|
Date |
Story
Title |
|
February 8, 2010 |
Natura World Announces
Plans to Purchase New Factory in
Texas |
|
February 8, 2010 |
Natura World is Proud to
Announce an Addition to the
Family! |
|
February 8, 2010 |
Simmons Celebrates 85
Years of Marketing the
Beautyrest® Brand With a New
Line |
|
February 7, 2010 |
79% of Consumers Embrace
Transparent “GREEN” Labeling of
Mattresses |
|
February 1, 2010 |
Top Bedding Industry Innovator
Named to Specialty Sleep
Association Board |
|
February 1, 2010 |
Anatomic Global Takes
Technology to a Whole New Level
with the Pure7 Series™ |
|
January 27, 2010 |
Chili Technology to
Showcase New Eco-Friendly
“ChiliBed” at Fall 2010 Las Vegas Market |
|
January 27, 2010 |
Inaugural Marketing Campaign for
Home Furnishings Industry Is it
Home Yet? Inspired Consumers,
Engaged Retailers |
|
January 22, 2010 |
Natura World to Host
Event on Importance of
Transparency |
|
January 22, 2010 |
Therapedic’s New
Therawrap “Kara” Model Offers
Lots of Comfort and Style at a
Great Price! |
|
January 22, 2010 |
Organic Mattresses Debuts
Customizable Sleep System with
81 Personal Sleep Zones |
|
January 18, 2010 |
Leggett & Platt Selects
Edward Howard for PR and
Marketing |
|
January 14, 2010 |
Ergomotion Outperforms
Bedding Industry in 2009 |
|
January 13, 2010 |
Natura World Launches
Value-Priced Mattresses to
Natural Line Up |
|
January 12, 2010 |
Therapedic Adds
Upholstery Licensee |
|
January 11, 2010 |
FabricTech International
Surpasses 1,200-Door Store
Count; Adds Major Retailers in
West and Midwest |
|
January 11, 2010 |
FabricTech Raises the Bar
with Germ, Bacteria & Odor
Protection |
|
January 5, 2010 |
Simmons Obtains Court
Approval of Prepackaged
Restructuring Plan |
|
January 5, 2010 |
In Memoriam... Hickory
Springs' Bobby Bush, Sr. |
|
December 29, 2009 |
World Market Center Las Vegas
Establishes Mega-Market
Weeks |
|
December 29, 2009 |
Natura World Adds New CFO
to Help Guide Future Growth of
The Company |
|
December 28, 2009 |
FXI Foamex Innovations
Announces New Safety Record
Achievement for its Cornelius,
NC Manufacturing Facility |
|
December 21, 2009 |
February Las Vegas Market
to Salute Bedding Industry |
|
December 16, 2009 |
SSA to Report First Key
Findings of Mattress/Bedding
“Green Initiative” |
|
December 9, 2009 |
Contestants Exercise
Eco-Abilities in Hickory
Springs Inaugural “EarthCare
Challenge” |
|
December 8, 2009 |
Simmons Extends
ComforPedic Loft Mobile Showroom
Tour |
|
December 6, 2009 |
Natura’s Organic II Crib
Mattress Has Been Chosen as a
2009 Greatest Product |
|
December 6, 2009 |
Protect-A-Bed Offers Bed
Bug Prevention Tips for Holiday
Travelers |
|
December 4, 2009 |
Protect-A-Bed's Eisenberg
Promoted to Senior Vice
President of Sales |
|
December 3, 2009 |
Dow Polyurethanes Joins
SSA Mattress/Bedding Industry
“Green Initiative” |
|
November 13, 2009 |
AeroBed Wants to Know
Your Overnight Guest Rating |
|
November 11, 2009 |
Anatomic Rolls Out New
Advanced Memory Foam Technology |
|
November 10, 2009 |
OrganicPedic By OMI
Selected for the Alice Cooper
and David Bowie Themed Furnished
Apartments in Los Angeles |
|
November 9, 2009 |
Jim Nation Named President of
Five Star® Mattress Company |
|
November 8, 2009 |
Serta and National Home
Furnishings Association To
Launch Consumer-centered
Sweepstakes in January 2010 |
|
October 30, 2009 |
Simmons Rolls on With
Nationwide Truck Tour of
ComforPedic NxG Loft® Memory
Foam Line-Up |
|
October 21, 2009 |
Farley Accepts SSA's
Appointment to the Chairmanship
of the Mattress/Bedding Industry
“Green Initiative" |
|
October 21, 2009 |
OMI: ‘Fly by Night’, New
England’s Leading Retailer in
Natural Bedding, Debuts Greenest
and Purest Mattress in the
Nation |
|
October 14, 2009 |
Protect-A-Bed & Mattress
Firm Team Up to Fight Against
Pancreatic Cancer |
|
October 5, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Adds Springs Creative’s
Specialty Fabrics Group
Executive to ‘Green Initiative’
Governing Board |
|
October 2, 2009 |
Englander Continues
International Expansion with
Englander Australia |
|
October 2, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt Showcases
Proven Success of
Emotional-Based Retail Concept
at High Point Market IHFC,
Commerce 603 |
|
September 28, 2009 |
SSA Engages Worden
Associates to Help Launch and Manage
the Mattress Bedding Industry
Green Initiative |
|
September 27, 2009 |
Stearns & Foster
Introduced Three New Heritage
Series at Las Vegas Market |
|
September 26, 2009 |
Therapedic Inks India
Licensee |
|
September 23, 2009 |
Simmons Brings New NxG
ComforPedic Loft™ Collection to
Retailers and Consumers with
Rolling Showroom Tour |
|
September 13, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt’s
Consumer Products Group will
introduce ShipShape at Las Vegas
Fall Furniture Market |
|
September 10, 2009 |
Sealy Names New Sr. Vice
President, Chief Marketing
Officer |
|
September 10, 2009 |
Natura World Advances
Marketing and Sales of Gel Bed
Category |
|
September 10, 2009 |
FabricTech International
Unveils New StainGuard & Organic
Bedding Protection Products At
Las Vegas Market |
|
September 10, 2009 |
FabricTech International
Surpasses 1,000-Door Store
Count; Builds Out U.S. & Canada
Sales Network |
|
September 3, 2009 |
Hollandia Debuts Expanded
3D Collection at Vegas Market |
|
September 3, 2009 |
ISPA and SSA Join
Industry-wide Marketing Effort |
|
August 28, 2009 |
Natura World Announces
Acquisition of NexGel™ |
|
August 28, 2009 |
Therapedic
Adds Texas Licensee |
|
August 19, 2009 |
Natura World: How Social
Media is Helping Others Sleep
Well for Life |
|
August 19, 2009 |
Therapedic Signs New
Licensee for Mexico |
|
August 14, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt Consumer
Products Group Announces
Personnel Changes and Promotions |
|
August 14, 2009 |
Joe Alexander Promoted to
General Manager of Keetsa
Mattress |
|
August 13, 2009 |
ChiliPad™ Reduces
Severity of Hot Flashes in
Menopausal Women |
|
August 12, 2009 |
Ergomotion ‘Affordable,
High-Value’ Adjustable to Debut
in Las Vegas |
|
August 11, 2009 |
Mike Murray Promoted to Senior
Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary For Sealy |
|
August 10, 2009 |
Anatomic Global:
Tempur-Pedic CEO Resignation as
ISPA Chair Shows “Chink in The
Armor” |
|
August 4, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt to
Increase Focus On Retail |
|
August 4, 2009 |
BEDROOM Magazine Launches
New Website |
|
August 3, 2009 |
World Market Center Las Vegas
Launches Innovative Campaign |
|
August 1, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt Launches
Updated Bedding Components
Website |
|
August 1, 2009 |
Anatomic Global Seeks
Dismissal of Tempur-Pedic
Lawsuit |
|
August 1, 2009 |
Pennsylvania Bedding Joins
Therapedic International
Team |
|
July 31, 2009 |
Anatomic Global Resigns
From ISPA Citing Tempur-Pedic’s
and the Organization’s “Ethics
Lapse" |
|
July 28, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Looks Forward to Strong
Showing Based on History as
High-Traffic Destination |
|
July 22, 2009 |
Englander is Ready to
Provide Recovery to the Human
Race... |
|
July 22, 2009 |
OMI and ABC Home & Planet
Co-Brand Nation’s Purest Organic
Mattress |
|
July 20, 2009 |
Cargill BiOH® Polyols
Joins With HOM Furniture to
Introduce
Environmentally-friendly and
Renewable Soy-based Materials |
|
July 15, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Launches ‘Green Initiative’
With Organizing Governing Board |
|
July 3, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt Continues
Focus On Healthier and More
Restful Sleep With New
Innovative Softech Innerspring |
|
June 27, 2009 |
Anatomic Global Rejects
Claims of Competitor’s Lawsuit |
|
June 26, 2009 |
The Sharper Image® and Natura
World Enter License
Agreement |
|
June 26, 2009 |
New Ergomotion
‘Affordable High-Value’
Adjustable Bed in Production |
|
June 25, 2009 |
DVD of SSA “Green Initiative”
Conference Now Available for
Manufacturers, Suppliers and
Retailers |
|
June 16, 2009 |
Launch of FXI Announced |
|
June 10, 2009 |
Consumers “Flipping Out” Over
New 2-Sided Mattress Program |
|
June 9, 2009 |
Top Bedding Manufacturers Join
National Trade Group |
|
June 5, 2009 |
Keetsa Mattress
Introduces New Pure Latex
Mattress |
|
June 2, 2009 |
Joe Alexander of www.Keetsa.com
To Speak at Internet Retailers’
Conference in Boston Mid-June |
|
May 26, 2009 |
Foamex Introduces
BodyZone, a New Defense For
Hospitals and Nursing Homes |
|
May 20, 2009 |
40 Top Bedding Industry
Executives Launch Industry’s
First Green Initiative |
|
May 4, 2009 |
Simmons Bedding Company Joins
the Specialty Sleep Association |
|
May 2, 2009 |
Natura World Unveils
Blog: Embraces New Media as
Sustainable Messaging |
|
May 1, 2009 |
FabricTech2000 Taps
Bergman as New President & COO |
|
April 29, 2009 |
Simmons, Serta,
Sealy and TempurPedic
Among Others Attending
Specialty Sleep Association
Green Initiative Conference,
May 8 |
|
April 24, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt Delivers
Retailers a Better Way to Sell
Sleep |
|
April 22, 2009 |
Leading Bedding Industry
Executives to Convene at
Specialty Sleep Association
Florida Conference, May 8th |
|
April 16, 2009 |
Therapedic Adds Idaho
Licensee |
|
April 16, 2009 |
Goodrum and Therapedic
Launch A Hard-charging Campaign
to Rebuild The Brand in Colorado |
|
April 15, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt Names
Herman Tam VP of Sales &
Marketing For Consumer Products
Group |
|
April 15, 2009 |
Natura Selected as First
Manufacturer By Mattress
Giant’s for the Retailer’s
2009 Sustainability Program |
|
April 15, 2009 |
Natura World Inc Giving
Away an Organic Mattress through
Facebook on Earth Day, April 22 |
|
April 14, 2009 |
Blu Dot Furniture Chooses
Keetsa Mattress for
Affordable Eco-friendly Mattress
Line |
|
April 13, 2009 |
Discount Rates Are Still
Available For the SSA Green
Initiative Meeting Following
the Furniture Today Bedding
Conference |
|
April 13, 2009 |
Keetsa Mattress
Introduces New Easily-Shipped,
Certified Latex with Independent
Coils, Wool and Cotton All for
Under $1000 |
|
April 8, 2009 |
Leggett & Platt Consumer
Products Group Debuts a New Look
At High Point |
|
April 8, 2009 |
Relax The Back First National
Retailer to Carry Ecomfort
Line |
|
April 6, 2009 |
Magniflex Drop Ship
Capability Solves Retailer Issue |
|
April 4, 2009 |
Therapedic/Stylution
Partnership to Bring New
ComfortTouch by Therapedic Line
to Widespread Markets |
|
April 2, 2009 |
Bankruptcy Court Judge Grants
All First-Day Motions In
1800mattress.com Chapter 11
Proceeding |
|
March 31, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Announces New Members of Board
of Directors Following World
Market Center |
|
March 26, 2009 |
Largest 1-800-Mattress
Franchise Group Challenges Sale
to Sleepy's |
|
March 23, 2009 |
Consumers Research On-line for
Mattress Products and Search for
Store Locations |
|
March 20, 2009 |
Serta and Ergomotion
Announce Partnership to Produce
the Serta® Motion Perfect
Adjustable Foundation |
|
March 19, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Joins Sustainable Furnishings
Council |
|
March 19, 2009 |
Connecticut 1-800-Mattress
Service Unaffected By Legal
Action Involving Parent Company |
|
March 18, 2009 |
Investor Group Signs Letter Of
Intent to Purchase
1-800-MATTRESS Assets |
|
March 18, 2009 |
Local
1-800-Mattress/Dial-A-Mattress
Service Unaffected By Legal
Action Involving Parent Company |
|
March 18, 2009 |
Universal Bedlegs
Features New Line Using 100%
Recycled Materials |
|
March 16, 2009 |
Sustainable Furnishings
Council (SFC) Announces Jeff
Hiller as New President |
|
March 11, 2009 |
Hickory Springs Introduces CertiPUR-US Foam |
|
March 11, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Announces “Green Initiative” to
Establish First “Green”
Standards In Bedding Industry |
|
March 10, 2009 |
New Eclipse Science of
Sleep: Keeping the story real
with the latest technology |
|
March 10, 2009 |
Clare
Bedding joins Eclipse
International |
|
March 2, 2009 |
FURNITURE TODAY: Specialty
Sleep exec expects category
to 'reawaken' in next few years |
|
February 23, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Reports Extremely Strong Turnout
At World Market Center |
|
February 23, 2009 |
Latex International and
Hickory Springs Collaborate in a
Distribution Agreement |
|
February 18, 2009 |
Sealy’s Asset Management
Firm Partners With Environmental
Defense Fund |
|
February 12, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Assn.
Joins American Home Furnishings
and Building Products Coalition |
|
February 8, 2009 |
The Holy Grail of Snore Wars |
|
February 2, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Members Unveil Latest Sleep
Technologies at World Market
Center |
|
January 26, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Notes "The Future of Sleep =
Stay In Bed" |
|
January 21, 2009 |
Stearns & Foster® to
Unveil New Line at Winter Market |
|
January 15, 2009 |
New Ergomotion ‘Nuvo’
Adjustable System Ramps-Up
Massage, Eliminates Retainer Bar |
|
January 15, 2009 |
New Power Bases & Slimmest
Controller Part of Ergomotion’s
New Intros in Las Vegas |
|
January 15, 2009 |
GBS Enterprises Joined
Forces with Carbonfund.org to
Fight Global Warming in 2008 |
|
January 8, 2009 |
Therapedic Introduces New
High Value, “Velocity
Price-Point” BackSense Line to
Help Mattress Retailers |
|
January 5, 2009 |
Therapedic International
Has Added Sleep Rite Industries
As New Licensee |
|
January 5, 2009 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Notes "The Future of Sleep =
Stay In Bed" |
|
December 17, 2008 |
Tuxedo Road Magazine - Rest
Easy, Atlanta. TR Has Discovered
Six High-Tech Mattress Solutions
For a Sounder Night’s Sleep. |
|
December 8, 2008 |
Sit and
Rest Joins Eastman House |
|
December 8, 2008 |
Teach Sleep
Campaign to be Presented at
Chiropractic Convention |
|
December 6, 2008 |
Hollandia Reveals New
Hotel Beds at Westminster's "Old
Hollywood" Grand Event |
|
December 5, 2008 |
Al Sedgefield’s Discount
World of Sleep Joins
National Specialty Sleep
Association |
|
November 21, 2008 |
1800Mattress.com's
Napoleon Barragan Receives Two
Prestigious Awards |
|
November 19, 2008 |
Leggett Honors Innovation
Leaders |
|
November 17, 2008 |
Specialty Sleep Mattress/Bedding
Retailers Should Learn about
Earthcare Latex and Memory Foam
Beds From I-Care |
|
November 13, 2008 |
PRESS RELEASE: Don't
Disturb Your Circadian Rhythm
This Black Friday 'Sleep In, Nap
Later,' says Specialty Sleep
Association |
|
November 12, 2008 |
I Care Sleep Committed to
Specialty Sleep Association |
|
October 17, 2008 |
Koni Corporation and Kojo
Worldwide Form Partnership With
International Eco Fiber
Developer Lenzing Fibers |
|
October 9, 2008 |
World Market Center Las Vegas
Announces New Fall and Winter
Market Dates |
|
October 2, 2008 |
Therapedic Signs New
Licensee in Trinidad |
|
October 2, 2008 |
Natura World Adds
High-End Models to Natural
Bedding Collections |
|
September 25, 2008 |
XSENSOR - Helping
Retailers to Increase their
Closing Rates |
|
September 24, 2008 |
The Ultimate Ticket Enhancement!
– the TEMPUR® Advanced
Ergo System™ |
|
September 23, 2008 |
Making the most of every sale –
Tempur-Pedic’s Advanced
Performance Linens |
|
September 18, 2008 |
Natura World Expands
Organics Collection to Address
All Areas of Sleep… NATURALLY
|
|
September 17, 2008 |
Regal Mattress of Orlando, FL
Joins Therapedic Family
as Newest Licensee |
|
September 16, 2008 |
Latex International
Acquires Assets From Dunlop
Latex Foam Limited in UK |
|
September 9, 2008 |
Outlast Teams Up With
Menopause the Musical |
|
September 9, 2008 |
Outlast Technologies
Introduces Platinum Level
Material in New Sleep Number
9000 Bed from Select Comfort |
|
September 5, 2008 |
Sanitary Mattress Joins
Eastman House |
|
September 5, 2008 |
Eclipse Names New
Director of Marketing |
|
August 27, 2008 |
ChiliPad Celebrates With
a Drug Free Solution to Hot
Flashes |
|
August 27, 2008 |
AeroBed Raised Headboard
Bed Is A Perfect Solution for an
Urban Loft Dwelling Artist |
|
August 22, 2008 |
Vinyl Products
Offers 8-Inch Deep SLEEPTOUCH™
Adjustable Air Comfort |
|
August 14, 2008 |
Specialty Sleep Association:
“The Future of Sleep”… Has
Arrived |
|
July 22, 2008 |
Leggett & Platt Say Coils
Mean Cooler Sleeping |
|
July 21, 2008 |
SSA President Dale Read
on Living Well 9 News Now, WUSA
(CBS) Washington DC |
|
July 20, 2008 |
Summer 2008 Las Vegas
Market Runs July 28-Aug. 1 |
|
July 17, 2008 |
Ergomotion Comfort Bases Compliant With European
Union Safety Directive |
|
July 17, 2008 |
28-Year Bedding Veteran Joins Ergomotion’s Executive
Team |
|
July 15, 2008 |
Kaymed Introduces Fully Integrated “Sleep Spa” Pillow
Program |
|
July 8, 2008 |
Specialty Sleep Association's
Stan Steinreich Appears on
Eyewitness News Sunday Morning
on WABC-TV in New York |
|
June 29, 2008 |
ChiliPad™!
Saves 15% on Household Energy Consumption! |
|
June 25, 2008 |
Inflatable Bedding Leader
AeroBed Expands Marketing to
Bedding and Furniture Channel |
|
June 25, 2008 |
Eclipse of Ireland and
the UK Wins Award For Bedroom
Product of the Year 2008 |
|
June 25, 2008 |
Eclipse and Eastman
House Grand Opening at World
Market Center - Las Vegas |
|
June 24, 2008 |
Hollandia to Bring
New-Age Designs to 2008 Las
Vegas Market For First Time |
|
June 23, 2008 |
Fifth-Year Competitive Intern
Program Nets 20 Students College
Scholarships |
|
June 23, 2008 |
1-800-MATTRESS.com Teams
With Simmons And Bed &
Breakfast Maven to Offer Pamela
Lanier Collection of Mattresses |
|
June 20, 2008 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Announces Bart Dehaerne As New
Board Member |
|
June 20, 2008 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Unveils New Space At World
Market Center |
|
June 18, 2008 |
FabricTech2000 Surpasses
700-Door Store Count With
Addition Of New Dealers &
Expanded Sales Network |
|
June 17, 2008 |
Hollywood Bed Announces
New Showroom At Las Vegas World
Market Center |
|
June 4, 2008 |
New Technologies and Innovations
in Sleep Products Demonstrated
by SSA President Dale Read
on WCCB-TV's "Fox News
Rising" in Charlotte, NC |
|
May 12, 2008 |
Outlast® Technology Now
Found in Enhanced Sleep Number
7000 Bed |
|
May 12, 2008 |
Leggett & Platt's
Superlastic Pro: Reaching New
Heights In Sleep Innovation |
|
April 29, 2008 |
On KDOC-TV, Specialty Sleep Association
Promotes Natural & Organic
Sleep Systems |
|
April 1, 2008 |
Specialty Sleep Association
Featured on KTLA TV in Los
Angeles |
|
Top of
Page |

