing microscopic particles of marine algae fiber to aid in cellular regeneration.

The mattress cores are made of high performance water- and plant-based memory foam materials developed by Magniflex. The retail price of most Magniflex collections ranges from $999 to $4,499 in queen.

Magniflex mattresses are made with non-toxic, renewable and organic materials as part of the company’s long-standing commitment to innovation and to serving the environment. Magniflex was the first mattress company in the world to have its products certified by Oeko-Tex to guarantee the absence of allergenic substances harmful to consumers and to the environment.

Magniflex was founded over 50 years in a suburb of Florence, Italy, and today 30 million people in 70 countries sleep on Magniflex mattresses. Known as the world leader in quality, comfort and innovation, Magniflex has a central manufacturing facility producing up to 10,000 mattresses a day, 80-percent of which are exported to countries such as Japan, Spain, Germany, Russia and the United States. Magniflex has a showroom at 59 Crosby St. in Manhattan and a national dealer network throughout the U.S. and Canada.

For more information, visit www.magniflex.com or call 646-330-5483.

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Natura World Delivers Healthy, Eco-Chic New Mattress Line Up

June 1, 2010 - Natura World Inc., dynamic provider of natural, green and organic sleep solutions, has upped the ante yet again with a revamped line-up of eco-friendly mattresses. Effective June 1, a new crop of NaturaLatex™ and NaturaPedic™ mattresses will be available to consumers across North America.

“We aren’t content to sit on our laurels,” said Ralph Rossdeutscher, president and CEO of Natura World Inc. “Every great product can be improved. We’ve taken a thorough look at our mattresses, thought about what sleep challenges have yet to be solved and implemented some exciting new ideas.”

Aside from a fresh new look, Natura World has increased the already abundant natural and organic content of their mattresses. What’s more, the addition of targeted support zones tackle high pressure areas like shoulders hips and lower legs. The new NaturaLatex and NaturaPedic now feature a selection of mattresses with these targeted support zones. And all of this is done at a reduced cost to both retailers and consumers.

To solve the comfort-dilemma of bed sharing, the NaturaLatex line-up also provides dual comfort versions of their most popular mattresses. Firm on one half, luxurious on the other, Natura’s dual mattresses ensure proper support and indulgent comfort for both partners.

“Adequate comfort and support is a critical component to healthy sleep – for both individuals sharing a sleep environment. Natura’s dual surface mattresses ensure that there is no compromise necessary for a great night’s rest,” said Rossdeutscher. “Better sleep means healthier, happier people.”

Natura introduced the new line of mattresses at High Point Market in April and drew an overwhelmingly favorable response. Beginning June 1, consumers will be able to see these new mattresses online at the Natura World website. Showroom orders are currently being filled and will be arriving at mattress stores across North America shortly.

In conjunction with the launch, Natura announced earlier this week that all mattresses will now have a healthy, antibacterial, hypoallergenic solution applied to the covers. The Natural Silver treatment eliminates microbes on contact, to preserve mattress hygiene and protect consumer health. Natural Silver solution kills candida (yeast), e.coli, avian flu, listeria, salmonella, even the highly anti-biotic resistant MRSA, and yet it’s colorless, odorless and non-toxic.

“Silver solutions are being used in everything from wound dressings, pressure garments and scar management fabric to sportswear and hygiene products,” Rossdeutscher commented. “A perfect blending of an age old solution with modern technology. A perfectly natural fit for Natura World.”

To learn more about the new mattress line-up at Natura World or to schedule an interview with Mr. Rossdeutscher, please contact Julia Rosien.

About Natura World: Founded 16 years ago by the Rossdeutscher family, Natura is committed to nurturing healthy bodies, souls and planet through healthy sleep systems. By providing a nourishing night’s sleep through sustainable, earth-friendly materials and manufacturing, Natura truly is where nature meets nurture. It’s not a trend. It’s about aligning personal values with everyday actions. A good night’s sleep makes for happier, healthier people and ultimately a better planet.

Please visit www.naturaworld.com for more information.

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Simmons Evolves Mattress Point-of-Sale with Launch of "QR" Tags

Consumer Education --- Interactive Store Signage with "Quick Response"

May 28, 2010 - Simmons Bedding Company (“Simmons”) is revolutionizing mattress shopping with the launch of the company’s first QR (Quick Response) tagging applications for point-of-sale materials on mattress retailer floors. Simmons created the QR tags, which are small barcode-like visuals that may be scanned and “read” by smartphones, with the goal of making in-store signage more interactive for consumers. Once scanned by a smartphone such as the iPhone®, DROID or BlackBerry®, the QR tag makes additional information, images and videos easily available to the user via their phone’s web browser, providing consumers with a more robust shopping experience.

QR tags will be placed on spec cards as early as Memorial Day Weekend

Simmons’ initial phase of QR tags will be placed on spec cards as early as Memorial Day Weekend for mattresses from the new 2010 Beautyrest® line. When consumers scan the QR tag for a Beautyrest mattress, they will receive access to a 3-D construction rendering of that particular Beautyrest category—either Beautyrest Classic®, Beautyrest Anniversary™ or Beautyrest World Class®. In addition, tag users will have the option to play a Beautyrest video, which illustrates how the bed’s Super Pocketed Coil® springs, BeautyFeel™ comfort and BeautyStyle™ aesthetics come together to offer unsurpassed motion separation, conformability, support and durability in an attractive package. The video also features the brand’s signature bowling ball demonstration for additional emphasis on the Super Pocketed Coil springs’ motion separation benefits. To facilitate sharing of Simmons’ QR tag content via social media, the company has included Facebook® and Twitter® buttons on the content website, enabling users to easily communicate the Beautyrest image and video to their online network of family and friends.

“Simmons’ tradition of innovation has not only shaped the way consumers experience their mattresses, it’s also influencing how they use point-of-sale materials to make an educated bedding purchase,” said Tim Oakhill, executive vice president of marketing for Simmons. “QR tags are an exciting technology that will help change the retail landscape of the mattress industry by enhancing our communications with consumers as they are shopping in-store. We’re proud of the fact that Simmons is the first major mattress manufacturer to have QR tag technology ready for retailers to incorporate into their store environments.”

To view Simmons’ Beautyrest QR tag content, consumers must use their smartphones to download a Microsoft® Tag Reader application, which is available for free at gettag.mobi. IPhone users may also download the tag reader via the Apple® online App Store.

“More than 20 percent of cell phone users currently have a smartphone, and that number is growing. Because QR tag technology is so simple to use, we anticipate that other industries will be integrating it into their packaging and signage in the near future,” said Oakhill. “Anyone that can take a picture with a cameraphone can use a QR tag. All consumers need to do is download the tag reader application and point their phone’s camera at the tag image to see the tag content. It’s that easy.”

About Simmons Bedding Company

Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company is one of the world's largest mattress manufacturers, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of products including Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®, Beautyrest® NxG®, Beautyrest Studio™, BeautySleep®, ComforPedic by Simmons™, Natural Care® and Beautyrest Beginnings®. Simmons Bedding operates 19 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities and one juvenile bedding manufacturing facility across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding also serves as a key supplier of beds to many of the world’s leading hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons Bedding is committed to developing superior mattresses and promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around the world. For more information, visit Simmons Bedding’s website, www.simmons.com.

To learn more about Simmons, visit www.simmons.com.

For more information about the new 2010 Beautyrest line, visit www.beautyrest.com.

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Therapedic & Hollandia International Sign Licensing Deal

Strategic Alliance Gives Hollandia License for Israel & Cyprus;

Two Companies Will Also Explore Joint Product Development

May 28, 2010 - Hollandia International, manufacturer of the world’s most luxurious sleep systems and the leading bedding retailer in Israel, has formed a strategic alliance with global mattress brand Therapedic. Under terms of the deal, Hollandia will own the Therapedic license for Israel and Cyprus, and said it planned to open Therapedic retail stores in Israeli cities over the next year. Additionally, both companies have announced that they will form a joint research and development team that will create products leveraging Hollandia innovation, which would be sold throughout the world.

