Bedtimes Magazine - July 2011

BedTimes
The Business Journal for the Sleep Products Industry July 2011
People
Tips for working with testing labs On the show floor at Interzum Cologne
Brand Power
is your
Your real
Classic
High Profile
The PowerStack is now available in a High Profile unit to meet the demands of todays taller boxspring configurations. Hickory Springs patented PowerStack zero deflection box spring is engineered for extreme stability. A series of cup-shaped internal supports are welded to the box springs border wire and cross-support grid, then secured at the base on two axes. This unique construction prevents head-to-foot and side-to-side sway and reduces pocketing as well. Assembly is quick and simple just staple it in place and move it on down the line.
B O X S P R ING FEATURES
P OW E R S TA C K
Complete one-piece steel foundation with no separate components. Proven durability during all performance tests, including Cornell, rollator and impact tests. 10 gauge, extra-heavy grid wire for maximum support and durability. Nests easily for convenient storage. Designed for use with a cost-effective 5-slat frame. Reinforced grid for greater surface coverage and enhanced stability.
Heavy duty 3 gauge border rod, welded to grid for maximum edge firmness. Welded steel construction, utilizing our own drawn wire for greater stability. Standard utilizes 10 gauge modules. High Profile uses 9 gauge modules.
PO Box 819 Hickory, NC 28603 (828) 328-2201 Ext. 4516 www.hickorysprings.com

2011 Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company
BedTimes
Editor in Chief Julie A. Palm 571-482-5442 jpalm@sleepproducts.org Associate Editor Barbara Nelles 336-856-8973 bnelles@sleepproducts.org Ar t Director Stephanie Belcher 336-201-7475 stephanie@jimmydog.com Vice President of Adver tising Sales Kerri Bellias 336-945-0265 kbellias@sleepproducts.org Ad Production & Circulation Manager Debbie Robbins 571-482-5443 drobbins@sleepproducts.org Copy Editor Margaret Talley-Seijn
Volume 139, Number 7 BedTimes (ISSN 0893-5556; Permit 047-620) is published monthly by the International Sleep Products Association. Periodicals postage paid in Philadelphia, PA. 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 2011 by the International Sleep Products Association. Reprint permission obtainable through BedTimes.
Contributors
| Joe Dysart Joe Dysart is a writer with more than 20 years of journalism experience. Hes also a speaker and business consultant, focusing on the Internet and Web design and promotion. His articles have appeared in more than 40 publications. He wrote about optimizing your website for mobile applications in the April 2010 BedTimes. He can be reached at 646-233-4089 or joe@joedysart.com. Learn more about him at his website, www.joedysart.com. | Lin Grensing-Pophal Lin Grensing-Pophal, who holds the designations Accredited Business Communicator and Senior Professional in Human Resources, is a business journalist with 15 years of experience in organizational communication. Her articles appear regularly in a broad range of trade and professional publications. She specializes in human resources, employee relations and marketing communications topics and is the author of Human Resource Essentials and The Complete Idiots Guide to Strategic Planning. She wrote about employee wellness programs in the September 2010 issue of BedTimes. She can be reached at linda@stratcomm unications.com or 715-723-2395. | Bryan Stratton Bryan Stratton, engineering team leader, manages the mechanical strength/durability and flammability test labs for Intertek and is responsible for Interteks European and North American mechanical mattress and bed testing. Stratton has a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering and is pursuing a masters degree in engineering management. He has been involved in various aspects of standards
development across the furniture industry and sits on the Standards Development Committee of the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association. He works out of Interteks office in Grand Rapids, Mich., and can be reached at bryan.stratton@intertek.com or 616-656-7416. | Dorothy Whitcomb Dorothy Whitcomb is a freelance journalist and editor whose work has appeared in a wide range of business and general interest publications. Her primary focus for the past 25 years has been the home furnishings industry. She writes about businesses, trends, products and design, specializing in profiles of companies and industry leaders. She wrote a profile of Carpenter Co.s Dan Schecter in the June issue of BedTimes. She can be reached at dwhitcomb@hughes.net or 410-820-0456.
Coming up
August Its Whats on the Inside that Matters BedTimes examines trends and innovations in core mattress componentsinnersprings and foams. September Putting LinkedIn to Work Professional networking sites like LinkedIn can help you stay in touch with colleagues, but such tools have many other applications. BedTimes examines how you can use these resources to promote your business, recruit talent and more. Also in September A look at whats new in adjustable bed bases and a report on the summer Las Vegas Market. Editorial deadlines for the News and Newsmakers sections of the September issue are Monday, Aug. 1. Email news releases and photos to jpalm@sleepproducts.org. Questions? Call 571-482-5442.
www.bedtimesmagazine.com
July 2011 BedTimes
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SABA: Our target is customer satisfaction
SABA is dedicated to being more than just a supplier of the highest quality water-based foam bonding adhesives. We aim at achieving total customer satisfaction in all facets of our business. Our service track record is unmatched in the industry. We go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction and well always care enough to do whats right to meet the needs of our customers. Our team of highly trained field technicians is always standing by to serve and, with four distribution centers across the US and Canada, you can be assured of on-time deliveries. SABAs water-based adhesives are second to none and combined with our efficient application technologies youll enjoy the lowest possible adhesive cost per mattress produced. So aim for the best in customer service, adhesive performance and application efficiency by contacting SABA today.
See for yourself first hand how the SABA foam bonding adhesive system can save you money! l l l l l Enjoy 20 to 50% reduction in adhesive costs Zero capital outlay equipment procurement options Highest performing water-based adhesive Cleaner and safer working environment Monitor and control adhesive usage
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For sales inquiries, please contact: T 810 824 4964 F 810 824 4986 E sales@saba-adhesives.com W www.saba-adhesives.com SABA North America LLC 5420 Lapeer Road Kimball MI 48074 USA
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SABA, dedicated to foam bonding Est. 1933: 78 years of strong bonds
Inside
Departments
9 | Brief Sheet
U.S. mattress sales rise Negotiating a starting salary Where the bedbugs are & more
Tietex International The mattress segment is still vital for the diversified textile producer.
13 | Profile
17 | Marketing
Facebook makeover Use the social networking sites new tools to improve your companys pages.
24
Test taking Use best practices when working with mattress testing labs.
21 | Factory Floor 47 | News
Features
Leggett & Platt pledges $1 million
| 24 Brand building
Iconic logos and multimedia ad campaigns are key to creating a brand. But dont forget about your strongest tool: Your people.
to tornado victims E.S. Kluft moves East with plant purchase Eastman House expands again in China & more
63 | Newsmakers 76
two & more
| 34 Europes big show