Natura World Announces Plans to
Purchase New Factory in
Texas
February 8, 2010 - In early
February, 2010
Natura World Inc. announced
the company’s plans to purchase
a 478,000 sq ft manufacturing
plant in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The plant will allow Natura to
increase distribution throughout
the United States while reducing
delivery times.
“Opening up another factory will
give us much needed room for
expansion,” says Ralph
Rossdeutscher, President of
Natura World Inc. “Our
penetration into the US market
has moved at a rapid pace over
the last year and this factory
will increase our ability to
meet our retailers’ needs
quickly and efficiently.”
Natura plans to purchase a plot
of land that houses two
manufacturing facilities and is
roughly 100 acres in size within
the thriving community of
Wichita Falls. This new plant
will open a variety of jobs to
area residents.
Jim Van Lear will serve as the
plant manager. Van Lear is a
30-year veteran of the mattress
industry, having served at
Simmons, Serta and, most
recently, Spring Air. He excels
at mobilizing teams to create
efficient, seamless results.
Natura announces this
planned-for purchase fast on the
heels of acquiring NexGel as
well as expanding their latex
and memory foam mattress
manufacturing to include inner
spring mattresses. Natura has
also entered into a licensing
agreement with Sharper Image and
will be offering a line of
Sharper Image Mattresses
beginning in 2010. Over the last
year, Natura has also hired
several key vice presidents to
oversee and manage sales
throughout the United States.
“For 15 years, we’ve grown
consistently and with a tight
focus on our mission statement –
to help our customers achieve a
superior night’s sleep,” adds
Rossdeutscher. “With each step
we’ve made this past year, we
continue toward that goal. We’d
like to thank the State of Texas
and the City of Wichita Falls
for their hard work and
diligence in assisting with this
venture.”
About Natura World:
Founded 15 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.
Mattress/ Bedding Retailers
please visit
www.naturaworld.com for more
information, or Julia Rosien,
Communications Director Toll
Free: 888-628-8723 ext 250. |
|
Top of
Page |

Natura World is Proud to
Announce an Addition to the
Family!
New
Website is an Online Resource
for Parents of Infants and
Children
It’s a
website!
February 8, 2010 -
Natura World Inc., leader in
the green and organic mattress
and bedding industry, is happy
to announce a sweet new addition
to the family. Proud parent
website, www.naturaworld.com has
been anxiously awaiting the
special arrival and is thrilled
to welcome www.naturafamily.com
home.
NaturaFamily.com is designed to
be an online resource for
parents, responding to the
specific sleep issues of infants
and children. Detailed product
information and family friendly
navigation make finding healthy
green and organic bedding easy.
Natura World will provide ideas
and encouragement with their
Better Bedtimes blog and invite
an active community with social
media sites such as Facebook,
Twitter and MySpace.
“Parents today begin shopping
long before they ever go to a
store – and they know what makes
a product healthy or unhealthy,”
said Julia Rosien, Director of
Communications at Natura World.
“Our new site makes it easy for
parents to see what’s inside our
mattresses, bedding and pillows
and make informed decisions on
products that directly affect
their children’s health.”
-
Every
product has a detailed
listing of what it’s made of
-
Organic products are made
from certified organic
materials
-
Certifying organizations are
accessible from every page
Natura World believes in the
power of the word of mouth and
plans to add review capabilities
to the site in phase two. They
also work closely with bloggers
and adhere to the FTC guidelines
regarding transparency of
information on blogs.
“There is no greater power than
the voice of a blogger –
especially a parent blogger,”
added Rosien. “Our community on
Facebook and Twitter help us
develop and tweak products and
they tell their friends what
they like and don’t like. That
kind of feedback is
priceless.”
Naturafamily.com will be
officially launched just in time
for the opening of the Las Vegas
Market, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA,
February 1, 2010.
To learn more about
naturafamily.com please contact
Julia Rosien at Natura World.
About Natura World: Founded
15 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. |
|
Top of
Page |

Simmons Celebrates 85 Years of
Marketing the Beautyrest®
Brand With a New Line That
Offers Broadest Range of Feels
and Comfort Choices
Company
Showcases Beautyrest® Super
Pocketed Coil® Springs and
Debuts Comfort
and Aesthetic
Advancements Through BeautyStyle™
and BeautyFeel™
February 8, 2010 -
Simmons Bedding Company's
flagship
Beautyrest® brand celebrates
its 85th anniversary this year,
and the company marked the
occasion with a new Beautyrest®
mattress line completely
redesigned for 2010. This new
line was introduced February 1-5
at the Las Vegas Furniture
Market.
The
new Beautyrest® mattress line
offers consumers individually
encased Beautyrest® Super
Pocketed Coil® springs featuring
new BeautyPlush™, BeautyFirm™
and BeautyLuxeFirm™ comfort
choices for unsurpassed motion
separation, conformability,
support and durability. The
line's new BeautyStyle™
aesthetics feature luxurious
fabrics and enhanced visual
appeal while new construction
designs offer unique BeautyFeel™
comfort allowing Beautyrest® to
offer the broadest range of
unique feels in the industry.
Simmons is promoting the new
Beautyrest® mattress line with
significant marketing support,
including dealer television
tags, patent-pending
point-of-sale materials, online
promotions and public relations.
A new Beautyrest® Web site is
under development and a new
tagline, "It's not just sleep,
it's Beautyrest™," will roll out
across all communications
platforms.
From firm to plush, tight top to
pillow top, the new Beautyrest®
mattress collection offers
retailers a full range of values
and technologies. Using unique
types of comfort layers and
support foams, every mattress is
scientifically engineered to
enhance the inherent qualities
of Beautyrest® Super Pocketed
Coil® springs. BeautyStyle™
mattress aesthetics create
eye-catching consumer appeal
while BeautyFeel™ provides
consumers with the unique
comfort that comes from sleeping
on a new Beautyrest® mattress.
"We carefully designed the new
Beautyrest® line to leverage the
hallmarks of the brand, which
include unparalleled motion
separation, durability,
conformability and support,
while enhancing a consumer's
sleep experience through
BeautyFeel™ comfort. The
combination of performance
benefits from the Beautyrest®
Super Pocketed Coil® springs,
consumer-driven style and the
broadest range of comfort
choices in our 85-year history
allows us to say ‘Its not just
sleep, it's Beautyrest™,' " said
Beautyrest® Brand Director Rolf
Sannes.
At Market, Simmons is unveiling
three new Beautyrest® lines with
suggested queen retail prices of
$599-$1,999, including:
-
Beautyrest® Classic
mattresses feature the
unique comfort and support
of 800 density Beautyrest®
Super Pocketed Coil®
springs, redesigned
BeautyStyle™ luxury fabrics
and aesthetics and the Mega
Coil Edge System for an
edge-to-edge sleeping
surface. The Triton®
foundation with PowerBeam®
braces provides strength and
support. Select models
include memory foam for
enhanced comfort and
support.
-
New
Beautyrest® Anniversary™
With the complete comfort
and support of new 850
density Beautyrest® Super
Pocketed Coil® springs, the
new Beautyrest® Anniversary™
includes redesigned
BeautyStyle™ aesthetics. The
Total Surround BeautyEdge®
Foam Encasement features
QuantumLock™ technology for
foam rail integrity and
sleeping comfort right to
the edge. The celebration
continues with Energy Foam™,
part of Simmons' patented no
flip construction, for added
stability and the Triton®
foundation with PowerBeam®
braces for strength and
support.
-
Beautyrest® World Class®
features new 1,000 density
Beautyrest® Super Pocketed
Coil® springs and BeautyEdge®
Foam Encasement with
QuantumLock™ for foam rail
integrity and sleeping
comfort right to the edge.
Luxurious BeautyStyle™
fabrics and aesthetics
create compelling visual
appeal while AirFeel™
quilting foam amplifies the
inherent comfort of the
Pocketed Coil® springs in
many models. Premium quality
foams including NxG® Memory
Foam and new Progressive
Support Latex are available
on select models to enhance
comfort, conformability and
support.
The new Beautyrest® World Class®
line features patent-pending
Transflexion™, a comfort
technology used with much
success in Simmons' luxurious
Beautyrest Black® line.
Transflexion™ comfort technology
ensures that the mattress feels
as great at home as it did when
a consumer tried it in the
store. For retailers,
Transflexion™ has been shown to
significantly enhance consumer
satisfaction.
85
Years of Beautyrest® Heritage
and Innovation
Beautyrest® Pocketed Coil®
springs are an innovation first
mass-produced by Simmons in
1925. Unlike wire-tied springs
in ordinary mattresses,
Beautyrest® Pocketed Coil®
springs are not joined at the
top or bottom. Instead, high
carbon steel springs are
pre-compressed and placed in
durable, non-allergenic fabric
encasements. This design allows
Beautyrest® Pocketed Coil®
springs to adjust individually
to the weight and contour of the
body. Since adjacent springs
aren't tied together, there's no
chain reaction of movement when
turning or moving during the
night.
Simmons' history dates back to
its 1870 founding in Kenosha,
Wis., and materials from the
company are part of the
advertising collections at the
Smithsonian's National Museum of
American History in Washington,
D.C. Advertising campaigns for
Beautyrest® throughout the
1920's featured notables such as
Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry Ford,
H.G. Wells and Thomas Edison, to
name a few.
To view a complete timeline
of the Company's history, visit
www.simmons.com/company.
Simmons President and Chief
Operating Officer Steve Fendrich
says that the Beautyrest® brand
has been a leading mattress
brand for so many years because
of sound fundamentals in
research and development,
engineering and manufacturing,
which have benefited from over
80 years of fine-tuning. "The
new Beautyrest® line has been in
research and development for
three years and represents a
multi-million dollar investment
for our company," said Fendrich.
"The line reflects the latest in
technological and aesthetic
advancements while taking the
Beautyrest® Pocketed Coil®
spring, which set the standard
for motion separation throughout
our industry, to an entirely new
level. We're very excited for
retailers to experience the new
Beautyrest® for themselves in
Las Vegas."
To learn more about the
innovations in the new
Beautyrest® product line, visit
www.beautyrest.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 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. |
|
Top of
Page |

79% of Consumers Embrace
Transparent “GREEN” Labeling of
Mattresses
They Say They
Would Choose a Mattress With a
Verified Environmental “Safety”
and Emissions Label
February 7, 2010 - A new
Mattress/Bedding Industry “Green
Initiative” consumer survey
sponsored by the
Specialty Sleep Association
(SSA, asked what claims
consumers would want addressed
by an industry label, seal or
program. “Safety” and
“Emissions” were the top two
issues raised by consumers.
Seventy-nine percent (79%) of
consumers surveyed would choose
a mattress with an
environmentally friendly claim.
The study was an outgrowth of
the Mattress/ Bedding Industry
Green Initiative Board’s efforts
to identify the top issues that
need to be addressed by the
industry as it works to clarify
environmental claims being made
through marketing of bedding
products.
According to the survey of 637
adults in the U.S.,
two-thirds of consumers were
“very” or “extremely” concerned
about the health and safety of
the products they purchase.
Safety of materials was the
single most important
environmental attribute to
consumers selecting a new
mattress (41%), followed by free
of emissions (15%) and
responsible manufacturing
processes (10%).
39% of the respondents
indicated that they would pay
more for an
environmentally-friendly
mattress.
Equally as important, the study
sponsored by the SSA “Green
Initiative” showed that 39% of
the respondents indicated that
they would pay more for an
environmentally-friendly
mattress, and 15% said they
would pay as much as $200. more.
“We are pleased to be sharing
this information with the
industry and ― for the first
time ― are presenting not only
research on consumer and retail
sales associate (RSA) priorities
but also significant guidance on
making environmental claims,
what terminology actually means,
and what global trends might
influence how products are
designed and marketed in the
U.S.,” said Dale Read, president
of the SSA. “The
Mattress/Bedding Industry Green
Initiative is working to achieve
greater transparency for
consumers and provides this
unprecedented research-based
report on environmental claims
as the first step in what will
need to be a multi-faceted
industry communications effort.
We are no longer depending
exclusively on personal opinion,
conjecture and anecdotal
information form mattress
industry executives,” said Read
. This research gives us an
objective and professional
baseline of solid information
from both consumers and retail
sales associates. It supports
what some of us have believed
all along: that many consumers
will pay more for verified and
transparently marketed “green”
mattress/bedding products..
Transparency in marketing
“green” could lead to millions
in increased retail sales
Read pointed out that some
extrapolations indicate that
incremental retail sales as a
result of transparent labeling
and marketing of “green “
products could range anywhere
from $350 mm up to $1.3 billion
in sales with a middle ground of
$750 mm being quite possible.
“Developing a transparent and
open seal and labeling program,
along with an active consumer
education and retailer training
program not only is ‘the right
thing to do’ , it is profitable
for retailers and manufacturers
alike.
The SSA conducted a separate
survey of retail sales
associates (RSAs) at 233
distinct store locations with a
total of 61 retailers. This
research identified a need for
clear environmental terminology.
Half of the respondents believed
that manufacturers are not
supplying enough information
about the environmental impact
of their mattresses. The vast
majority (87%) believe an
industry standard, certification
or seal would be helpful with
almost one in three saying it
would be “very helpful.”
The group’s findings included:
-
76% of
the RSAs surveyed have
experienced customers asking
for “natural,” “organic,” or
“environmentally friendly”
mattresses.
-
Two-thirds of the RSAs
surveyed (69%) have had
customers ask for mattresses
free of added chemicals.
-
More
than half of consumer
respondents (56%) said a
“green” seal or
certification on a mattress
would make them more likely
to consider that mattress.
-
Consumers expressed greater
concern for the
environmental impact of a
mattress at the end of the
lifecycle versus the
beginning of its lifecycle.
“Environmental Claims:
What Marketers and Retailers
Need to Know ― Terminology,
Definitions, Standards and
Trends for the Bedding Industry”
was presented by the Specialty
Sleep Association at Winter 2010
Las Vegas Furniture Market on
February 2. The report was
developed by Vicki Worden of
Worden Associates, Inc., an
environmental consultant to the
SSA’s “Green Initiative” Board
of Governors. The
Mattress/Bedding Industry “Green
Initiative” was created to
identify definitions and
terminology, as well as existing
standards and certifications
that apply to the mattress
industry. These include
components and finished
products, plus how mattress
manufacturers and retailers
label “green” products and
define eco-friendly sleep. The
SSA Board is now considering a
number of future steps to
implement the findings of the
report and study. Being
considered is a
consumer-oriented public
education campaign and labeling
program aimed at increasing
clarity and transparency for
consumers shopping for
mattresses and bedding.
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.
|
|
Top of
Page |

Top Bedding Industry
Innovator Named to Specialty
Sleep Association Board
Addition of Scott Smalling,
President of Simmons’ Specialty
Sleep Division, Announced by SSA
The Specialty Sleep Association
(SSA) has announced the
expansion of their Board of
Directors with the addition of
one of the nation’s top bedding
innovators. Scott Smalling,
President of
Simmons Bedding Company’s
Specialty Sleep Division, has
been named to the SSA Board of
Directors. Simmons Bedding
Company (“Simmons”), which
manufactures both innerspring
and specialty bedding products,
is known for incorporating
unique technologies into its
mattresses and its use of
natural components in its
bedding lines.
According to SSA president Dale
T. Read, “The Specialty Sleep
Association is thrilled to have
one of the leading manufacturers
in the industry recognize the
importance of our organization
by joining the board. Simmons
has made a definite move into
specialty sleep with its
ComforPedic® line of memory foam
beds and has been an active
sponsor and supporter of our
‘Green Initiative.’ Scott’s
insight into the specialty sleep
category and his drive will
surely help the SSA Green
Initiative move forward in
defining and setting standards
for how mattress manufacturers
and retailers’ label ‘green’ and
natural sleep products like
mattresses.”
Smalling currently oversees
Simmons’ ComforPedic® and
Natural Care® product lines. As
the third generation owner of IR
Specialty Foams LLC, he started
a new division of the family
business in 2003 called
ComforPedic® where he helped to
develop NxG™ Advanced Memory
Foam. Smalling has played an
instrumental role in bringing
several industry innovations to
market including Memory/Gel
Fusion, incorporating fire
protection and promoting Quicker
Recovery Memory Foam and Heat
Dissipating Memory Foam.
“My goal in joining the
Specialty Sleep Association
Board of Directors is to help
create a sustainable platform
that will foster innovation,
support our manufacturers and
improve sleep quality,” said
Smalling. “Similarly, I am
looking forward to exploring the
next step in the organization’s
Green Initiative.”
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
the Company's website at
www.simmons.com.
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,
tambra@sleepinformation.org. |
|
Top of
Page |

Anatomic Global Takes Technology
to a Whole New Level with the
Pure7 Series™
New
Seven-Pound High-Density
EcoMemoryFoam™ Gives Consumers
Unparalleled Comfort and Support
February 1, 2010 -
Anatomic Global, Inc., maker
of Ecomfort Mattresses made with
genuine EcoMemoryFoam™, the
first plant-based memory foam
developed in the United States,
is taking its technology to a
whole new level with the launch
of its Pure7 Series™ line. The
latest Ecomfort Mattress
collection features the first
all new seven-pound high-density
EcoMemoryFoam designed to
naturally conform to body
contours while providing a more
luxurious and plush comfort
layer. The new product line
rounds out the Ecomfort Mattress
offering, bringing consumers a
wider selection of unparalleled
comfort and support.

