BedTimes magazine November 2010

Transcription

BedTimes
NOVEMBER 2010
THE BUSINESS JOURNAL FOR THE SLEEP PRODUCTS INDUSTRY
No more
mass
marketing
How to target a niche
Innovative Technology for
Mattress
1306
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This equipment is protected by one or more of the following patents:
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Other U.S. and Foreign Patents Pending. Copyright 2010 Atlanta Attachment Co.
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Atlanta Attachment Company
362 Industrial Park Drive
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
(770) 963-7369 • FAX (770) 963-7641
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email:
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During the Great Depression, many people stuffed their mattresses with their life savings to
protect the family fortunes. Today, your fortunes depend on what goes into your bedding
as well. That is why Hickory Springs provides not just one, but four exceptional
foams formulated to give you and your customers the gold standard for bedding
quality and performance. The newest member of our foam family is Talalay
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latex from Latex International, a balanced blend of synthetic and natural
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CM
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For more details about how Hickory Springs foams can help you increase your
fortune without costing you one, call (828) 328-2201 or visit www.hickorysprings.com
PO Box 128 • Hickory, NC 28603
(800) 438-5341
©2007-2009 Hickory Springs Mfg. Co.
NOV 2010
InSide
Feature
14 Finding your niche
Forget the idea of a one-size-fits-all marketing plan. Given today’s demographic
shifts and splintered communications channels, you need to market to a variety of
different niches. BedTimes goes to the experts to find out the best ways to do so.
Departments
7 Front Matter
The U.S. mattress industry can expect
modest but steady gains through 2012,
according to a new forecast from the
International Sleep Products Association. For 2010, both unit shipments
and their wholesale dollar value are
projected to be up 5.5%.
8 Company Profile
Lemoyne Sleeper, a second-generation
family business, has its roots as a factory direct but is counting on a variety
of revenue streams to maintain the
company’s success well into the future.
11 Product Watch
Suppliers of machinery, equipment
and components for the bedding
industry are touting an array of products designed to improve efficiency,
reduce costs and solve other problems
associated with mattress production.
www.sleepproducts.org/bedtimes
5 Editor’s Note
27 Industry News
40 Newsmakers
42 Calendar
44 ISPA News
46 Advertisers Index
47 Classifieds
48 Last Word
BedTimes | November 2010 |
3
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EDITOR IN CHIEF
Julie A. Palm
336-727-1889
[email protected]
SENIOR WRITER
Barbara Nelles
336-856-8973
[email protected]
CONTRIBUTORS
Patricia Frank
Dorothy Whitcomb
ART DIRECTOR
Stephanie Belcher
336-201-7475
[email protected]
Vice President
of ADVERTISING Sales
Kerri Bellias
336-945-0265
[email protected]
Ad Production &
CIRCULATION manager
Debbie Robbins
336-342-4217
[email protected]
COPY EDITOR
Margaret Talley-Seijn
BedTimes deadlines
Editorial deadlines for the Industry
News and Newsmakers sections
of the January issue of BedTimes are
Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Volume 138 Number 11
BedTimes (ISSN 0893-5556) is published
monthly by the International Sleep Products
Association. Periodicals postage paid at
Alexandria, Va., and additional mailing offices.
Administrative and ISPA offices
501 Wythe St., Alexandria, Va. 22314-1917
Phone 703-683-8371; Fax 703-683-4503
Postmaster Send address changes to
BedTimes, 501 Wythe St., Alexandria, Va.
22314-1917
Contents © 2010 by the
International Sleep Products
Association. Reprint permission
obtainable through BedTimes.
Editor’sNote
We can’t ‘think’
bedbugs away
I
n October, I wrote about the growing bedbug problem in the United
States and some of the things that
the mattress industry can do to help
combat it.
Though I’d like to stop thinking
about the little bloodsuckers, I can’t.
Reports of infestations continue. Just
this morning, there’s word of bedbugs
at schools in Maine and New Jersey, a
hospital in Kentucky and a fire station
in Albuquerque.
A prime reason for the spread of
bedbugs is their love of travel: They
like to hitch a ride to new locales
in luggage, on clothing, etc. As an
increasingly mobile society, we’re
helping to spread them.
To keep bedbugs in check, you can
take some simple precautions when
you travel. When staying at a hotel,
don’t set your suitcase on the bed or
floor. Use the luggage tray. Before
you hang clothes or put them away in
drawers, check the corners and edges
for bugs (as babies they’re clear; as
adults reddish-brown) and for tiny
black flecks (blood or feces). Then
check the mattress itself: Pull off the
linens at the head and foot of the bed
and inspect the seams. Come on, you’re
already looking to see who manufactured the mattress. Spend an extra few
seconds searching for the bugs.
If you find anything suspicious, tell
the manager and request a new room.
It’s in a hotel’s best interest to deal
with any bedbug problems quickly
and thoroughly.
Some travelers are being extra cautious and, upon returning home, leave
their suitcase outside until they can
check it for tagalongs and then throw
all their clothes in a hot dryer.
Not surprisingly, the topic of
bedbugs came up at a recent mattress
industry event and I was shocked to
hear the number of people who’d
heard about these precautions but
didn’t heed the advice. More than
one said, “Bedbugs are disgusting. I’d
rather not think about them.”
No one wants to spend a lot of time
thinking about bedbugs, but I guarantee you, if they make it into your house,
they’ll be on more than your mind.
Industry Conference & Exhibition
The International Sleep Products
Association traditionally has held its
Industry Conference and Exhibition in
the fall and, most recently, in November. ISPA has changed the dates for the
Industry Conference and Exhibition,
alternating the event with the biennial
ISPA EXPO, which is held in March of
even-numbered years.
The conference, now held in March
of odd-numbered years, will be March
16-18 at the Vinoy Renaissance St.
Petersburg Resort and Golf Club in
St. Petersburg, Fla. To learn more, see
Pages 38-39 of this issue and check
www.sleepproducts.org/industryconference. Make plans now to attend! BT
Julie A. Palm
5
FrontMatter
Forecast: Bedding sales to rise slowly, steadily
ISPA projects 5.5% gains in units & dollar values for this year
A
fter suffering painful year-overyear declines during the recession, the U.S. mattress industry
is projected to enjoy moderate growth
through 2012, according to the most
recent forecast from the International
Sleep Products Association.
For 2010, both unit shipments (mattresses and foundations) and the dollar
value of those shipments are forecast to
be up 5.5%. Those gains would reverse
two years of sharp decreases in 2008 and
2009 and a mixed but overall lackluster
sales picture in 2007.
Moderate gains are expected for
2011, as well. Unit shipments are projected to increase 5.7% and the value of
those units are forecast to grow 3.5%.
In 2012, projections call for unit shipments to rise 4.4% and dollar values to
increase 7.8%. That would bring the
total size of the U.S. mattress market to
roughly $6.8 billion in 2012—or about
the same size it was in 2007.
As for the average unit selling price,
it isn’t expected to increase in 2010 but
the forecast predicts a 2.1% gain in 2011
and an additional 3.3% rise in 2012.
The forecast, issued in October, is
produced by ISPA’s Statistics Committee. The next forecast will be released in
April. The association provides monthly
and quarterly tracking of sales through
its Bedding Barometer newsletter.
“Given the lackluster economic recovery we have experienced to date and
the substantial economic uncertainties
that exist today, the committee found
it especially challenging to prepare this
forecast,” the Statistics Committee said
in releasing the report. The forecast is
based on economic analysis prepared
by the University of Michigan, as well as
consensus input from the ISPA Forecast Panel, which is made up of leading
mattress producers and components
suppliers.
‘The “double-dip”
recession is not likely
to happen, but growth
will remain slow for
the next few years.’
The broader outlook
The forecast considers trends in the
larger economy that have potential to
impact the mattress industry.
“The ‘double-dip’ recession is not
likely to happen, but growth will remain slow for the next few years,” the
forecast says in assessing the overall
U.S. economic picture. Specifically:
➤ Housing “Housing sales are, and
will remain an issue, especially now
that the federal home-buyer tax
incentives have ended,” according to
the report. Sales of existing homes are
expected to be up 3.4% for 2010, 8.6%
in 2011 but only 4% in 2012. Housing
starts are expected to grow more robustly—10.4% in 2010, 11.1% in 2011
and 29.7% in 2012—“but the volume
will remain below 1 million units.”
➤ Employment/disposable income
“High unemployment will continue
to contribute to minimal gains in real
disposable income for 2010 (1.3%),”
the forecast says. “As unemployment
rates fall over the next two years, an
uptick in disposable income of 2.2%
is expected for 2011, followed by a
further increase of 3.6% for 2012.”
➤ Consumer prices According to the
forecast, “Inflation does not seem to
be a major concern, with consumer
prices forecast to increase only 1.8%
in 2010, 1.5% in 2011 and 2% in
2012.” BT
➤ Learn more
For more information or to read
the entire forecast, check
www.sleepproducts.org.
7
CompanyProfile
Lemoyne Sleeper builds on factory-direct roots
Expansion of wholesale, contract segments helps company grow
By Dorothy Whitcomb
A
ndrew Pearlman, president of
Lemoyne Sleeper, is committed
to three principles he believes
are crucial to the continuing success
of his family business.
First, growth should be slow and
steady. Second, fair play, integrity and
a commitment to quality—the values
his father, Jerry Pearlman, founded
the company on in 1964—are as
important today as they were then.
Third, a multipronged business model
that builds on Lemoyne’s roots as a
factory direct is vital.
Pearlman began working at Lemoyne Sleeper when he was just 15.
While he was learning the intricacies
of the business from the ground up,
he also absorbed what may have been
the most important lesson his father
had to teach.
“I learned how to treat our employees fairly and with respect. We are
very family-oriented. There are people
who work here that I’ve known longer
than I knew my dad. They’re like my
brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles,”
Pearlman says. “We can laugh and
joke around and still work very hard.
It makes a big difference.”
Jerry Pearlman died in 2002. His
partner at the time, Marty Lowy,
continued in the business, helping
Andrew Pearlman to run the
company. Lowy is now retired,
though still serves as a financial
consultant.