BedTimes checks out the latest trends and product innovations from Interzum Cologne.
Culp names operations director Foam industry celebrates pioneers Latex International promotes
69 | ISPA
Update and upgrade your BedTimes
Supplies Guide listing
Plus
Get ISPAs latest stats reports & more
9
07 | Note 72 | Calendar 74 | Advertisers 75 | Classifieds
76 | On Sleep 72
BSC to aid zombie brides Sleep improves decision making & more
July 2011 BedTimes
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mposite
Note
Magazine gets big makeover

BedTimes has a livelier look, plus new features
otice something different as you flip through this issue of BedTimes? We certainly hope so. This is our first significant redesign of the magazine in several years. Its a complete makeover: Weve changed everything from the fonts to the headline style to the color palette. Were using larger artwork and more of it and bringing you quick bites of information throughout the issue. Weve also added new departments. The Brief Sheet section on Page 9 features tips and ideas you can use to improve your company, the latest mattress industry statistics and other bits of news of interest to the bedding business. We all know that a good quality mattress is vital to getting a good nights sleep. Sleep is what our industry is all about. So, turning to the back of the magazine, youll find a new department devoted to the latest sleep research and other sleep-related news. On Page 3, you can learn more about the contributors whove written articlesand get a glimpse of what we have planned in coming months. Youll see more new features and departments in future issues. Weve made a lot of changes, but some important parts of BedTimes remain the same. Each month, we will continue to bring you in-depth looks at product trends and innovations, comprehensive reports from the industrys most important trade shows and profiles of both growing companies and key players. In every issue, youll also find the latest news from companies in all segments in the industry manufacturers, suppliers and retailers (News on Page 47 and Newsmakers on Page 63). Turn to our ISPA section (Page 69) to find out about new
programs and resources available to members of the International Sleep Products Association and to learn more about ISPAs advocacy efforts. The redesignmonths in the workswas led by our very talented long-term art director, Stephanie Belcher, a principal in the Jimmydog Design Group. Our goal was to make the magazine more readable, more inviting, more exciting. We hope you like the results.
Our goal was to make the magazine more readable, more inviting, more exciting.
Send us your photosbut use a camera, please As I mentioned, with the redesign, well be using more and larger art. When you submit press releases, we encourage you to email us photosof your new people, your new products, your new building, your new logo, whatever you have. But please take the pictures with an actual camera. Photos snapped on your cell phone, even the newest smart phone, are generally not of high enough quality to reproduce well in the magazine. And please dont include them as part of a Word document. What works best for us: high-resolution photos of at least 300 dpi, sized at least 4 inches by 2 inches and saved as JEPGs. If you have several photos and are concerned about file size, email them one at a time or give us the address of an FTP site where we can access them. Questions? Email me at jpalm@sleepproducts.org. n
Julie A. Palm Editor in chief
July 2011 BedTimes
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Brief Sheet
Bedding tops list of purchases in furniture category
edding was the most-bought furniture item in 2010, purchased by 10.2% of all U.S. households. The 11.5 million bed-buying households spent a combined $11.6 billion at retail, according to the Consumer Buying Trends report from Furniture Today. This year, 10.8% of U.S. households12.2 millionplan to buy a mattress and foundation. Bedding also had the best buy-to-shop ratio in 2010. Just 14% of the 13.3 million households who shopped for bedding last year did not buy.
U.S. mattress sales keep rising

For the quarter In the first quarter of 2011, mattress unit sales (mattresses and foundations) rose 2.6% when compared to the same period in 2010, according to the Bedding Barometer, a sales activity report issued monthly and quarterly by the International Sleep Products Association. The wholesale dollar value of those units grew by 7.2% in the first quarter. For
Better prepared
84% a
ofbusinessexecutives saytheyveimplemented businesscontinuityplans toprepareforpotential naturaldisasters, accordingtoasurvey fromcommunications giantAT&T.Thatsa12% jumpoverfiveyearsago.
On
change
the year Sales of mattress units increased 6.2% in 2010 when compared to 2009 and the wholesale dollar value of those units rose 4.1%, according to ISPAs 2010 Mattress Industry Report of Sales and Trends. Thats the first increase in both measures of sales activity since 2005. ahead In 2011, unit shipments are expected to rise 4% and the wholesale dollar value of mattress shipments will increase by 7.5% when compared to 2010, according to ISPAs Mattress Industry Forecast. In 2012, unit sales are expected to increase 3.5% and dollar values are forecast to rise 6%. Monthly, quarterly and annual statistics reports, along with regular forecasts, are available from ISPA as a member benefit. To learn more about these reports or to join the association, check www.sleepproducts.org or contact Jane Oseth, ISPA member services manager, at joseth@sleepproducts.org or 703-683-8371.
nyone in a large organization who thinks major change is impossible should probably get out.
John P. Kotter
Whats
O e a
ne never knows what will happen if things are suddenly changed. But do we know what will happen if they are not changed?
Elias Canetti
Small biz media buyS

6% of small U.S. businesses plan to put the most resources into Web-based marketing and 3
verything is connectedno one thing can change by itself.

Paul Hawken
advertising this year (up from 32% last year) 35% plan to split their resources evenly between Web-based and print or traditional marketing and advertising (up from 31% last year) 16% plan to focus on radio/TV/newspaper (up from 14% last year) 22% see social media as a critical marketing tool.
Source FedEx Offices fourth annual Sign of the Times small business survey
ll appears to change when we change.