“The Pure7 Series addresses the
varying sleep needs of the
consumer and allows for the body
to sleep deeper into the
mattress for more of a
custom-fit,” said Anatomic
Global President Jeff Scorziell.
“Made with a slower response,
more fluid feeling and
conforming foam, it distinctly
adapts to the body.”
The Pure7 Series combines a top
comfort layer of the new
seven-pound, extreme open-cell
high-density EcoMemoryFoam with
a second support layer designed
to give you proper anatomic
support. The bed is completely
made from bio-based foams that
provide edge-to-edge support and
pressure-relief. Covered with
MemStretch™, an exclusive bamboo
stretchable fabric with a high
recycled content, the ticking
works with the memory foam to
better conform and adjust to the
body. The entire bed is designed
to keep the sleeper cool and dry
for longer periods of
undisruptive sleep and
unparalleled rest.
Available in three models that
top out at $2,299 retail in
queen, the new line is pure
priced with no heavy mark-ups
giving dealers high margins and
huge value to the end-user.
“As with all our products, this
line highlights our commitment
to Sustainable Global Comfort,
which is our way of saying that
we are dedicated to customer
satisfaction, dealer profits and
sustaining our planet,” said
Scorziell. “We will continue to
provide strong financial support
to the retailers and deliver
first-class products that are
‘pure priced’ so dealers can get
some pretty strong returns.”
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.
To experience the Pure7
Series, visit Anatomic Global’s
showroom in space C-1584 at the
Las Vegas Market, February 1 –
5, 2010.
For more information, visit
www.ecomfortmattress.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Chili Technology to
Showcase New
Eco-Friendly “ChiliBed” at Fall 2010 Las Vegas Market
Too Hot? Too Cold? The New ChiliBed®
Makes it Just Right!
January 27, 2010 - Chili
Technology announced this week
that the company will be
showcasing their new ChiliBed®
Mattress at the 2010 Winter Las
Vegas Market, February 1-5, 2010
at the World Market Center Las
Vegas. The new natural foam
mattress made from 100% soy
polyol-based foam.has the Chili
Technology embedded into the
layers of foam allowing
consumers to heat and cool their
bed from 48-118 degrees F. The
company will display this
environmentally friendly,
state-of- the-art sleep solution
in the Specialty Sleep
Association Building in space
C1350.

“You no longer have to fight
with temperature at night,” said
Todd Youngblood, CEO and
co-founder Chili Technology.
“ChiliBed solves the problem of
heat build-up, one of the
primary complaints people have
about memory foam mattresses.
Our proprietary Chili Technology
cools and warms the ChiliBed
from 48-118 degrees offering
unparalleled temperature
control, body support and
pressure relief. ChiliBed reacts
immediately to your body and
conforms to your exact shape.
Look no further for better more
restful sleep”.
Youngblood further stated, “A
good night's sleep starts with
body temperature; regulating
your temperature helps you to
feel refreshed and ready for the
day ahead of you. With the
introduction of our new ChiliBed,
consumers can achieve a
rejuvenating night's sleep or
relaxing moment with the
positive impact on quality of
life and improved health that
comes with it."
According to the National
Institute of Standards and
Technology, soy polyols have
only one-quarter the level of
total environmental impact of
petroleum-based foam. “Using soy
as the ingredient in foam is
definitely a step in the right
direction for reducing
environmental impact” said
Youngblood.
With ChiliBed,
environmentally-conscious
consumers can take green living
to a whole new level of luxury
in their bedroom. The
temperature controlled memory
foam soy-based mattress is
designed for maximum comfort and
pressure relief. The unique foam
adjusts based on weight rather
than body heat, allowing users
to get comfortable very quickly.
It has a 11-inch mattress core,
and is available in all standard
mattress sizes.
Key product attributes include:
-
The
Core: A
combination of high-density
memory foam and other
supportive foams, designed
to create a body-conforming
experience that results in
pressure free sleep. There
is no motion transfer from
sleep partners with ChiliBed.
-
The
Comfort Top: A
thick box top that includes
the highest density memory
foam available creates added
comfort.
-
The
Cover: Classic and
luxuriously designed fabric
that is sensuously soft to
the touch.
-
The
Feel: High-density
foam provides proper support
for back sleepers and gives
comfort support for side and
stomach sleepers.
-
Temperature Control:
With the touch of a button,
cool and warm the bed from
48-118 degrees. Dual
controls offer sleep
partners individualized
comfort.
-
Other Key Facts:
Complies with the Federal
fire safety standard of
16CFR1633. (Free of PBDEs)
At the Las Vegas Market, Chili
Technology will also unveil:
-
Several new control units
that will dramatically
reduce the price range of
the ChiliPad product line.
-
Chili
Z (Z) control unit designed
to deliver meaningful
temperature change will be
available in three
variations of price and
performance with retail
prices ranging from $99 -
$299
-
Chili
Z™ A newly enhanced line of
accessory items that embed
the “Chili” technology in
seating and massage pads.
This new accessory
collection opens the door to
many other opportunities for
the Company in the home and
automotive industries.
The Company’s popular ChiliPad
will also be displayed. ChiliPad
is a mattress pad with both
heating and cooling functions.
The product is widely recognized
for providing comfort to
consumers who suffer from
injuries, illness, arthritis,
osteo-related conditions, sore
muscles, insomnia, chemo-therapy
symptoms and hot flashes from
menopause among other health
related issues where cooling or
warming the body helps reduce or
eliminate discomfort.
To learn more about
ChiliTechnology products or to
set-up an interview with CEO and
co-founder Todd Youngblood,
please contact Jane Westgate at
336-209-9276 or via e-mail
pr@chilitechnology.com
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
email
info@mychilipad.com. |
|
Top of
Page |
|

Inaugural Marketing Campaign for
Home Furnishings Industry
Is it Home Yet?
Inspired Consumers, Engaged
Retailers
2010 Event
Dates Set for September 18-26;
Partners to
Enlist Retailer Participation at
Upcoming Las Vegas Market
January 27, 2010 - Marking an
historic effort for the home
furnishings industry, the
first-ever, multi-channel
marketing campaign, Is it Home
Yet? and the campaign’s
inaugural event National Home
Furnishings Month (NHFM),
successfully reached its
first-year goals—to unite home
furnshings retailers with a
cohesive branding and sales
event, while inspiring today’s
“everywoman” to reconnect with
her home through
furnishings-related content,
information, and ultimately
driving to retail.
Created by
World Market Center Las Vegas,
the home furnishings industry’s
leading international
marketplace, and launched in
partnership with eight industry
associations, the advertising
campaign—developed by Ogilvy
North America—was the first-ever
industry-wide initiative that
encouraged consumers to
celebrate the idea of “home” and
refresh their living spaces
through new home furnishings
purchases. In addition to room
makeover sweepstakes, the
campaign’s website,
www.homeyet.com, featured
advice from top designers with
home makeover tips and trend
information. Exclusive
information about sales and
promotions at participating
retailers across the country was
also available online.
More than 7,000 retailers
nationwide participated in the
program and were included on the
site’s store locator section.
Geographically, the campaign saw
broad support from retailers
across the country: 49 percent
of retailers from the west; 19
percent from the Midwest; 23
percent from the South; and 9
percent from the Northeast.
Nearly 2,000 retailers
downloaded the National Home
Furnishings Month Retailer
Toolkit, which equipped them
with marketing tools to support
the initiative in their
advertising programs.
The average age of consumers who
engaged with the campaign was
49.9 years old. Of all consumer
respondents, which skewed 2:1
female, 78 percent said they
planned to make home furnishings
purchases in 2010, with the
living room ranked as the first
choice of rooms to be
refurnished in their home.
Consumers also indicated that
blogs and online are the
dominant sources of information
that influence them to make
furniture purchases, followed by
in-store visits.
The campaign—which centered on a
robust digital strategy aimed at
retail activation, industry
partnerships and print and
outdoor placements—generated an
unprecedented 500 million
impressions in paid, earned and
donated media. Additionally,
during the course of the month,
www.homeyet.com attracted
340,000 views with nearly half
being unique visitors.
“This was an ambitious
undertaking and we are extremely
pleased with what we
accomplished during the
first-ever National Home
Furnishings Month,” said Robert
Maricich, president and chief
executive officer of World
Market Center Las Vegas. “The
launch was a homerun by all
measures, although nothing will
be as critical to future
successes as retailer activation
in order to truly capture
consumers’ share of mind and
wallet. For over a decade our
industry has lost a share of
consumer spending, and only with
a broad-based, cohesive and
focused message can we turn
around this disturbing slide.”
One the country’s fastest
growing retailers, Jerome’s
Furniture in San Deigo, was
excited to support the National
Home Furnshings Month campaign
because it reinforces what they
believe is a strong and timely
message to consumers: The home
and home furnishings as the
positive center of peoples’
lives. Jerome’s executed the Is
it Home Yet? message with a paid
campaign in San Diego on TV, in
print, online and in their
showrooms. In addition, Jerome’s
sponsored a Home Makeover
promotion, in partnership with a
local ABC-affiliated TV station,
which ran from September through
December.
“It was exciting to see this
campaign executed on a national
level. We felt it was important
to rally behind a cohesive
message that creates true,
long-term demand for our
products and services for our
industry. The ‘Home Yet’
campaign was a big first step in
that direction. National Home
Furnishings Month made
implementation easy by providing
marketing materials and
resources that were easy for us
to adopt into our own
messaging,” said Lee Goodman,
president and chief executive
officer of Jerome’s. “Our
involvement in National Home
Furnishings Month campaign
helped us increase traffic to
our website and showrooms. It
was a huge success overall.”
What’s Next: The Drive for
Retailer Participation in 2010
Plans for 2010’s National Home
Furnishings Month are already
underway; the 10-day sale event
has been set for September 18-26
and World Market Center and its
industry partners plan to engage
retailers at the upcoming Las
Vegas Market, Feb. 1 – 5, 2010.
Upon visiting the National Home
Furnishings Month kiosk in World
Market Center’s Grand Plaza,
retailers will be able to get
their complimentary listing on
the store locator, which is live
on the newly revamped
www.homeyet.com website, as
well as get the information and
tools required to participate in
this year’s national event.
“Our goal for 2010 is to make
this a national sales event for
retailers by providing the
creative content and free tools
for them to ‘plug and play’ this
campaign with their own brand
and in their own markets which,
in essence, will multiply the
collective voice and effect we
can have on consumers buying for
their home,” said Maricich.
World Market Center has also
extended a partnership with
Sale-in-a-Box, America’s premier
supplier of sales event
materials for the retail
industry, to ensure the toolkit
is easy to adopt and “turnkey”
for store owners and marketers.
Sale-in-a-Box will produce
printed materials for retailers
who want to activate the
National Home Furnshings Month
campaign in their store and will
be taking pre-orders at the
upcoming market in Building C,
Space 512.
Retailers are also encouraged to
complete a short survey at
www.surveygizmo.com/s/212435/nhfmpostsurvey
to share feedback on the
National Home Furnishings Month
campaign and new ideas for 2010.
Maricich cites recent reports
from U.S. Census, where retail
sales in September and October
of 2009 compared to a year ago
declined far less, after 18
months of almost unrelenting
double digit declines. This is
viewed by some industry analysts
as signs of a flattening of the
downturn in 2010, and
positioning the economy for a
rebound as the attention turns
back to home. With consumer
confidence rebuilding in 2010
and into 2011, Maricich believes
this campaign is uniquely
positioned to enlighten, inform
and educate consumers and drive
traffic to stores.
“As these retail
sales trends improve,
even anecdotally, our
collective efforts certainly
cannot be overlooked,” added
Maricich. “We recognize this is
a large and diverse industry,
and we always viewed this as a
project that required partners
in order to make an impact over
the long term. With expanded
partnerships and retailer
participation in Is It Home Yet?
and National Home Furnishings
Month, we are confident that we
will continue making
progress. There was
a tremendous amount of data and
perspective gained in
this important first step which
we will use to foster new,
creative ideas into the future.”
About World Market Center Las
Vegas
World Market Center Las Vegas is
an integrated home and
hospitality contract furnishings
showroom and trade complex. The
state-of-the-art campus
showcases furniture, decorative
accessories, gift, lighting,
area rugs, home textiles and
related segments, as well as the
Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC),
now open daily to consumers and
designers. World Market
Center currently hosts Las
Vegas Market™ biannually in
February and September – the
preeminent total home market.
Additionally, making its debut
in February 2010,
InspireDesign™ at World
Market Center represents a
dynamic alternative for
manufacturers and companies
serving the hospitality design
marketplace. In 2010, World
Market Center will launch the
inaugural Gift + Home™
show catering to the gift,
decorative accessory and
seasonal industries.
For more information on World
Market Center Las Vegas, visit
www.LasVegasMarket.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Natura World Hosts Event on
Importance of Transparency
January 22, 2010 - On Monday,
February 1st, at the Las Vegas
World Market Center,
Natura World welcomes guests
to a special event highlighting
the importance of transparency
in the mattress industry. The
event begins with a small
cocktail reception at 4p.m. and
follows with a panel discussion
featuring a representative from
ISPA, the SSA and Cargill as
well as two retailers.
Ralph Rossdeutscher, president
of Natura World - a trusted
leader in natural bedding
solutions, will lead a
discussion on the transparency
ideals that are changing the
mattress industry. Natura
believes accessibility of
information is more than a trend
or a corporate philosophy – it’s
sound business practice.
-
Discover how Natura is
pushing the boundaries of an
industry struggling with
communicating transparency
-
Meet
leaders who set high
standards of communication
excellence and are committed
to making information
accessible and
understandable to consumers
“Many companies market to the
green consumer but it’s a
struggle to measure product to
product,” says Julia Rosien,
Communications Director for
Natura World Inc. “We have 8 lbs
of wool in every queen size
organic mattress we make. Who
else gives out information like
that to help consumers
comparison shop?”
The World Market Furniture Show
is open to people and companies
in the Furniture Industry, but
Natura would like to invite
anyone interested in the issue
of transparency to the event.
They’ve invited all of their
Facebook fans (more than 1,000).
The event will be held at the
World Market Center located at
455 S. Grand Central Pkwy, Las
Vegas, NV. To learn more about
Natura World, please visit
www.Natura.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Therapedic’s New Therawrap
“Kara” Model Offers Lots of
Comfort and Style at a Great
Price!
January
22, 2010 -
Therapedic International
will unveil the company’s newest
offering at the Las Vegas
Furniture Market at the WMC.
This new introduction will offer
soft comfort and clean,
contemporary fashion at a
mid-price excellent-value range
of $999 in a queen size sleep
set.
According to Gerry Borreggine,
President of Therapedic, the new
Therawrap know as the Kara
model, features edge-to-edge
foam encased construction, a
euro box top with three inches
of super-soft and convoluted
foam, and a Belgium stretch knit
cover from Lava, Many other
sleep sets offering this luxury
look and feel would retail at
much higher price making this a
really excellent value for the
consumer at the price range.
Retailers seeking more
information can reach Gerry at
800-314-4433, or
gb@therapedic.com. Also
visit
www.therapedic.com and at
B-822 at the Las Vegas Market.
|
|
Top of
Page |

Organic Mattresses Debuts
Customizable Sleep System
with 81 Personal Sleep Zones
January 22, 2010 -
Organic Mattresses, Inc.
(OMI), the trend-setting,
innovative manufacturer of
organic mattresses, today
announced it will introduce a
completely customizable sleep
system with 81 personal sleep
zones at the World Market Center
Las Vegas, February 1-5. The
OrganicPedic® 81 by OMI bed
gives customers complete control
of their comfort levels while
providing all the health
benefits of an organic sleeping
environment.