When Pearlman took Lemoyne’s
helm three years ago, he brought in
Donald Kreisberg as a partner and
chief executive officer. In October,
he purchased Kreisberg’s share of the
business and Kreisberg is now a business development consultant for the
company.
8 | BedTimes | November 2010
Employee loyalty Lemoyne Sleeper places high
value on its workers. Norm McClellan started
with the company in 1974 and though
semiretired, he remains a valued helper and
source of information on the factory floor.
A foundation as a factory direct
Lemoyne Sleeper employs about 50
people at its 100,000-square-foot
headquarters in Lemoyne, Pa. The
facility houses a 30,000-square-foot
factory, as well as a warehouse, office
space and a retail showroom.
“We produce about 250 pieces a
day, except in the summer when sales
for dormitories are high and we go
to about 350 pieces a day,” Pearlman
says.
In 2009, the company posted close
to $10 million in annual sales. Thus
far in 2010, sales are tracking a little
ahead of last year.
“Five years ago, we were at almost
$12 million in annual sales,” Pearlman
says. “We saw a gradual decline because of the recession and now we’re
seeing a gradual increase.”
Sales through the company’s 10
Lemoyne Sleeper retail stores account for about 45% of Lemoyne’s
annual revenue. Wholesale sales to
independent retailers and small chains
contribute another 30%. The balance
comes from the institutional, hospitality and contract segments.
In addition to the company’s mattresses, Lemoyne Sleeper stores sell
bedroom furniture and sleep accessories, including chests, mirrors, headboards and footboards, futons, sheets,
comforters and window treatments.
“Furniture and accessories are
important add-on sales,” Pearlman
says. “I’d like to see this category grow,
but things are even tougher on the
furniture side than they are with bedding right now.”
Pearlman owns half the factorydirect retail outlets; the other five
are independently operated under
licensing agreements. All are located
in Pennsylvania. Pearlman recently
closed two unprofitable stores and is
guardedly optimistic about the performance of the rest.
“I don’t see huge magic happening
as we come out of the recession,” he
says. “The key is to maintain steady
growth and, when we look at samestore sales, all are steady or up from
last year.”
The factory-direct model gives the
company an advantage over other
mattress retailers, Pearlman believes.
“As a factory direct, we have a
unique edge in the community. We’re
always bringing new product to market, which expands our retail operations, and we manufacture product
that competes well in both quality and
price with national brands,” he says.
Susan Cahill, senior vice president
of retail sales, adds, “We offer better
value for the price. The community knows that they are not paying
middleman prices and that if they
have an issue they can come back
directly to us.”
Though its foundation is as a
factory direct, Lemoyne has a robust
wholesale business, selling to about 80
dealers in Delaware, Maryland, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania
and West Virginia. While Pearlman
would like to grow the segment, he
doesn’t want to spread resources too
thin.
“The wholesale side is volumedriven and very competitive,” he says.
“We insist on maintaining our integrity in terms of quality and customer
service, so we try to focus our energy
on retailers in Pennsylvania and the
surrounding states.”
Product particulars
Cahill joined the company in 1993
as a sales associate in a Lemoyne
Sleeper store. Today, much of her
job involves making certain that the
15-person sales staff is knowledgeable about the products the company sells and can communicate
effectively with customers.
“Consumers have changed in the
last five years. They used to walk in
and purchase what they wanted; now
they are focused on need,” Cahill says.
“They don’t purchase mattresses very
frequently and a lot has evolved in the
product. It’s so important that our
customers get educated about product
and feel comfortable with their purchase.”
Lemoyne offers 45 models in five
lines at its retail stores. The midrange
Chiro-Guard collection features innerspring mattresses priced between
$999 and $1,499 for a queen set. (The
company’s innersprings start at $299.)
The company’s two premium
collections are Night of Luxury and
Natural Luxury. Night of Luxury includes seven models constructed with
various combinations of memory
foam, latex and innersprings. Natural
Luxury features five latex models.
Queen sets in the two collections retail
for between $1,299 and $3,999.
Although innerspring sales have
remained flat, the company has seen
significant growth in specialty beds.
“When you look at memory foam
compared to all other products, it’s
been our fastest growing segment,”
Pearlman says.
Geographic considerations With headquarters
in Lemoyne, Pa., Lemoyne Sleeper has 10
factory-direct stores in the state. Its
wholesale business extends to six other
states, but Andrew Pearlman (above) doesn’t
want to venture far outside the region in
order to maintain quality and service
standards.
‘As an industry, we
could do ourselves
a favor by focusing
more on the
importance of sleep.’
The company is focusing much
of its research and development on
products made using visco-elastic and
latex, with a special focus on bringing
items to market that are made from
environmentally sustainable materials.
Pearlman isn’t ready to divulge details but says he has plans to introduce
soon a product based “on ideas I’ve
never seen in the market before.”
Boosting business
In the past, the company has relied on
print and broadcast media to reach
consumers. It recently beefed up its
direct-mail efforts and has added
online advertising on newspaper and
television websites. Lemoyne also has
revamped its own website.
“We are seriously looking at the Internet as a place to focus our marketing efforts,” Pearlman says.
Becoming a Bemco licensee in 2008
added a new dimension to Lemoyne’s
wholesale business.
“While Bemco is currently a small
percentage of our
business, we see it
growing,” Pearlman says. “It gives us
another brand name to offer retailers
and also presents multimillion dollar
opportunities on the contract side of
our business.”
Lemoyne’s contract business,
which includes truck and dormitory
mattresses, as well as beds for hotels,
hospitals and nursing homes, dropped
by 2% during the recession. The
company recently hired a new sales
representative dedicated to the segment and is hopeful about restoring
lost sales.
Although Pearlman is cautiously
optimistic about the direction of the
economy as a whole, he is concerned
about attitudes within the bedding
industry that he believes work against
sustained growth.
“From a manufacturing/wholesale
perspective, my biggest challenge is
trying to maintain our commitment
to quality, integrity and service while
staying competitive,” Pearlman says.
“As an industry, we could do ourselves a favor by focusing more on the
importance of sleep and its relationship to health. As a group, we have
the power to awaken’ our customers’
desire for better health through better
sleep.” BT
9
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T: +44 [0] 1706 878 558 F: +44 [0] 1706 878 288
E: [email protected] W: infinitysleepsupportsystem.com
ProductWatch
A selection of offerings from mattress suppliers
M
attress industry suppliers are providing products
to help streamline manufacturing processes, save
both time and money and help meet other challenges of producing and selling beds today.
For a comprehensive list of products and services available to the mattress industry, check the BedTimes Supplies
Guide. The 2011 guide will be published in the December
issue of the magazine. The guide also is available online at
www.bedtimessuppliesguide.com.
Descriptions and images in this section were provided by the companies. Product claims are not endorsed
by BedTimes.
FIBERS & THREADS
a response to the problem of body impressions.
Rollator tests have shown
that mattresses topped
with Softech’s encased coils
maintain their structural
integrity and are less susceptible to body impressions than those made with
visco-elastic and polyurethane foams, according
to the company. Other
benefits include the fact
that the “encased coils stay
fresh, airy and never need
turning,” the company says.
Softech is designed for
mattress toppers but can be
used in other applications.
➤ The VertiCoil Edge
innerspring is designed
to deliver equal support
from edge to edge of the
mattress. “It firms and responds to body weight and
natural sleep movements,
offering advantages sleepers can feel,” L&P says. The
unit has a coil count 21%
higher than the industry
average. According to research conducted at Kansas
State University and the
Institute of Environmental
Research, mattresses made
with VertiCoil Edge innersprings sleep 28% cooler
than foam.
Phone 417-358-8131
Email vicki.hale@
leggett.com
Advance Fiber
Technologies Corp. (AFT)
Advance Fiber Technologies Corp. (AFT), which is
headquartered in Hackensack, N.J., offers SQ-63, an
enhanced quilting thread
designed to solve tack-andjump sewing problems.
The thread virtually eliminates repairs, as well as the
need to trim loose ends
on tack-and-jump panels,
according to the company.
Unlike traditional quilting
threads, SQ-63 is engineered to sew through the
thick layers of foam and
FR barriers used in today’s
mattresses. It is resistant to
heat and abrasion and has
lower elongation, which
yields cleanly cut ends.
Phone 800-631-1930
Email [email protected]
Contact Rick Brumfield
ADVANSA
ADVANSA, a manufacturer of polyester fiber and
filament with world headquarters in Hoofddorp,
Netherlands, is promoting
two products:
➤ Suprelle Memory, a fiber
for top-of-bed applications, is a polyester microfiber made from a modified polymer that mimics
properties of visco-elastic
foam. The patent-pending
technology can be used in
pillows to help them mold
to the sleeper’s head and
neck. The fiber provides
greater support than typical polyester fiber fill and
sleeps cooler than foams,
➤ Thermo°Cool is a
thermo-regulating yarn
that combines hollow-core
fibers with ridged-surface
fibers. Textiles made with
Thermo°Cool wick away
perspiration and accelerate
the evaporation process
via channeled fibers, while
the hollow fibers capture
air and act as a natural
insulator. The yarn offers
flexibility when developing
fabrics of any structure or
weight. Its temperatureregulating characteristics
are permanent—they will
not decrease over time
due to wear or washings,
It’s currently being used in
ticking by DesleeClama.
Phone 704-535-6139
Web www.advansa.com
Contact Tom Taylor
INNERSPRINGS
Leggett & Platt
Leggett & Platt, based in
Carthage, Mo., is touting two
innerspring technologies:
➤ The Softech innerspring
unit for mattress toppers is
Web www.bedding
components.com/softech
Contact Vicki Hale
MACHINERY &
EQUIPMENT
Farnsworth Logistics Farnsworth Logistics, with
headquarters in Lexington,
N.C., offers a variety of
fabric roll racks for product
transportation. The racks
are designed
to eliminate waste
throughout
the supply
chain. They
Fabric roll racks
are customized to roll dimensions,
enabling safe, clean and
damage-free transport of
fabric from vendor location
to manufacturing destination and quilting station.
The racks allow for forklift
unloading, increasing unloading efficiency by 75%,
By eliminating waste and
keeping textiles off the floor,
they also increase plant
safety.