Henri Amiel
July 2011 BedTimes
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Brief Sheet
Use your signature to sneak in a few marketing messages
fyourelikemostbusinesspeople,yousendhundreds ofemailsaweekansweringquestions,exchanging information,makingqueries, settingupmeetings. Allthoseemailscanbe aneasywaytoshareother importantinformation,namely yourcompanysmarketing messages. Atthebottomofeveryone ofyouremailsisasignature. Weusuallythinkofthatasbeing yournameandcontactinfo.But youcanusethatspacetosay anythingyouwant. TheInternationalSleepProductsAssociationencourages stafferstousetheirsignature linetopromoteupcoming eventsfromBetterSleep MonthtoISPAEXPO.
15 cities crawling with bedbugs
How to negotiate a salary
T
Youcouldputateaserfora newproductorletcustomers knowwhichtradeshowyoullbe attendingnext.Directpeopleto yourFacebookpage.Putalink toanewfeatureofyourwebsite. BedTimes recentlyreceived anemailfromAllColorsLLCin HighlandPark,N.J.Themarketingfirmusesitsemailsignature topromotecorporatevalues: Please note that it is our policy to utilize New Jersey-based suppliers whenever possible. By working with N.J.-based companies, we are doing our part to help make New Jersey economically stronger. Soyou get a great product, at a great price, and together we help keep N.J. residents employed. 10
alking about compensation with a potential employer can be nerve-racking, especially in a tight job market. The last thing you want to do is go into salary negotiations unprepared. To make sure you get the compensation you deserve, staffing and management services firm Robert Half International in Menlo Park, Calif., cautions you to avoid the common mistakes people make when negotiating with a new employer: eingafraidtoaskYou have your greatest leverage when you B receive a job offer. Now is the time to get the best deal you can. FailingtodoyourhomeworkDetermine your market value by reviewing lists of annual salaries in your field and talking to colleagues and recruiters. ocusingonlyonsalaryConsider the benefits package. Ask for F a signing bonus, an early salary review, additional vacation time or other perks. ippingyourhandIf youre desperate to leave your current job, T keep it to yourself. hinkingyoucantsaynoBeing able to say no is critical T when negotiating. If an employer cant meet your request, you will need to decide whether or not you can accept the lower pay. You have a choice. Failingtogetitinwriting Have the employer draw up a letter that outlines the specifics of the offer. This will help you avoid misunderstandings later. Forgettingyourmanners Regardless of how the negotiations turn out, be professional and courteous.
eres a list you dont want your hometown to appear on, but one that could help in marketing products aimed at stopping or preventing bedbug infestations. Using call volumes about bedbugs from its 350 service centers throughout the country, pest control company Terminix has come up with the 15 most bedbuginfested cities in the United States. 1.NewYork 2.Philadelphia 3.Detroit 4.Cincinnati 5.Chicago 6.Denver 7.Columbus,Ohio 8.Dayton,Ohio 9.Washington,D.C. 10.LosAngeles 11.Boston 12.Indianapolis 13.Louisville,Ky. 14.Cleveland 15.Minneapolis Its no surprise that highly trafficked cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are on the list, says Paul Curtis, entomologist for Memphis, Tenn.-based Terminix. Its the bedbug problems in cities like Dayton and Louisville that prove bedbugs are back and can pop up anywhere. The bedbug problems in these cities outpace markets of far greater size, despite their having a fraction of the population and typically fewer travelers and hotels.
BedTimes July 2011
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Profile
TIETEX INTERNATIONAL
reinvestment, innovation to grow / By Dorothy WhitcomB
From stitchbonded producer to solutions provider Supplier relies on
We always have our eyes wide open. ... Sometimes the best opportunities simply appear.
commitment to reinvesting in the development of proprietary technology has fueled Tietex International Ltd.s ability to produce innovative stitchbonded fabrics for the bedding industry for nearly four decades. Over time, the company has expanded its reach and now sells into several other markets, but the mattress industry leads sales and plays an important role in Tietexs global expansion strategy. The mattress industry is a key segment for us and accounts for about 50% of our business, says Reed Cunningham, Tietex president and chief operating officer. Other Tietex fabrics are used in office panels, upholstery, window blinds and wall coverings. The Spartanburg, S.C.-based company also manufactures performance fabrics that are used in roofing, filtration, automotive and industrial applications. Where it started Tietexs roots go back to Cosmopolitan Textiles Ltd., a British company that was founded in 1968 by Arno Wildeman and Cha Chi Ming, his Chinese investment partner. The company was an early pioneer in commercializing stitchbonding, a fabric formation that increases the versatility of nonwoven materials by introducing yarn into the production process. Wildeman moved to the United States in 1972 to open the North American market for Cosmopolitan Textiles. Two years later, he bought out his partners share of the
Tietex team Key executives at Tietex International Ltd. include Wade Wallace (left), vice president of mattress solutions; Reed Cunningham, president and chief operating officer; and Martin Wildeman, chairman and chief executive officer.
BRIEFLY
Tietex International Ltd. Stitchbonded nonwoven fabrics Spartanburg, S.C. Manufacturing plant in Thailand and a marketing/ sales office in the Netherlands Originally part of Cosmopolitan Textiles Ltd., founded in England in 1968 Privately held A relentless spirit of innovation www.tietex.com
Company Specialty Headquarters Other locations Roots Ownership Corporate culture Learn more
U.S. operation and established Tietex as an independent company. After his death in 1987, his son, Martin, became the companys sole owner. Martin Wildeman now serves as chairman and chief executive officer. Tietex was initially a greige mill that produced white fabric to sell to converters, who then made fabric for the mattress trade, Wildeman says. In the early 1980s, we began selling directly to mattress manufacturers. Today, we remain the only domestic producer of stitchbonded product. Global enterprise Tietex has grown and thrived in a global business environment that has defeated many North American textile mills. In addition to 770,000 square feet of manufacturing space, its more than 1 million-square-foot Spartanburg facility houses the companys corporate offices and a 250,000-square-foot distribution center. About 300 people work in the headquarters facility, which turns out products for the North American and Central American markets.