The OrganicPedic® 81 by OMI can
be reconfigured in 81 different
ways to create a custom-tailored
sleep fit. Once you unzip the
mattress, you will find OMI’s
signature 3 ˝ -inch sculpted top
layer made from 100-percent
natural rubber latex and covered
in certified organic cotton.
Underneath the one-piece
sculptured internal pillow-top,
there are 18 individual comfort
layers, wrapped in organic
damask cotton, and nestled
together to form the bed’s
customizable core. Available in
extra soft, soft, medium and
firm, the “personal sleep zones”
can be interchanged to create
the exact comfort level for the
sleeper. By moving the layers,
the comfort zones can be
augmented to achieve a desired
comfort effect.
The ‘81’ gives consumers the
ultimate flexibility to design a
bed that meets their individual
comfort and health need
“The ‘81’ gives consumers the
ultimate flexibility to design a
bed that meets their individual
comfort and health needs,” said
OMI President and CEO Walt
Bader. “This mattress can be
re-customized as a consumer’s
body and sleep-needs change
because it changes with you. And
the best part is that each
individual layer can be replaced
without the expense of a brand
new mattress, making this bed a
real long-term investment.”
The ‘81’ has an impressive
14-inch profile, with
exceptional detail and fine
tailoring throughout its design.
Contrasting colored straps that
fasten to embroidered buttons
and secure the covered brass
zipper hold the layers in place
for unsurpassed comfort and
luxury. Underneath the zippered
organic cotton quilted cover,
the tailoring continues to be
impeccable. Each latex layer is
individually upholstered and
embroidered and identifies the
various comfort option, leaving
no detail uncovered. The ‘81’
queen mattress will retail for
$7,395.
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 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
81 by OMI, along with other
handcrafted products by OMI,
visit their permanent showroom,
space C-1558, or see the product
in “Kickoff to Bedding 2010”
courtyard display Tuesday, Feb
2, through Thursday, Feb. 3.
For more information, go to
www.organicpedicbyomi.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Leggett
& Platt Selects Edward Howard
for PR and Marketing
January 18, 2010 - Edward
Howard, the nation’s
longest-established public
relations firm, today announced
that it has been selected by
Leggett & Platt Incorporated
to provide public relations and
marketing services for its
Bedding Group and Consumer
Products Group, as well as
supporting other groups and
public relations needs of the
company as assigned. Leggett &
Platt, based in Carthage, Mo.,
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 is an industry
leader with a 126-year tradition
of innovation,” said Mark Quinn,
group executive vice president
of marketing. “We have great
opportunities to grow our market
share, launch new products,
change perceptions, and solve
complex problems through
creative marketing and
communications strategies. We
are excited to be working with
Edward Howard as our new public
relations agency following a
rigorous national search. Edward
Howard won the business with
their demonstrated creativity
and combination of experience
and capabilities across
marketing and public relations,
traditional and new media, and
business-to-business and
business-to-consumer marketing.”
“We look forward to Edward
Howard’s fresh approach to
reaching both retailers and
consumers,” said Rob Woods,
president of Leggett & Platt
Consumer Products Group, the
company’s primary connection to
the sleep industry’s consumers.
“We have a lot of exciting
initiatives planned for 2010 to
support our efforts in helping
bedding retailers energize their
performance and grow their
business and in educating
consumers on the benefits of
creating a comfortable and
stylish sleep environment as a
way to improve their everyday
life.”
About Edward Howard
Edward Howard leverages the
power of communication for its
clients, helping them achieve
their goals by telling their
stories, protecting their
reputations, selling their
products and growing their
value. The firm’s specialty is
solving complex communication
challenges. Founded in 1925,
Ohio-based Edward Howard (with
offices in Cleveland, Columbus
and Dayton) is the nation’s
longest-established independent
public relations firm, serving
clients throughout the United
States. For more information,
visit
www.edwardhoward.com.
For more information about
Leggett & Platt, please visit
www.leggett.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Ergomotion Outperforms Bedding
Industry in 2009
Edited by:
Dale T. Read, Editor
January 14, 2010 - Increased
domestic demand and powerful
distribution partnerships
coupled with new international
orders enabled adjustable bed
innovator
Ergomotion to grow its
2009 business 12% over 2008,
despite a projected ten percent
dollar downturn in the 2009
bedding industry, Ergomotion
President Kelly Clenet informed
BEDROOM Magazine:
“While
our customers are looking
forward to a better year in
2010, Ergomotion has been able
to boost last year’s
performances, at retail. We’re
helping retailers by adding
significant dollars to each
sale,” he noted, “Another
$1,000-plus to a mattress sale
is becoming a matter of routine
for many of our customers. That
phenomenon is opening new doors
for us.”
Ergomotion presently ships to
Japan, Latin America, Australia,
Northern Europe and is
aggressively adding domestic
retail partners, he said. By
partnering with leading mattress
manufacturers, Ergomotion has
enabled new retailers to
participate in the increased
interest in the adjustable base
category.
Ergomotion’s offshore sourcing,
backed by innovative U.S.-based
engineering and strong product
support, enables the company to
offer customized programs and to
be far more competitive.
Niles Cornelius, General Manager
of the Hickory at Home division
of Hickory Springs, noted, “Our
relationship with Ergomotion
helped us become passionate
about the adjustable business in
2009. Most important is the
knowledge that we are selling
the most consumer-friendly, the
best built bed which is
available nationwide through
Hickory Springs service
centers.”
Lady Americana President Kerry
Tramel added, “Service and
quality are Ergomotion’s strong
suits. The focus is on the beds.
They’re great on training and
sticking with us and our people.
We’ve done fairly well in this
category in 2009, but hope to
grow it in 2010.”
"Outside the box thinking seems
to separate Ergomotion from the
competition. Great people,
products and passion generally
define this company. We
anticipate another strong
adjustable business year with
Ergomotion in 2010," commented
Jay Nardone, Vice President
Sales, at ArchBrook Laguna, a
fully automated logistics and
national distribution company.
Ergomotion’s CEO Alain Clenet
brings decades of automotive
expertise to the company. He
designs each model focusing on
safety, design simplicity,
beauty, as well as quick and
tool-free assembly. He believes
the company’s 24-hour consumer
phone lines, extensive in-store
training, and growing reputation
also help account for the 2009
Ergomotion performance.
The International Sleep
Producers Association (ISPA)
does not report annual numbers
for the adjustable base
category. However, industry
leaders say the adjustable
category is growing and becoming
increasingly competitive at
retail, although there is no
quantifiable data available.
Ergomotion products fit in any
frame and elevate to a full
sitting position. Seven sizes
including split queen are
available. 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 800
consumer telephone line.
Ergomotion’s factory is ISO 9000
certified.
For additional information
please visit
www.ergomotion.us or contact
Kelly Clenet, 805-688-3151, or
KC@ergomtion.us. |
|
Top of
Page |

Natura World Launches
Value-Priced Mattresses to
Natural Line Up
January 13, 2010 -
Natura World Inc. is pleased
to usher in a new era of
innerspring mattresses (GreenSpring™)
to compliment their growing line
of natural, green and organic
mattresses. The individually
wrapped coil mattresses allow
consumers to customize their
comfort level with pure wool and
cotton, latex and soy-based
foams.
“As a leading manufacturer of
natural latex and foam
mattresses, we saw a need in the
market for coil mattresses
paired with more natural
components,” said Ralph
Rossdeutscher, president of
Natura World Inc. “GreenSpring™
mattresses bring the beauty of
natural sleep to consumers who
prefer a coil mattress.”
Natura’s GreenSpring™ lineup is
composed of nine mattresses in
three distinct series that
stair-step the amount of wool,
latex and coils. Additionally,
each series has a unique support
zone story to answer the
different sleep challenges
relating to pressure point
relief.
The coils, made from recycled
steel, are tempered,
pre-compressed and then
individually wrapped before
being formed into a complete
coil unit. Because each coil
functions independently of its
neighbor, body curves are
contoured and supported. The
coil unit is then foam encased
to provide a smooth transition
from the edge of the bed and
across the entire sleep
surface.
GreenSpring™ is a
technologically advanced pairing
of natural materials and
pocketed innerspring coils.
Motion transfer is almost
completely eliminated with
Natura’s GreenSpring™
mattresses. The entire sleep
system is designed to provide
the sleeper a deep more restful
night’s sleep while achieving
superior durability.
About Natura World:
Founded 15 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. |
|
Top of
Page |

Therapedic Adds Upholstery
Licensee
January
12, 2010 -
Therapedic International has
entered into an agreement with
Edgecombe Furniture to produce
sofas, loveseats, chairs, sleep
sofas, and other upholstery
goods under the Therapedic
label. The product line will
feature Therapedic MemoryTouch (visco),
and Therapedic PureTouch (latex)
mattress inserts within its
offerings.
The line will feature products
that are 100% manufactured and
produced in the United States,
and will be available for
shipment throughout North
American, said Gerry Borreggine,
president/CEO of Therapedic
International.
“We have built a quick-ship
model, which will help retailers
make quick sales and turn goods
fast,” said Borreggine.
Therapedic has selected its best
selling frames and fastest
moving covers to launch this
program, according to Borreggine.
“This is a strong program and a
natural extension to our
mattress line,” said Borreggine.
“We are excited about the growth
potential with Therapedic, and
to grow stronger as a part of
the Therapedic team,” said Bob
Phillips, vice president of
Edgecombe. Edgecombe is a
division of Cotton Belt, Inc.,
whose Sleep Worthy division
operates as Therapedic
Mid-Atlantic on the bedding side
of the operation.
For more information contact
Gerry Borreggine at:
winksinc@aol.com or visit
www.therapedic.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

FabricTech International
Surpasses 1,200-Door Store
Count;
Adds Major Retailers in West and
Midwest
January 11,
2010 -
FabricTech International, a
pioneer in bringing advanced
technology and comfort to the
sleep products protection
industry, continued its record
growth in 2009, surpassing the
1,200-door count with the
addition of larger retailers in
the West and Midwestern regions
of the United States.
FabricTech
International products are now
available at such leading
retailers as Sleepy’s, RC
Willey, Sit n Sleep, America’s
Mattress, Value City Furniture
and Ashley Home Stores. “Our
goal over the last six months
was to broaden our distribution
nationally, growing from our
traditional stronghold in the
Eastern U.S. We added a new
sales team and they have given
us the ability to really provide
the high level of service,
training and support retailers
want in order to develop their
mattress and pillow protection
business,” said FabricTech
International President and COO
Jeff Bergman. He added that new
packaging and point-of-purchase
materials presented at the last
market has had a huge impact at
retail, giving RSAs an edge in
explaining the benefits of its
products to consumers.
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.
Visit
FabricTech International at the
Winter Las Vegas Furniture
Market at Showroom C-1532. |
|
Top of
Page |

FabricTech Raises the Bar
with Germ, Bacteria & Odor
Protection
With New “Elite”
Line of Sanitized® Silver Bed
Protection Products
First Line in
U.S. to offer Fibers That
Protect Against Allegens & Dust
Mites, Germs and Bacteria
January 11, 2010 -
FabricTech International,
known for their pioneering
leadership in advanced
technology and comfort to the
sleep products protection
industry, is again raising the
industry’s performance bar by
introducing a new line of
products that “allow the
consumer to take back their
bedroom” by killing bacteria on
contact, as well as providing
protection against allergens,
dust mites and moisture.
The premium line will be called
FabricTech Elite and will
be the first time Sanitized®
Silver fibers, imported from
Germany, are used in bed and
pillow protection products in
the United States.
FabricTech Elite has a unique
sanitized silver system that
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, according to
FabricTech 2000 sources.
“Simply put, Fabrictech Elite
mattress and pillow protectors
offer the finest unsurpassed
protection against bacteria and
dust mites, mold and mildew in
our industry,” said FabricTech
International President and
Chief Operating Officer Jeff
Bergman. “It is time for our
customers to take back their
bedroom from the bacteria and
dust mites that create an
unhealthy sleeping environment,
and allow them to rest assured
that their bedroom is the safest
place to be.”
According to Bergman one
by-product 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 environmentally friendly.
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.
Most mattress odors are the
result of fast multiplying
bacteria cells that add a foul
smell to normal body
perspiration. The Sanitized®
Silver fiber works like a
deodorant to controls the
multiplication of bacteria so
there is no odor from
perspiration and the sleep
surface smells fresh. All Elite
products can also be washed for
additional freshness.
“Our FabricTech Elite product is
the result of the ongoing work
of our strong research and
development team. They are
constantly looking to bring new
innovations in health and
hygiene to the sleep surface
protection industry,” said
FabricTech International
Chairman and CEO Arnold
Hershbain. “We believe the
introduction of bacteria
prevention in our products will
be as important as the first
time we offered a total
encasement product and our
exclusive PureFlow™ filter with
AirXchange micro-filtration
technology that adds a new
degree of comfort with a
breathable micro-filter sewn
into products.”
Bergman added that the finest
retailers in the sleep products
industry continue to look to
FabricTech to expand their
offerings of bed and pillow
protection products. “Our
unequalled quality and
technology allow the retailer to
effectively convey the value of
mattress and pillow protectors
to the end consumer. Our retail
training program is the conduit
to helping our customers capture
the extra 5 to 10 percent volume
that they are missing in this
product category with astounding
profit margins,” he said. “Our
retailers are constantly looking
to expand our lineup as they see
it as a means to not only offer
their customers a superior sleep
product protection solution with
unparalleled customer
satisfaction, but also higher
profits themselves. FabricTech
Elite mattress protection
products range in price from
$119 to $169 in queen size. Its
pillow protection product is
$39.
In addition to the Elite series,
FabricTech offers an entry-level
program called StainGuard, a
quilted and organic cotton
lineup of its popular mattress
protector, total encasement and
pillow protection line, and it’s
flagship OmniGuard® Ultra line
that uses a breathable PolyKnit™
outer layer absorbs
perspiration, moisture and
stains, while the waterproof
InnerShield™ membrane protects
them from reaching the mattress.
It wicks moisture away instead
of creating an uncomfortable
“puddle” effect. This also
prevents mold and mildew from
forming. OmniGuard® Ultra is
naturally dust mite, bed bug,
stain and water resistant, and
is made with no added chemicals,
so it is safe for children and
pets. The products are
waterproof, quiet and cool,
unlike noisy, sticky vinyl.
Retailers interested in
learning more about FabricTech
products should visit FabricTech
International at the Winter Las
Vegas Furniture Market at
Showroom C-1532 or visit
www.FabricTech.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Simmons Obtains Court Approval
of Prepackaged Restructuring
Plan;
Allows for Acquisition by Ares
Management & Teachers' Private
Capital
Simmons
Expects to Emerge from Chapter
11 in Late January
January 5, 2010 –
Simmons Bedding Company
(“Simmons Bedding”), a leading
manufacturer of premium branded
bedding products, today
announced that the U.S.
Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Delaware (the
“Court”) has confirmed its
pre-packaged restructuring plan
(the “Plan”). Today’s decision
allows for the previously
announced acquisition of Simmons
Bedding and all of its domestic
and international subsidiaries,
as well as its parent Bedding
Holdco Incorporated
(collectively, the “Company”),
by affiliates of Ares Management
LLC and Teachers’ Private
Capital, the private investment
department of the Ontario
Teachers’ Pension Plan
(collectively, “AOT”). Simmons
Bedding anticipates that it will
consummate the transaction and
emerge from chapter 11 on or
around January 20, 2010.
Bennett Rosenthal, Senior
Partner at Ares Management LLC,
commented, "Since we first
announced our joint interest in
the Company last September, we
have become even firmer in our
belief Simmons Bedding’s
prestigious brand name, its
innovative products, strong and
experienced management, as well
as positive fundamentals we see
for the industry. As we have
learned from key stakeholders
and by working with management
throughout this process, the
company is well-positioned for
the future.”
Erol Uzumeri, Senior
Vice-President, Teachers'
Private Capital, stated, "What
this process has confirmed for
us is that Simmons Bedding is
the type of company that we
seek: one with proven talent
throughout the organization and
a strong franchise. The
Company’s historical performance
is excellent when measured
against our core investment
criteria, and with its new
capital structure, we are
confident this investment will
produce significant returns for
us and all of its stakeholders –
both now and over time.”
Today’s decision by the Court
marks the last of three major
milestones that the Company has
met since the Plan was announced
on September 25, 2009. First, it
was announced on October 29,
2009 that all waiting periods
under applicable antitrust and
competition regulations in the
U.S. and Canada had expired or
were terminated. Second, the
Company announced on November
16, 2009 that it filed the Plan
with the Court after it received
the overwhelming support of
creditors who cast favorable
votes during the formal consent
solicitation.
Stephen G. Fendrich, Simmons
Bedding’s President and Chief
Operating Officer, commented,
“Just as our lenders and note
holders voted their confidence
last fall, this favorable
decision by the Court further
validates the viability of our
Plan and opens the door to an
exciting future for our Company,
our employees, and all of our
suppliers and our customers.”
Upon the completion of the
transaction and emergence from
chapter 11, the reorganized
companies will have improved
their capital structure by
substantially reducing total
debt obligations from
approximately $1.0 billion to
approximately $450 million. The
Plan as confirmed also provides
for all trade vendors, suppliers
employees, and senior secured
lenders to be paid in full.
Final consummation of the
transaction remains subject to
customary closing terms and
conditions.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is
acting as legal counsel and
Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC is
acting as financial advisor to
the Company for the chapter 11
cases.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is
acting as legal counsel and
Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting
as financial advisor for the
purchaser.
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.
About Ares Management
Ares Management is an
SEC-registered investment
adviser and alternative asset
manager with total committed
capital under management of
approximately $33 billion as of
September 30, 2009. With
complementary pools of capital
in private equity, private debt
and capital markets, Ares
Management has the ability to
invest across all levels of a
company’s capital structure –
from senior debt to common
equity – in a variety of
industries in a growing number
of international markets. The
Ares Private Equity Group has a
proven track record of
partnering with high quality,
middle-market companies and
creating value with its flexible
capital such as Serta. Other
notable current investments
include General Nutrition
Centers, Inc., Hanger Orthopedic
Group, Inc. (NYSE: HGR) and
Maidenform Brands, Inc. (NYSE:
MFB). The firm is headquartered
in Los Angeles with
approximately 250 employees and
professionals located across the
United States and Europe. For
more information, visit the Ares
website at
www.aresmgmt.com.
About Teachers’ Private
Capital
Teachers’ Private Capital is one
of the world’s largest private
equity investors. It is the
private investment department of
the Ontario Teachers’ Pension
Plan, the largest
single-profession pension plan
in Canada. The Ontario Teachers’
Pension Plan is an independent
corporation responsible for
investing the fund and
administering the pensions of
Ontario’s 284,000 active and
retired teachers. For more
information visit
www.otpp.com.
“Safe Harbor” Statement under
Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: This
press release includes
forward-looking statements that
reflect our current views about
future events and financial
performance. Words such as
“estimates,” “expects,”
“anticipates,” “projects,”
“plans,” “intends,” “believes,”
“forecasts” and variations of
such words or similar
expressions that predict or
indicate future events, results
or trends, or that do not relate
to historical matters, identify
forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements in
this press release speak only as
of the date of this press
release. These forward-looking
statements are expressed in good
faith and Simmons believes there
is a reasonable basis for them.
However, there can be no
assurance that the events,
results or trends identified in
these forward-looking statements
will occur or be achieved.
Investors should not rely on
forward-looking statements
because they are subject to a
variety of risks, uncertainties,
and other factors that could
cause actual results to differ
materially from Simmons’s
expectations. These factors
include, but are not limited to:
(i) our ability to comply with
and fulfill closing conditions
in the Plan Sponsor Agreement,
including obtaining the
requisite financing; (ii)
compliance with covenants in,
and any defaults under, our
debtor-in-possession financing
agreement; (iii) the potential
adverse impact of any
restructuring and the bankruptcy
filing on our business,
financial condition, liquidity,
and results of operations; (iv)
interest rate and credit market
risks; (v) competitive pressures
in the bedding industry; (vi)
general economic and industry
conditions; (vii) our ability to
launch new products on a timely
basis, the success of our new
products and the future costs to
rollout such products; (viii)
legal and regulatory
requirements; (ix) our
relationships with and viability
of our suppliers, significant
customers and licensees; (x)
fluctuations in our costs of raw
materials and energy prices;
(xi) our ability to hold or
increase prices on our products
and the related effect on our
unit sales; (xii) an increase in
our return rates and warranty
claims; (xiii) our labor
relations; (xiv) encroachments
on our intellectual property;
(xv) our product liability,
intellectual property and other
litigation claims; (xvi) our
level of indebtedness; (xvii)
foreign currency exchange rate
risks; (xviii) our future
acquisitions; (xix) our ability
to achieve the expected benefits
from any personnel realignments;
(xx) higher bad debt expense as
a result of increased customer
bankruptcies due to instability
in the economy and slowing
consumer spending; and (xxi) our
ability to maintain sufficient
liquidity to operate our
business. We undertake no
obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements,
either to reflect new
developments or for any other
reason. |
|
Top of
Page |