“We have been watching the growth and development of the Hollandia brand over the past few years and it is incredibly impressive. They make some of the most luxurious products in our industry, and on the retail side of their business, they understand the importance of selling more than just mattresses to their customers –but rather the benefits of a good night’s sleep,” said Gerry Borreggine, Therapedic president and CEO. “Together, I think we make a powerful combination in the bedding industry. We will be able to learn from one another and help our brands continue to grow.”

Hollandia CEO Avi Barssessat said he had been looking for sometime to find the right U.S. sleep products brand to bring to Israel.

“Israelis love American brands, and Therapedic is an outstanding sleep products company that offers a full range of product choices. I think the brand will resonate exceptionally well here in Israel,” he said. “We have examined the growth of Therapedic internationally to benchmark what has worked outside of the United States, and we believe our strategy will make the brand the fastest growing here in Israel."

Hollandia now operates in more than 120 locations throughout the world. In the United States, it operates two retail showrooms, one in Philadelphia and the other in Short Hills, N.J. All its products are manufactured in Israel.

Hollandia draws upon more than 29 years of perfecting sleep systems, to create a unique customer experience combining superior service with the highest quality materials - assuring luxurious rest and relaxation. In addition to its innovative sleep systems, Hollandia manufactures a full range of complementary sleep essentials such as plush pillows, fitted sheets, blankets and mattress protectors. Committed to innovation and technology, Hollandia also offers custom-made style essentials such as a daybed or ottoman that can easily transform into an extremely comfortable guest bed.

Therapedic International is a 53-year-old mattress and sleep products manufacturer, with over 50 licensees producing products under the Therapedic brand label throughout the world. It is a recognized top-10 mattress brand, and has significantly increased its brand awareness and distribution in the related sleep products categories over the past five years.

For more information, visit www.therapedic.com and www.hollandiainternational.com.

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Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group Joins WorldBed Mission for Haitian Relief

May 27, 2010 - Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group is joining the cause for long-term Haitian earthquake relief by donating to the WorldBed project, an initiative that is sending mattresses to Haiti to help alleviate discomfort as the rainy season approaches.

The company’s donation will fund WorldBeds for use by victims of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. These waterproof beds will provide a dry, comfortable sleeping surface to earthquake victims in Haiti.

“We’re proud to contribute to a caring and important initiative like the WorldBed project,” said Herman Tam, group vice president of sales and marketing for Leggett & Platt’s Consumer Products Group, the company’s retail arm in the bedding industry. “As a leader in the bedding industry, Leggett & Platt’s involvement in a cause like this is both our privilege and responsibility. This donation, along with many others, will help WorldBed reach its goal to send 200,000 beds to Haiti. We hope our customers and suppliers will join us and do what they can to support this humanitarian initiative.”

“We’re grateful for Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group’s generous donation and growing partnership with WorldBed,” said Laura Castro, president of WorldBed. “We’re honored that a leader in our industry like Leggett & Platt has stepped up to support this important initiative. WorldBed is a long-term project and with the support of others, including our industry colleagues, we can together achieve our mission of providing comfort throughout the world.”

The WorldBed Project is a turnkey sleep system designed for emergency care and relief efforts. Built from high performing 3-inch cushioning foam, the cot-sized field beds can be compression packaged and quickly dispatched, in volume, to areas of need, anywhere, worldwide. It was created to provide needed comfort, increased levels of health and safety, and a more sanitary place to sleep in an effort to speed recovery and aid in healing.

The WorldBed Project was initiated during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in which Anatomic Global mobilized a team to make and distribute 3,000 field beds that ended up benefiting 11,000 persons in need. In response to the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit near Port-au-Prince, Haiti in January, 2010, the company revisited the WorldBed concept. WorldBed Inc. was formed after receiving acclaimed recognition for the product’s benefits and support from donations to operate the project. WorldBed’s mission is to deliver 200,000 WorldBed products to displaced Haitians over the next year, working alongside groups like World Vision, World Hope International and CARE and will continue to aid other global disaster relief programs on an as needed basis. The long-term goal will be to develop and aid other global relief programs.

About Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group

Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group products are marketed under four brands, including the Leggett & Platt® Home Collection™, Fashion Bed Group®, Southern Textiles™ and Adjustables™ by Leggett & Platt®. Together, they manufacture a complete range of consumer bedding products and sleep accessories, available in retail furniture and bedding stores nationwide.

For more information, visit www.WorldBed.org.

For additional information, please visit www.leggett.com\consumerproductsgroup.

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***Red Shirt Friday***

May 27, 2010 - On Friday May 21, we are asking that all employees wear a red shirt to work. We will supply the shirt. By wearing a red shirt, we are showing our support for our servicemen and women.

This is not A POLITICAL STATEMENT. We are not interested in whether or not one supports or does not support the war. We care only about making our support of our servicemen and woman known to our fellow Americans and the world.

We all have or at least know someone who has, friends and/or relatives serving in the military. I ask that everyone participates in this gesture for the servicemen and woman, and to their families, by showing that we are thinking of them.

On Thursday May 20, we will be handing out red golf shirts to all employees. Please make sure you wear them on Friday.

Thank you for your support.

Matthew Connolly President - Eclipse International

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A Follow-Up or Reminder Note to Mattress Retailers

May 26, 2010 - So it is already at least six weeks since High Point…..and like most busy retailers you were surprised to see just how many mattress/bedding manufacturers had showrooms at High Point, NC. Your schedule was packed. You had some pretty good meetings with your usual suppliers, and then you even checked out a few new sources. One of the companies you stopped in to see was a company called Glideaway, and they had a whole new thing going on….It was called sleepharmony. Beautiful, tranquil posters..sweeping, but peaceful logo..you took notes. Had a great conversation …They were telling you about a whole new line up of bedding, but also weren’t they the folks who said they had done some research and were now positioning themselves with their sleep harmony to be like the Target® in the retail space ---offering what their president Carmi Fredman called “the same value proposition that Target offers it customers.” We you don’t have to scramble through you notes to refresh your memory because here is the story six weeks after the market:

The simple fact is that Glideaway® Sleep Products said it was branding its mattress and pillow line as sleepharmony™, in a move to position it as the “Target” of value bedding products in the U.S.

“You can be the Kmart or the Target in the value space. We want to be the latter because we appreciate conscientious consumers looking for high quality merchandise at cost effective prices,” said Glideaway President Carmi Fredman. “We conducted market research, benchmarked Target’s approach, and took a chapter from their brand positioning playbook. When it comes to the bedding industry, consumers can expect the same value proposition from sleepharmony that Target has captured in the general retail space.”

To compliment Glideaway’s rebranding, they have launched a new marketing campaign evoking spa-like imagery to promote the brand as products offering a high level of design and performance at a valuable price point. A new tag line, “revive your sleep,” new logos and product names that include Balance, Harmony, Revitalize, Renew, Serenity, and Tranquility, help differentiate the sleepharmony line from other products in the marketplace.

“When all the components needed for the ultimate sleep experience harmoniously come together for our retailers and their customers, that’s sleepharmony,” Fredman adds. “From the carefully constructed bases, to the quality of our mattresses, and even our plush pillows, Glideaway continues to provide our loyal client base with unsurpassed comfort and a tranquil all-in-one shopping experience that remains our standard.”

Founded in the 1920s as a furniture retailer in Illinois, Glideaway is a full-service bedding manufacturer and supplier to full-line furniture retailers, specialty sleep shops, and web-based e-tailers. Their products include a complete line-up of visco and latex mattresses, adjustable bed bases, bed frames, pillows, mattress protection products, headboards and juvenile beds. Five years ago, Glideaway introduced a 14-mattress lineup. The company also offers pillows and pillow and mattress protectors all marketed under the “sleepharmony” brand.

Today Glideaway, headquartered at an 185,000 square foot facility in St. Louis, Missouri, is still operated by the family’s 3rd generation with Carmi Fredman as President. The company has grown to over 140 employees – many of whom are related – and has warehouse space in St. Louis, Portland and Los Angeles.

Sales of bigger and heavier bedding continue to grow and leading retailers have realized the need for high quality bed frames and rails to provide the required support. With a complete line of products ready for immediate shipment, Glideaway continues to surpass customer expectations, offering retailers a competitive edge. Having established its reputation as the one-stop shop for retailers, Glideaway products can be found in over 30 of the top 100 accounts in the USA along with several thousand furniture stores.