July 2011 BedTimes
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Profile
Problem-solving products Wallaces full titlevice president of mattress solutions, emphasis on solutionsreflects Tietexs commitment to innovative partnerships with its customers. It also underscores a central tenet of the company culture. We are a product developmentdriven company, Wallace says. We devote a lot of money to product development, but its about more than just money. Product development is ingrained in everyone here and is a fundamental aspect of absolutely everyones job. At Tietex, new products might be customer-initiated, market-driven or come through an internal development process. Regardless, we always push our technology to its limits, Wallace says. Wildeman points to Tietexs response to open-flame mattress standards that took effect in the United States in 2007 as emblematic of the companys solutionsoriented culture. The need to respond to flammability standards allowed us to leverage our capabilities and work hand in hand with our customers, Wildeman says. It was a powerful combination and we were able to develop new products that satisfied urgent and critical needs. Tietex created a range of FR products it markets under its Sleepfree brand. Clings, a new topical fabric treatment designed to prevent sheets and bed skirts from slipping, gives mattress manufacturers more options when it comes to their own product development. We can now take a basic fabric and add a textural layer to one side to give greater nonskid characteristics to mattresses or foundations, Wallace says. Tietex recently reorganized its business units, making upholstery fabrics part of the mattress group and putting it under Wallaces management. He has begun offerwww.bedtimesmagazine.com
Top Rooted in the South Tietexs headquarters facility in Spartanburg, S.C., encompasses more than 1 million square feet. Bottom From forming to finishing The companys textile capabilities include fabric formation, printing, dyeing, finishing and converting.
Tietex has a 350,000-squarefoot manufacturing facility in Thailand, as well as a sales and marketing office in the Netherlands. Together, those locations employ about 200 people. The companys textile capabilities include fabric formation, printing, dyeing, finishing and converting. The textile industry has gone through a massive global change, Wildeman says. Asian producers, in particular China, have impacted the business significantly and the market focus has changed as a result. Thats part of the reason that we opened the Thailand facility, which is a carbon copy of what we have in Spartanburg. Although it was originally geared toward footwear, we are now diversifying production, particularly toward
the mattress industry. Having a factory in Thailand since 1996 has allowed Tietex to respond directly to the needs of emerging Asian markets. As the middle class in China, India and other countries in Southeast Asia grows, consumer expectations rise accordingly and U.S. brands are increasingly sought, Tietex executives say. Asian mattress manufacturing is really growing, says Wade Wallace, a Tietex vice president. Some of that growth is coming from Asian licensees of U.S. brands. Sales outside of North America account for only about 1% of Tietexs total annual mattress industry sales. Growth is steady, however, and Wallace expects to see that rise to 5% in five years.
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BedTimes July 2011
Profile
ing upholstery fabrics to mattress manufacturers and is pleased with the interest thus far. There is a much higher fashion component to upholstery fabric and its heavier weight makes it more durable, Wallace says. Were seeing real interest among high-end mattress companies in using this type of fabric. Supply chain solutions Tietex executives say the companys philosophy, which emphasizes aiding customers with supply chain issues and not just selling them a product, distinguishes Tietex from competitors. We may not always have the lowest priced product, but we have the best product value, Wallace says. Were selling a system to our customers, which includes flexibility and a high continuity of supply. We can deliver in-stock product in a day and special orders within two weeks. Well sell a roll or a truckload. There isnt that kind of flexibility with a long supply chain and the mattress industry is a high-variability business. Recent increases in raw materials prices have prompted Tietex executives to look for ways to reduce the impact of rising costs on their customers. Every part of a mattress is sensitive to raw materials costs, Wildeman says. We work hard to make sure that we are plugged into the right sources for cost, quality and availability. We see scarcities ahead and were leveraging every aspect of our Asian operations to maintain sourcing and continuity. Much of the companys R&D efforts are focused on finding ways to help mattress manufacturers do more with less. Were looking for areas within mattress construction where the use of one fabric could replace two or where other fabrics we currently make or could make can be used, Cunningham says. Whats ahead Tietex is counting on recent introductions, pipeline products, flexible service and expansion into emerging markets to bolster sales and guarantee continued growth. The privately held company doesnt publish financial information, but Wildeman says that, with the exception of 2009, Tietexs sales to the mattress industry during the past five years grew by about 10% annually. The companys total annual sales in all categories exceed $100 million, he says. Tietex executives say they continually look to the future and both Cunningham and Wildeman offer a clear vision of what the company will look like a decade from now. Well still be here in 10 years, Cunningham says. Its a tough industry and many of our competitors are gone. We will always continue to look for highly engineered niche products and have an even broader mix of products. Wildemans outlook: I envision us remaining privately held and continuing in the same markets, particularly mattresses, where I see growth potential. Well have more plant facilities in other parts of the world. Im excited about new growth opportunities. We always have our eyes wide open and are vigilant. Sometimes the best opportunities simply appear. n
July 2011 BedTimes
15 |
Marketing
FACEBOOKS FACELIFT
Site has new features Use them to make