In Memoriam...
Hickory Springs' Bobby Bush,
Sr.
January
5, 2010 - Home furnishings and
mattress industry veteran
Bobby Wesley Bush Sr., 78,
of Hickory, passed away Jan. 2,
2010, at Frye Regional Medical
Center. Born March 12, 1931, in
Rahway, N.J., he was the son of
the late Julius Pinkney and
Wilma Ware Bush. In addition to
his parents, Mr. Bush was
preceded in death by a son, John
William Bush. After graduating
from Riverside Military Academy
in Gainesville, Ga., as the
ranking cadet, Mr. Bush then
graduated from Duke University,
Class of 1953, Phi Beta Kappa.
Mr. Bush was a chief architect
in the foundation and success of
Hickory Springs Manufacturing
Company. He devoted his
entire professional career to
the company. Bush spent most of
his summers as a youth working
at Hickory Springs. His
dedication and passion for the
business was only surpassed by
that for his family. He lived
and breathed Hickory Springs.
Bob was a man of strong
convictions and supported those
convictions in all that he did.
You knew where he stood and what
he stood for. He was always
thinking of ways to do things
better, how to be more creative,
and how to make the company
stronger. That never lessened in
those 50-plus years with the
company.
Longtime family friend Don
Coleman, president of Hickory
Springs, had this to say about
Bush in an inter-company memo:
"His compassion for all of those
he met was evident. He was more
than just a sincere guy, he was
always your greatest supporter.
Work with him or for him and you
knew immediately. He took great
pride in the employees who
worked for the betterment of the
Company.
Hickory Springs has lost a true
pioneer in our business and in
the industries we serve. We have
so much to celebrate in having
him with us for the past
seventy-eight years. His legacy
is with us, as is evident in
what Hickory Springs is today."
Bob served on many boards within
the home furnishings industry.
These include the Suppliers
Division of AHFA, International
Sleep Products Association,
Polyurethane Foam Association,
the Bienenstock Furniture
Library and the American
Furniture Hall of Fame.
He was awarded the Exceptional
Service Award and the McMorran
Memorial Award given by the
suppliers council within ISPA.
He served as second president of
the AFMA Suppliers Council and
in 2006 Bob was inducted into
the American Furniture Hall of
Fame. In 2008, Bob was awarded
Alumni of the Year from
Riverside Military Academy in
Georgia.
He is survived by his wife of 58
years, Jane Blackwood Bush of
the home; two sons, Bobby Bush
Jr. of Hickory and Jimmy Bush
and wife, Donna, of Hickory;
grandchildren, Stephanie Bush of
Charlotte, Cory Bush of
Mooresville, Lindsey Bush of
Denver, Colo., Jay Bush of
Raleigh and Amanda Bush of
Raleigh; great-grandchildren,
Jorge and Jake Bush of
Charlotte; and a sister, Betty
Bush Wright of Winchester, Va. |
|
Top of
Page |

World Market Center Las Vegas
Establishes
Mega-Market Weeks
Las Vegas
Market Sets New Dates in August
and January; Designed to Drive
Additional
Sales
Opportunities and Maximize
Efficiencies for Buyers, Sellers
December 29, 2009 -
World Market Center Las Vegas
today announced a new Market
structure and timing that,
beginning in August 2010, will
create two multi-faceted
mega-markets each year in order
to increase sales for both
retailers and manufacturers. The
new cross-category business
platform is designed to provide
partners with increased value by
attracting a wider array of
buyers, expanding new channels
of distribution, and maximizing
sales opportunities at the most
efficient, optimum periods
relative to the industry’s
business cycles in the new
economy.
In 2010, the new Summer Las
Vegas Market will run Aug. 2-6,
2010, serving as the anchor of
an integrated mega-market that
will be co-located with World
Market Center’s debut shows Gift
+ Home™ and Vegas Kids™. Gift +
Home™ and Vegas Kids™ will
feature a dedicated but
complementary date pattern of
Aug. 4-7, 2010 including a
weekend component which has been
identified as important to the
independent gift retailer.
Together, these events will
attract the broadest possible
range of buyers, exhibitors and
designers to Las Vegas for
extraordinary business
opportunities. In years beyond
2010, Las Vegas Market plans on
holding its Summer Market in a
similar time frame of late July
and first half of August based
on calendar and strategic
considerations.
World Market Center Las Vegas
also announced it will hold its
2011 Winter Market during the
last week in January – Jan.
24-28, 2011. These new dates
maximize the synergistic value
of World Market Center’s
strategic partnership with
SURFACES, the floor coverings
industry’s leading event and
INSPIREDESIGN™, World Market
Center’s new hospitality design
show, to create a winter
mega-market. In years beyond
2011, Las Vegas Market plans on
holding its Winter Market in a
similar time frame of late
January and early February based
on calendar and strategic
considerations.
“Our ‘mega-market’ approach,
combined with the new Summer and
Winter Las Vegas Market dates,
represent an innovative new way
to add value for our partners
and empower businesses to
increase their profitability in
this new economy,” said World
Market Center Las Vegas
President and Chief Executive
Officer Robert Maricich. “This
diversified model clearly meets
the industry’s need to
cost-effectively generate new
leads and sales by promoting
cross-category activity among
complementary industry sectors.”
Maricich continued, “At a time
when all businesses require
introspection and must challenge
themselves to create more value,
we are proud to embark on
strategic decisions that, based
on input from many of our
partners, optimize sales
opportunities for their
businesses and expand channels
of distribution. As a privately
held enterprise, World Market
Center is truly a unique
business platform, able to
respond to our customers’ needs
quickly and decisively. We have
always said we would do what is
best for our customers and their
customers. In this unprecedented
environment, we are confident
these strategic business
decisions will benefit our
entire industry.”
The new initiative, which has
the unanimous support of World
Market Center’s Advisory Board,
will provide retailers an
opportunity to see increased new
product rollouts, cross-shop a
diversified product platform,
discover new vendors, and place
orders in order to have
merchandise in their stores
during the important fourth
quarter.
The new market weeks also
minimize staffing and travel
considerations for exhibitors,
retailers and designers whose
event schedules will be
simplified by the new and
consolidated slate of events.
The new schedule also reduces
potential industry conflicts,
allowing businesses to focus all
of their attention on maximizing
their returns during Las Vegas
Market week.
“We are very pleased with the
new dates announced for the Las
Vegas Market,” said Phil Haney,
president and CEO of Lexington
Home Brands. “We think these
dates represent the optimal time
for us to introduce new product
to our dealers, while allowing
them to take advantage of the
exceptional hotel and travel
values being offered in Las
Vegas.”
“An early August Las Vegas
Market restores the natural
rhythm for exhibitors and buyers
who attend the winter market in
late January,” said Larry Woods
of Powell Corp. “World Market
Center has done a fantastic job
of neutralizing the summer heat
for our attendees, making it a
non-issue. An early August date
also allows time for our summer
product introductions to reach
retailers’ floors before the
holidays, which is a win-win for
retailers and exhibitors.”
“The earlier timing allows us to
introduce new collections with
enough time to be able to
produce and ship the product
before year end. This improves
our sales potential in the
current year and ensures the
possibility of a reorder in the
first quarter of the following
year,” said Ed Grund of A.R.T.
Furniture.
Exhibitors for the new Gift +
Home™ show will include a
diverse range of categories,
including seasonal, floral,
decorative accessories and
general gift. Vegas Kids™ will
attract exhibitors and buyers
across an equally broad range of
interrelated industries,
including nursery and youth
furniture, juvenile products,
toy and game, children’s books,
children’s apparel and gift.
“Everyone associated with Global
Views is excited to have the Las
Vegas Market dates move to early
August,” said company CEO David
Gebhart. “Most importantly, our
customers will be happy to get
at least one more full turnover
from the inventory they purchase
during this earlier show. This
move will also allow us to
devote our undivided attention
to making our showroom in Las
Vegas our most exciting showroom
around the country. The weekend
of selling will also have a huge
impact on our customers’
reactions to this show. These
are good business decisions for
our entire industry.”
About World Market Center Las
Vegas World Market Center Las
Vegas is an integrated home and
hospitality contract furnishings
showroom and trade complex. The
state-of-the-art campus
showcases furniture, decorative
accessories, gift, lighting,
area rugs, home textiles and
related segments, as well as the
Las Vegas Design Center (LVDC),
now open daily to consumers and
designers. World Market Center
currently hosts Las Vegas
Market™, the preeminent total
home market, biannually.
Additionally, making its debut
in February 2010, INSPIREDESIGN™
at World Market Center
represents a dynamic alternative
for manufacturers and companies
serving the hospitality design
marketplace. In 2010, World
Market Center will launch the
inaugural Gift + Home™ show
catering to the gift, decorative
accessory and seasonal
industries along with Vegas
Kids™ which will provide youth
furniture, juvenile products,
toy and game, children’s books,
children’s apparel and gift.
Find us on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information on World
Market Center Las Vegas, visit
www.LasVegasMarket.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Natura World Adds New CFO to
Help Guide Future Growth of The
Company
December 29, 2009 -
Natura World Inc. is pleased
to announce the appointment of
Ted Sehl to the newly created
position of Chief Financial
Officer. He will report directly
to Ralph Rossdeutscher,
President of Natura World Inc.
Mr. Sehl’s successful career in
finance includes positions at
W.C. Wood Corporation, a leading
manufacturer of freezers and
refrigerated appliances and
McDonald’s Restaurants of
Canada. Additionally, Mr. Sehl
serves on the board of Hammond
Manufacturing, a global
electrical and electronics
manufacturer.
A graduate of York University in
Toronto, Mr. Sehl is an MBA and
a Chartered Accountant.
“Like all of North America,
Natura hunkered down during the
recession, refining and focusing
our growth, “ says Ralph
Rossdeutscher, President of
Natura World Inc. “But we have
continued to innovate, expand
and grow in new directions. Ted
will be a driving force as we
march forward at the swift and
steady course we’ve set for
ourselves and the industry.”
Mr. Sehl will work closely with
Mr. Rossdeutscher to identify
the cornerstone resources that
will foster innovation and
growth.
About Natura World
Founded 15 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. |
|
Top of
Page |

FXI Foamex Innovations Announces
New Safety Record
Achievement
for its Cornelius, NC
Manufacturing Facility
December 28, 2009 -
FXI Foamex Innovations today
announced on December 23rd. a
new safety record achievement
for its Cornelius, NC
manufacturing facility. The
Cornelius Facility manufactures
flexible polyurethane foam
products used in the production
of mattresses for the bedding
industry as well as foam
products for the automotive and
furniture industries.
The Cornelius Facility broke its
prior safety record by
surpassing the one-year mark
without an OSHA recordable
incident. Further, the last
lost time injury was in June of
2008. In recognition of this
accomplishment, FXI Foamex
Innovations sponsored a Safety
Appreciation Day event for the
95 employees at the Cornelius
facility on December 18, 2009.
Richard Centeno, plant manager
of FXI Cornelius said, “This new
record is a testament to the
safety culture and awareness
that every FXI employee takes
seriously. I'm very proud of
our employees. They have
diligently followed proper
procedures, donned personal
protective equipment every time
and are always looking out for
their fellow coworkers. It is a
substantial achievement worthy
of management accolades and
congratulations.”
The year began with the
unveiling of the 2009 Cornelius
Employee Participation Program.
The program was developed with
an emphasis on employee training
in safe work practices,
increasing hazard awareness and
reflecting the importance of
safety in their workplace.
Events for the Safety Day
celebration included a dinner,
award presentations, and a
commemorative gift for all
employees.
“It is assuring to know that I
am able to go out on the
production floor and that it’s
safe to do my job without fear
of injury,” said Scott Robeson,
production control manager of
FXI Cornelius. “In addition, I
feel confident knowing it is
safe to bring vendors, customers
and visitors into an environment
that we can be proud of.”
About FXI
FXI is a leading producer of
innovative foam products for the
Home, Healthcare, Electronics,
Industrial, Personal Care and
Transportation markets.
Products include finished goods,
sub-assemblies, services and raw
materials for OEMs, fabricators
and retailers. FXI innovations
and products provide comfort for
automobile passengers and
protect fragile electronic
components in shipment. Our
products help consumers sleep
sounder and furniture
manufacturers create comfort.
Our products provide for sharper
images in digital printers and
copiers and help consumers keep
their homes clean. Our products
provide critical components for
filters, dispensers, gaskets and
seals in everything from blood
oxygenators to computer disk
drives. The Company is
headquartered in Media, PA.
For more information, please
visit
www.fxi.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

February Las Vegas Market to
Salute Bedding Industry
“Kick Off to
Bedding” Events Bring the Best
of Products, People
and Profits
into Focus for the Mattress
Market
December 21, 2009 - Bedding
suppliers and retailers are
gearing up for the mattress
industry’s blockbuster event of
the year, with an air that says
they’re ‘playing to win’ in
2010. On Tuesday, Feb. 2
World Market Center Las Vegas
will host its first “Kick Off to
Bedding” – an all-star day of
activities focused the home
furnishings industry’s most
profitable sector.
“Kick Off to Bedding 2010” will
underscore the winning line-up
of new products and collections
at February Market, coupled with
exclusive networking events and
complimentary programs. There’s
no better arena than Las Vegas,
which is the undisputed market
leader for the bedding industry
with 75-plus suppliers and
brands showing their lines.
“With so many new product
introductions planned for
February among our mattress
producers, we wanted to shine a
giant spotlight on our bedding
market and create new
opportunities to grow business
for our customers in 2010,” said
Babs Blair, vice president of
leasing for World Market Center
Las Vegas. “We have a terrific
line up of networking and
content-focused events that will
energize retailers and ensure
February Market is the
‘Super-bowl’ of the bedding
industry.”
Bedding technology has changed
dramatically in recent years and
because most homes have at least
three beds, retailers find
bedding scores sales when it’s
part of their merchandise mix.
“Bedding has been a very
important category for us, and
we have nurtured it right from
the start,” Blair said. “The
bedding industry is constantly
evolving with trends and new
products and deserves a place as
a recognized category within our
Market. Our ‘Kick Off to Bedding
2010’ events allow us to
highlight our bedding-rich
market in an exciting way.”
The playbook for the day’s
events includes the following:
-
“The Producers: Power
Breakfast” – The day of
events will start at 8 a.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 2, with a
bedding producer roundtable
discussion hosted by
Furniture/Today. Senior
bedding executives will
share their perspectives on
the industry’s business
prospects in the new year
and will reveal what their
companies will be doing to
spark sales.
-
“Environmental Claims: What
Marketers and Retailers Need
to Know --- Terminology,
Definitions, Standards and
Trends for the Bedding
Industry” - sponsored by
the Specialty Sleep
Association (SSA) on
Tuesday, February 2, at 2:00
p.m. in Building C-1350
within the SSA conference
area. In conjunction with
the release of these
findings from a “Green
Initiative” consumer survey,
the organization will also
release a set of definitions
and terms based on research
conducted over the past nine
months. Open to the public,
the Mattress/Bedding “Green
Initiative” is working to
better define common terms
being used in the industry
to achieve transparency with
clear terminology based on
consumer and retail sales
research.
-
“Kick Off to 2010: The
Bedding Producers and
Players” – World Market
Center Las Vegas teams up
with its top producers to
host a private event that
brings the bedding
industry’s power players
together for networking and
insights. Invited guests
will enjoy an entertaining
address by former New
Orleans Saints quarterback,
Archie Manning. Manning had
an impressive professional
football career from 1971 -
1984 that netted him NFL's
Most Valuable Player in 1978
and induction into
Mississippi's Sports Hall of
Fame in 1989. Manning is a
father of current
Indianapolis Colts starting
quarterback Peyton Manning,
current New York Giants
starting quarterback Eli
Manning, and former Ole Miss
receiver Cooper Manning.
Manning’s on-the-field
leadership will present new
insights for an industry
“playing to win.”
The industry’s largest producers
show at World Market Center Las
Vegas, including Sealy, Simmons,
Serta, Spring Air, Tempur-Pedic,
Comfort Solutions, International
Bedding, Therapedic, Englander,
Restonic, Corsicana, Fashion Bed
Group, King Koil among many
others.
The Fall 2010 Las Vegas Market
is scheduled for February 1-5,
2010 at World Market Center Las
Vegas. Attendees can register
and reserve discounted rooms
online now at
www.LasVegasMarket.com.
About World Market Center
Las Vegas World Market Center
Las Vegas is an integrated home
and hospitality contract
furnishings showroom and trade
complex. The state-of-the-art
campus showcases furniture,
decorative accessories, gift,
lighting, area rugs, home
textiles and related segments,
as well as the Las Vegas Design
Center (LVDC), now open daily to
consumers and designers. World
Market Center currently hosts
Las Vegas MarketTM biannually in
February and September – the
preeminent total home market.
Additionally, making its debut
in February 2010,
INSPIREDESIGNTM at World Market
Center represents a dynamic
alternative for manufacturers
and companies serving the
hospitality design marketplace.
In 2010, World Market Center
will launch the inaugural Gift +
HomeTM show catering to the
gift, decorative accessory and
seasonal industries. Find us on
Facebook and Twitter.
For more information on World
Market Center Las Vegas, visit
www.LasVegasMarket.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