Phone 404-361-8542
Email marym@
farnsworthlogistics.com
Web www.farnsworth
logistics.com
Contact Mary Mullinax
11
ProductWatch
FillMatic GmbH
FillMatic GmbH, which
is based in Mannheim,
Germany, offers two foam
handling machines:
➤ The FillMatic Model
ATE 220 Automatic
Stocking
Filling
Station
is an automated
unit that
encases
ATE 220
foam
Automatic
and
latex
Stocking Filling
cores
Station
within a
fabric sleeve. Key components of the ATE 220 are
a mattress core feeding
station, filling machine,
sewing unit and receiving
station. The foam cores
are transported via a
centering station to filling
arms, which encase the
cores in a knit stocking.
The stocking is sewn
closed and excess fabric is
trimmed. The core is then
transported to a receiving
station.
➤ The FillMatic Model
SEK 250 Profile Foam
Cutout Peeler cleans foam
cores of their profile cutouts by
brushing
them
out and
SEK 250 Profile
transFoam Cutout Peeler
porting
them to a waste collection basket. Foam core is
transported into the SEK
and through the cleaning station. After passing
crushing rollers (optional), the core arrives back
on the conveyor, ready for
another pass to clean the
other side of the foam.
Phone 952-448-1935
or [email protected]
Web www.fillmatic.com
Contact Peter Poulsen/
P. Bjerre Inc.
Global Systems Group
Gribetz International and
Porter International of
Leggett & Platt’s Global
Systems Group in Sunrise,
Fla., as well as Teknomac,
a GSG partner company,
are promoting new and
re-engineered equipment
for mattress manufacturing.
➤ The PALS-2000 SemiAutomatic Border Label
Machine from Porter
International is the latest addition to the PALS
auto-label machine series.
The PALS2000
stitches labels while
allowing
the operator to
PALS-2000
perform
Semi-Automatic
other
Border Label
tasks
Machine
between
loading and unloading. A
range of label sizes can be
programmed with zig-zag
or straight stitches. Other
key features include deskilled operation, pneumatic clip assembly to
hold labels, sewing area
up to 6 inches by 9 inches,
capability to handle
materials up to 6 inches
thick and high-speed
operation. It can yield 500
or more labels per eighthour shift.
➤ The SSB-300U HeavyDuty Binder from Porter
International handles
heavy, thick quilt panels.
The multitasking machine
builds
a
singlesided
“buckSSB-300U Heavy-Duty
et”
Binder
with
nonskid base or attaches
a border to the mattress
top panel, adding tape
and flange in the same
process. It’s well suited to
lean manufacturing as it
reduces production steps
and improves productivity, according to the
company. The SSB-300U
prepares either side of
“no-flip” bedding; has
a compound walking
foot for better control;
allows the operator to sit
down or stand up; has a
single-needle, chain-stitch
sewing head; eliminates
preflanging; and accepts
border rolls or preclosed
borders.
➤ The PVH-3500 Vertical
Border Handle System
from
Porter
International
is dePVH-3500
signed
Vertical Border
for
Handle System
highvolume production.
Zig-zag stitching secures
precut handles to the top
and bottom edges of border sections. The small,
modular design makes it
easy to incorporate into
a plant’s existing border
operation, according to
the company. Other fea-
tures include electronic,
automatic foot lift; a selfoiling sewing head; and a
needle positioner. It can
produce as many as 360
queen-size borders with
four handles during an
eight-hour shift.
➤ The PZM-2500 Compact Mattress Zipper
Machine from Porter International
adds
zippers
that
PZM-2500 Compact
join
Mattress Zipper
matMachine
tress
borders to mattress quilt
tops at the tape-edge. In
an easy sewing operation, the machine allows
you to sew the zipper to
the border section, close
the border loop, flip it
over and attach it to the
mattress top with binding
tape, the company says.
The PZM-2500 performs
as many as 2,500 stitches
per inch. It works with
specific fit-to-length zippers, as well as roll-fed
zippers. The machine
can produce 180 or more
queen-size removable-top
mattresses per eight-hour
shift.
➤ B-45 Border Quilter
from Gribetz International
improves
the efficiency
of quilted
B-45 Border
border
Quilter
work cells
by producing enough
quilted border to supply
two panel quilters. The
machine is half the width
of a typical multineedle
quilter, reducing material waste and the need
for frequent changes to
needle settings. A built-in
winder collects quilted
material. Built-in slitter
blades enable you to take
material straight from
the quilter to the border
department. The B-45’s
shortened material path
between needle bars and
slitter blades creates more
accurate patterns on mattress borders, according
to the company.
➤ The TK306A Roll Pack
Machine from Teknomac
has been redesigned to
accommodate
larger
mattresses
TK306A Roll Pack
and
Machine
offers a
range of product packaging options. It compresses
and rolls mattresses, coil
units, foam and latex. The
roll pack adjusts to handle
small or large units, creating a packaged product
with diameters of 12
inches to 16 inches. Following compression, the
machine can roll product
into more symmetrical,
circular shapes, which
enhance shipping, storing
and product presentation,
the company says. Other
updates include a heavier
compression platen,
heavier platen-drive assembly and tighter rolling
of thicker mattresses.
Phone 417-358-8131,
Ext. 4890
Email randy.metcalf@
leggett.com
Web www.gsg
companies.com.
Contact Randy Metcalf
IDM Instruments Pty. Ltd.
IDM Instruments Pty.
Ltd., a manufacturer of
testing and measuring
equipment based in Hallam, Australia, showcases
the Model F0025 Universal Testing Machine. The
unit offers twin testing
capabilities—compression
testing within the inner
frame and tensile testing
on the outer frame. It can
be used to test polyurethane foams, plastics,
rubber, textiles, springs
and more. The machine
reduces operator fatigue
and speeds production
by running an array of
tests without requiring a
change of compression
platens or tensile grips,
The testing instrument is
controlled by PC-compatible proprietary software.
Phone 61-397-08-68-85
Email info@idm
instruments.com.au
Web www.idm
instruments.com.au
Contact Julia Lucey
MAMMUT/
Nähmaschinenfabrik
Emil Stutznäcker GmbH
& Co. KG
The high-speed
MAMMUT VMK Select
Chain-Stitch Multineedle
Quilter comes from machine
maker
NähmaschinenVMK Select
Chain-Stitch
fabrik
Multineedle Quilter
Emil
Stutznäcker GmbH & Co.
KG with headquarters
in Cologne, Germany. It
has two needle bars and
64 individually program-
mable sewing positions as
standard equipment. Options include as many as
144 sewing positions on
two needle bars capable
of creating patterns at
speeds as high as 1,600
rpm. Pattern changes
require no tools, just a
touch of a button, according to the company.
Every sewing position has
top and bottom thread
cutters. The multineedle
quilter handles material
up to 106 inches wide.
Phone 952-448-1935
or [email protected]
Web www.mammut.de
Contact Peter Poulsen/P.
Bjerre Inc.
MATTRESS FABRICS
Innofa
Innofa, a mattress fabric
producer with world
headquarters in Tilburg,
Netherlands, showcases
its
patented
AirVent,
a fabric
AirVent fabric
that
improves mattress ventilation. According to
the company, the ticking
increases sleep-surface
air flow, creating a more
comfortable environment
that helps reduce tossing
and turning. Depending
on mattress construction, AirVent can improve
ventilation by 100%
over double-knit covers of similar weight, the
company says. The fabrics
have breathable air grids
whose placement varies
from design to design.
The grids can be customized to align with existing air
channels in a mattress core.
Phone 31-135-29-99-60
Web www.innofa.com
Contact Job Dröge
OTHER PRODUCTS
Albatross USA Inc.
Albatross USA Inc., a
cleaning products supplier with headquarters
in Long Island City, N.Y.,
offers NPE II, a cleaning
solvent
blend.
The
cleaning fluid
doesn’t
contain
any
NPE II
chemicals restricted or regulated by California’s
Proposition 65 (the state’s
Safe Drinking Water and
Toxic Enforcement Act of
1986). Other nonflammable spot removers
can contain chlorinated
solvents or brominated
hydrocarbons, which are
Prop 65-listed chemicals
that require the posting
of a warning sign at all
facility entrances, according to the company.
NPE II will not damage
fabrics and is suitable for
cleaning stained bedding
products.
Phone 800-233-4468
Email sales@
albatross-usa.com
Web www.albatross
-usa.com
Contact Paul Fields
13
Marketing: Mass i
Delving into demographic targeting
By Patricia Frank
f you’ve felt a big demographic
quake-shake in recent years,
you’re not imagining things.
We’re in the midst of a huge
shift. In certain large metro areas—
Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles—minorities (collectively) have become
the majority. By 2020, minorities are
expected to account for 40% of the U.S.
population.
It’s not just our complexion that’s
changing. The purchasing and influencing power of diverse age groups—
from baby boomers to members of
Generation Y—are forcing companies
to rethink how they reach all types of
consumers.
“These shifts and burgeoning segments signal a new game for marketers. One thing’s clear: It’s not business
I
as usual. Mass marketing is somewhere past its prime,” says Jim Lucas,
executive vice president and director
of retail insight and strategy for Draftfcb, a global advertising agency.
The Hispanic segment is booming,
social and youthful. Too often ignored,
brand-loyal, educated black consumers represent low-hanging fruit for
marketers. Asians, while making up a
smaller piece of the demographic pie,
are a rich slice with high incomes and
discretionary spending power.
Youthful Gen Y is mobile and hip.
They are setting up new households—
and need bedding products to do so.
This group bears watching as digital
trendsetters. They consume new media
in new ways. What’s next after Facebook?
Baby boomers, a popular target for
is out; niche is in
mattress makers—are undergoing
important changes. Instead of retiring
in masses, many are staying on the job
longer or returning to part-time work
to cope with the shaky economy. As
they age and their medical needs increase, they’re keen for sleep products
that promise comfort and wellness.
What it all means
How can you best reach these diverse
cultural and age groups? Can general
branding strategies speak to everyone
or should specific cultural messaging
be crafted for each group? For answers,
BedTimes turned to advertising pros
with specific niche expertise.
“Whereas in the last 10 to 15 years,
multicultural programs have been
considered good options, they are
now increasingly being viewed by
top corporate executives as business
imperatives,” says Saul Gitlin, executive vice president of strategic marketing services and new business at
New York-based Kang & Lee Advertising.