your company look better / By Joe Dysart
The power of Facebook While social networking has been around for yearsthere were fledgling Internet discussion forums before Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was bornFacebook was one of the first services to make such networking effortless, fun and multifaceted. For example, once someone likes your companys Facebook page, she immediately begins getting information about your business through her News Feed. She can instantly share your companys offers with others in her social network, engage in discussions on your page, offer her opinion about your products or services and shop your productsall with little effort. Small wonder that Facebook, founded less than 10 years ago, now has more than 500 million registered users and is still growing. More design freedom Since Facebook became a marketing resource for businesses and organizations of all types, Web designers have bemoaned the fact that they were forced to use the social networks propriety programming for much of the work they did on the site. With the makeover, the service now offers designers more creative freedom. The content in specially designed iFrames is no longer subject to the limitations of Facebooks design parameters.
Top Social network start The International Sleep Products Association launched its first Facebook page in the spring. Right Fast grower Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has taken the site he created while in college to more than 500 million registered users in less than 10 years.
ith the roll out of Facebooks recent makeover complete, a number of Web marketers say the services new features make it easier for them to do business on the social networkboth creatively and from a business analytics perspective. Facebook users have watched the latest evolution of the servicewhich includes a new look and feel for everyone who has a Facebook accountspread across the network since late 2010 and into the spring. For marketers, one of the most anticipated changes has been the ability to add content more easily to a Facebook page, technically known as content presented within iFrames. Essentially, the change enables a company to more closely mirror the design of its website on a Facebook page. Marketers say its a welcome improvement because, in the past, attempting to duplicate the look and feel of a companys Web pages on Facebook was a challenge. Web marketers say the introduction of iFraming also makes it easier for a business to crunch numbers, including tracking user activity on Facebook pages and thoroughly analyzing how sales and other sought-after conversions are unfolding on company Facebook pages. In short, the makeover has stimulated marketers to update their best practices for the social network.
July 2011 BedTimes
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Marketing
when youre trying to program pages to match your corporate brand, says Janet Driscoll Miller, chief executive officer of SearchMojo, a search engine and Web marketing agency based in Charlottesville, Va. Tracking use Not long ago, Facebook removed some features that allowed you to track your page views in Facebook via Google Analytics, Miller says. But with the Facebook makeover, any content showcased within the frame can be tracked, sliced and diced with Google Analytics, a popular free program that can be used to analyze user behavior on websites. iFrames also makes tracking conversions from Facebookand keeping ad respondents within the Facebook applicationmuch easier, Miller says. Business-friendly plugins When Facebook first started allowing businesses to create pages on the social network, visitors could become fans of the organization. That eventually gave way to a Like button, which allows users to share pages from your site back to their Facebook profile. When a visitor clicks on that button, its like an instant recommendation of your business to everyone within her circle, be it 12 people or 1,200 people. Theres also a Like box different from the buttonthat enables users to like your Facebook page and view its
Get plugged in Facebook offers a number of pluginsfrom its famous Like button to the photo function Facepilethat can be used by businesses.
Instead, the content can be created with more robust Web design programs such as Adobes
Dreamweaver and Microsofts Expression. This is a huge timesaver
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18
BedTimes July 2011
Marketing
stream directly from your website. Other good Facebook plugins for businesses include Recommendations, which gives users personalized suggestions for pages on your site that they might like and Comments, which allows visitors to comment on content on your Facebook site. Facepile shows profile pictures of a users friends who have signed up for your site and Live Stream allows users to exchange comments and engage in other shared activities in real-time as they interact during a live event on your Facebook page. Add plugins to your Facebook pages by going to http://developers.facebook. com/docs/plugins.
Some rules havent changed
egardless of the recent changes on Facebook, there are a couple of tried-and-true rules for companies using the social network to market themselves:
1. Post frequently The best way to attract attention to your corporate Facebook page is to continually update it. You can post to Facebook a few times a week or even daily and other Facebook users wont consider you annoying. After all, those who like you are interested in what you have to say. Be sure your posts are timely, interesting and useful. And include photos and video as often as you can. Graphics are the lifeblood of Facebook. 2. Be engaging If youve had a corporate page on Facebook for any length of time, youve no doubt heard this, but it bears repeating: Companies that use traditional advertising methods to broadcast their brands on Facebook are generally received with a collective yawn or, worse, negativity. Facebook users are protective of the social networks give-and-take culture. Quite simply, users expect a conversation with companiesand they expect it to be authentic.
Post, post, post In the past, business messages were restricted to News Feeds of people who liked (or, before that, were fans of) your com-
pany, friends of those people and, of course, your companys own Facebook Wall. But with the makeover, Facebook has made it OK for a busi-
ness to post to the Walls of other Facebook users. Used judiciously, this new freedom to post could make promotions on the social network easier. n
July 2011 BedTimes
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Factory Floor
TesTing Tips
Best practices for working
with third-party laboratories / By Bryan Stratton
Top left Will it hold up? A Rollator is used to evaluate mattress durability for the ASTM F1566 Section 7 standard. Top right Getting the feel Mattress firmness is evaluated to the ASTM F1566 Section 6 firmness rating standard.
he need to optimize product development processes is greater than ever. The competitive nature of the marketplace, combined with new government regulations, has led to a stronger emphasis on third-party testing and certification. To speed the product approval process, manufacturers need to use best practices to make the most of the partnership between product engineers/designers and third-party testing providers. Keeping communication open Maintaining open channels of communication between the mattress manufacturer and testing lab is vital. Its particularly important to have an open dialogue when identifying the objectives and goals of a projectand to maintain good communication throughout the entire testing process. By fostering a shared understanding of expectations, a third-party testing company can work in partnership with a manufacturer to ensure that the mattress makers project objectives align with possible testing outcomes. Among other things, this allows
testing engineers to take proper measures to eliminate test methods that dont meet the manufacturers stated objectives and to document test results in a form thats most useful for the manufacturer. Consider the standard test method for evaluating the firmness, firmness retention, durability and effect of impact on innersprings, box springs, mattresses and mattress sets (ASTM F1566). The method does furnish information such as height loss and change in spring rate and firmness, but there is no clearly defined value that determines compliance or noncompliance with the standard. Therefore, the results gathered from this test method are most valuable when interpreted and evaluated against goals and objectives the manufacturer and testing lab establish together prior to the start of the project. Working with timelines Prior to the start of testing, its crucial that the manufacturer provide the lab with an estimated sample arrival date. In return, the manufacturer should expect the testing facility to provide an estimated completion date based on that information.
July 2011 BedTimes
Photos courtesy of Intertek
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Factory Floor
quirements in terms of size, construction and quantity prior to manufacturing the sample and sending it to the lab. Inspecting test samples Carefully examine the materials youll be testing before shipping them to a third-party lab. In addition to limiting potential delays, preshipment inspection often prevents common errors and defects that can lead to testing failure. For example, before submitting samples for mattress flammability testing, the manufacturer should inspect the tickinglooking for cuts or tearsand make certain that all stitching is tight and complete. When a mattress is put to the open-flame test, flames follow the path of least resistance to reveal even the most minimal defects that could allow fire to easily enter the mattress core. One missed stitch can be the difference between compliance and noncompliance when performing a flammability test. Likewise, the manufacturer should confirm that the components used to make the samples being prepared for testing are exactly the same as the components listed on the bill of materials for that mattress model. Its not uncommon to find that the cause of flammability test failure is a manufacturer forgetting to install the intended fire barrier. Inspecting samples prior to shipment also provides the manufacturer with an opportunity to gain valuable information for future packaging/shipment procedures. When a sample arrives at the testing facility in an undesirable condition, manufacturers can use this information to improve future shipping practices. To sum up n Third-party testing and certification can be made easier by adopting a clear and methodical approach to identifying and communicating project goals and objectives. n Clear communication between the manufacturer and the testing lab will help to guarantee a positive experience for both parties and facilitate successful achievement of the project objectives. n Manufacturers will benefit from creating standard operating procedures for working with third-party test labs that will help to ensure all projects are completed on time and in the most efficient manner. n
On the edge The BS EN1725 Section 7.5 standard is used to test the durability of a mattress edge.
To secure the fastest turnaround times, reaffirm the date as it nears and communicate with the lab if you realize that the date originally proposed is no longer feasible or optimal. Lead times can vary greatly depending on the laboratory size and its work volume. Proper planning is the best practice for avoiding delays and interruptions to a manufacturers production cycle. At the start of a new project, its also important to identify and communicate to the lab any concerns related to the product being tested. For example, if a particular mattress stitch area or seam structure is known to be problematic, its important to disclose this information to the testing laboratory. This makes test engineers aware of specific areas they should focus on during the testing. Preparing test samples Sufficient test sample preparation is critical to saving time and money throughout the testing process. By making sure that the samples they provide are constructed appropriately for the tests to be performed, manufacturers will reduce delays that can be detrimental to a projects timeline and budget. When it comes to flammability testing, sample requirements can vary from a small section of material to an entire bed and base assembly. For instance, when testing the flammability of a mattress exposed to an open flame (16 CFR Part 1633), an entire bed assemblymattress and foundationis required if the mattress and foundation are intended to be sold as a set. But flammability testing for interior materials (FMVSS 302 ) requires only a sample 102 millimeters wide by 356 millimeters long and a maximum thickness of 13 millimeters. Ask the testing lab to define the specific sample re|
Proper planning is the best practice for avoiding delays and interruptions.
Find a testing lab
To find a mattress testing lab, check the online BedTimes Supplies Guide at www.bedtimes suppliesguide.com. The guide also appears each year in the December issue of magazine.
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BedTimes July 2011
One-Stop Shop for ALL Expendable Parts Needs