While Glideaway has updated its product lines, the original emphasis on great customer-service and quality products is still at the forefront of operations. Glideaway remains a leader in designing frames and center support systems that not only meet but exceed the warranty requirements of National Bedding Suppliers.

So, you mattress retailers want even more information? Well, go visit www.glideaway.com!

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Mark Quinn Promoted to Director of Marketing for All

the Residential Segment at Leggett & Platt

May 21, 2010 - Mark Quinn has been promoted to the position of Director of Marketing for the Residential Furnishings Segment of Leggett & Platt. In his new position, Mark will be responsible for the coordination of marketing efforts for the various business units within the segment.

“Over the past four years Mark has spent working for our company, he has demonstrated a unique understanding of not only our direct customers, but also of what drives the ultimate consumer towards our products. His innovative approach to marketing continues to drive demand for both our products and services,” says Perry Davis, president of the Bedding Group.

Mark is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, with degrees in Speech Communications and Marketing. He spent five years working for Sealy/Stearns & Foster as an Account Representative and Field Sales Manager. Prior to joining Leggett & Platt in 2006, Mark worked for nine years at Serta Mattress Company, rising to the position of Vice President of Business Development.

Mark resides in Joplin, Missouri, with his wife Bridget and their two children.

About Leggett & Platt: Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG) is a diversified manufacturer (and member of the S&P 500) that conceives, designs and produces a broad variety of engineered components and products that can be found in most homes, offices and automobiles. Leggett & Platt serves a broad suite of customers that comprise a “Who’s Who” of U.S. manufacturers and retailers. The 127-year-old company (founded 1883) is comprised of 19 business units, 19,000 employee-partners, and more than 140 facilities located in 18 countries. Leggett & Platt is North America’s leading independent manufacturer of: a) components for residential furniture and bedding; b) components for office furniture; c) drawn steel wire; d) automotive seat support and lumbar systems; e) carpet underlay; f) adjustable beds; and g) bedding industry machinery for wire forming, sewing and quilting.

For more information, visit us at www.Leggett.com.

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The Virgin Mattress: Worth the Wait

Leggett & Platt Modifying Campaign Based on Audience Feedback

May 21, 2010 - Esha and Liam are still getting married. They still need a new mattress. But, it’s going to take a little longer than expected.

When Leggett & Platt unveiled The Virgin Mattress, a social media campaign created to support the launch of the company’s VertiCoil™ Edge® innerspring, it hoped to get people talking in new ways about the mattress-buying experience. The debut earlier this month certainly got people talking, according to Mark Quinn, Director of Marketing for the Residential Furnishings Segment of Leggett & Platt.

“We received all kinds of feedback – positive and negative – from our employees, customers and partners,” said Quinn. “So, we’re going to take advantage of the social part of social media and incorporate the insights shared with us. We plan to share the next webisode in a few months with a modified approach to appeal to our core audiences in a less controversial way, without losing the humor of the campaign.”

The campaign targets consumers and employs social media for engagement and education.

The Virgin Mattress webisodes feature an engaged couple, Esha and Liam, searching for a new mattress for their married life together. The campaign targets consumers and employs social media for engagement and education. Both personalities will participate in conversations through Twitter and Facebook accounts operated by the Leggett & Platt communications team.

“We feel strongly that our industry needs to market directly to consumers in a way that makes them look at the mattress-buying experience in a new and more objective way,” said Quinn. “Any time you push the envelope and try something new, you’re bound to generate discussion and make mistakes. What matters is what you do with the feedback. We’ve learned some valuable lessons that will help us move the industry forward. At the same time, we’re going to continue marketing our brand in new ways while respecting our company’s long-standing values.”

The campaign website, www.TheVirginMattress.com, will be relaunched in the coming weeks with additional updates.

For more information, please visit www.Leggett.com.

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Simmons Enhances Beautyrest Website to Commemorate Launch of New 2010 Line

Revitalized Website Reflects Fresh Look and Feel of New Beautyrest® Collection

May 20, 2010 - In honor of the new 2010 Beautyrest® line’s introduction and the brand’s 85 years of continued sleep innovation, Simmons Bedding Company has redesigned the Beautyrest section of Simmons.com to reflect the same fresh look and feel as the new Beautyrest line, which hits retail floors this month. The revitalized site features new videos, photos and pop out tool tip boxes that maintain the page’s clean and simple aesthetics, while presenting information about the new Beautyrest collection to consumers in an attention-grabbing way. Simmons seamlessly integrated these new multimedia elements into the site’s existing mattress shopping resources with the goal of helping consumers find the perfect Beautyrest mattress to meet their specific sleep needs.

We know that the Internet is a key research tool for consumers

“We know that the Internet is a key research tool for consumers during the mattress buying process,” said Tim Oakhill, Simmons’ executive vice president of marketing. “By explaining the collection’s new BeautyStyle™ aesthetics and BeautyFeel™ comfort construction, the new Beautyrest site helps consumers familiarize themselves with the line’s features before they ever step foot into a retail store, so they feel more comfortable making a decision to purchase. Our goal for the site is to create brand preference, so when consumers go mattress shopping, it’s not a question of whether they buy a Beautyrest, it’s a matter of which Beautyrest model they buy.”

Powerful Product Education Videos

Designed to generate intrigue and excitement about the new Beautyrest line, the new site greets visitors with an introductory splash page that showcases a new Beautyrest World Class® model on a sleek, black background. Upon reaching the Beautyrest homepage, a new feature video educates consumers about Super Pocketed Coil® springs and the new Beautyrest line’s offering of the widest range of feels available. A link in the video’s bottom left corner directs users to a separate Web page that neatly highlights additional features of the Beautyrest World Class collection, including Transflexion Comfort Technology™ for consistent comfort throughout the life of the mattress and NxG® Memory Foam.

A second video about the line’s Super Pocketed Coil springs provides a look at what is inside the new Beautyrest collection and allows consumers to easily understand how the superior design of Super Pocketed Coil springs leads to unsurpassed motion separation, conformability, support and durability. The video, which takes place in a tranquil garden setting, also incorporates the Beautyrest brand’s signature bowling ball demonstration, further emphasizing the motion separation benefits of Super Pocketed Coil spring technology.

In addition to providing valuable product information and mattress shopping guidance, the site also includes links to two current Simmons promotions. Consumers can enter to win a new Beautyrest Anniversary™ mattress through the New Beautyrest Anniversary Challenge, an online trivia sweepstakes that runs through July 28. A second promotion, The New Beautyrest Free! Sheet Event, gives Simmons customers a free set of Beautyrest sheets valued at $129 when they purchase a Simmons mattress valued at $997 or more through June 7.

For more information about the new 2010 Beautyrest line, visit www.beautyrest.com.

For more information about Simmons Bedding Company, visit www.simmons.com.

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New Technology/Old Technology ...If it is Healthy and Natural, Natura Leads the Way...

Natura World Introduces Anti-Microbial, Anti-Viral Mattresses

May 20, 2010 - Natura World Inc. proudly announces an innovative solution to worries about bed bugs, dust mites and other allergens that contaminate mattresses. Effective June 1, 2010, all Natura mattresses will be treated with Natural Silver Technology. The addition of this anti-bacterial barrier to mattresses will provide a new degree of naturally healthy protection for consumers.

“While our latex mattresses are naturally resistant to microbes, some mattresses are natural breeding grounds for microbes – and this is another level of protection our customers are telling us they want,” said Ralph Rossdeutscher, president and CEO of Natura World Inc. “Last year we introduced Natural Silver Technology in our NaturaProtect line of mattress protectors and pillowcases and adding it directly to mattress covers is another way to protect our customers from the health risks of microbes in the mattress – naturally.”

Natural Silver Technology, an antimicrobial, natural silver-based solution, is so safe that it’s used in medical dressings to naturally speed healing. This colorless, odorless solution applied to the fabric is hypoallergenic, non-toxic and a proven winner in the war against bacteria. It’s also bacteriostatic, which means that not only does it eliminate microbes on contact, among them candida (yeast), e.coli, avian flu, listeria, salmonella, even the highly anti-biotic resistant MRSA, it also inhibits future growth.