Niche marketing works, though
some industries and companies are
better at it than others. Take McDonald’s, for example. It has won
customer loyalty, established brand
recognition, increased market penetration and reaped significant return
on investment with sophisticated
niche marketing strategies, particularly those targeting black consumers. (See story on Page 18.)
Let’s look at some key U.S. demographic groups, their needs and
wants—and how you might best
reach them.
15
Hispanics
Young and vital, the Hispanic niche offers great potential for
mattress marketers. Made up of consumers with origins in
dozens of countries, this category may best be viewed as three
different groups distinguished by three acculturation levels.
José Villa, president of Los Angeles-based ad agency Sensis,
tive to messages about organic and environmentally sustainable
products.
Keep in mind also that the Hispanic consumer, in general,
tends to be younger—62% of Hispanics are under the age of
34; 25% are under 18, according to Villa. Targeting this group
can create lifetime brand loyalty and a high ROI over time.
Blacks
Broadly targeted marketing efforts often fail to speak successfully to black Americans, according to marketing experts.
“It’s a fallacy to say that America’s a ‘melting pot,’ ” says Al
Anderson, chairman and founder of Atlanta-based Anderson
Communications, which specializes in marketing to black
consumers. “We’re more like a salad bowl—if a tomato’s in that
salad bowl, it’s still a tomato. African-Americans have different
aspirations, consume different media and hold different values.
Blacks are not dark-skinned white people.”
Context, relevancy and a respect for differences are requisites for creating effective brand messages aimed at blacks.
“Often marketers, in attempting to target the African-American market, just take a general market message and put in a
black person or take a radio spot and use a rhythm-and-blues
music background and say ‘job done,’ explains Gene Morris,
chairman and chief executive officer of E. Morris Communications Inc. in Chicago. “But each of us is the sum total of all
of our experiences. The ‘black experience’ is different from a
general market experience.”
He continues: “We (African-Americans) tend be critical and
explains: “The ‘Un-acculturated’ are recent arrivals with Spanish as their main language. They represent 52% of the demographic. About 20% of the market is the ‘Middle Acculturated.’
They speak both English and Spanish, though Spanish may be
spoken mostly at home. The ‘Fully Acculturated’ make up 30%
of the market. They’re fluent in English and English is generally
spoken at home.”
Villa continues: “Historically, advertising campaigns targeting Hispanics have been executed in Spanish, but as numbers
in the Acculturated group demonstrate significant growth, the
focus has shifted from language to more emphasis on lifestyle
and cultural insights. In this shift beyond language, an advertiser might sponsor a musical event that features performers
avidly followed by the Hispanic population.”
Hispanic households are generally larger—with more
children but also because multiple generations are living
together—and their purchasing decisions may be driven by
constrained budgets, Villa says. One effective strategy for reaching this group is a loyalty discount or frequent-buyer program.
Typically, value-messaging works. Hispanic decision-makers
will pay more for quality that lasts.
“Households are often headed by a strong female who controls the buying,” Villa says. “She wants the best for her family.”
Because close family connections are key in Hispanic culture,
messaging that promotes strong relationships and family can
pay off. This segment, especially Hispanic moms, can be recep-
highly sensitive to advertising messages. Marketers have to be
cautious and aware to avoid patronizing or offending. Testing
your messaging and creative is crucial.”
One failed approach Morris has seen marketers take in tarwww.sleepproducts.org/bedtimes
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geting ethnic groups is creating a “United Nations ad”—jamming a variety of ethnicities and cultures together.
“That doesn’t speak to the unique cultural experiences,” he
says.
General media buys can miss the mark, too.
“Black and white audiences don’t watch the same TV programs,” Morris says. “ ‘Seinfeld,’ at its peak, was No. 1 among
white audiences—and 129th among blacks. ‘Friends’ ranked
high in the general market, but scored low among AfricanAmericans.”
Anderson adds, “Social media has been embraced by
African-Americans, who are early adopters. Younger AfricanAmericans use Twitter, Black Planet and Black America Web in
large numbers. But radio is the media that reaches better than
94% of urban black audiences.”
One way to reach educated, professional black women is
affinity-based marketing through proprietary mailing lists of
large black sororities such as Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha
Kappa Alpha.
“With more attention being paid to the Hispanic segment,
manufacturers can find that the African-American market can
be low-hanging fruit ready to harvest,” Morris says. “Look at
McDonald’s. They’re the ‘gold standard’ of success in winning
and building brand loyalty among African-Americans.”
of Hispanic and African-Americans and they’re more than
$9,000 ahead of non-Hispanic white households,” Gitlin says.
This segment is often attracted to high-end products with
lasting value and brand-name recognition.
“Right now, savvy marketers can fly under the radar in
targeting this group,” he says. “The Asian-American market
remains largely uncharted territory. Brands can enjoy what may
be the last frontier of first-mover advantage, thus establishing
Asians
Asians make up a small percentage of the U.S. population, but
tend to be better educated with higher disposable incomes than
some other groups, according to marketing experts.
“Asian-Americans exceed the median household incomes
The gold standard for niche
marketing: The Golden Arches
Praised by the advertising agencies BedTimes interviewed for its
successful outreach to black consumers, we took a closer
look at how McDonald’s has made a commitment to the
segment and achieved significant market penetration.
McDonald’s isn’t shy about its efforts, which it explains
on a micro-website, 365Black.com: “At McDonald’s, we
believe that African-American culture and achievement
should be celebrated 365 days a year—not just during Black
History Month. That’s the idea behind 365Black.com. It’s a
place where you can learn more about education, employment, career advancement and entrepreneurship opportunities, and meet real people whose lives have been touched
by McDonald’s. Plus, you can also have a chance to win
exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. So make sure you
visit often—you just might get inspired.”
As the website indicates, McDonald’s efforts to reach
black consumers go beyond TV commercials, radio spots
or viral videos aimed at the segment. The fast food giant
has created scholarships, promotes black-owned stores
and relationships with black suppliers, and sponsors
events, such as awards programs, sporting events and concerts, that appeal specifically to its black customers.
a solid position in a market that will inevitably be addressed by
all competitors.”
To reach Asians effectively, consider which specific group
you’re targeting. Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese,
Filipinos, etc. Each has different cultural considerations. For
instance, many Chinese prefer their advertising messages be in
Mandarin—even if they’re fluent in English.
Generation Y
These young trendsetters are sometimes overlooked by marketers of bedding and furniture. That’s a mistake. Members of Gen
Y—largely the children of baby boomers who were born from
1982 to 1995—are going off to college, getting married, moving
for jobs, setting up households. All those new nests require
mattresses, pillows and more.
“This audience wants a relationship with the company and
the product. Some may be economically challenged, but if a
product meets their ‘spin,’ they’ll buy it. This untapped market
is extremely brand loyal,” says Kevin Walker, managing partner
of Dallas-based CultureLab, a marketing firm that targets
young adults. Apple is one of the companies that has earned
this group’s loyalty.
Gen Y drives social media trends, influencing other demographics’ use of media platforms, outlets and technologies.
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Email: [email protected] Website: www.edgewatermachine.com
Think Facebook, which was founded and popularized by Gen
Yers. Marketers who capture the attention of Gen Y also reap
the benefit of “earned media,” as these younger consumers
spread the word about their favorite products through tweets,
text, links, forums, blogs, etc.
“Learn where Gen Ys lurk, then build a strong social media
presence there,” Walker says. “Be authentic in voice. Gen Y
wants honesty and has an extreme sense of BS—they can sniff
it out. Build a two-way relationship.”
He adds, “This group is very snobby about how things are
built and the materials used. (They want to know) the story
behind the product—and the company. What makes one
mattress more desirable over another? They’ll drill down to the
manufacturing process. They want transparency.”
Product attributes that typically resonate with Gen Y: affordable, portable, hip, cool, natural.
Baby boomers
Baby boomers—much studied and marketed to—remain a
highly desirable consumer demographic.
“Baby Boomers and older customers are the single largest economic group in America with annual spending power
of more than $2 trillion,” says Jim Gilmartin, president of
Wheaton, Ill.-based Coming of Age, an agency that targets the
demographic.
However, the recession has taken a toll on boomers. Faced
with shrinking stock portfolios, retirement savings and home
valuations, many older workers are postponing retirement or
returning to the job market after an initial retirement. For the
first time, working seniors outnumber teens in the labor force,
according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2018, it’s
predicted that 22% of older workers will continue to work
beyond the typical retirement age.
“Boomers expect value for their money. They do careful
research before they spend. They’re more responsive to ‘companies with a conscience’ than younger customers,” Gilmartin
says. “And they’re very attentive to warranty issues and a company’s reputation in honoring its warranties.”
Boomers may want value, but they are likely to tune out
litanies of product features and benefits, Gilmartin says.
“All of us have basic values and motivators that drive us,
but we manifest them differently as we move through life,” he
says. “Focusing on product features and benefits often results
in a losing strategy. Emotions drive boomers in their purchase
decisions.”
Storytelling works well with this demographic.
“Be vulnerable, honest and open about who you really are,”
Gilmartin says. “Whoever tells the best story wins.”
Don’t discount boomers use of social media, the experts
say. Consumers age 50 and older go online more frequently for
news than those under 20 and more than 90% of older consumers use the Internet to research products prior to purchase.
Other things to consider when targeting boomers:
➤ Avoid hyperbole Boomers have lived long enough to
know hype when they see it. They want unadorned facts—
and more of them. Goods and services must perform as
advertised. Boomers put a lot of faith in word-of-mouth
referrals.
➤ Be careful with imagery A 60-year-old boomer sees
her 40-something self when she looks in the mirror.
Avoid images of elderly consumers in favor of people in
middle age when selling to seniors. Likewise, avoid the
words “senior,” “baby boomer” or “boomer” in text. Treat
older consumers as individuals.
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➤ Learn more
➤ www.multicultural.com/experts The website of Multicultural Marketing Resources Inc., a New York-based
marketing, advertising, publishing and consulting firm. A
source for articles and other information to help you market to a variety of ethnic and other niche markets.
➤ www.strategicmarketsegmentation.com Blog on marketing by Linda P. Morton, a public relations professional
and professor emeritus at the University of Oklahoma.