SSA to Report First Key Findings
of Mattress/Bedding “Green
Initiative”
Group Begins
to Unravel Myriad of Terms Used
to Market Environmentally
Sensitive Bedding, Tuesday,
February 2, 2:00pm at WMC with
BOTH Consumer and Retail
Research
December 16, 2009 - The
Specialty Sleep Association
(SSA) will unveil the
first-of-its-kind research on
consumer needs in green bedding
products at February Las Vegas
Market --- “Environmental
Claims: What Marketers and
Retailers Need to Know ---
Terminology, Definitions,
Standards and Trends for the
Bedding Industry” Tuesday,
February 2, 2010, 2:00pm –
3:30pm at Building C1350 in the
SSA conference area. In
conjunction with the release of
these findings from a “Green
Initiative” consumer survey, the
organization will also release a
set of definitions and terms
based on research conducted over
the past nine months. Open to
the public, the Mattress/Bedding
“Green Initiative” is working to
better define common terms being
used in the industry in order to
achieve transparency for clear
terminology based on consumer
and retail sales research.
“While some studies have focused
on what manufacturers think are
common terms in environmentally
friendly bedding, this is the
first time that anyone has
spoken directly to the consumer
to report those vital findings,”
said Dale Read, president of the
SSA. “We are excited about
sharing this information and are
pleased to present --- for the
first time --- the suggested
guidelines for the
mattress/bedding industry on how
certain green and environmental
terminology is used and what
those words and definitions
actually mean.”
A panel of industry leaders
including David Farley, chair of
the “Green Initiative” Board and
CEO of Anatomic Global, Vicki
Worden, founder/president of
Worden Associates and a noted
strategic counselor on the
development and launching of
products and services with green
labels, Dale Read, president of
the SSA, and Ken Morgan,
Director of Market Analysis,
Simmons Bedding Company are
scheduled to highlight the
state-of-the art green movement
occurring in the bedding
industry.
A diverse group of industry
representatives are building a
resource manual to better define
these terms being used in the
industry. The “Phase I” of the
“Green Initiative” outlines
results of research coupled with
recommendations for terminology.
Key findings will include the
concern consumers have about the
environmental impact of the
bedding products purchased and
the environmental attributes
that would affect consumer
shopping for bedding.
The SSA panel is part of a
larger “Bedding Bowl” to be held
at World Market Center Las
Vegas. “An
event-within-an-event, we look
forward to hosting those in the
mattress category to give a
better understanding of issues
pertaining to our industry,”
noted Margaret Casey, Director
of Programming, World Market
Center Las Vegas.
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.
Companies interested in
learning more about the SSA
“Green Initiative” should
contact SSA Executive Director
Tambra Jones,
tambra@sleepinformation.org.
|
|
Top of
Page |

Contestants Exercise
Eco-Abilities in
Hickory Springs Inaugural
“EarthCare Challenge”
Finalists to
Compete Entirely on Social Media
Sites
December 9, 2009 - Six of the
nation’s most eco-oblivious
citizens were chosen as
finalists this week to face off
in the
Hickory Springs “EarthCare
Challenge.” Finalists now
advance on a 45-day sustainable
lifestyle makeover for a chance
to win their own personal
collection of earth-friendly
home furnishings.
Hickory Springs announced the
final six on the contest’s
Facebook page on December 1. The
contest chronicles real, live
challenges facing the
contestants as they abandon
their old ways and adopt an
eco-friendly upgrade to their
home and lifestyle.
Taking place entirely on the
Internet on social networking
communities Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube and
EarthCareInside.com, The
EarthCare Challenge highlights
Hickory Springs’ line of
EarthCare Inside components for
upholstered furniture.
“From a 23-year-old aspiring
singer who doesn’t recycle to a
father of two looking to lower
the impact of his 3,000 square
foot home, each one of our
contestants can share a valuable
lesson about what it means to be
earth-conscious,” said Hickory
Springs Executive Vice President
Dwayne Welch. “Just as we’re
showing with our EarthCare
Inside components for the
country’s leading furniture
makers, positive change is
possible – from the inside out.”
The finalists are as follows:
-
Ray
Bariso, a business manager
from Warren, N.J., is
considering cutting-edge
products to make his home
more energy efficient, such
as solar panels and
geothermal heating.
-
My
Bui, from Highland, Cali.,
is a kinesiology major at
California State University
who wants to lead by example
by teaching her friends and
family about the benefits of
going green.
-
Idona
Cabrinha, a mother of two
from Los Osos, Cali., wants
to take her love of
gardening to a whole new
level by growing her own
food.
-
Laura
Dillon, a hairstylist from
San Bernardino, Cali.,
realizes she consumes more
than her fair share of water
and energy and wants to
learn eco-friendly habits to
help cut down on her cost of
living.
-
A
performer from Clifton,
N.J., who goes by “Justina,”
pays little attention to the
food she eats but wants to
change that for the better,
keeping the environment in
mind.
-
San
Francisco resident, Jackie
Walker, a recent graduate
from Cal Poly Pomona, wants
to practice eco-friendly
habits to benefit her
health.
The contestants are guided by
experts who specialize in the
areas of green lifestyle, diet
and eco-friendly home: Cindy
Ojczyk, LEED AP, owner of Simply
Green Design, a residential
design firm leading the interior
design field in sustainability,
and co-owner of Verified Green,
a green building consulting and
training firm; Michael Anschel,
a nationally recognized expert
on green remodeling, owner of
Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build, a
national award-winning firm
known for the ability to produce
high end design that is
sustainable, and co-founder of
Verified Green; and Amy Todisco,
a green lifestyle writer, life
coach and owner of
GreenLivingNow.com, a green
products ecommerce site.
Social media sites document
their progress through daily
tweets, photos, videos and other
activities, as the public is
invited to participate by voting
for their favorite contestant
and becoming a fan of designated
online sites for a chance to win
special discounts and prizes for
themselves.
Components from the company’s
EarthCare Inside line can be
found in products from some of
the country’s leading furniture
makers including Alan White
Furniture, Craftmaster, England
and H.M. Richards.
In January 2010, Hickory Springs
will award the grand prize to
the contestant who has made the
most dramatic makeover – taking
home the title of green champion
and a personal collection of
EarthCare Inside home
furnishings with a retail value
of $5,000.
For more information on The
Hickory Springs EarthCare
Challenge, visit:
www.earthcareinside.com and
click on “Take the Challenge.”
About Hickory Springs
Hickory Springs’ headquarters is
located in Hickory, North
Carolina, where the
international, privately-held
company was first founded in
1944 as a producer of furniture
springs. Hickory Springs has
grown into one of the nation’s
largest integrated manufacturers
to the furniture and bedding
industries with more than 60
operating facilities throughout
the United States. In 2008, the
company launched its EarthCare
Inside line of components for
upholstered furniture, including
the industry-leading Preserve®
bio-based foam, 100% recycled
cotton, recycled sinuous steel
and coils, among many other
sustainable options.
For more information, visit:
www.hickorysprings.com
and
www.earthcareinside.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Simmons Extends ComforPedic Loft
Mobile Showroom Tour
Company
doubles length of road show due
to high success rate and
numerous retailer requests
December
8, 2009 -
Simmons Bedding Company has
extended its
ComforPedic Loft™ “Showroom
on Wheels” tour by an additional
eight weeks due to the road
show’s tremendous success during
its first phase. The “Showroom
on Wheels,” a 53-foot,
18-wheeler exhibit featuring
Simmons’ new ComforPedic Loft™
mattress collection with NxG®
Memory Foam technology, brings
Simmons’ new models directly to
retailers, providing convenient
access to the products as well
as an ideal sales training
location. When the extended tour
concludes on Dec. 18, the mobile
showroom will have traveled more
than 22,000 miles—almost the
distance around the
globe—visiting 50 cities across
North America, including Denver,
Toronto, New York, Los Angeles,
Atlanta and Orlando. The second
phase of the tour focuses on the
southwest region of the country
and includes visits to Dallas,
Phoenix and San Diego, with
repeat visits to a few cities at
the request of select retailers.
“We launched the ‘Showroom on
Wheels’ because we thought
retailers would appreciate the
cost savings and convenience of
having the ComforPedic Loft™
line brought to them; however, I
have to admit that the
overwhelmingly positive reaction
to the road show surpassed even
my expectations,” said Scott
Smalling, president of Simmons’
specialty sleep division. “The
majority of the retailers we
visited during the first phase
of the tour have picked up the
line. Such strong success
combined with retailer interest
in additional city stops made us
realize that a tour extension
was needed.”

As in the first phase of the
tour, Smalling and Butch
Webster, vice president of
Simmons’ specialty sleep
division, are overseeing the
sales presentations that take
place at each stop. The
presentations aim to educate
dealers and retail sales
associates about the key
benefits of NxG® Memory
Foam—dissipates heat, quicker
recovery and consistent comfort.
Simmons spent a year developing
the new foam technology with the
specific goal of providing all
three of these benefits at a
more affordable price. By
designing the ComforPedic Loft™
line to have a starting
suggested retail price of less
than $1,000 for a queen set,
Simmons has made NxG® Memory
Foam technology available to a
whole new category of consumers.
“The ComforPedic Loft™ story is
easy for retailers and consumers
to understand—next generation
technology at an attainable
price,” said Anne Kozel,
Simmons’ specialty sleep brand
director. “When retailers visit
the mobile showroom, they
recognize the ComforPedic Loft™
line’s potential to be a major
hit with a wide range of
value-oriented consumers. The
collection looks and feels
amazing. It basically sells
itself.”
While the primary goal of the
tour has been to present the
ComforPedic Loft™ line to
retailers who have not yet
decided to floor the models, the
mobile showroom has also proven
to be the perfect training venue
for retail sales associates from
dealers who picked up the line
at the Las Vegas Furniture
Market or the High Point Market.
In addition, visits to Simmons®
manufacturing facilities have
allowed Smalling and Webster to
share their passion for
specialty sleep products with
Simmons employees, who now
possess a greater understanding
of the technology and effort
that went into creating the
ComforPedic Loft™ line.
“The road show has been an
unbelievable experience,” said
Smalling. “We’re meeting
wonderful people and visiting
beautiful cities while building
stronger retailer relationships.
I couldn’t be happier with the
program’s results.”
To learn more about the
ComforPedic Loft™ brand, visit
www.comforpedicloft.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™,
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. |
|
Top of
Page |

Natura’s Organic II Crib
Mattress Has Been Chosen as
a 2009 Greatest Product
by the Team at iParenting Media
December 6, 2009 - Honored from
among thousands of products, the
Organic II Crib Mattress was
selected by a diverse panel of
judges that included a group
facility/licensed day care, an
expert and a parent. These
reviewers completed an extensive
survey and provided feedback on
their personal experience with
the Organic II Mattress.

iParenting sets the standard in
parent-approved recommendations.
Many moms won’t buy a juvenile
product until they’ve seen what
the moms at iParenting have to
say about it. For a product to
win this award, it must go above
and beyond expectations for
parent and child.
“We work regularly with mom
bloggers who test our products
and review them for other moms
because we understand the
importance of Mom Approved” says
Julia Rosien, Communications
Director for Natura World Inc.
“Moms know their kids better
than anyone else and if Natura
doesn’t meet those standards we
go back to the drawing board
until we do.”
The Organic II Crib mattress is
constructed of coconut coir and
all-natural latex, and is
covered in 100% Certified
Organic Cotton and 100%
Certified Organic Wool. The
combination of natural materials
means chemical exposure for
babies is greatly reduced.
Studies prove babies settle more
quickly and stay asleep longer
on wool than any other material.
What’s more, wool helps regulate
temperature and control humidity
so babies (and parents) get the
sleep they need.
If you’d like to learn more
about the Organic II Crib
Mattress, visit Natura Online -
www.naturaworld.com/catalog/baby/organicII/organicIIcrib-mattress
About Natura World
Natura World is committed to
nurturing healthy bodies, souls
and planet. Because a good
night’s sleep is as important as
nurturing our fragile planet,
Natura makes it easy to choose
green, natural and organic
bedding, pillows and mattresses.
Simply put, Natura matches
eco-integrity with cutting edge
technology to create
handcrafted, naturally healthy
sleep systems.
To learn more, please visit
www.naturaworld.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Protect-A-Bed Offers Bed Bug
Prevention Tips for Holiday
Travelers
Company expert
advises on how to prevent
bringing bed bugs home
December 6, 2009 - As families
head to festive gatherings this
holiday season, they had better
take note of the scope of the
bed bug problem in hotels and
motels along the way and best
practices to prevent bringing
bed bugs home.
After all, the growing problem
of bed bugs in the hospitality
industry is undeniable. The
National Pest Management
Association says the overall bed
bug problem in the United States
has grown by 71 percent since
2001. And according to recent
news, the Franklin County Board
of Health, which serves
Columbus, Ohio, recently
predicted as many as 70 percent
of hotels and motels in that
jurisdiction have had a bed bug
problem. It’s unlikely that
Columbus is unique among major
cities.
While the inconvenience and
itchy bites associated with
staying in a bed bug infested
hotel are troublesome, what’s
more of a problem is what
happens when an infestation is
brought home. Costs for home bed
bug extermination services can
run in the thousands of dollars
and create a serious
inconvenience. Bed bug
extermination requires a
detailed and time intensive
process for the residents of an
infested property over a number
of weeks.
Petra Minoff-Michael, Vice
President of the Hospitality
Division at
Protect-A-Bed, who works
with hotel owners and operators
across the country to develop
and implement an aggressive
approach to addressing bed bugs,
is all too familiar with the
problem. She’s also an expert at
offering advice and solutions.
“Vigilance pays off when you
travel,” Minoff-Michael said. “A
simple routine when you arrive
at a hotel and when you arrive
home, can go a long way to
decreasing your chances of
catching hitchhikers in your
luggage.”
“Seventy percent of hotel
dwelling bed bugs are taking up
residence in mattresses, box
springs, night stands and
headboards, so these should be
among the first places you
look,” Minoff-Michael said.
She offers the following steps
to help travelers decrease their
chances of dealing with a bed
bug problem:
Protect-A-Bed’s basic tips
for travelers to follow upon
checking-in to their hotel:
-
Using a travel flashlight,
conduct a very basic
inspection of the bed by
pulling back the bed linens
and checking the visible
edges of the mattress. Look
for evidence of live bugs,
dark brownish to black spots
or stains that could
indicate bed bugs.
-
Inspect the headboard and
the spaces between the
carpet and the wall where
moulted skins, excrement and
eggs of the bed bugs could
be found.
-
Do not place your luggage
near the places where bed
bugs are typically found –
on the bed, near the bed, on
the couch or any type of
upholstered furniture.
-
Elevate your luggage on a
luggage stand.
-
Keep your luggage closed at
all times. If possible, use
hard shelled luggage.
-
When not in use, keep items
like laptops, books,
toiletries, jewelry and
electronics in sealed
plastic bags.
-
Notify the manager-on-duty
immediately if you suspect
bed bugs or if you begin to
develop itchy welts on your
body.
Protect-A-Bed’s basic tips
for travelers to follow upon
returning home:
-
If you are a frequent
traveler, encase mattresses
and box springs before you
leave home.
-
Do not take luggage inside
your home.
-
Unpack your luggage in an
area that is well-lit and
away from furniture and
sleeping areas, such as a
garage.
-
Unpack one suitcase at a
time. Immediately place all
of your clothing that can be
hot-laundered into the
washing machine or into a
garbage bag that can be
sealed and placed aside.
-
All items being laundered
should be laundered in the
hottest possible wash cycle
and placed in the dryer on
the hottest possible
setting.
-
Place all dry-clean clothing
in a garbage bag, seal it
and place it aside. Consider
using dissolvable laundry
bags to transport your
clothes from your luggage to
the washing machine a simple
one-step process.
-
Empty items that you sealed
in plastic bags (computer,
books, toiletries, etc.) and
immediately discard the bags
in an outdoor trash can.
“While our steps for preventing
an infestation cannot guarantee
bed bugs won’t make it home with
you, they can significantly
decrease the likelihood,” Minoff-Michael
said.
Mattress encasements are an
important part of a bed bug
management strategy, and a vital
tool for those wishing to
minimize serious bed bug
infestation in their mattresses
and box springs. Protect-A-Bed
offers bed bug entry, escape and
bite proof mattress encasements
featuring the company’s patented
BugLock® with Secure Seal®.
Protect-A-Bed products are
designed to make the tell tale
signs of a bed bug infestation
more easily identifiable, and
are used as an essential part of
the bed bug management process
at most hotels and by a majority
of pest control companies
nationwide. If you’d like to
learn more about Protect-A-Bed
and its bed bug management
solutions, visit
www.protectabed.com.
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.
For more information, visit
www.protectabed.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Eisenberg Promoted to Senior
Vice President of Sales
December 4, 2009 - Alan
Eisenberg has been promoted to
Senior Vice President of Sales
at
Protect-A-Bed®, a premier
provider of bedding protection
products. In his position
Eisenberg executes sales and
marketing initiatives that
increase Protect-A-Bed brand
awareness and achieve sales and
profit goals. Eisenberg works
with leading retail companies
and leads Protect-A-Bed’s team
serving the Pest Control
Management Industry.
“Protect-A-Bed has seen
significant growth in recent
years, in part, because of the
outstanding leadership Alan has
show within the home textile,
furniture and pest control
industries,” said Protect-A-Bed
CEO James Bell. “He is an
essential part of our company’s
team.”
Prior to joining Protect-A-Bed
in 2007, Eisenberg served a Vice
President of National Accounts
for the Serta Mattress Company
where he received a number of
awards, including a retail
client’s Vendor Appreciation
Award. Eisenberg’s nearly 20
years of experience in the
mattress industry also includes
employment at the Sealy Mattress
Company, where he served as a
Senior Key Account Manager.
Eisenberg has a B.A. in
Economics from the City
University of New York –
Brooklyn College. He resides in
Wellington, FL.
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.
For more information, visit
www.protectabed.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Dow Polyurethanes Joins SSA
Mattress/Bedding Industry “Green
Initiative”
December 3,
2009 - The Specialty Sleep
Association (SSA) has announced
that
Dow Polyurethanes has
joined the SSA mattress/bedding
industry “Green Initiative.”
“With more
than 60 years of expertise in
polyurethane chemistry coupled
with our breakthrough work with
bio-based feedstocks and
technical knowledge of key raw
materials for the bedding
industry, Dow is excited about
the opportunity to be an active
member in the ‘Green
Initiative’,” said Umberto
Torresan, North American
Marketing Manager for Furniture
and Bedding and Global Marketing
Manager for RENUVA™ Natural Oil
Polyols, Dow Polyurethanes.
“Defining what ‘green’ means and
establishing industry-wide
‘green’ standards is a critical
step in helping businesses and
consumers alike make better
buying decisions. We are
thrilled to work hand in hand
with bedding industry
manufacturers, retailers and
experts toward this goal.”
“We look
forward to Dow’s involvement
with the SSA and the ‘Green
Initiative’ as we create and set
definitions, terms and standards
of green products in the bedding
industry,” said SSA President,
Dale Read. “Having Dow as part
of our ‘Green Initiative’ means
that the worlds’ largest
producer of polyether polyols
and a leading producer of
isocyanates – key components
used to create flexible
polyurethane foam used in
mattresses – recognizes the
importance of establishing green
standards.
“It is
important for the SSA to work
closely with top, world-wide
suppliers and manufacturers as
it is to also work with smaller
‘green’ boutique companies. The
broader the participation ---
the more likely all stake
holders will participate in the
development of meaningful
definitions, terms and evolution
towards a ‘Green Standard’
working with the industry as a
whole."
Dow (www.dowpolyurethanes.com)
is the world's largest producer
of propylene oxide (PO) and
polyether polyols, and is a
leading producer of quality
aromatic isocyanates, such as
MDI and TDI. The business
manufactures and markets
polyurethane products and
polyurethane systems that create
rigid, semi-rigid and flexible
foams, adhesives, sealants,
coatings, elastomers and binders
used for a broad range of
applications including bedding
and furniture. Dow also offers
the latest in polyol technology
with RENUVA™ Renewable Resource
Technology (www.dowrenuva.com)
and VORANOL™ VORACTIV™ polyols (www.dowvorativ.com),
part of an ongoing initiative by
Dow to lead the industry in
providing high-performance
products.
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. SSA
membership is comprised of more
than 100 manufacturers and
retailers ranging from small,
family-owned businesses to large
corporations.
Companies
interested in learning more
about the SSA Green Initiative
should contact SSA Executive
Director Tambra Jones,
tambra@sleepinformation.org.
|
|
Top of
Page |