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Branding from the Inside Out

By Lin grensing-pophaL
|
its more about your people than your product packaging

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BedTimes July 2011
spot in a 2011 global ranking of brand value.
Apple holds the top

The Apple brand is estimated to be worth more than $153 billion, based on an analysis of financial data and consumer measures of brand equity done by Millward Brown, a market research firm affiliated with Londonbased advertising and marketing agency WPP that releases the annual BrandZ ranking. Rounding out the top 5 are Google, IBM, McDonalds and Microsoft. You can probably picture the logos of most of these companies and recall their TV commercials or print ads. But successful branding involves more than a creative tagline or even a multimillion dollar advertising campaign. In fact, the most successful brand building starts somewhere elsewith employees. You only have to look a bit farther down the 2011 BrandZ ranking to find companies whose logos may be less familiar, companies such as China Mobile (No. 9) or ICBC (No. 11).
July 2011 BedTimes
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MVBs: Most valuable brands
illward Browns annual BrandZ assessment identifies the top 100 most valuable consumer-facing brands around the globe. The market research firm, part of London-based ad and marketing firm Wpp, calls its BrandZ list the most comprehensive annual ranking of brand value. see the full list at www.millwardbrown.com/brandz.
1. Apple 2. Google 3. IBM 4. McDonalds 5. Microsoft 6. Coca-Cola 7. AT&T 8. Marlboro 9. hina C Mobile 10. GE
11. ICBC 12. Vodafone 13. Verizon 14. Amazon.com 15. Wal-Mart 16. Wells Fargo 17. UPS 18. HP 19. eutsch D Telecom 20. Visa
Branding is not a thing, but a process.
eyond the logo Rodger Roeser, owner and president of the Eisen Agency in Newport, Ky., says there is much confusion around the concept of brand building, even among some marketing agencies. I think organizations, especially branding organizations, use the term branding to get businesses to spend more money than they need to because they dont understand what branding is, he says. Roeser defines branding as how you act, how you treat somebody, how you answer the phones, how your whole organization relates to its various publics. It is not a thing, he says, but a processan ongoing, repeatable and reinforceable process. Often marketers wrap up their brands in their graphic identities, websites and company materials and they stop there, says Jeff Rechler, a branding consultant at Braithwaite Communications, a marketing and public relations firm in Philadelphia. For us, branding ideally comes down to what you stand for. Its your reason for being in succinct, inspirational terms. When working with clients, Rechler says his firm focuses on three simple questions: 1. What? 2. How? 3. Why? If you were to ask employees at your company what you do, most would be able come up with a list of product offerings and services, Rechler says. If you were to ask them how you do what you do, youd likely find a smaller group of workers who could explain the corporate approach and philosophy that set your company apart from the competition.
rand ambassadors The caveat to building a brand identity is that, if your employees arent living it, if they arent acting on it, then ultimately it will fail, Rechler says. Employees must serve as ambassadors of the brand to ensure that the brand identity is delivered consistently and in alignment with the organizations stated mission, vision and values, both internally and externally. Some companies are realizing the impact and importance of employees to brand building, says Alexander Liss, a brand strategist with The Brand Union, also part of WPP. Liss points to a recent IBM ad campaign in which employees literally serve as ambassadors of the brand. It is, he says, just one example of how companies recognize that having employees serve as advocates is a great way to not only involve them in the process of building the brand, but also to cascade that out to their customers and external stakeholders. Gerard Corbett is chairmanelect of the Public
If you were to ask employees why you do what you dowhat you stand for, why your company existsyoull generally find theres little consensus or clarity among employees, Rechler says. But its the answer to that question of why? that should form the basis for your brand. Rechler offers some examples: Disney stands for family happiness. Volvo stands for safety. Ben & Jerrys stands for euphoric concoctions. Roeser agrees. Its not about what you sell; thats a commodity, he says. Its about why you existwhat is your company here to actually do? What do you want people to think of when they think of you? Companies that have established strong, longstanding brands are those that understand branding is not just the responsibility of the marketing team. In reality, branding is the responsibility of everyone in the company. Branding is impacted less by how or what a company communicates about itself and more by the experiences that consumers have with the companywhether visiting a store, calling a customer service department or navigating a Web page.
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BedTimes July 2011
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Relations Society of America and has more than 30 years of experience leading branding and marketing efforts for Fortune 500 companies. Corbett, based in San Bruno, Calif., previously was vice president of the branding and corporate communications group at Hitachi and is an expert in creating strong employee brand ambassadors. Developing and nurturing employees as brand ambassadors is part of the process of creating brand strength from the inside out, he says. Ideally, employees serve as effective brand ambassadors whether theyre interacting with internal or external contacts. You want employees to advocate for the company and for the product and service, but you also want employees to advocate for the customer, Corbett says. Although there are some highly visible examples of companies making the most of employee brand ambassadors, Donald Roy says many companies have yet to embrace the idea. I would say a majority of companies dont fully take advantage of getting input from their employees and have them participate in the branding process. A lot of times the idea of a brand being owned and shared by everybody in the organization is not embraced, says Roy, a professor of marketing at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. In fact, the concept of employees as important contributors to brand value is relatively new, Corbett says. Employee communications have probably evolved more quickly in the past three years than any other time in history, he says. I think thats largely due to the impact and proliferation of social media platforms. It may be obvious how employees can play a role in delivering the brand promise for companies in service sectors like health care or food, but their role in manufacturing companies is no less important, Corbett says. Take a company like Intel, where many employees never deal with the end-consumer. They still have a big influence on their peers, their colleagues, their friends and their familyeven more so now with social media, Corbett says. A quick check of Twitter will show plenty of workers at manufacturers who are sharing their thoughts online. Even though they dont sell directly to consumers, their advocacy on behalf of those companies is pretty important, Corbett says. Rechler agrees. Even in those circumstances where employees are not consumer-facing, there is still value to having all employees in line with the brand and in line with your mission and your values.
T
C
he making of an ambassador Creating brand ambassadors begins with hiring the right people. Online retailer Zappos.com knows a thing or two about the value of employees to brand building. A lot of people may think customer service is our top priority, but in actuality we really put all of our focus into hiring the right people to make sure our culture is as strong as it can be, says Aaron Magness, director of brand marketing and business development at Zappos.com in Henderson, Nev. Zappos.com, Magness says, believes that you can hire people who are likely to provide great customer service, but you cant hire people and then teach them to be customer-service focused.
Branding ideally comes down to what you stand for. Its your reason for being.
Brand identity 1-2-3