➤www.thinkmulticultural.com Blog on multiculturalism
by José Villa, president of Los Angeles-based ad agency
Sensis.
➤“Black Is the New Green: Marketing to Affluent AfricanAmericans” by Leonard E. Burnett Jr. and Andrea Hoffman; Palgrave Macmillian
➤“Boomer Consumer: Ten New Rules for Marketing to
America’s Largest, Wealthiest and Most Influential Group”
by Matt Thornhill and John Martin; LINX Corp.
➤“Market Smart: The Best in Age & Lifestyle Specific Design” by Jim Gilmartin, David Bonner, Daniel Acuff and
Dave Siegel; HarperCollins Publishers
➤“Marketing to Hispanics: A Strategic Approach to Assessing
and Planning Your Initiative” by Terry Soto; Kaplan Publishing
➤“The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain”
by Gene D. Cohen; Basic Books
➤“Prime Time Women: How to Win the Hearts, Minds and
Business of Boomer Big Spenders” by Martha Barletta;
Kaplan Publishing
The media & the message
Today’s media landscape is dizzying—print, direct,
outdoor, broadcast, radio, transit, storefront/in-store,
banner ads, pay-per-click, social media, mobile electronic
devices. Part of niche marketing is choosing the right
media for your message.
Social media is popular with virtually all niches. Right
now, Facebook tops the social media sites visited by
Asians (57%), Hispanics (54%), blacks (48%) and whites
(43%). Users often raise their hands and self-identify
themselves—this helps advertisers target their message.
But traditional marketing still pays off and an integrated
campaign across an array of media is probably the best
bet for success.
A smart strategy may be to tap the expertise of segment specialists like the ones BedTimes interviewed to
help craft a media program that zeros in on your targets.
When all is said and done, it’s the relevant message, in
the right language, placed in the right media that wins—
just as it always has. BT
Patricia Frank, a former advertising executive, reports
on trends and lifestyle topics. She can be reached at
[email protected].
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IndustryNews
Spring Air inks deal with major Chinese producer
B
oston-based licensing group
Spring Air International has
signed an agreement with Suibao
Furniture Group, one of China’s largest mattress makers and retailers. The
Chinese government recently named
the company the country’s “Top
Brand” and “Most Valuable Mattress
Brand.”
“This is one of the most meaningful international partnerships we have
ever formed,” said Eric Spitzer, Spring
Air senior vice president. “The Suibao
Group is not only a major force in
China in terms of its size, reach, brand
power and technological strength, it’s
also the first bedding manufacturer in
China to introduce and distribute to
its own base of mattress stores.”
Suibao Furniture Group will sell
a full line of Spring Air products
through its retail locations.
Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Guangzhou, the Chinese
company has additional manufacturing plants in Hebei, Shanghai and
Sealing the deal Eric Spitzer, (left) senior vice president of Spring Air International, and Deng
Zhi, chief executive officer and chairwoman of Suibao Furniture Group, shake on their new
licensing agreement, which will put Spring Air brand mattresses in the Chinese company’s
many retail outlets.
Tianjing. It operates 1,300 retail outlets in the eastern half of the country.
The company rose to prominence in
the 1990s, when it adopted state-ofthe-art manufacturing methods in
mattress production and introduced
mattress concept stores.
“Our relationship with Spring Air
will bring to Chinese customers a
Lenzing expands production of fibers
T
he Lenzing Group, a supplier of cellulosic fibers headquartered
in Lenzing, Austria, is investing $166 million in manufacturing projects. The initiative is a response to increased demand for
its products, the company said. Applications of its specialty fibers
Lenzing Modal and Tencel have tripled since 2000.
“We expect moisture-managing cellulose fibers to be increasingly
in demand in the future, as the world’s population continues to grow
and areas of land used for cotton cultivation are directly competing
with land used to cultivate foodstuffs,” said Dieter Eichinger, who
oversees Lenzing’s Textile Fibers business unit.
The company is investing in pulp supply operations in
Austria and fiber production and factory renovation in Austria
and England.
Lenzing plans a significant increase in production capacity
for Modal—all fiber production at its headquarters facility will be Modal. Production of Tencel will increase at the
company’s plant in Heiligenkreuz, Austria, and will double
at its Grimsby, England, facility. The expansion projects are
expected to be completed in 2011.
new collection of innovative, quality mattress products from a wellrecognized and respected U.S. brand,”
said Deng Zhi, chief executive officer
and chairwoman of Suibao Furniture
Group. “We’re very excited to become
a member of the Spring Air International family. It’s a milestone in our
development.”
Innofa opens facility
outside Mexico City
Knitted mattress fabric supplier Innofa has expanded its
global production capabilities with a third manufacturing facility. The Tilburg, Netherlands-based
company’s newest plant is located in Puebla, Mexico,
which is within a two-hour drive of Mexico City.
Innofa Mexico S.A. de C.V. began knit production in October and is adding dyeing and finishing
departments. The facility is managed by Andreas
Flatschacher. The plant is producing fabric mainly for
the Mexican market, but also will service mattress
manufacturers in the Caribbean, Central America and
South America.
In addition to its manufacturing operation at its
headquarters in Tilburg, Innofa has a manufacturing
facility in Eden, N.C. that operates as Innofa USA.
27
IndustryNews
Mattress Firm unveils climate-controlled bed
S
leep-shop chain Mattress Firm has
introduced YuMe, a climatecontrolled mattress that provides
separate cooling and heating options for
both sides of the bed.
The Houston-based retailer introduced the proprietary mattress at the
Texas State Fair held Sept. 24 to Oct. 17
in Dallas. The bed incorporates thermo-
electronic technology from Northfield,
Mich.-based Amerigon into a luxury
mattress manufactured by Sleep Inc. in
Corsicana, Texas.
“We explored multiple innovative
options before developing something
truly unique for our customers,” said
Dave Brummett, Mattress Firm vice
president of product development.
“We are excited to offer a product that
not only pushes the bedding industry,
but addresses a significant factor in the
sleep environment. Studies show that
the right temperature can help you fall
asleep faster, stay asleep longer and get
better quality sleep.”
The heating and cooling technology, which is operated with two wireless
remotes, is the same as that found in
luxury automobile seats. It uses ambient air to warm and cool the bed’s
surface.
The all-foam mattress has a 1-inch
visco-elastic comfort layer with 30%
renewable content derived from
coconut oil. The bed has a ventilated
Climate Diffusion Layer beneath the
visco layer and is upholstered in threedimensional spacer fabric.
“This is an unprecedented product
that marries proven technology from
very different industries,” said Steve
Stagner, Mattress Firm chief executive
officer. “It combines expertise from
the finest automotive technology with
luxury bedding materials to give consumers personalized control over what
may be keeping them up at night.”
Correction
A Las Vegas Market report in the
September issue of BedTimes
incorrectly represented the licensing arrangement for the Ernest
Hemingway Fine Bedding line,
introduced by North Brunswick,
N.J.-based Mattress Development Co., parent company of
the Eclipse and Eastman House
Brands. The licensor of the Ernest
Hemingway collection of products is Hemingway Ltd. through
New York-based Fashion Licensing of America Inc. The licensor
approached Mattress Development Co. and asked it to produce
the line, said Stuart Carlitz, president of the mattress manufacturer
and licensing group.
Sleep to Live adds West Coast plant
S
leep to Live, a division of mattress
maker Kingsdown Inc., has opened a
new manufacturing facility in Stockton,
Calif. The 50,000-square-foot plant
brings the company’s domestic manufacturing plants to six. Kingsdown has
two international facilities.
“The Stockton plant helps us provide
even faster service and fulfillment for
our growing brands on the West Coast,”
said Eric Hinshaw, chairman and chief
executive officer of the company, which
has headquarters in Mebane, N.C.
“Through this distribution hub, we
can deliver our products to more
retailers in a region where we are
expanding our presence.”
The plant, which is expected to be
fully operational by the end of November, will employ between 30 and 35
full-time staff.
Shorts
Natura holds pet bed contest
Mattress maker
Natura World
held a “Reclaim
Your Bed” pet
photo contest
in October.
Contestants
posted pictures
of their pets at the Cambridge,
Ontario-based company’s
Facebook page and a winner
was to be selected on Nov. 1
to receive a Natura Natural Pet
Bed. The beds are filled with
granulated latex and have a
moisture-wicking wool top,
which blocks the growth of dust
mites and bacteria. “Pampering
your pooch or kitty with a luxuriously comfortable, naturally
healthy bed of their own is a
guilt-free way to reclaim your
own sleep sanctuary,” said Julia
Rosien, Natura World communications director.
U.S. mattress sales up 6.3%
The U.S. bedding industry
saw unit sales (mattresses and
foundations) increase 6.3% in
August over the same month
in 2009, according to the most
recent Bedding Barometer, a
monthly sales trend report from
the International Sleep Products
Association. The dollar value
of those sales rose 7.9% over
August 2009. The average unit
selling price inched up 1.4%.
DUBAI
29
IndustryNews
Carpenter pillow video is YouTube sensation
A video done for sleep accessories and industry components
supplier Carpenter Co. has quickly gone viral, reaching millions of viewers and earning a “Most Favorited”
designation on YouTube.
The music video, “2 Guys 600 Pillows,” was posted
on YouTube Sept. 14. By Sept. 15, it had 85,000 views
and was featured on YouTube’s home page among the
“Most Favorited,” according to the company. By early
October, it had more than 2.7 million views. To watch
the video, check
www.youtube.com/watch?v=01TL9bUWr6I.
The video’s song, “My Favorite Pillow” is written
and performed by self-described “internetainers” Rhett
& Link, a creative team with a strong online following. The video combines a catchy tune and lyrics with
special effects involving more than 600 pillows and
mattress toppers. Along the way, viewers learn that
their old pillows are laden with sweat, dead skin cells
and other unpleasant things. At the end of the video,
Rhett & Link urge viewers to go to Carpenter’s website,
www.sleepbetter.org, to watch another version.
To date, hundreds of thousands of visitors have
clicked over to Carpenter’s website, not just to see the
video, but also to read articles about how and when to
replace old pillows.