AeroBed Wants to Know Your
Overnight Guest Rating
Online
Campaign Reveals if
Accommodations are “Smart” or
“Not So Smart”
November
13, 2009 -
AeroBed® is bringing
permanent bed technology to the
airbed category while connecting
with consumers to find out how
“smart” their guest
accommodations are.
The launch of the Luxury
Collection Raised Pillowtop
AeroBed® with Smart Settings™
firmness control introduces a
level of comfort adjustability
that’s revolutionary to an
airbed. The Smart Settings
control provides the perfect
firmness with 7 unique pre-set
firmness levels – from
extra-firm to super-soft. And
the innovation offers a
“hands-free” feature with auto
shut-off so the pump will turn
off when the bed is fully
inflated. Just push the button
and in 3 minutes your bed is
ready - it’s that easy. Simply
dress the bed with your own
standard size sheets, adjust the
firmness to your preferred
comfort level, and get a great
night’s sleep!
Online campaign will run from
November 3, 2009 through
December 7, 2009.
The exclusive Smart Settings
AeroBed is available at Bed,
Bath and Beyond stores this
fall, and to have some fun while
educating consumers, AeroBed is
running an online campaign.
Visitors to
www.brickfish.com will be
able to submit entries about
their own guest accommodations
and tell AeroBed if they are
“Smart” or “Not So Smart.”
Winners of the campaign will
receive a free Smart Settings
AeroBed along with $1,000 in
free airfare to visit friends or
family for the holidays.
Additionally,
the most viral winner will
receive 2 Smart Settings
AeroBeds – one to keep and one
to share with a friend. The
campaign will run from November
3, 2009 through December 7,
2009. Anyone over 18 years of
age in the U.S. and Canada
(excluding Quebec) can
participate with either a
campaign entry or a sweepstakes
entry, and anyone worldwide can
vote for their favorite
campaign.
After November 3rd the campaign
can be accessed from
www.Brickfish.com by going
to the “What’s Your Overnight
Guest Rating?” campaign or by
visiting
www.aerobed.com and
following the link from the home
page.
The luxurious Smart Settings bed
combines all the features that
make an AeroBed the category
leader – a plush, comfortable
pillowtop surface, advanced pump
for quick and easy inflation and
deflation, coil construction
that provides ultimate support,
and a 22”
bed
height for ease of getting in
and out of bed.
Whether your guest
accommodations are already
“smart” or “not so smart,” the
AeroBed Luxury Collection
Pillowtop Smart Settings bed is
the perfect addition to any
home.
About Aero Products
International, Inc.
Aero Products International
Inc., located in the Chicago
area, is the leading innovator
of premium, air-filled products
under The Original AeroBed®,
AeroBed® Active and
AeroBed®Earth brand names. The
original AeroBed was introduced
in 1992, redefining the air bed
product category through higher
quality standards and new
inflation technology. Aero
Products International, Inc.
produces a wide range of
products designed for both
indoor and outdoor use.
For additional information,
visit the Aero Products website
at
www.aerobed.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Anatomic Rolls Out New Advanced
Memory Foam Technology
November
11, 2009 -
Anatomic Global recently
introduced the company’s newly
designed Ecomfort Mattress
collection at the autumn High
Point, NC market.
The new “SA2010” line represents
five models ranging in price
from $999 to $1,999 retail in
queen. Among its features is a
technologically superior
Anatomic support system which
delivers outstanding pressure
relief and contouring support.
Within the mattress, a
conforming foam layer provides
an underlying elastic and fluid
feel. Genuine EcoMemoryFoam™,
Anatomic Global’s proprietary,
exclusive material, provides
shape-conforming comfort and
support. EcoMemoryFoam, an
extreme open-cell memory foam,
does not retain heat, addressing
the most common consumer
complaint; sleeping hot on foam
bedding.
“We are expanding the line
because many of our new retail
partners are telling us that
they have never seen a product
take off so quickly,” said
Anatomic Global president Jeff
Scorziell. “We have the right
solutions that retailers need
right now. It includes our
superior technology in a
leading-edge specialty sleep
product that we vacuum-roll and
drop-ship nationwide.”
Ecomfort Mattress is also
earth-friendly to the core. A
significant portion of the
EcoMemoryFoam formulation is
comprised of a 100 percent
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.
“Retailers are telling us that
the products are successful not
only because it is an entirely
different memory foam product,
but also different in the way we
construct it,” said Jeff
Scorziell. “Our technology for
layering the materials creates
the distinctive, gentle
resistance that has become a
signature trait of all our
mattresses.”
About Anatomic Global
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. |
|
Top of
Page |

OrganicPedic By OMI Selected
for the Alice Cooper and David
Bowie
Themed Furnished Apartments
in Los Angeles
Eco-designed
Rock-Royalty Showcase Highlights
Development's
Future as a
Green Building Landmark
November
10, 2009 -
Organic Mattresses, Inc.
(OMI) was tapped by Los
Angeles-based sustainable real
estate developer REthink
Development to furnish the Alice
Cooper and David Bowie themed
apartments. The apartments are
part of a four-week showcase to
celebrate the completion of
Lofts@Cherokee Studios, a former
Hollywood recording studio
converted into a 12-unit
live/work loft development that
is expected to achieve LEED
Platinum certification from the
USGBC. This accomplishment will
mark the space as the first
building of its kind on the West
Coast.
“This program is a great example
of public education and showing
average consumers that they have
the ability to effect
environmental change,” said OMI
President and CEO Walt Bader.
“Beyond buying a Prius or
shopping at an organic grocer,
each of us can do more to create
a natural living environment. In
the home furnishing space, we
are proud the developers chose
OMI to represent all the
benefits of organic bedding.”
Leading Los Angeles designers
underscore the development’s
future as a green building
landmark and commemorate
rock-royalty who recorded at the
former studio, such as Alice
Cooper, David Bowie, Aerosmith
and Madonna by designing themed
spaces, melding music with
sustainable design. This special
showcase will run from now
through Nov. 19, with public
tours held every weekend.
Proceeds from the public tours
will benefit charity partner
Habitat for Humanity of Greater
Los Angeles.
OMI, through their retail
partner, Southern
California-based Custom Comfort
Mattress is outfitting the Alice
Cooper room with their
OrganicPedic® Terra mattress.
Four OrganicPedic® 100% Natural
Rubber Latex pillows will
decorate David Bowie’s room and
show-goers can view an
OrganicPedic® Flora mattress and
an OrganicPedic® Terra mattress
in the model room.
Over the past few months OMI has
developed a mattress collection
priced competitively, enabling
more families to enjoy the
health and wellness benefits of
a better night’s sleep on a
purely organic mattress. With
entry level price point at
$1,595 for a queen size, OMI is
making organic more accessible
and is doing for organic
mattresses what Toyota did for
electric cars.
An industry leader in organic
bedding, OMI has the most
third-party certifications for
raw materials, factory
processing and finished-product
testing, including being
Greenguard Indoor Air Quality
Certified® in the category of
children and schools. All OMI
products are made by expert
artisans at OMI’s
Eco-Factory™—the first Global
Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
certified eco-factory in North
America, a chemical-free,
smoke-free and fragrance-free
environment. An exclusive
ozone-sanitization process is
used to help protect against
potential contamination from
molds, yeasts, pollen, and
bacteria. OMI’s commitment to
maintaining a pure environment
runs so deep that its employees
do not smoke, wear fragrances,
or use fabric softeners on their
clothing.
OMI mattresses and accessories
are made and sourced in the U.S.
and is a full-circle
environmental company that
proudly uses organic raw
materials from American organic
farmers and industries. Doing
so supports American farmers and
prevents the risk of
contamination from foreign-based
impurities and import fumigants,
as well as reducing the
environmental impact and carbon
footprint involved in global
transportation.
For more information, visit
www.organicpedicbyomi.com.
|
|
Top of
Page |

Jim
Nation Named President of Five
Star® Mattress Company
November 9, 2009 - Officials at
Five Star Mattress and
Serta International
announced on November 2nd. that
Jim Nation has been named
President of Five Star Mattress
Company.
Nation is a thirty-plus year
veteran of the mattress industry
and previously held management
positions at Spring Air, Sealy
and Basset Bedding. Nation was
also a former Chairman of
ISPA.
“I am excited to lead Five Star
Mattress,” says Nation. “I see
a great opportunity to fulfill
the vision of a national,
value-price brand with big brand
quality and capabilities.”
About Five Star® Mattress
Five Star Mattress was launched
in January 2008 by AOT Holdings,
which is owned by Ares
Management and the Ontario
Teachers Pension Fund. Five
Star’s products are manufactured
exclusively by Serta®, which is
also part of the AOT Holdings
portfolio. The company’s goal is
grow its retail partners’
businesses by supplying
high-quality products at
exceptional values.
About Serta®
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 and the elegant
Vera Wang by Serta® 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. |
|
Top of
Page |

Serta and National Home
Furnishings Association To
Launch Consumer-centered
Sweepstakes in January 2010
New
sponsorship program will kick
off in 2010 with an exclusive
national sweepstakes designed to
grow members’ bedding business
National Home Furnishings
Association Names Serta as its
Official Mattress Sponsor.
November 8, 2009 - The National
Home Furnishings Association (NHFA)
announced today that
Serta is its official and
exclusive mattress sponsor,
making the bedding giant the
first member of a new premium
level of NHFA sponsorship.
Serta will offer NHFA members
exclusive national promotions
designed to energize NHFA
members and their retail sales
associates while encouraging
consumers to shop during key
selling periods. The sponsorship
will kick off in January with an
exciting consumer-centered
sweepstakes that will run
through April of 2010 - in
conjunction with the national
launch of the NHFA’s new web
portal,
www.homefurnishings.com.
“This is an exciting time for
the NHFA and I am thrilled to
have Serta sign on as our
official mattress sponsor,” says
Steve DeHaan, Executive Vice
President for the NHFA. “Like
the NHFA, Serta has invested in
innovative and aggressive
marketing programs to help their
partners grow. This partnership
is a natural fit and it will be
beneficial to our members.”
The details of Serta’s exclusive
sweepstakes program will be
revealed at the upcoming High
Point market. Officials at Serta
did reveal that the company will
provide a turnkey retail
advertising program to help
participating retailers
successfully promote the event
as well as advertise on
www.homefurnishings.com.
“This is a wonderful opportunity
for Serta to partner with a very
respected organization,” says
Bob Sherman, President of Serta
International. “The NHFA has
made a great investment in
supporting their members and we
are thrilled to be part of this
endeavor. Our sweepstakes
program, which we will reveal at
High Point, is going to be a
blockbuster event. Plus, it is
going to be a lot of fun for
NHFA members and consumers.”
While Serta is offering this
program exclusively to NHFA
members, company officials do
encourage retailers that are not
members of the NHFA to contact
them.
About Serta:
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 and the elegant
Vera Wang by Serta® 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.
Retailers can learn more by
visiting
www.serta.com or by calling
Serta’s dedicated NHFA hotline
at 800-372-3782 extension 6014. |
|
Top of
Page |

Simmons Rolls On With Nationwide
Truck Tour of
ComforPedic NxG Loft® Memory
Foam Line-Up
Retailers and
Factory Employees Tour “Showroom
on Wheels”
Edited by:
Dale T. Read, Editor-in-Chief,
BEDROOM Magazine
October
30, 2009 -
Simmons continues the
company’s nationwide traveling
launch of its new value-oriented
ComforPedic Loft™ collection
of memory foam mattresses
featuring the company’s next
generation technology with a
North American retailer tour.
The highly visible ComforPedic
Loft “Showroom on Wheels”
already traveled over 10,000
miles throughout the United
States and Canada, numerous
cities and retail locations.
This Simmons® NxG® Memory Foam
ComforPedic Loft road tour is
allowing the company to present
the new models to retailers all
over the country who did not
attend the Las Vegas Furniture
Market. It will also allow those
retailers who committed to
carrying the line at the Vegas
market to personally give their
retailers a first-hand look at
the new bedding brand from
Simmons.
A
Powerful Presence in High Point
As Well
The 53-foot, 18-wheeler rolling
showroom showed up the street
from the Green Building in High
Point, NC in mid-October and
then continued on its tour to
Altanta, Texas, Oklahoma and
eventually St. Louis, MO.. The
truck was open to those
retailers who were interested in
stopping by during the course of
the show.
A Stop at the Charlotte, NC
Plant
BEDROOM Magazine got a chance to
visit the traveling showroom
both at High Point, NC during
the furniture market, and then a
few days later in Charlotte, NC
at the Simmons factory located
Northwest of the downtown area.
When this editor arrived, the
huge traveling showroom was
packed with factory employees,
who were receiving a tour of the
showroom and the product.
According to Anne Kozel, Simmons
Specialty Products Manager, this
was a real opportunity for the
men and women who make these
products to get to see them in
finished format and on display.
“It actually creates a buzz..a
little excitement. They get to
see the products in a finished
setting. You could tell they
were very upbeat about this
display, “said Kozel.
Scott Smalling who is President
of the Simmons Specialty
Division within Simmons told
bedroom Magazine that the
traveling tour was extremely
successful and well received by
both retailers and Simmons
factory personnel. “We are well
over 10,000 miles and more to
go, and so far it has been
extremely well received and
successful, said Smalling. If
this is working so well, this
editor wonders if there could be
more of this outreach marketing
to come?
The road trip actually began on
the closing day of the Las Vegas
show with the truck heading to
Los Angeles followed by
Sacramento, CA. After the
California leg of the trip, the
road show made its way across
the country and into Canada with
stops in Salt Lake City, Denver,
and Omaha, Neb., as well as
touring other major cities
including Milwaukee, Chicago,
Toronto, Ontario, New York,
Boston, and Philadelphia before
arriving in High Point.
The truck is an easy-to-spot
advertising and marketing
vehicle (figuratively and
literally) with a full trailer
wrap that features bold, color
images of the ComforPedic Loft
brand and products. Some of the
truck’s other images include the
NxG Memory Foam handprint and
the brand feature/ benefit
claims of “Dissipates Heat,”
“Quicker Recovery,” and
“Consistent Comfort.”
Tracking the Trip Using
Modern Social Media
Ah…nothing like virtual reality,
real TV and yes now Twitter® and
Facebook® to keep us abreast of
a moving marketing campaign….to
track a live event. According to
Scott Smalling, president of
Simmons’ specialty sleep
division, he and Butch Webster,
the well-known industry veteran
who serves as vice president of
Simmons’ specialty sleep
division, will join the rolling
mattress display on the
cross-country trek, traveling in
their own ComforPedic branded
SUV. Smalling says that he and
Webster will conduct sales
meetings and training, and that
they will oversee the product
set up at each tour location.
Smalling says it will be
invaluable to receive real-time
feedback from both consumers and
retail sales associates (RSAs).
Interested dealers and consumers
will be able to follow the
tour’s progress on Simmons’
Facebook page and through
Twitter, as Smalling chronicles
his own experience on the road
with daily posts at
www.twitter.com/ComforPedicLoft.
Scott Smalling tells BEDROOM
Magazine that the “ ‘Showroom on
Wheels’ has been so far a real
adventure for those going on the
road. In this modern age of
personal marketing, we take
reaching out to our dealers and
consumers very seriously. Taking
a new product directly to our
dealers and creating an event at
their location is a unique
concept. We know that retailers
are watching their resources
very closely, and we want to do
what we can do to make things
more convenient for our Simmons
customers. Since we will be on
the retailers’ turf, I have a
feeling that the tour will
provide us with insights we
would never learn in a
traditional bedding showroom.”
To learn more about the new
Simmons ComforPedic Loft
collection, retailers are
invited to visit
www.comforpedicloft.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Farley Accepts Specialty Sleep
Association's
Appointment to the Chairmanship
of the Mattress/Bedding Industry
“Green Initiative"
October 21, 2009 - The
Specialty Sleep Association
(SSA) appointed David Farley,
CEO of Anatomic Global, as the
chairman of the mattress/bedding
industry “Green Initiative.” The
Green Initiative, sponsored by
the SSA, is a process designed
to identify, define and
standardize how mattress
manufacturers and retailers
label “green” and natural sleep
products. Farley joins Anatomic
Global’s president, Jeff
Scorziell on the founding
Initial Governing Board.
Farley founded Anatomic Global,
formerly Anatomic Concepts, in
1989 as a supplier of foam
support devices and mattresses
to the medical industry.
Re-named Anatomic Global in
2007, is the world's number one
OEM supplier of memory foam
products on the Internet,
fulfilling an average of 850,000
orders each year directly with
U.S. consumers. In 2008, the
company launched Ecomfort
Mattress, an
environmentally-friendly sleep
line, which has fueled record
sales growth for the company.
Farley has more than 25 years of
experience in the foam industry
and holds 27 patents on the
anatomic uses of foam. Farley
graduated from California State
Polytechnic University with a
degree in Manufacturing
Engineering. He holds a MBA from
Pepperdine University.
“We are excited to welcome David
as chairman,” SSA President Dale
Read said. “He provides a unique
combination of engineering and
bedding industry experience that
will provide the SSA Green
Initiative Governing Board
wonderful insight and
leadership.”
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. SSA
membership is comprised of more
than 100 manufacturers and
retailers ranging from small,
family-owned businesses to large
corporations.
Companies interested in
learning more about the SSA
Green Initiative should contact
SSA Executive Director Tambra
Jones,
tambra@sleepinformation.org. |
|
Top of
Page |