The growth of antibiotic resistance has revived the medicinal use of silver across the globe. Our grandparents called it colloidal silver – and way back when (before the birth of antibiotics in the 1940’s) – it was used as a germicide and disinfectant. Even Hipócrates used ground silver as a healing compound. Today, silver solutions are being used in everything from wound dressings, pressure garments and scar management fabric to surgical gowns.

“Since I founded Natura World Inc in 1994 with my father and wife, we have been focused on providing natural sleep solutions that improve health and wellbeing,” said Rossdeutscher. “Wherever possible, we use what nature offers freely – and silver is the perfect blending of an age old solution with modern technology.”

About Natura World: Founded 16 years ago by the Rossdeutscher family, Natura is committed to nurturing healthy bodies, souls and planet through healthy sleep systems. By providing a nourishing night’s sleep through sustainable, earth-friendly materials and manufacturing, Natura truly is where nature meets nurture. It’s not a trend. It’s about aligning personal values with everyday actions. A good night’s sleep makes for happier, healthier people and ultimately a better planet

Please visit www.naturaworld.com for more information.

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A Powerful Troika….Vera Wang, Serta and Sleepy’s

May 20, 2010 - An extremely visible designer, known for creating beautiful designs for women; a leading mattress/bedding manufacturer and one of the fastest growing mattress retail giants in the country: that marketing triad speaks loudly of brand power and excellence. As savvy as she is, Vera Wang was not going to let the 20th. Anniversary of her brand label go unnoticed. So, as part of the celebration of her label’s 20-Year Anniversary, Vera Wang stopped by Sleepy’s Fifth Avenue on Friday morning to count sheep and thank sales associates for their support of her luxury mattress line.

VERA WANG AT SLEEPYS: Vera Wang stopped by Sleepy’s signature store on 5th Avenue, NYC to discuss her latest bedding line by Serta, perfume, and take questions from the sales staff. VERA WANG by SERTA BEDDING LINE: Vera Wang created a bedding line with Serta with the 'Embraceable Comfort' blanket of comfort built into every mattress. The Vera Wang by Serta collection of mattresses has beautiful new fabrics that give each bed a luxurious feel and look.

ABOUT SERTA: Serta is a top bedding brand leader that manufactures a superior selling premium mattress: The Serta Perfect Sleeper®, the upscale Perfect Day® collection, the elegant Vera Wang by Serta® Collection and the new Trump Home™ Mattress Collection.

As a leading provider of mattresses to the hospitality industry, Serta partners with hotel groups such as Hilton Hotels, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Bellagio Hotel, Wyndham Hotels, Omni Hotels, Choice Hotels, Accor Hotels and many more. Serta has 23 U.S. and four Canadian manufacturing plants. In addition, Serta is distributed internationally in 60 other countries. With its worldwide network, Serta is able to respond quickly to customers’ needs while still preserving strict control standards to ensure the highest quality products.

For more information, visit, www.serta.com.

ABOUT SLEEPY’S: Sleepy’s, The Mattress Professionals is a privately-owned 4 generation company with over 700 retail locations in thirteen states, spanning from Vermont to Virginia and available nationally through www.sleepys.com. Throughout Sleepy’s 52-year history, they have supported the idea that one mattress does not fit all, carrying a wide selection of mattresses so their customers are certain to find the one that suits them best. Keeping up-to-date on all the latest innovations in sleep technology, Sleepy’s, The Mattress Professionals® carries the latest in Sealy, Posturepedic, Serta, Simmons, Beautyrest, Tempur-Pedic, Sleep To Live mattresses and 12 other brands to fit any price range or comfort level.

For more information, call 1-800-SLEEPYS (800-753-3797), or visit us at www.sleepys.com.

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CEO of Jones Fiber Products Joins Specialty Sleep Association “Green Initiative”

May 17, 2010 - The mattress/bedding industry “Green Initiative” program spearheaded by the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) has added a new corporate member: Jones Fiber Products, Inc. of Humboldt, TN. Additionally, the company’s president, Kenneth Oliver, has been named to serve on the Founding Board of the “Green Initiative,” which is focused on defining eco-friendly sleep and providing clarity for consumers shopping for mattresses and bedding.

“The key part of the ‘Green Initiative” is also our outreach to suppliers in the mattress/bedding industry. Kenny Oliver and Jones Fiber Products is certainly one of the leading firms in this space,” said Dale T. Read, president of the SSA. “We are looking forward to their active involvement in our board as our Safety & Environmental Program evolves and expands in the months ahead.”

Jones Fiber Products has been a leader in the cotton batting industry since 1981. The company is committed to continually developing and producing high-quality fire-resistant products using natural cotton fiber as its base component, as well as products that incorporate inherent fire-resistant rayon. The company has long been committed to environmental safety at its manufacturing locations across the country.

“We’ve been watching the good work of the SSA ‘Green Initiative’ panel for almost one year now and see that they are making tremendous strides for our industry” said Oliver. “This is an important issue for the bedding/mattress sector and our company is eager to participate in the program.”

Those interested in learning more about the SSA, should contact Tambra Jones, executive director, SSA, 559-868-4187 or 559-676-8639, tambra@sleepinformation.org.

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Magniflex Signs 30 Leading Designers in Launch of New Affiliate Program

Luxury European Brand Opens New Sales Channel Through Design Community

May 16, 2010 - Combine Italy’s leading mattress/bedding manufacturer seeking to import unique eco-friendly and fast-forward contemporary fashion design into the US, along with the need to establish a whole new sales and distribution channel to reach leading American designers, and you have a whole new venture launched by Magniflex. Yes, Magnifex is indeed Italy’s premier bedding manufacturer, and in an effort to creatively expand their marketing channels, the company recently announced their new Interior Designer Affiliate Program aimed at giving a much-needed boost to designers and retailers as the economy picks up. Under this new program, designers can now enjoy wholesale prices on a full range of eco-friendly mattress collections for three months, along with a convenient quick-ship capability guaranteeing a five-day delivery time directly to consumers’ homes for one low, flat rate.

“In the past few months we tested this program with 30 leading New York-area designers, and based on that success we are extending the program to the broader design community,” said Marco Magni, president of Magniflex. “We based it on what leading designers have told us they need in terms of premier, durable product, designed with sensitivity to health and to the environment, and at the best values available in the industry.”

The program offers wholesale pricing to interior designers and any affiliated retailers for a period of three months after a member’s initial sign-up. Designers are invited to visit the Magniflex showroom at 59 Crosby St. in Manhattan with clients, to sample the company’s range of environmentally-friendly, specialty mattresses and pillows.

Once an order is placed, Magniflex delivers the mattress directly to consumers through its low-cost Quick Ship capability -- only $45 for a queen mattress to the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Magniflex has also begun shipping to Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and is promoting complimentary shipping to all of U.S. and Canada for any 10-piece orders.

“We are taking significant steps to help leading designers and retailers who have been hard hit during the recession,” added Magni. “When orders are placed we can have product delivered to customers’ doorsteps within a week. This not only offers savings to retailers who do not need to stock product, but is also in line with our philosophy to continuously implement greener and greater efficiencies company-wide.”

All Magniflex mattresses may be shipped vacuum-rolled and compressed by up to 90 percent, providing consumers and retailers greater convenience during the delivery process. Besides saving money during shipping, vacuum-packing significantly lowers the product’s overall carbon footprint.

Exhibiting at booth No. 1408 at International Contemporary Furniture Fair on May 15-18, Magniflex will preview select models from its Classic and GeoEthic Collections. Of note are the Bellagio Lavender mattress ($2,699/Queen) featuring a removable cover infused with essential oils of lavender to contribute to deep, relaxing sleep, and the SeaCell Emotion mattress ($5,499/Queen) which has a temperature-regulating cover containing microscopic particles of marine algae fiber to aid in cellular regeneration.

Magniflex was founded over 50 years in a suburb of Florence, Italy, and today 30 million people in 70 countries sleep on Magniflex mattresses. Known as the world leader in quality, comfort and innovation, Magniflex has a central manufacturing facility producing up to 10,000 mattresses a day, 80-percent of which are exported to countries such as Japan, Spain, Germany, Russia and the United States. Magniflex recently opened a showroom at 59 Crosby St. in Manhattan and a national dealer network throughout the U.S. and Canada.