“We are obviously thrilled about the massive popularity of our first viral video, but the fact that the video
has communicated one of our key industry messages
so clearly is most gratifying,” said Dan Schecter, vice
president of consumer products for the Richmond, Va.based company. “It is clear from the response and traffic
on Sleepbetter.org that viewers understand the benefits
of getting new bedding equipment and they are actively
looking for more information for purchasing.”
Short
Bargoose lock seals out bugs
Bargoose Home Textiles, with
headquarters in Lynnbrook, N.Y.,
has added a patent-pending
Zip-N-Stick lock to its BedBug
Solution line of mattress protectors for the hospitality industry.
The zipper tape locks bedbugs
in or out, the company says. The
housekeeping staff knows the
seal is engaged when the tape is
fastened securely over the zipper
pull. The company’s protector line includes a waterproof,
six-gauge vinyl cover for the
box spring and “a water-vapor
transmissive” mattress cover fabricated from stretch polyester knit
with urethane.
Jacquard Textile adds knitting capacity
M
attress fabric supplier Jacquard Textile Group Ltd. has added
a $10 million knitting facility to a manufacturing
plant at its headquarters
in Phetchaburi, Thailand.
The new facility has
42 knitting machines, as
well as in-line finishing
Knitting now Jacquard Textile Group Ltd. expects to produce
and packaging equipment more than 546,000 yards of knit mattress fabrics a month at its
with the capacity to pro- headquarters plant in Phetchaburi, Thailand.
duce more than 546,000
yards of finished goods per month.
The company is celebrating its 10th anniversary of serving mattress manufacturers in Asia and Australia. It was founded in 2000 with technology and design
support from Stellini Textile Group in Italy.
Jacquard Textile Group also has factories in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and
Coimbatore, India. The company has not released details but construction of a
fourth plant is planned for 2011.
31
IndustryNews
Gribetz International turns 70
Q
uilting equipment supplier
Gribetz International, part of
Leggett & Platt’s Global Systems
Group in Sunrise, Fla., is celebrating
its 70th anniversary. The company was
founded by Dan Gribetz, who began
manufacturing king-size, lock-stitch
quilting machines in 1940.
The Gribetz brand of quilters
counts a number of milestones in its
history. In the 1970s, it developed a
positive drive to accommodate thick
quilt packages. In the 1980s, Gribetz
pioneered the first three needle-bar
quilter for sewing plush, 12-inch patterns. Its first computerized quilter,
www.starsprings.com
the Gribetz Ultra 12, allowed manufacturers to create 360-degree patterns
and the tack-and-jump quilting style.
In the late 1980s, Gribetz produced
the multineedle chain-stitch machine,
the DG2000 series.
In the 1990s, the company’s highspeed machinery introductions and
new software helped reduce waste
and better organize quilt production. Its newest Axiom quilter is
even faster and its dual-bridge,
multihead sewing system enhances
creativity and productivity, according to the company.
Short
Sapsa revamps look, website
Innovations and technology for the future
SWEDEN
BRASIL
POLAND
USA
Paris-based industry supplier
Sapsa Latex has created a
new visual identity and
redesigned its website,
www.sapsalatex.com. The
new logo—with a fluid,
dynamic “S” in a midnight
blue, pebble-shaped color
block—is intended to convey
relaxation and sleep. The
phrase “Original since 1929”
evokes the company’s long
heritage and continuous
manufacturing process. The
website provides a range
of product information,
research and videos and
can be translated into seven
languages. Sapsa Latex has
an 80-year history of manufacturing latex foam cores for
various uses.
IndustryNews
Carpenter Co. offering CertiPUR-US foams
C
omponents supplier and sleep accessories producer Carpenter Co. of
Richmond, Va., is providing CertiPURUS certified foams for bedding and
upholstered furniture.
“At Carpenter Co., we continually
apply new technologies and the highest
standards of quality for our cushioning
products,” said Scott Pugh, director of
Carpenter’s Reinhart Technical Center.
“The CertiPUR-US certification gives
our customers assurance that our focus
remains on quality, performance, comfort and the environment.”
CertiPUR-US is a voluntary testing,
analysis and certification program of
the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane
Foam, based in Loudon, Tenn. Certified products must be low-emission for
indoor air quality and made without
ozone-depleters, formaldehyde, PBDEs,
prohibited phthalates, lead, mercury and
other materials of concern. CertiPURUS also sets baseline standards for physical attributes that contribute to foam
comfort and durability.
Other flexible polyurethane
foam producers participating in the
Short
Classic Brands aids ‘Extreme Makeover’ home
Specialty sleep maker Classic Brands donated Dormia Classic memory foam
mattresses to furnish nine bedrooms of Girls Hope of Baltimore, a group home
for girls. Construction of the facility was featured on the ABC television series
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” in September. “Classic Brands has a long history of community service…and when we received the call from the design team
at ‘Extreme Makeover,’ we felt honored to get involved in their Baltimore build,”
said Mike Zippelli, chief executive officer of the Jessup, Md.-based company.
hello
feel natural
program include Advanced Urethane
Technologies/Sleep Innovations, Flexible Foam Products Inc., Future Foam,
FXI Foamex Innovations, Healthcare/
HK Foam, Hickory Springs Mfg. Co.,
NCFI Polyurethanes, Premier Foam
Inc., Prestige Fabricators and Sinomax
USA Inc.
We are Enkev, and we make quality products
from natural fibres. Since our foundation we have
become the leading processor of natural fibres.
We make 100% natural filling materials for the
mattress industry. We use the best natural sources
to make our products. Nature constantly replenishes
these raw materials, which are unsurpassed in
resilience, durability and ventilation. Enkev supplies
the complete environmentally friendly alternative
to synthetic materials.
These all natural products go well with our skin;
they are extremely comfortable. Our products
therefore deliver excellent benefits to both your
customer and the world we live in.
We look forward to receiving your inquiries through
www.enkev.com
natural fibres
ENKEV_Ad_177,8 x 123,8mm.indd 2
19-01-2010 18:54:51
Simmons QR tags launch at JCPenney
S
immons Bedding Co.’s new Quick
Response tagging application for its
Beautyrest line has rolled out nationwide
in partnership with department store
JCPenney.
The QR tags are a small barcode that
can be read by smart phones. Scanning
the tag makes additional online information, images and videos easily available
to consumers. Smart phone owners first
must download a free Microsoft tag
reader at http://gettag.mobi in order
to begin scanning QR tags with their
phone.
“Mattress shopping can be an overwhelming experience given the plethora
of brands and the fact that it is often an
infrequent and big-ticket purchase,” said
John Tighe, senior vice president and
general merchandise manager of home at JCPenney, which
has headquarters in Plano, Texas. “QR tags
aim to assist with the process and provide
an enhanced customer experience, leading
to a richer and more informed dialogue
between the consumer and the sales associate.”
Using the Simmons QR tags, consumers
can see additional images of a bed, watch
videos about its construction and access
detailed information about components.
“QR tags bring point-of-sale to life,
educating and engaging the consumer
at the point where purchase decisions
are made,” said Tim Oakhill, executive
vice president of marketing for Atlantabased Simmons. “We’re proud of the fact
that Simmons is the first major mattress
manufacturer to have QR tag technology
ready for retailers to incorporate into
their store environments.”
A. Lava & Son Co.
Introduces Our New Kit Line
xQ
Centrix
Stretch K
uilts
&
ck
a
T
nits
Jum
p
icks
T
c
ani
Org
Earth Be
d
ine
ue L
l
a
V
4800 S. Kilbourn Ave.
Chicago, Il 60632
A. Lava & Son Co.
Sewing Threads and Bedding Textiles
www.alavason.com
[email protected]
Ph: (800) 777-5282
Fax: (773) 254-0800
35
IndustryNews
Shorts
Vi-Spring goes with British wool
Mattress maker ViSpring said it has
committed to using
“only the highest quality, pure
British fleece wool
across its entire
collection, with
real Shetland Isle
wool being used in
its top-of-the-range
beds.” The move
comes in support
of the Campaign for Wool launched earlier this year
by the Prince of Wales. Wool is a natural, sustainable
fiber that lends softness, warmth and resilience to
beds, the company said. “We’re proud to be using one
of Britain’s finest natural resources while supporting a
campaign that aims to increase demand for wool and
raise its worth to upland farmers,” said Mike Meehan, managing director of the Devon, England-based
company.
American Textile celebrates 85 years
American Textile Co. is marking 85 years in business this year and celebrated with a party Oct. 2 at
its headquarters in Duquesne, Pa. “American Textile
Co. has remained strong throughout many changes in
the economic climate,” said Reid Ruttenberg, American Textile Co. chairman. “I attribute our success to
several factors: anticipating market needs, developing
new product line extensions and providing valuebased solutions to our customers.” The company
supplies mattress and pillow protectors, bed pillows
and mattress pads to retailers in the United States and
Canada under brand names such as Aller-Ease, Rest
Right, DermaTherapy and Cool Sensations.
One-Stop Shop
for ALL Expendable
Parts Needs
Atlanta Parts Depot, a division of Atlanta Attachment Company,
has recently purchased the inventory of a major parts supplier and
currently stocks over $5.5 million of spare parts.
• Needles • Hooks • Loopers • Spreaders • Knives & more
A few of the product lines we handle:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Atlanta Attachment Company
Cash
• Gribetz
Galkin
• Brother
Juki
• Singer
Mitsubishi
• W&G
Porter
• Union Special
Pegasus
• United
Yamato
• Consew
Pfaff
• Schmetz
Organ
• Groz-Beckert
Efka
• SunStar
Tajima
• Meistergram
Contact a sales representative to negotiate a special discount
when signing your annual expendable parts agreement.
As the leading supplier of automated sewing workstations, we are proud to offer a 72 hours or FREE policy.
AAC pledges unequaled service and support to our valued customers. We pledge to maintain inventories of the
recommended expendable spare parts for our automated workstations and to ship those replacement parts within
72 hours. If the expendable replacement parts are not shipped within 72 hours they will be... Free of Charge!
Contact sales for the recommended spare parts list and the model workstations covered.
www.atlantapartsdepot.com • [email protected]
Atlanta Parts Depot ® is a division of Atlanta Attachment Company ®
© 2010 Atlanta Attachment Company. All rights reserved.