‘Fly
by Night’, New England’s
Leading Retailer in Natural
Bedding,
Debuts Greenest and Purest
Mattress in the Nation
Eco-Guru and
“Healthy Sleep” Expert Walt
Bader Spoke in Northampton, MA
October 21, 2009 -
Organic Mattresses, Inc.
(OMI), the nation’s leading
manufacturer of organic
mattresses and bedding,
announced on October 14th.that
Northampton, MA’s largest
furniture store and leader in
natural bedding, Fly by Night,
will offer OMI’s complete line
of organic, all-natural latex
mattresses.
To help debut the Organicpedic®
by OMI collection, OMI’s CEO and
President Walt Bader attended a
special presentation at the
store on Wednesday, Walt, a
thought-leader in the
eco-community and an eco-living
go-to source, will share his
philosophy and answer questions
about healthy, pure sleep. Walt
is one of the U.S. leading
advocates of healthier sleep and
the author of Toxic Bedrooms:
Your Guide to a Safe Night’s
Sleep.

“It seemed only natural to chose
Fly by Night to introduce our
handcrafted pure mattresses in
the New England area,” said
Bader. “Fly by Night was one of
the first retailers to offer
natural bedding and remains
truly committed to bringing
consumers the most wholesome
sleep alternatives for a
healthy, toxin-free home.”
Introduced in 2008 and made by
expert artisans at OMI’s
Northern California
Eco-Factory™—the first
large-scale, Global Organic
Textile Standard (GOTS)
certified eco-factory in North
America, the OrganicPedic® by
OMI line redefined
quality-of-life and healthy
sleep. Now, Fly by Night is
offering this collection to its
consumers.
“In
western New England, we’ve been
the leaders in natural
mattresses for over 12 years, so
partnering with OMI was a
perfect fit,” said Richard Zafft,
co-owner of Fly by Night.
“Eco-conscious living is not a
fad for us, it is part of our
DNA and the OMI line allows us
to continue to offer the best in
natural bedding solutions,”
Zafft added.
The OrganicPedic® by OMI
Collection is constructed with
100-percent Natural Rubber
Latex, Certified Organic Cotton
and Eco-wool™. The collection
includes a full range of comfort
options, starting with the most
plush, OrganicPedic® Terra,
moving to the OrganicPedic® Lago,
OrganicPedic® Flora,
OrganicPedic® Midori and the
newly debuted OrganicPedic®
Sierra. To accompany the latex
mattress line, OMI also makes a
fully upholstered wood-slat
foundation made from
cabinet-grade, kiln-dried wood
with Forest Stewardship Council
certified wood. OrganicPedic®
by OMI Collection is most noted
for its luxurious comfort and
tailored appearance. The beds
range in price from $1,595 to
$4,395 in queen size.
OMI products are made and
sourced in the USA and is a
full-circle environmental
company that proudly uses
organic raw materials from
American organic farmers and
industries. Doing so supports
American farmers and prevents
the risk of potential
contamination from foreign-based
impurities and potential import
fumigants, as well as reduces
the environmental impact and
carbon footprint involved in
global transportation.
For more information, visit
www.organicpedicbyomi.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Protect-A-Bed & Mattress Firm
Team Up to Fight Against
Pancreatic Cancer
October 14, 2009 - Mattress
Firm and
Protect-A-Bed, today
announced their plans to launch
a campaign to raise money for
the Pancreatic Cancer Action
Network. During the month of
November, Mattress Firm and
Protect-A-Bed will donate a
portion of the proceeds for each
mattress protector (made by
Protect-A-Bed) that is bought
from a Mattress Firm store to
the foundation. The two
companies have chosen to run
this program throughout the
month of November to correspond
with the national pancreatic
cancer awareness month.
Pancreatic Cancer is the fourth
leading cause of cancer related
deaths in the United States.
Unfortunately, the discovery of
new cases is rising instead of
falling. Pancreatic Cancer has
the highest mortality rate of
any of the major cancers with
only 5 percent of those affected
surviving longer than five
years. The Pancreatic Cancer
Action Network is a nationwide
network of people dedicated to
working together to advance
research, support patients and
create hope for those affected
by pancreatic cancer (www.pancan.org).
Karrie Forbes, VP of Marketing
for Mattress Firm, said about
the month-long program,
“Mattress Firm is proud to be
partnering with Protect-A-Bed to
contribute to such a worthy
cause. As part of our purpose
to improve lives one night at a
time; it is extremely important
that we are committed to serving
not only our customers, but our
communities through hands on
involvement and philanthropic
efforts to worthwhile
endeavors. Pancreatic Cancer
takes far too many lives every
year, and we hope that our
contributions can aid in the
effort for medical breakthroughs
in prevention, diagnosis and
treatment.”
A similar sentiment is expressed
by the executive team at
Protect-A-Bed, "Protect-A-Bed
has been a long-time supporter
of pancreatic cancer research,"
said James Bell, CEO of
Protect-A-Bed. "Now that we are
joining forces with Mattress
Firm and the Pancreatic Cancer
Action Network for this special
in-store promotion, I am
confident we will help put
researchers one step closer to
finding a cure for one the
nation's deadliest forms of
cancer."
About Mattress Firm
Houston-based Mattress Firm is
one of the nation’s premier
specialty bedding retailers,
offering a broad selection of
both traditional and specialty
mattresses from leading
manufacturers, including
Tempur-Pedic, Sleep to Live,
Sealy, Simmons, Stearns & Foster
and Serta. Founded in 1986,
Mattress Firm’s purpose is to
improve lives one night at a
time. With more than 525 stores
across 21 states, Mattress Firm
offers consumers the benefit of
highly-trained, knowledgeable
sales professionals, a broad
product offering and competitive
prices in an attractive and
comfortable store environment.
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®
three-sided zipper system with
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.
For more information, visit
www.protectabed.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Specialty Sleep Association Adds
Springs Creative’s Specialty
Fabrics Group Executive
to ‘Green Initiative’ Governing
Board
October
5, 2009 – The
Specialty Sleep Association
(SSA) has stated that Springs
Creative’s Specialty Fabrics
Group executive Scott Frisch has
joined the SSA Governing Board
of the mattress/bedding industry
“Green Initiative.” Springs
Creative’s Specialty Fabrics
Group delivers substrates
specifically designed and
engineered to fulfill the needs
of clients in a wide variety of
industries, including bedding.
Springs Creative is the 10th
company to join the board.
Frisch is a well know industry
consultant. At Springs Creative,
he is Sales/Merchandising
Manager in the Specialty Fabrics
division. Prior to joining
Springs Creative, Frisch spent
10 years as a consultant in the
textiles and mattress
industries, specializing in
marketing, business development
and new product launches. Frisch
had also served as Vice
President of Sclavos USA, a
textile machinery company. He is
a graduate of North Carolina
State University with a B.S. in
textile management. Frisch is a
resident of Tega Cay, South
Carolina.
“Having a representative of the
textile component of our
industry on our Governing Board
will be extremely helpful as we
create and set definitions,
terms and standards of green
products in the bedding
industry,” said SSA President,
Dale Read. “We look forward to
Scott’s perspective and insight
as we work towards our goals.”
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. SSA
membership is comprised of more
than 100 manufacturers and
retailers ranging from small,
family-owned businesses to large
corporations.
Companies interested in
learning more about the SSA
Green Initiative should contact
SSA Executive Director Tambra
Jones,
tambra@sleepinformation.org.
|
|
Top of
Page |

Englander Continues
International Expansion with
Englander Australia
October 2, 2009 - At the recent
Las Vegas Market,
Englander continued to build
its international presence with
the signing of Englander
Australia. Englander’s newest
licensee, with factories in
Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and
Sydney, has been provided the
exclusive territory rights for
all of Australia.
“Englander has the second oldest
brand in the United States, and
now we are well on our way to
establishing Englander in the
global bedding arena,” says
Kevin Toman, president of
Englander LLC.
Englander, the leader in sleep
technology since 1894, is one of
the nation’s leading mattress
manufacturers with
owner-operated facilities
throughout the United States and
licensees worldwide.
For additional information on
joining Englander’s
international partnership, visit
www.englander.com, or
contact them at
licensing@englander.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Spotlight on
Patented-Pending Leggett &
Platt's Retail Solution
Leggett & Platt Showcases Proven
Success of Emotional-Based
Retail Concept at
High Point Market IHFC, Commerce
603

October 2, 2009 - On the heels
of the successful “Extreme
Retail Makeover” in Alabama, L&P
CPG is renovating part of its
High Point showroom to showcase
the success story of an
emotional-based retail concept
built around
Leggett & Platt’s Retail
Solution, an innovative
merchandising and marketing
program at the heart of the
makeover event.
The
patent-pending LPRS was proven
to be successful at Bedzzz
Express, a Birmingham, Ala.,
mattress retailer where the
Extreme Retail Makeover took
place earlier this year.
Following the implementation of
the retail solution, Birmingham
Bedzzz Express stores saw a 30
percent increase in average
ticket growth after the retail
transformation. In addition,
there was a 56 percent increase
in adjustable bed sales and a 45
percent increase in attachment
sales for accessories in Bedzzz
Express stores after installing
the LPRS.
L&P Retail Solution is
expanding to retailers
throughout the country.
Now, L&P Retail Solution is
expanding to retailers
throughout the country to help
them discover that selling on
the emotional benefits of sleep
can result in higher revenues, a
better way to survive the “new
normal”.
“In an industry where most sales
are made only on price, L&P CPG
has discovered that purchasing
bedding products is much more of
an emotional experience. Sleep
is a major aspect of our health
and wellness and all products
related to sleep should be
treated accordingly,” said
Herman Tam, group vice president
of marketing for Leggett &
Platt’s Consumer Products Group.
Leggett & Platt’s Retail
Solution program concept will
comprise of approximately 800
square feet of showroom space
and will include both display
and marketing materials and a
variety of sleep accessories
including mattress protectors,
pillows, sheet sets and product
samples. L&P CPG’s Team Impact™
sales training team will be on
duty answering questions
regarding emotional-based
selling as well as details of
the LPRS program.
Leggett & Platt will display
their new retail solution at the
upcoming High Point Market in
IHFC, Commerce 603.
For more information, please
visit
www.leggett.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Specialty Sleep Association
Engages Worden Associates to
Help Launch and Manage
the Mattress Bedding Industry
Green Initiative
Worden to Work
With the Initial Governing Board
September 28, 2009 -
Specialty Sleep Association
(SSA) has engaged noted green
consultant, Vicki Worden, CEO of
Worden Associates to assist the
organization’s Green Governing
Board and to recruit the larger
Working Committee. Worden’s
position will be to facilitate
the board in carrying out the
mission of the Green Initiative
--- a process designed to
identify, define and standardize
how mattress manufacturers and
retailers label “green” and
market natural sleep products.
Worden is the founder/president
of Worden Associates (www.WordenAssociates.com)
and a noted strategic counselor
on the development and launching
of products and services with
green labels. She has 18 years
of experience in planning and
business development and has
consulted for numerous
corporations and non-profit
organizations.
Previously, Worden was a Vice
President of Commercial Programs
for the Portland, Oregon based
Green Building Initiative, where
she launched the Green Globes®
environmental rating system in
the United States, which is on
track to become the first
American National Standard for
commercial green buildings.
“When Vicki spoke at the SSA
Green Initiative Conference in
May, she impressed the industry
with her knowledge in navigating
the sea of hyperbole when
creating green definitions and
standards,” said SSA President
Dale Read. “We look forward to
her help in facilitating the
mattress/bedding industry Green
Initiative Governing board.”
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. SSA
membership is comprised of more
than 100 manufacturers and
retailers ranging from small,
family-owned businesses to large
corporations.
Companies interested in
learning more about the SSA
Green Initiative should contact
SSA Executive Director Tambra
Jones,
tambra@sleepinformation.org.
|
|
Top of
Page |

Stearns & Foster Introduced
Three New Heritage Series at
Las Vegas Market
Upscale
Models Follow Successful Launch
Amid High Retailer Demand
September 27, 2009 -
Stearns & Foster recently
introduced the Heritage Series,
its newest models at the
September Las Vegas market
following the brand’s highly
successful initial launch in
January 2009. The three new
models, the Golden Elegance,
Pearl Grandeur and Silver Dream
continued the Stearns & Foster
tradition of mattresses that are
synonymous with luxury, living
up to a legacy of inspiration,
inside and out.
“Since launching earlier this
year, retailer response to the
new Stearns & Foster line has
been tremendous,” said Larry
Rogers,
Sealy president and CEO.
“This positive response created
an immediate need for new
top-of-the-line models. We’ve
answered retailer demand with
the Heritage Series.”
Each model offers unique design
features – the top model, Golden
Elegance, boasts impeccable
tailoring, including golden
inset panels with rich, black
trim that accentuates the
luxuriant fabric and contrasting
gusset fabric. The next model,
Pearl Grandeur, features a vivid
rose trim accentuated by subtle
tones of the panel fabric while
the classic Silver Dream
features a rich dark grey trim
that complements the relaxing
silver tones of the panel
fabric.
“Each sleep set has its own
personality, providing the
luxurious detail only found on a
Stearns & Foster,” said Mark
Delahanty, vice president, Sealy
marketing. “We’ve used
best-in-class upholstery layers
and incorporated the world’s
finest bedding materials such as
silk, white cashmere and merino
wool for unsurpassed comfort.”
The oldest brand in bedding,
Stearns & Foster has a rich
heritage that began more than
160 years ago, when two Ohio
businessmen making upscale
upholstery for horse-drawn
carriages discovered their
unique process for cotton
bunting also would make for a
luxurious night’s sleep.
Building on this tradition of
luxury and comfort, the new line
contains the finest selection of
fibers and materials, including
New Zealand wool for lasting
resilience and comfort and
refined touches, such as
embossed metal corner guards and
hand-tufted finishing.
Stearns & Foster continues to
take the lead in quality
production and consistency. Each
mattress is created in a
proprietary Stearns & Foster
manufacturing cell by certified
craftsmen – at just two plants
in North American – using a
dedicated approach to ensure
each product is consistent and
exceeds customer and consumer
expectations.
New Stearns & Foster Heritage
Series models are available at
select retail stores winter
2010. Models range from $2,999
to $3,999 based on queen set.
Forward-looking Statement
This release may contain various
forward-looking statements
and information that are based
on Sealy's beliefs, as well as
assumptions made by and
information currently available
to Sealy. When used in this
or other releases or
communications to the public,
words such as “anticipate,”
“project,” “expect,” “plan,”
“goal,” “forecast,”
“intend,” “could,” “believe,”
“may,” and similar expressions
and statements regarding the
plans and objectives of Sealy
for future operations
are intended to identify
forward-looking
statements. Although Sealy
believes that such expectations
reflected in such
forward-looking statements
are reasonable, Sealy cannot
give assurances that such
expectations will prove to be
correct. Sealy has no obligation
to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new
information, future events or
otherwise.
About Stearns & Foster
The oldest brand in bedding,
Stearns & Foster has a rich
heritage that began more than
160 years ago and since then has
been dedicated to creating the
ultimate sleep experience.
Building on a heritage of luxury
and comfort, Stearns & Foster
emphasizes the finest materials,
flawless attention to detail,
industry-leading innovation and
technology and a steadfast
commitment to excellence. A
brand of Sealy Corporation since
1983, Stearns & Foster pioneered
the luxury bedding business and
product line and continues to be
an industry leader in quality
production and consistency.
Stearns & Foster is manufactured
in 22 plants across North
America and Puerto Rico.
For more information, please
visit
www.stearnsandfoster.com or
www.sealy.com. |
|
Top of
Page |

Therapedic Inks India Licensee
September 26, 2009 -
Therapedic International has
announced that they have entered
into a long-term agreement with
Restolex, located in Bangalore,
India to represent the brand in
that country. Restolex has been
granted the Therapedic license
for all of India, according the
Gerry Borreggine, Therapedic
president/CEO.
“We are pleased to have an
outstanding manufacturer, with
heritage of quality production,
represent our brand in such an
important part of the world,”
said Borreggine. “We are looking
to increase the brand stature of
Therapedic by engaging critical
partners, like Restolex, in
every corner of the world, but
especially in key countries,
like India,” he said.
“We are pleased to have not only
joined a brand with a great
international history, but also,
become part of a brand that has
a very compelling marketing | |