For more information, visit www.magniflex.com or call 646-330-5483.

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Dramatic Jump in Sales Triggers California Mattress Manufacturer to Expand Facility & Jobs

After 86% Sales Hike, Anatomic Global Will More Than Double

Manufacturing Space and Add 30% to Workforce

May 15, 2010 - As its consumer products have been increasingly making their way onto leading retail floors throughout the United States, mattress manufacturer Anatomic Global said it was more than doubling its production facility and adding 30-percent to its workforce to keep up with demand.

The company said it was adding 140,000 square feet of manufacturing space at its 1241 Old Temescal Road facility, for a total of 240,000 square feet. The expansion will occur in phases and is expect to be completed by the end of the year. At that time, Anatomic will operate one of the largest mattress manufacturing and distribution centers in California. The company will also add 30 new production jobs, bringing its total workforce to nearly 130.

86-percent increase in sales over the past seven months from Anatomic Global

The driver of the expansion is a dramatic, 86-percent increase in sales over the past seven months from Anatomic Global’s proprietary plant-based EcoMemoryFoam Pure7 Series™ line. The mattress line is quickly becoming the choice of consumers in the memory foam segment of the industry as a result of its comfort and environmentally-friendly properties.

During this time, Anatomic Global opened several major retail chains including: Linder’s Furniture, the leading case goods retailer in Southern California; Beck’s Furniture; and Mattress King. The company has continued to expand its presence with national retailer Relax The Back, Back to Bed, the leading sleep shop retailer in Chicago, and The Bed Store, serving the St. Louis market.

“This has been a very exciting time of growth for our company. Consumer demand for our products are at an all time high and we are seeing new retail relationships blossom on a regular basis,” said Anatomic Global President Jeff Scorziell. “We believe that the additional manufacturing space and staff will enable us to continue our growth trajectory for many years to come.”

Anatomic Global is a sustainable movement corporation and its Ecomfort Mattresses are earth-friendly to the core. A significant portion of the EcoMemoryFoam™ formulation is comprised of a plant-based product. The product uses less energy to process, conserving energy, and the process is fully contained in a patented zero emissions chamber, dramatically reducing the product’s impact on the environment from its inception.

Founded in 1989, Anatomic Global is a fully integrated, EDI capable globally positioned distribution, logistics and fulfillment-company that today incorporates the brand development and marketing insight of bedding industry leaders to meet the needs of its customers. Deeply rooted in the medical mattress industry, in 2008 the company applied its medical manufacturing expertise and launched the Ecomfort Mattress brand featuring its signature, exclusive EcoMemoryFoam™ extreme open-cell plant-based memory foam.

For more information, visit www.ecomfortmattress.com.

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Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group Helps Owner of Valley Furniture and Mattress

Re-Energize to Grow Business in New Economy

May 13, 2010 - Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group today announced the winner of its High Point Market “Energized Performance” Weekend Getaway.

Jon Garber, owner of Valley Furniture and Mattress in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, will enjoy a weekend getaway with his wife, compliments of Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group.

“I’ve been a loyal Leggett & Platt customer for years,” said Garber. “I was excited when my longtime Leggett & Platt sales representative, Steve Bernstein, called me with the news that I’d won. I’ve never won anything before, and I’m looking forward to taking the vacation.”

“It’s a pleasant surprise to draw Jon’s name from the entries,” said Rob Woods, president of Leggett & Platt’s Consumer Products Group, the company’s retail arm in the bedding industry. “He has been a loyal customer for many years, and we are delighted to be able to reward a longtime customer like Jon.”

As one of Pennsylvania’s leading bedding retailers, Valley Furniture and Mattress offers a full line of Leggett & Platt sleep products and accessories. Last year, Valley Furniture and Mattress was one of the first stores to employ the Leggett & Platt® Retail Solution™ (LPRS), a turn-key marketing and merchandising program that helps retailers improve sales performance.

“Leggett & Platt Retail Solution has helped renew our business tremendously over the past year,” said Garber. “We’ve been in the furniture and bedding industry for years, but just recently opened Valley Furniture and Mattress, and we’ve had phenomenal results with LPRS. The program has helped us increase our sales by promoting sleep accessories like sheets, pillows and mattress protectors to bedding consumers.”

Garber entered to win the getaway while visiting Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group’s showroom at the High Point Market.

“Overall, the Spring High Point Market was a huge success for us,” said Woods. “It was great to witness the renewed energy at the Market and see the buzz throughout our showroom as we met with many of our customers throughout the week.”

As a leader in the sleep industry, Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group focused its Spring High Point Market message on bringing energy and optimism back to the retail sales floor. The drawing for a weekend getaway to “re-energize” was just one component of the rejuvenating showroom experience. Visitors to the showroom also enjoyed sensory experiences designed to refresh their spirit and learned new ideas to help them grow their business in the new economy. The company plans to continue its Energized Performance concept throughout 2010 to inspire more retailers to improve their retail performance.

About Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group

For additional information, please visit www.leggett.com\consumerproductsgroup.

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Simmons Partners with Polyurethane Foam Suppliers

to Promote Achievement of CertiPUR-US Certification

Simmons is the first major mattress manufacturer to have all polyurethane foams

meet strict environmental, health and safety standards

May 12, 2010 - Simmons Bedding Company is proud to announce that all of the polyurethane foams in the company’s mattress lines have earned the CertiPUR-US® certification seal, verifying that the foams are low-VOC and free from ozone-depleting CFCs. The certified foam products are made without PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury, formaldehyde, prohibited phthalates and other potentially harmful materials. Simmons played an instrumental role in facilitating the CertiPUR-US certification process for each of its foam suppliers, encouraging them to achieve the certification as a way to address growing consumer concerns about the safety of polyurethane foams.

“Consumers today are paying very close attention to what’s inside the products they purchase—whether it’s food, toys, paint, furniture or bedding,” said Anne Kozel, brand director of Simmons’ specialty sleep division. “They are aware of previous issues with synthetic materials and are especially concerned about foams in mattresses because of the close contact people have with their beds during the night. The CertiPUR-US seal helps provide peace of mind by certifying that the polyurethane-based foams in all Simmons mattresses meet strict health and safety requirements, so consumers can feel confident about buying Simmons products.”

In a recent consumer survey, Simmons found that almost two-thirds of respondents were “very” or “extremely” concerned about the health and safety of the products they buy, and that a large number of consumers were specifically concerned about the contents of their mattresses. To provide consumers with assurance that the polyurethane-based foams in Simmons mattresses are nontoxic and of the highest quality, the company has required all of its foam suppliers to obtain CertiPUR-US certification.

“We felt it crucial to ensure all foam components utilized in a Simmons mattress demonstrate environmental and durability compliance as part of Simmons’ quality expectations and commitment to consumer safety,” said Sheri McGuire, Simmons’ director of supplier quality. “Simmons is proud of the joint commitment our foam suppliers have made to ensure Simmons’ polyurethane foam products meet the CertiPUR-US program requirements.”

To achieve the CertiPUR-US certification seal, petitioning foams are sent to an independent, third-party laboratory for rigorous durability and indoor air quality emissions testing as well as a content analysis. The examination must demonstrate that the foams meet the environmental, health and safety standards described in the U.S. Voluntary Physical Performance and Environmental Certification Guidelines for Flexible Polyurethane Foam for Use in Furniture and Bedding Items to qualify for the certification. A team of industry leaders, scientists and environmental experts contributed to the creation of these standards while developing the CertiPUR-US program for the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, a leading foam industry trade organization. So far, 11 foam suppliers have met the CertiPUR-US guidelines, and 12 additional foam products are currently under review.

“Simmons’ passion for safety has definitely helped promote the CertiPUR-US seal among foam suppliers and motivated many of them to apply for certification,” said Robert Luedeka, executive director of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam. “As the first major mattress manufacturer to use all CertiPUR-US-certified polyurethane foams in their products, Simmons has really set an example for other bedding and furniture producers. Ideally, all foam suppliers will soon meet CertiPUR-US standards.”