10089043010
Atlanta Parts Depot ®
362 Industrial Park Drive
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
1-866-885-5100
New Strategies for Reshaping Your Business
RegisteR
eaRly
and save!
Keynote: ‘Blue Oceans’
– Navigating your
way to undiscovered
markets
The All-Industry Event for Mattress
Manufacturers, Retailers, and Suppliers
l
l
l
l
Discover how to transform your business by changing the way you interact with customers
Hear a panel of mattress manufacturing and retail executives as they discuss the issues and obstacles to establishing more productive, collaborative partnerships
Learn about the latest developments in used mattress recycling, including
the results of a recent pilot program, retailer involvement and emerging
trends
Hear important information for manufacturers and retailers on how the
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act will affect your business
Exhibits included!
Dr. Roch Parayre, business strategist and fellow
at the Wharton School
will share how companies such as Netflix and
Southwest Airlines
have achieved industry
dominance, not by
battling competitors,
but by identifying “blue
oceans,” the untapped
innovative market spaces
ready for growth. Find
how how you can help
your business flourish
by uncovering your own
“blue oceans.”
March 16-18, 2011 | St. Petersburg, FL
Timely, information-packed
sessions with expert guest
speakers
Manufacturer-Retailer Panel: How Can We
Work Better…Together? In a candid discussion
you’ll hear what industry executives have to say about
the issues, the obstacles and their perspectives on how
retailers and manufacturers can establish more productive, collaborative partnerships to grow the mattress
business for all.
Put Money in Your Pocket: Redesigning the
Customer Experience. Businesses from car dealer-
ships to hospitals have achieved excellent results by
making dynamic changes to their customer experiences.
Join Mike Wittenstein to find out how applying customer experience design concepts to the mattress business
can mean big gains for manufacturers, suppliers and
retailers.
The Power of Social and Digital Media. Your
social media presence is more important than ever.
Hear from the Better Sleep Council’s new public
relations firm about the importance of using social and
digital media to communicate with the masses. Also
learn why video is becoming the platform of choice to
reach consumers.
The Sustainable Mattress.
Recycling continues to
be an important issue for the mattress industry, as more
communities are either refusing used mattresses in
landfills or are charging large disposal fees. Hear about
ongoing used mattress recycling programs, new
mattress recyclers and technology, retailer involvement
and other efforts to address these issues.
CPSIA Implementation: Am I Complying?
The
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008
included many new testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and presents significant
questions manufacturers, importers, distributors and
retailers of consumer products. This overview will help
you navigate the new rules and understand your new
obligations.
Network and Build Relationships
at Relaxed Social Events!
Connect with customers,
colleagues, and business partners.
Don’t miss the annual
ISPA Golf Tournament!
ISPA Women’s Network
Cocktail Reception
Calling all women in the
mattress industry!
Help celebrate the new ISPA Women’s Network, a volunteer networking and professional
group established to serve the rapidly growing
number of women in all sectors of the industry
— manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers!
Renaissance Vinoy®
Resort & Golf Club
Bring your family or guest to this elegant
hotel on Tampa Bay featuring a championship golf course and spa just minutes
from the excitement of St. Pete Beach.
Discounted hotel rates for Conference
attendees. Book your hotel room now —
before they sell out!
To register and for conference
and hotel details, visit
www.sleepproducts.org/
IndustryConference
One spouse/guest registration is free (receptions only) with each full conference registration! Early bird registration by February 4, 2011
NewsMakers
Mattress Firm co-founder rejoins retail chain
I
ndustry veteran Steve
of Simmons Bedding
Fendrich has returned
Co. Prior to that, he was
to Mattress Firm as chief
president and chief exstrategy officer, a new poecutive officer of retailer
sition for the retailer. He
Sleep Country USA.
reports to Steve Stagner,
“I have a long profeschief executive officer
sional and personal
of the Houston-based
history with Steve that
company.
dates back over 18
Fendrich was a coyears,” Stagner said.
“I trust in his vision,
founder of Mattress
leadership and ability
Firm, which opened
Steve Fendrich
to strategically drive
with one store in 1986.
sustainable and profitHe spent 15 years with
able growth. Steve’s experience and
the company, focusing primarily on
relationships across the industry
finance, franchising and real estate
afford him a unique position to help
functions. Most recently, he was
us accomplish our aggressive goals.
president and chief operating officer
We are excited to have an in-house
expert who will keep the company
focused through the formulation
and execution of our strategy.”
Mattress Firm has more than 560
stores in 38 markets.
In his new role, Fendrich is
responsible for the strategic planning and oversight of Mattress
Firm’s growth plans, which include
a focus on new stores, new markets,
multichannel sales, franchising and
acquisitions.
“I am thrilled to be coming back
to my roots and rejoining Mattress
Firm,” Fendrich said. “I can’t think
of a more exciting opportunity in
the industry than this one.”
Atlanta Attachment
adds QC specialist
M
attress machinery
supplier Atlanta
Attachment Co. has hired
David Crowe as a quality control specialist
responsible for managing
the company’s quality
David Crowe
control department. The
Lawrenceville, Ga.-based company describes its facility
as state of the art, with coordinate measuring machines
(CMM), gauge blocks and hand-held measuring devices.
Crowe has 22 years of experience in computer numerical controls (CNC) programming and machining, CMM
programming and quality control. He has worked for ZF
Industries, Siemens and the Tool & Gage House.
Comfort Solutions names sales VP
Comfort Solutions, a licensing group with headquarters in Willowbrook, Ill., has appointed Bill
Wingard to the new post vice president of sales.
Wingard’s primary area of responsibility is managing Comfort Solutions’ Rooms To Go account. He
reports to David Binke, executive vice president of
sales.
A veteran industry sales executive, Wingard
served as an account manager for the former Spring
Air Co. from 2001 to 2009. Prior to that, he worked
for Serta for eight years.
“Before joining Comfort Solutions, Bill spent 17
years in the industry honing his expertise in overseeing major retail accounts and managing sales
staff,” Binke said. “We know Bill will make significant contributions to the growth of our business
with key accounts.”
41
Calendar
November
Nov. 24-25
The Sleep Event
Business Design
Centre
London, U.K.
[email protected] www.thesleepevent.com
2011
January
Jan. 15-18
The Canadian Home
Furnishings Market
International Centre
Toronto, Canada
Phone 514-866-3631
[email protected]
www.tchfm.com
Jan. 18-23
IMM Cologne
Koelnmesse
Cologne, Germany
49-221-821-3387
[email protected]
www.imm-cologne.com
Jan. 24-28
Las Vegas Market
World Market Center
Las Vegas, Nev., U.S.
Phone 888-416-8600
[email protected]
www.lasvegasmarket.com
FEBRUARY
Feb. 18-20
Tupelo Furniture
Market
Mississippi & Tupelo
complexes
Tupelo, Miss., U.S.
Phone 662-842-4442
tfm@tupelo
furnituremarket.com
www.tupelo
furnituremarket.com
March
➤ March 16-18
ISPA Industry
Conference
& Exhibition
Vinoy Renaissance
St. Petersburg Resort
& Golf Club
St. Petersburg, Fla., U.S.
Phone 703-683-8371
clyons@sleep
products.org
www.sleepproducts.org
April
April 2-7
High Point Market
International Home
Furnishings Center &
other locations
High Point, N.C., U.S.
Phone 336-869-1000
dawn@highpoint
market.org
www.highpoint
market.org
May
Las Vegas Market The show
will be Jan. 24-28 at the
World Market Center in Las
Vegas.
May 25-28
Interzum Cologne
Koelnmesse
Cologne, Germany
Phone 49-221-821-3816
[email protected]
www.koelnmesse.de
www.interzum.com
ISPANews
ISPA hires membership & communications VP
M
ary Helen Uusimaki has joined
the International Sleep Products
Association as vice president of membership and communications.
Uusimaki has more than 15 years of
experience in sales, marketing, customer
service and retention and has a demonstrated ability to identify the evolving
interests and diverse needs of national
and international clients, ranging from
Fortune 500 companies to nonprofit
organizations and trade associations.
Uusimaki brings a wealth of experience
spanning the sales and service spectrum
to include communications, grassroots
campaigns and business development.
“Mary Helen’s proven track record
of building rapport and trust with new
tion, as well as employee
and existing clients will
development. Earlier in her
strengthen ISPA’s ability to
career, Uusimaki worked in
develop and retain mattress
sales and recruiting posiindustry members, which
tions.
are the very lifeblood of an
“I am thrilled with this
organization like ours. Mary
new opportunity and look
Helen will help us make
forward to contributing to
sure that ISPA is listening to
ISPA’s growth and success,”
and serving our members’
Uusimaki said. “I underneeds,” said ISPA President
Mary Helen Uusimaki
stand the importance of
Ryan Trainer.
communicating customer value to new
Prior to joining ISPA, Uusimaki
and existing clients. I look forward to
worked for the Washington Speakers
Bureau representing thought leaders,
meeting the industry and learning how
the ISPA team can better serve their
authors, journalists and other promineeds during these changing times.”
nent figures in business, government,
sports and entertainment. Her focus
Uusimaki lives in Alexandria, Va.,
was on customer growth and retenwith her husband and two children.
Providing the Foundation for a Stronger
Future for the Mattress Industry
For more information about the benefits of membership,
visit www.sleepproducts.org/Join
Shorts
Industry Conference sponsorships available
The ISPA Industry Conference and Exhibition, coming
up March 16-18 in St. Petersburg, Fla., is a unique
opportunity for industry suppliers to showcase their
products and services to mattress manufacturers and
for finished product manufacturers to position their
brand in front of key bedding retailers. There are exhibit and sponsorship options to fit every budget—all
will help you highlight your company. Sponsorships
are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t
delay. For more information, contact Kerri Bellias,
ISPA vice president of sales, at 336-945-0265 or
[email protected]. Or check
www.sleepproducts.org/industryconference.
Make plans to participate in ISPA’s Interzum
Efforts are under way to help members of the International Sleep Products Association reach mattress
buyers from around the world through ISPA’s Bedding
Centre at Interzum Cologne May 25-28 in Cologne,
Germany. To provide the most affordable access to
the show, ISPA and show organizer Koelnmesse are
ng up to offer turnkey booths with pavilion services
in the ISPA Bedding Centre. To help with planning, ISPA needs to know as soon as possible which
companies are interested in participating. For more
information, contact Catherine Lyons, ISPA senior
vice president of finance and operations, at
[email protected] or 703-683-8371.