reating or reinforcing a brand identity requires a combination of culture infusion, scheduled communications and credibility initiatives, says Jeff rechler, a branding consultant at Braithwaite Communications, a marketing and public relations firm in philadelphia. 1. Culture infusion requires providing tangible, visible, everyday reminders of your brand promise. Tactics range from distributing culture cards that employees can keep in their wallets for easy reference to making corporate culture a key aspect of orientation for new employees. 2. Scheduled communications consist of regular internal communications that reinforce the brand. examples include emails from the chief executive officer that reinforce key messages, companywide culture days and publishing a monthly newsletter to recognize brand ambassadors and their stories. 3. Credibility initiatives address key barriers to creating the desired brand identity. Ultimately, this involves a willingness to change longstanding processes and a commitment to hire and fire based on the companys values and culture.
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BedTimes July 2011
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The company takes the onboarding process seriously, offering new employees $4,000 to leave the company after theyve spent a couple of weeks training and have gotten a feel for Zappos.coms culture and values.
Get employees engaged
o build brand identity, its important to have an employee engagement program, says rob scalea, president and chief executive officer of The Brand Union, part of London-based advertising and marketing agency Wpp. ideally, such a program should: Create an understanding of how an employees work impacts the brand and business strategy through tailored workshops and storytelling campaigns. Foster open sharing of information by corporate leadership and across departments. Town halls and cross-functional workshops encourage open communication and build emotional connections to the companys brand. Be clear about opportunities for advancement. Talent mapping and regular reviews provide employees clarity and transparency about career advancement opportunities. ensure that tactics are in place for building emotional bonds with new employeesbeyond the initial hiring and honeymoon stages. regular reviews, a dispersed brand training schedule and an active intranet can help keep employees engaged long term.
We understand that Zappos isnt for everyone, Magness says. We want you to think about whether youre here for the job or for the paycheck. To help you think through that, well write you a check for $4,000 if you want to leave. Only about 1% of those hired have taken the cash. When people walk away from this money, they realize that theyre buying into what this is all about, Magness says. Theyre just so much more engaged because they realize its about something so much bigger than just a paycheck. The Zappos.com program illustrates the importance of getting employees on board with the brand message right from the start. Once hired, new employees need to be quickly and fully educated about the companys brandits mission, vision and valuesand how what they do impacts that brand. When employees join an organization, it has to be communicated upfront how they not only do their job but what the brand stands for and how they should act on it on a day-to-day basis, Liss says. Throughout their tenure, employees should be held accountable for how they support the brand, Liss says. He points to one of Brand Unions clients, Vodafone, as a model. Their core brand values that we helped them develop were included in the human resources review process and evaluated as part of their job performance, Liss says.
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BedTimes July 2011
Employees should be held accountable for how they support the brand.
roadening branding efforts Culture infusion involves efforts to incorporate the brand identity into all aspects of the company, Rechler says. That might involve regular videos or voice mails from the chief executive officer sharing stories that relate to the brand promise or talking about actions the company is taking based on its core values. Ongoing communication that supports the brand is critical, Liss says. But not just any type of communication and, particularly, not just one-way communication. Communication needs to be interactive. A tactical step could be holding town hall meetings and cross-functional workshops where people are allowed to discussnot only with their supervisors but with each otherhow they are going to embrace the brand, Liss says. That kind of thing does much more toward building employee understanding and commitment. Training and education also can involve Web events or interactive workshops. Brand principles also may be used as a stepping stone to start external programs. Coca-Colas Live Positively campaign (www.livepositively.com) is a great example of how they take their brand values and how they cut across
all of the different touchpoints people have with their brand, Liss says. Its a great example of working the brand from the inside out. It used to be that if you were a public company, the first audience you would go to is Wall Street, Corbett says. Now I think the most successful companies are those that treat all of their constituencies the same. So, if youre going to announce earnings, you let employees know at the same time as investors. If the C-suite has an attitude of transparency and openness, I think that really sets the stage for enhancing the brand internally and enabling employees to be representative ambassadors. The concept of walking the talk is critical when it comes to effective brand management. Company executives, managers and supervisors all play a role. Usually theyre the ones who have to deliver the message, Liss says, noting that its not only about delivering the message, its also about being receptive to feedback and maintaining open lines of communication. One of the key drivers of whether people are emotionally committed to the brand or not is feeling that theyre able to communicate and provide feedback to management, Liss says. Managers need to make themselves accessible and they need to exhibit and model behaviors that support the brand. It begins with top management, Roy agrees. Its not just about having a mission statement with a bunch of words hanging in a frame on the wall. When employees see their immediate supervisors behaving in a manner thats consistent with the companys brand values, it rubs off. It has to show up in the actions of managersfrom the CEO all the way down to front-line supervisors, Roy says. Proprietary research from The Brand Union has identified a number of other factors that impact the extent to which employee engagement contributes to brand value. These include feeling that their jobs contribute to the bottom line, believing their company is a responsible business partner, thinking their companys products and services are worth using, recommending the company to friends and feeling that their peers are working as hard as they are. There are a whole host of areas where employees can fail to believe in the brand, Liss says. We try to identify those through a segmentation process and then say, What are the things a company needs to do better to reach out to employees who are disengaged? Yes, strong brands are recognizable through their logos, slogans and advertising campaigns. But those are simply the outer dressings. In truth, brand strength is determined and definedor destroyedby the people who make up the company, the people who interact in ways large and small every day with internal and external connections. Successful branding is an inside-out process that conveys a clear, consistent and compelling image person to person.
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BedTimes July 2011
Interzum Cologne
Crowds throng innovation-filled show