About Simmons Bedding Company

Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company is one of the world's largest mattress manufacturers, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of products including Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®, Beautyrest® NxG®, Beautyrest Studio™, BeautySleep®, ComforPedic by Simmons™, Natural Care® and Beautyrest Beginnings®. Simmons Bedding operates 19 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities and one juvenile bedding manufacturing facility across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding also serves as a key supplier of beds to many of the world’s leading hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons Bedding is committed to developing superior mattresses and promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around the world. For more information, visit Simmons Bedding’s Web site, www.simmons.com.

CertiPUR-US is a registered certification mark of Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc.

For more information about Simmons, visit www.simmons.com.

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Number of CertiPUR-US Certified Flexible Polyurethane Foams (FPF) Doubles

as Manufacturers Respond to Growing Demand

Flexible Foam Products, FXI Foamex Innovations, Premier Foam, Sinomax and Advanced Urethane Technologies/Sleep Innovations Join Future Foam, Hickory Springs, NCFI Polyurethanes

and Prestige Fabricators in offering foams that meet stringent environmental, health

and safety guidelines for foam used in upholstered furniture and bedding

May 12, 2010 - A surge in the number of foam manufacturers offering CertiPUR-US® registered foams is putting this new, but well-respected voluntary certification and labeling program on the radar screen of an increasing number of furniture and bedding manufacturers and retailers.

The latest companies to offer CertiPUR-US certified foams include: Flexible Foam Products, Inc, Spencerville, OH, FXI Foamex Innovations, Media, PA, Premier Foam, Inc., Newnan, GA, Advanced Urethane Technologies/Sleep Innovations, West Chicago, IL, and Sinomax USA, Inc., Houston, TX.

“Retail interest is also driving the momentum,” explains Robert Luedeka, Executive Director of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam. “We’re seeing a number of retailers who are specifying CertiPUR-US certified foams, including Nature’s Sleep and BedinaBox.com that are specifying certified foams exclusively.”

Luedeka predicts this trend to grow as an increasing number of manufacturers and retailers specify CertiPUR-US foam products. Luedeka says: “The CertiPUR-US label certifies the foam has passed independent testing to assure compliance with the program’s voluntary standards for emissions and content. We are also seeing CertiPUR-US used as a value-added marketing tool to answer the questions of a growing number of consumers who want a greater level of comfort and confidence in the furniture and mattresses they buy.”

CertiPUR-US certification is open to all producers of furniture and bedding foam products. In fact, one of the recent companies to register a viscoelastic foam is Sinomax USA, whose parent company is headquartered in China. To earn CertiPUR-US certification, foams must undergo laboratory testing and adhere to the U.S. Voluntary Physical Performance and Environmental Certification Guidelines for Flexible Polyurethane Foam for Use in Furniture and Bedding Items.

The CertiPUR-US certification process subjects FPF products to a battery of independent laboratory examinations including tests for VOCs and chemical analysis. Compliant products must also be manufactured without use of prohibited materials such as ozone-depleting CFCs, methylene chloride, PBDE fire retardants, lead, mercury and other materials of concern. CertiPUR-US also sets baseline requirements for foam physical performance that can contribute to foam comfort and durability.

Individual foams in six different categories may be certified only after passing rigorous independent laboratory testing and must be recertified every six months for the first year and, annually thereafter for foams. This year, the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam will begin implementing its random sample checks of products in the marketplace to verify that only compliant foams are being sold and marketed under the CertiPUR-US seal.

In addition, flexible polyurethane foam raw materials, equipment and technology companies may become CertiPUR-US program sponsors. Current sponsors include The Dow Chemical Company, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry, ICL-IP America, Inc. and Thomson Research Associates.

Today, Simmons Bedding Company announced that all of the polyurethane-based foams in the company’s mattress lines have earned CertiPUR-US certification.

For more information about Simmons Bedding Company, please www.simmons.com.

Conceived by the Polyurethane Foam Association, CertiPUR-US is now a program of Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc. The program is adapted from, and closely aligned with, the European CertiPUR program, developed in 2002 by Europur, the association of European flexible polyurethane foam block manufacturers. Two key additions in the CertiPUR-US program include the U.S. minimum physical performance criteria and shorter intervals between recertification testing.

CertiPUR-US is a registered certification mark of Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc.

More information is available at www.certipur.us.

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Therapedic & Hollandia International Sign Licensing Deal

Strategic Alliance Gives Hollandia License for Israel & Cyprus;

Two Companies Will Also Explore Joint Product Development

May 12, 2010 - Hollandia International, manufacturer of very high-end and high-performance luxury mattresses, as well as being the leading bedding retailer in Israel, has formed a strategic alliance with global mattress brand Therapedic. Under terms of the deal, Hollandia will own the Therapedic license for Israel and Cyprus, and said it planned to open Therapedic retail stores in Israeli cities over the next year. Additionally, both companies have announced that they will form a joint research and development team that will create products leveraging Hollandia innovation, which would be sold throughout the world.

Hollandia CEO Avi Barssessat said he had been looking for sometime to find the right U.S. sleep products brand to bring to Israel.

For more information please go to www.hollandiainternational.com or www.therapedic.com.

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Specialty Sleep Retailer Mattress King Debuts U.S.A.-Made, Plant-Based Memory Foam Product, Ecomfort Mattress From Anatomic Global

Consumers Actively Seek Earth-Friendly Products

May 11, 2010 - As more consumers are looking for greener solutions and ways to reduce their carbon footprint, they are increasingly making eco-conscious decisions, seeking out earth-friendly products. In response to consumers’ environmental demands, leading specialty sleep chain Mattress King has partnered with Anatomic Global, Inc., whose exclusive plant-based memory foam made in the USA, EcoMemoryFoam™, is at the center of its Ecomfort Mattress line. Available at eleven Mattress King locations throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma, customers now have easy access to sustainable, comfortable sleep solutions.

“We found that more and more of our customers were looking for an eco-friendly sleep option that not only helped them become greener but also helped them get a better night’s rest,” said Mattress King CEO Darrell Stowe. “We felt that Ecomfort Mattress’ unique look and distinct feel coupled with Anatomic Global’s commitment to green manufacturing was the best solution for our store and our customers.”

Anatomic Global is an American company deeply committed to ecological and sustainable practices. “Eco isn’t just in our name, but it is the core of who we are,” said Anatomic Global President Jeff Scorziell. “From the ground up, Ecomfort’s foundation and purpose is to offer the highest quality, most comfortable, eco-friendly memory foam products on the market.”

Ecomfort Mattresses are made from luxurious EcoMemoryFoam that gently contours to your body, relieves pressure points and increases circulation, for a deeper, cooler night’s sleep. “Our comfort layers create a distinctive, gentle resistance that is a signature trait of the Ecomfort Mattress,” said Scorziell. A significant portion of the EcoMemoryFoam formulation is plant-based and therefore requires less energy to process, and the process is fully contained in a patented, zero-emissions chamber, dramatically reducing the product’s impact on the environment from its inception.

“We spend a third of our life in bed, trying to renew for tomorrow, so why not sleep on a bed that causes minimum impact on the environment,” said Scorziell.

Mattress King now carries four Ecomfort Mattress models that range in price from $1299 to $3,499 in queen size, including EComfort I and II and two models from the Serenity Line.

Mattress King has been providing quality mattresses for almost 20 years and serves Arkansas and Oklahoma. Mattress King's Sleep Consultants are great people, who have a wealth of experience and are gifted with a profound appreciation of the value of a customer's time. Mattress King's Sleep Consultants have a tested and superior understanding of the mattress buying experience and are committed to working with customers to help them feel good about every element of their Mattress King experience. For more information visit www.mattresskinginfo.com.

Founded in 1989, Anatomic Global, Inc. sets itself apart by raising the bar on the manufacture and supply of “proudly made in the USA” environmentally-friendly mattresses and bedding. The company upholds a 360-degree green manufacturing commitment in three ways – by developing applications for its innovative and sustainable plant-based formulas; by leading the industry with its zero-air emissions manufacturing process; and by applying the most efficient direct-to-store and consumer-direct delivery methods for a reduced carbon footprint.