ISPA board OKs new group, among other actions
The board of the International Sleep Products Association met in mid-September in Charleston, S.C., to
discuss a number of industry initiatives. Among other
things, the board:
➤ Approved the formation of a new industry group
to be called the ISPA Women’s Network, which
will hold a kickoff meeting during ISPA’s Industry
Conference and Exhibition March 16-18 in St.
Petersburg, Fla.
➤ Discussed the Better Sleep Council’s efforts to
become active in social media, including the new
“Suite 7” Web series
➤ Approved a multiyear strategy for improving state
law label efforts in light of the current bedbug
crisis in the United States
➤ Provided feedback on ISPA’s ongoing efforts to
improve the recycling of used mattresses
➤ Discussed pending regulatory proceedings by the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and
their possible impact on mattress manufacturers.
Your Best Bet in the Bedding Business
To Reach Manufacturers
● The only magazine devoted
exclusively to the mattress
industry – since 1917
● Reaching manufacturers that account
for more than 95% of the total
U.S. mattress volume
● Widely viewed by readers and advertisers as “the Bible of the bedding industry”
● Read by the key decision makers –
over 90% have purchasing responsibility
For information, contact Kerri Bellias, Vice President of Sales
[email protected] • (336)945-0265
45
AdvertisersIndex
A. Lava & Son Co.
Steve Appelbaum
800-777-5282
(800-777-LAVA)
www.alavason.com
35
Amelco Industries Ltd.
Andreas Georgallis
357-22-484444
www.amelco.com
Atlanta Attachment Co. Inc. Hank Little
770-963-7369
www.atlatt.com
26
C2-1, 37
Bloomingburg Spring 36
& Wire Form
Vickie Schwarm
740-437-7614
www.bloomingburgspring.com
BLR
Martin Leroux
819-877-2092
www.blrlumber.com
Boyteks Tekstil AS
M. Nebi Dogan
90-533-685-6041
www.boyteks.com
17
24-25
Costa International
Daniel Vazquez
305-885-9761
www.costa-international.com
41
Diamond Needle Corp.
Abe Silberstein 800-221-5818
www.diamondneedle.com
40
Duroflex International George Mathew
415-990-4343
36
Edgewater Machine Co. Inc. Roy Schlegel
718-539-8200
www.edgewatermachine.com
19 46 | BedTimes | November 2010
Enkev Marc Dokter
31-299-364355
www.enkev.com
34
Enriquez Materials & Quilting Inc.
Silvia Enriquez
323-725-4955
www.enriquezquilting.com
43
Global Systems Group
Russ Bowman
954-846-0300
www.gsgcompanies.com
C3
Hengchang Machinery Factory
Ren Ying
86-769-83307931
www.hcjixie.com
22
Hickory Springs Mfg. Co.
Rick Anthony
828-328-2201
www.hickorysprings.com
2
John Marshall & Co. Ltd. Peter Crone
64-3-341-2004
www.joma.co.nz
33
Kenn Spinrad Inc.
Randy Weinstock
800-373-0944
www.spinrad.net
40
Pacific Spring Inc. Victor Nguyen
626-272-8882 47
P.T. Dunlopillo Indonesia Sham Bharwani
62-21-3858626
www.dunlopillo.co.id
41
P.T. RubberFoam Indonesia
Andreas Janssen
62-21-53662190
www.rubberfoam.co.id
30
Quilting Inc.
Mark Gibney
800-358-0153
www.quiltinginc.com
42
SABA North America LLC
Jim Turner
810-824-4964
www.saba-adhesives.com
4
Simalfa Darren Gilmore
973-423-9266
www.simalfa.com
21
SpringCo. Inc.
Carlos Luna
305-887-3782
28
MPT Group Ltd.
Andrew Trickett
44-1706-878558
www.mptgroup.com
10
Starsprings International
50
Kai Christensen
46-513-17800
www.starsprings.com
Subiñas Confort S.L. 29
Javier Subiñas
34-94-416-04-40
www.subinas.es
23
New England Needles Inc.
Thomas Lees
800-243-3158
www.newenglandneedles.com
31
Therapedic Sleep Products
Gerry Borreggine
800-314-4433
www.therapedic.com
C4
OHM Systems Inc.
Catherine Anbil
513-771-0008
www.ohmworld.com
47
Tietex International Ltd. Wade Wallace
800-843-8390
www.tietex.com Latex Systems Kitti Charoenpornpanichkul
66-2-326-0886, Ext. 204
www.latexsystem.com
6
Classifieds
For Sale
TAPE-EDGE MACHINES, MULTINEEDLE AND SINGLENEEDLE QUILTERS, long-arm label machines, sergers, etc.
Contact Victor LeBron, American Plant and Equipment. Phone 864-574-0404; Fax 864-576-7204; Cell 864-590-1700;
Email [email protected];
Web www.americanplantandequipment.com.
REBUILT AND RECONDITIONED MULTINEEDLE
QUILTING MACHINES. Specializing in PATHE precision
parts and service. Technical consultants. SEDCO. Phone 201-567-7141; Fax 201-567-5515.
TAPE-EDGE MACHINES, QUILTERS AND
MISCELLANEOUS SEWING MACHINES. Contact Frank Carlino, U.S. Mattress Machinery. Phone 815-795-6942; Fax 815-795-2178; Email [email protected].
Spare Parts for Spuhl F65 Coiler and Spuhl AM115 ASSEMBLER. For more information, call Doug at
204-772-0000 or email [email protected].
Investment Opportunity
Mattress Manufacturing Investor Wanted.
Nashville, Tenn. area. $50,000 to $98,000 needed or will offer
equity for machinery. Contact [email protected].
Place your classified ad today!
Reach mattress industry professionals around the world
with your advertising message through the BedTimes
Classifieds. Rates: $3 per word for the first 100 words
and $2.50 thereafter; minimum charge of $75. “Blind”
box number: $50 per insertion. Ad copy and payment
must be received by the first of the month preceding
publication. Send ads and payment to BedTimes
Classifieds, 501 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1917.
Contact Debbie Robbins, advertising production
manager, for additional information.
Phone 336-342-4217; Fax 336-342-4116;
Email [email protected].
Pacific Spring Inc.
An American company
importing springs
from Cambodia
6.5” H 312 Bonnel units
7” H 336 Bonnel units
8” H pocket units
Pacific Spring Inc.
Victor Nguyen, VP of Marketing & Sales
6418 E. Washington Blvd.
Commerce Ca. 90040
Tel: (626) 272-8882
Fax: (626) 226-4166
47
TheLastWord
Bedbugs dampen dating scene
Widespread bedbug infestations have kept countless people up at night,
caused temporary
business closures and
changed people’s travel
habits. But here’s an
area we didn’t expect
to be touched by the
annoying insects: dating. Yet, a poll by AreYouInterested.com,
a dating application for Facebook, shows that singles
have bedbugs on the brain:
● 56% would leave their date if they noticed bedbug
bites on his or her skin
● 45% would use bedbugs as an excuse to get out of a
bad date
● 47% would ask if their date had bedbugs before
going back to his or her place
● 45% would cancel a date if someone admitted to a
bedbug infestation
● 35% have changed their usual dating spots because
of a fear of bedbugs.
“I never imagined using the words ‘bedbugs’ and
‘dating’ in the same sentence but with the recent
widespread infestation, many singles are taking extra
precautions,” says Clifford Lerner, chief executive officer of New York-based SNAP Interactive Inc., creators
of AreYouInterested.com. “While asking about bedbugs
may create a slightly awkward and embarrassing first
encounter when meeting a date, our survey shows
many singles believe it’s necessary.”
Safety first, workers say M
ore than eight out of 10 workers (85%) rank workplace safety first among labor concerns—ahead of
family and maternity leave, the minimum wage, paid sick
days, overtime pay and the right to join a union, according
to a study conducted by the National Opinion Research
Center at the University of Chicago.
“Public Attitudes Towards and Experiences with Workplace Safety” draws on dozens of surveys and polls conducted by the research center and was
done on behalf of the Public Welfare
Foundation, a Washington, D.C.based organization that supports
efforts to strengthen workers’ rights. The study found that about
12% of workers reported an
on-the-job injury during the
past year and 37% have required
medical treatment at one time for
a workplace injury.
“Unsafe working conditions end
up costing the public dearly,” says
Robert Shull, program officer for
workers’ rights at the Public Welfare Foundation. “But no matter
what the cost to the general public,
the workers and their families pay
the highest price.”
The report is available at
http://news.uchicago.edu/
images/pdf/100827.norc.
public_attitudes.pdf.
Lack of sleep can make kids fat later
Y
oung children who don’t get a
good night’s sleep are at risk of being overweight or obese
as they get older, according to a new study.
Researchers at the
University of Birmingham in England studied
1,930 youths age 1
month to 13 years
who were divided
into two groups—
younger (1 month to
59 months) and older
(5 years to 13 years). Their parents
or other caregivers recorded details
about the children’s sleep patterns.
Participants were weighed at the beginning of the study and again later.
The researchers, who presented
their results at a recent British Sleep
Society conference, found that
younger children of normal weight
who missed getting sound nighttime
sleep were more likely to become
overweight later. Overweight children
were more likely to become obese. In
older children, lack of sleep wasn’t as-
sociated with eventual weight gain.
“In this context, we do not mean
total sleep deprivation, but partial
chronic sleep deprivation, perhaps
having one or two less hours sleep
than we need each night,” says Dr.
Shahrad Taheri, one of the researchers
and a senior lecturer in endocrinology
at the University of Birmingham.
A lack of sleep creates a hormonal
imbalance that signals to the body
that it is starving, Taheri says. This
leads to cravings for fatty and sugary
foods and, in turn, weight gain.
WOW! Did you see that?
You will in 2011.
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N o b o d y d re a m s i n b l a c k a n d w h i te .
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Tietex International Ltd., 3010 North Blackstock Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29301, Ph. 864.574.0500, Fax 864.574.9490, www.tietex.com

BedTimes magazine November 2010

Transcription

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