In 2008, the company launched the Ecomfort Mattress brand of mattresses featuring its signature, patented EcoMemoryFoam™ extreme open-cell plant-based memory foam.

For more information, visit www.ecomfortmattress.com.

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Chili Technology Named David Dowdy Director of Sales

May 11, 2010 - A few weeks ago Chili Technology, the world’s leading-edge heating and cooling, sleep systems manufacturer named David Dowdy to the new position of Director of Sales. Dowdy will be responsible for national sales strategy development and implementation, customer loyalty initiatives and professional development and retention of the company's sales professionals.

“David Dowdy’s appointment marks a new and exciting time for Chili Technology” said Todd Youngblood, chief executive officer and president, Chili Technology. “He will focus on cross-functional collaboration that enables Chili Technology to achieve its aggressive growth objectives. His exceptional leadership skills in strategic planning, sales and organizational development will serve us well”.

Dowdy offers more than 20 years experience in packaged consumer products, manufacturing, and account management with leading companies such as Procter & Gamble, Worth Chemical Corporation, Chemgard, Inc, and Quest Custom Homes, Inc. among others.

Commenting on his appointment, Dowdy stated, "Chili Technology is a rapidly growing company that understands its market and is focused on meeting the growing needs of its customers and partners. My immediate goals are to expand on Chili Technology’s successes and also provide increased focus and support for our customers. We are poised for great success; I am delighted to be a key part of the team”.

Dowdy received a BS in Chemistry from North Carolina State University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

About Chili Technology, LLC

Chili Technology, LLC is a privately owned, rapidly growing product development company based in Mooresville, NC. The Company focuses on mattress heating and cooling systems incorporating patented "Chili Technology". Product successes include the Chilipad™ (www.mychilipad.com) and others.

For more information, visit www.chilitechnology.com or write info@mychilipad.com.

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Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI) Expands in Orange County, CA

- Adding Ergo Customized Comfort to its Retail Ranks

May 11, 2010 - Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI), the nation’s leading manufacturer of certified organic mattresses recently teamed up with Orange County’s premier specialty sleep retailer Ergo Customized Comfort. Known for its innovative retail approach, unique product offering and expertise in natural and organic sleep, the leading-edge retailer focuses on providing customers with healthy sleep alternatives designed to meet their individual needs.

“Partnering with Ergo Customized Comfort is a natural fit for us,” said OMI President and CEO Walt Bader. “We have had numerous retail inquiries from the region and feel Ergo truly understands the organic and natural sleep product segment.”

Michael Nermon, founder of Ergo Customized Comfort and vice president of The Specialty Sleep Association, has been a specialist in eco- or natural sleep solutions for more than ten years. He has dedicated half his showroom to eco-sleep products and has a loyal customer base. His team is committed to building a rapport with customers so they can make an informed decision about their sleep choices.

“There are similar seeming products on the market, but for the discerning shopper, the OrganicPedic® by OMI line offers supreme comfort with the purest pedigree in the organic offerings,” said Nermon. “There is no question that OMI sets the standard for organic products and nicely rounds out our natural assortment.”

Ergo Customized Comfort is offering a selection of OrganicPedic® by OMI sleep products including the OrganicPedic® Terra, Lago, Midori and for the customer who wants a customized organic sleep system, the new customizable OrganicPedic® 81. A full selection of top of bed products such as pillows, mattress toppers and comforters are also available.

Ergo Customized Comfort is a specialty sleep retailer based in Irvine, California. Located at 2967 Michelson Drive, the store offers a unique, spa-like shopping experience and features a wide assortment of innovative products from around the world. Sleep consultants focus on selling better sleep and providing customers with the education they need to make an informed decision on a sleep system or comfort product that fits their needs. Visit www.ergobeds.com.

OrganicPedic® by OMI mattresses are made in Northern California in the only Eco-Factory™ created solely to manufacture organic mattresses and other bedding products. This smoke-free, fragrance-free and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)–certified environment ensures the creation of the purest product available on the market today. In addition to meeting top environmental standards, OMI unique product designs also ensures that consumers get the most comfortable and restorative night’s sleep.

Made and sourced in the USA, OMI is a full-circle environmental company dedicated to supporting America’s organic and sustainable farmers. OMI’s handmade, custom organic mattresses are GREENGUARD® Certified and qualify under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s LEED® indoor air-quality program.

For more information, visit www.organicpedicbyomi.com.

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Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group Adds “Cool Sleeping” Accessories

to Southern Textiles Brand Portfolio

High-Tech Sheets and Memory Foam Pillows Now Available for Budget-Conscious Consumer

May 11, 2010 - State-of-the-art sleep accessories don’t have to empty the consumer’s wallet. Leggett & Platt ® Consumer Products Group now offers budget-conscious consumers “cool sleeping” microfiber sheets and memory foam pillows at affordable price points.

The Southern Textiles® Microfiber Sheet Set is made with technical, high performance fabric used in athletic apparel. The Southern Textiles® Cool Aire™ Memory Foam pillow includes specially designed air flow channels that provide a cooler sleep than typical memory foam pillows.

“It’s important that we offer high-tech sleep accessories that respond to consumer comments and fit their budgets,” said Rob Woods, president of Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group. “With the new microfiber sheets and the Cool Aire™ pillow, our Southern Textiles team created high-tech solutions that bridge the traditional gap between leading-edge and budget-friendly.”

The microfiber polyester sheet set offers moisture wicking properties and long-lasting durable fibers that resist pilling. The sheets are silky smooth and cool to the touch. Each set includes a fitted sheet, a flat sheet and pillowcases. The Southern Textiles Microfiber sheet set is available in twin, twin extra long, full, queen, king and California king sizes. MSRP: $79.99 (queen)

The Cool Aire™ Memory Foam Pillow provides an ergonomic design to relieve pressure on a sleeper’s neck and head, helping provide a good night's sleep. It is available in both standard/queen and king sizes at specialty sleep shops, online merchants and furniture stores with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $79 (standard/queen).

About Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group

Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group, a division of global diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt®, is the premier provider of bedding products and accessories to the retail community. Based in Whittier, Calif., L&P CPG is committed to delivering innovative, high-performance products at an exceptional value.

L&P CPG products are marketed under four brands, including the Leggett & Platt® Home Collection™, Fashion Bed Group®, Southern Textiles® and Adjustables™ by Leggett & Platt®. Together, they manufacture a complete range of consumer bedding products and sleep accessories, available in retail furniture and bedding stores nationwide.

For additional information, please visit www.leggett.com\consumerproductsgroup.

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Leggett & Platt® Retail Solution™ Boosts Accessory Sales,

Adds Incremental Revenue for Retailers

100+ Stores Sign Up For Company’s Retail Solution During First Year

May 10, 2010 - For mattress and bedding retailers who still do not understand what the Leggett & Platt Consumer Product Group offers them, and what it is about, L&P CPG products are marketed under four brands, including the Leggett & Platt® Home Collection™, Fashion Bed Group®, Southern Textiles™ and Adjustables™ by Leggett & Platt®. Together, these brands offer retailers and consumers a complete range of consumer bedding products and sleep accessories, available in retail furniture and bedding stores nationwide.

Just one year after launching Leggett & Platt Retail Solution (LPRS), an innovative integrated retail selling system, Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group informed BEDROOM Magazine a few weeks ago (in April) that the program has surpassed expectations and participating retailers have experienced phenomenal success in sleep accessory sales.

“Our retail partners were hungry for a solution that helped them sell the benefits of sleep and ultimately move more sleep accessories,” said Rob Woods, president of Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group, the company’s retail arm in the bedding industry. “During what was undoubtedly one of the toughest years on record for our industry, we saw LPRS customers boast tremendous sales gains in the accessory category that their competition couldn’t come close to beating.”

The comprehensive, customizable merchandising and marketing program is rooted in emotional marketing principles. It can be found in more than 126 bedding retailers and furniture stores from California to Texas to Pennsylvania, and even in Puerto Rico.

A couple of the comments received from participating retailers were:

“…My sales team loves the ease of presenting top-of-bed items and bedding support products to our customers using Retail Solution. There is a logical flow from pillow to mattress protector to sheets to bed base or frame…” The Sleep Shop in Hudson, NC

“The design of Retail Solution enhances the look and feel of our sleep department and also allows us to capitalize on selling more than just a mattress…we now sell a sleep package.” Wayside Furniture, Joplin, MO

The LPRS system was shown to hundreds of retail buyers by Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group at the recent mid-April High Point showroom.

About Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group Leggett & Platt® Consumer Products Group, a division of global diversified manufacturer Leggett & Platt®, is the premier provider of bedding products and accessories to the retail community. Based in Whittier, Calif., L&P CPG is committed to delivering innovative, high-performance products at an exceptional value.

L&P CPG products are marketed under four brands, including the Leggett & Platt® Home Collection™, Fashion Bed Group®, Southern Textiles™ and Adjustables™ by Leggett & Platt®. Together, they manufacture a complete range of consumer bedding products and sleep accessories, available in retail furniture and bedding stores nationwide.

For additional information, please visit www.leggett.com\consumerproductsgroup.

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‘Bed Head’ Hits the Mainstream During Cargill BiOH Polyols, Serta Photo Contest

‘Bed Head is Soy Stylish’ Contest Details Available on Facebook – Top Entries Vie for Top-of-the-Line Serta Queen Mattress, Runners Up to Receive iTunes Gift Cards

May 10, 2010 - ‘Bed Head,’ the sleep-plastered hairstyle than brings on untamable snarls and mysterious flat spots will be celebrated and rewarded this spring during the “Bed Head is Soy Stylish” photo contest, sponsored by Cargill BiOH Polyols® in partnership with Serta®.

To enter, participants can connect through Cargill’s BiOHbrand Facebook page to submit an early-morning hairstyle photo of your friends, neighbors, relatives and pets. Entries can be submitted until May 28. The public can vote on the entries May 29-June 4. At the end of this process, three judges – one each from Cargill BiOH polyols, Serta, and HGTV – will choose a winner among the top five vote getters. The grand prize winner will receive a top of the line HGTV Green Home by Serta queen mattress set – the Shannon Cove Mega Euro Top. Four runners up will receive $100 iTunes gift cards.

The contest is celebrating Serta’s new the HGTV Green Home by Serta mattress collection featuring Cargill’s soy-based BiOH Polyols, which replace a portion of the petroleum ingredients typically used in foam and result in a reduction in CO2 emissions in the supply chain. The mattresses are featured in the master bedroom of the 2010 HGTV Green Home in Plymouth, Mass. Public tours are available April 21-July 2.

The light-hearted competition was announced April 30 with a call for submissions on www.ExperienceBiOH.com. Participants and voters will also be alerted to the “Bed Head is Soy Stylish” contest through other BiOH brand sources, including Twitter and Facebook.

“It’s a thrill to join with our partners at Serta to celebrate their new HGTV Green Home collection for this fun competition, and we’re sure the “Bed Head is Soy Stylish” photo submissions are going to exceed our wildest expectations,” said Jessica Koster, marketing manager for Cargill’s BiOHpolyols business.“By celebrating the hairstyles that are typically seen only by a spouse, very close friends and, maybe, the paper boy, we hope to stimulate thought about the importance of a good night’s sleep and the choices available to those seeking more eco-friendly sleep products.”

About Cargill’s BiOH Polyols

Cargill’s BiOH® polyols business markets renewable-based products to manufacturers of polyurethane foam for use in home furnishings and other consumer products. Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 159,000 people in 68 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business.

For more information, visit www.cargill.com.

Serta International

Serta is a bedding brand leader and the manufacturer of the best selling premium mattress in America, The Serta Perfect Sleeper®, the upscale Perfect Day® collection, the elegant Vera Wang by Serta® Collection and the new Trump Home™ Mattress Collection. As the leading provider of mattresses to the hospitality industry, Serta partners with hotel groups such as Hilton Hotels, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Bellagio Hotel, Wyndham Hotels, Omni Hotels, Choice Hotels, Accor Hotels and many more.

Serta has 23 U.S. and four Canadian manufacturing plants. In addition, Serta is distributed internationally in 60 other countries. With its worldwide network, Serta is able to respond quickly to customers’ needs while still preserving strict control standards to ensure the highest quality products.

For more information, visit, www.serta.com.

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Simmons & Danny Seo Offer Tips

for a Hypoallergenic Bedroom

Natural Care Mattresses Provide Healthy Bedding Option

for Consumers and Environment

May 4, 2010 - In late April Simmons Bedding Company and environmental lifestyle specialist and media personality Danny Seo joined forces to help the millions of Americans who suffer from sleep disturbances as a result of allergies. Although most people equate allergies with hay fever and outdoor triggers such as pollen, indoor allergens are also a major problem. Indoor allergens’ effect on sleep is profound—allergy sufferers may experience insomnia or difficulty breathing during the night; plus, allergies can increase the tendency to snore. Thankfully, Simmons and Seo, who have partnered to create the Natural Care® collection of eco-friendly mattresses and pillows, were offering allergy sufferers some relief with a list of tips for reducing allergens in the bedroom. This Simmons /Seo consumer campaign was promulgated on Earth

“For people with allergies, Earth Day is the perfect time to consider how a greener, more natural bedroom environment may help alleviate allergy symptoms,” said Seo, author of the Simply Green book series. “A good night’s sleep is an important element of overall health, and many individuals may be experiencing diminished sleep quality due to allergens in their mattresses, pillows or drapes. Eliminating symptom-triggering items and replacing them with products that naturally resist allergens, such as a Natural Care® mattress from Simmons, may help a person obtain more restful sleep.”

For consumers looking to create a more hypoallergenic bedroom, Simmons and Seo have the following suggestions:

• Bed basics. Look for mattresses that contain natural materials, such as natural latex or foams made with plant-based sources. Natural latex, found in Simmons’ Natural Care® collection, is innately hypoallergenic and resists the dust mites, mold and mildew that can trigger indoor allergies.

• Freshen the pillows. Natural latex or synthetic pillows will naturally resist dust mites but should still be replaced every two years. To maintain healthy pillows in between purchases, freeze them overnight to kill dust mites.

• Dress the bed properly. Choose a cotton mattress pad to protect your mattress. Opt for organic cotton or natural fiber sheets, particularly those made with sustainable practices, which may also help with allergies and chemical sensitivities.

• Clean the air. Some air purifiers may emit ozone, a pollutant that can aggravate allergies, back into the air. Instead, use houseplants to naturally clean the air. Pick plants that thrive on neglect, like spider plants or ivy, and boost their natural metabolizing properties with a plant purifier.

• Pick your paint. Select paint with zero volatile organic compound, or VOC, emissions. Among other symptoms, the U.S. EPA advises that VOCs may cause nose and throat irritations, headaches and allergic skin reactions.

• Keep it natural. Avoid fragrant sheet sprays, candles and air fresheners that “mask” odors by coating the inside of your nose with a chemical. Try room sprays made from essential oils instead.

"Buying old furniture at a flea market or yard sale can be a great way to go green, but mattresses are one item that should not be reused,” added Seo. “By purchasing a mattress made with new, more natural materials, consumers can feel confident that they are making a healthy and environmentally responsible choice.”

Simmons’ Natural Care® mattress collection is available at a variety of bedding and furniture retailers across the United States. To celebrate Earth Day and the growth of eco-friendly sleep, Simmons is introducing the new Natural Care® by Danny Seo™ Forevergreen™ model at JC Penney this month. The new model allows consumers to experience a quality green mattress at an unbeatable price. For more information about the Natural Care® collection, visit www.naturalcarebed.com.

About Simmons Bedding Company

Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Company is one of the world's largest mattress manufacturers, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of products including Beautyrest®, Beautyrest Black®, Beautyrest® NxG®, Beautyrest Studio™, BeautySleep®, ComforPedic by Simmons™, Natural Care® and Beautyrest Beginnings™. Simmons Bedding Company operates 19 conventional bedding manufacturing facilities and one juvenile bedding manufacturing facility across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Simmons Bedding Company also serves as a key supplier of beds to many of the world’s leading hotel groups and resort properties. Simmons Bedding Company is committed to developing superior mattresses and promoting a higher quality sleep for consumers around the world.

For more information, visit Simmons Bedding Company’s Web site, www.simmons.com.

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