Mattress industry suppliers breathe new life into beds
By BarBara Nelles
edTimes traveled to the biennial trade fair Interzum Cologne held May 2528 in Cologne, Germany, and saw exhibitors there doing their best to problem-solve mattress design and manufacturing issues, while at the same time finding new ways to help mattress makers engage and attract consumers. Being green continues to be an important focus, with growing talk of cradle-tocradle sustainability. Among mattress industry offerings, we singled out three significant product trendsventilation, simplification and beautification.
Photos on these two pages courtesy of Koelnmesse.
July 2011 BedTimes
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Top left Worlds fastest quilter The V16 quilter from Gribetz International delivers speed and simplicity, says Global System Groups Russ Bowman. Top right Whats ahead FoamPartner Group created futuristic concept mattresses to stimulate more creative use of foam in bedding. Bottom left Hinged innerspring Agros Coilstar unit is engineered for motion bases. With adjustable beds gaining market share, we needed something very flexible and very strong to take to market, says Mareike Drehert.
trong show Interzum Cologne organizers reported high attendance at the highly international showmore than 52,400 visitors from 147 countries attended (up 13% from 2009) and 1,434 suppliers from 61 countries exhibited. In addition to strong traffic from Europe and the Middle East, exhibitors reported seeing more visitors from North and South America, Australia and Asia than at the 2009 show. Andreas Georgallis, financial director of Amelco Industries Ltd., a machinery maker headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus, assessed the show this way: Traffic is good. Were having an excellent show. His comments were echoed by many. We had good quality visits and more participation from U.S. customers on Wednesday alone than we had at the entire 2009 show, said Russ Bowman, president of machinery maker Global Systems Group, a division of Carthage, Mo.-based Leggett & Platt. This is a fantastic showway beyond our expectations, said Declan Reilly, international sales manager for Dublin-based foam and bedding producer Kaymed. Weve gotten interest from so many countries around the worldSouth America, Asia, Australia.
entilation innovation Job No. 1 among many mattress industry suppliers was finding ways to improve air flow, particularly in foam mattresses. A number of innovations incorporate phase change material, as well as other means, to bring temperature regulation to mattresses. Phase change materials store and release heat with changes in temperature. Their first bedding application was in ticking and now they are making their way into other products. Latex International in Shelton, Conn., was a pioneer in incorporating phase change material during the foam vulcanization process and was issued a U.S. patent for its Celsion latex in September 2010. Amerigon introduced the thermo-electronic Climate Control Sleep System for mattresses to a global audience. In 2010, the Northfield, Mich.-based company partnered with retail chain Mattress Firm to create the climate-controlled YM bed, which is sold exclusively at that sleep shop chain in the United States. It has adapted its automotive technology for heating and cooling car seats to the bedding industry. Fiber producer Enkev, based in Volendam, Netherlands, added a lofty, breathable synthetic fiber to its lineup of natural fiber pads. Resilient Labyrinth is a springy, gel-like fiber available in a variety of thicknesses. Its made from 100% recyclable, low-density polyethylene plastic. The product was developed in response to customwww.bedtimesmagazine.com
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BedTimes July 2011
Top left Seeing spots For more daring mattress manufacturers, Sunds Textiles Steffen Rmer showed bold, playful stretch knits. Top right reinforced core Grgoire Moll of Sapsa Latex tests the extra support in the hybrid latex core with polyurethane rods.
er demand for a clean, fully recyclable product, said Marc Doktor, Enkev commercial director. In Europe, many types of fibers are widely used and accepted and, in the U.S., fiber gives mattress makers the opportunity to differentiate themselves. The Vita Group, headquartered in Maastricht, Netherlands, added breathable Intuition Talalay latex to its offerings. Its available for sale to non-U.S. mattress makers. The products open-cell structure is coupled with phase change material. Intuition is meant not just to cool you downits about temperature regulation, said Cees Zielman, Vita Group general manager. The phase change material is incorporated into the latex itself, providing thermal energy storage and increased temperature stability. Latexco featured Theta Comfort, which has a topical coating of phase change microcapsules that ensure that the sleeper is neither too warm nor too cold, according to the Tielt, Belgium-based company. Latexco also rolled out Oxygel, a latex coated with a bright green breathable, pressure-relieving gel. Some polyurethane foam producers spoke of moving beyond traditional memory foam, touting highly breathable foam formulations designed for both the beds core and its top comfort layers. Gommagomma, a foam producer in Caronno Pertusella, Italy, said its customers were impressed with WaterGel, a new open-cell foam. Unlike other polyurethane foam gels, WaterGel has no skin and is therefore far more breathable, according to the company. Textile suppliers touted breathable fabrics that incorporate natural yarns and unique knitting techniques. Ateja, a fabric supplier based in Bandung, Indonesia, offered the new Zentouch collection, which blends natural yarns, as well as carbon fiber, to create a cooler, anti-static sleep surface. Its new Flexsil fabrics
also incorporate anti-bacterial silver-imbued yarns. Ticking producer Boyteks, which has headquarters in Kayseri, Turkey, focused on several collections grouped together as exclusive concepts. Most are engineered for temperature control and breathability. In addition, the textile maker showcased its Quantech collection, which the company says energizes sleepers. Innofas Airvent fabric earned notice from show organizers, wining an Interzum award. (See story on Page 42.) The unique fabric from the Tilburg, Netherlands-based knit producer has four-way stretch and knit patterns featuring air grids that act as portholes for the mattress foam core, allowing it to breathe.
aster, easier production Behind closed doors on the show floor, GSG walked mattress makers down a memory lane of mattress quilting. At the end stood its new Gribetz International V16, which the company calls the worlds fastest quilter. The machine was engineered to remove some of the complexity of its Paragon M+ series quilters. The V16 is designed to be a staple of lean manufacturing, giving you 20% to 40% more yield, GSGs Bowman said. Engineers eliminated over 250 parts, enabling the V16 to operate at a true 1,600 rpm in tack-and-jump mode all day. It has an arrangement of 16 fixed needles in the industrys most popular needle setting and it shortens the thread path dramatically, enabling the machine to sew at speeds nearly twice as fast as the average quilt machine. GSG unveiled another half-dozen new machines at the show, including the worlds fastest packaging machine. The Merello ME-105 Auto Mattress Packaging System can finish five pieces per minute. It tightly wraps mattresses of any size and type, automatically detecting the length and width of each piece.
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BedTimes July 2011
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Top All aboard Starsprings invited visitors to snooze on its prototype all-coil rocking bed. Bottom Cut-and-paste Nina Patisson (left) and Philipp Schuster demonstrate the EP profiling machine from Albrecht Bumer GmbH & Co. KG, which is engineered to speed up foam core assembly.
Machinery maker Albrecht Bumer GmbH & Co. KG, based in Freudenberg, Germany, offered manufacturers greater efficiency, too. It introduced the EP profiling machine, which provides cost-effective cutting of multizone mattresses and toppers. The machine speeds up mattress assembly and saves labor with its sheet flip-over station and automatic unstacking system. The flip-over function means that sheets can be stacked with the profile on top, ready to be fed into a gluing or topping line. Fema Italian Cutting Systems S.r.l. of Gravina, Italy, a maker of foam cutting equipment, launched the Giotto HCS horizontal cutting system. The machine is a simpler, less automated version of the Giotto SCS. Its available equipped with an oscillating band knife system, a circulating band knife or both. With more and more mattress manufacturers working with foam cores, Heynen Systems BV, a Lelystad, Netherlands-based machinery maker and knitting company, rolled out the automated Tricover stocking machine to step up foam mattress finishing. The company also offers a manual stocking machine for mattress cores. Emil Stutzncker GmbH & Co. KG, with headquarters
rtistic stretch Fabric makers pushed boundaries with knitsand wovens, toowith ever-more elasticity and designs that reach into the realm of high art. There were super-soft, super-stretchy knits coupled with vivid yarn colors and graphic design motifs. There is definitely a move toward mattress fabrics with more color now, said Paolo Stellini, managing director of Magnago, Italy-based Stellini Textile Group. Sleeker, multifunctional styling using upholstery-style fabrics with rich color on pared-down bed silhouettes is an accelerating trend, said Laura Allred, design director of fabric supplier CT Nassau, based in Alamance, N.C. These upholstery looks are being influenced by urban loft living and city dwellers. Sunds Textiles, with headquarters in Sunds, Denmark, wowed visitors with vibrant, colorful designsthanks to new investments in knitting machinery, said Steffen Rmer, Sunds vice president of sales. Knit patterns with photo-quality design motifs caught the eye at Bekaert Textiles. The Waregem, Belgium-based company made a fashion statement with two new graphic
in Cologne, showcased its high-speed Mammut VMK Select, a quilter with two needle bars that the company says is easier to operate and requires less downtime to change patterns than its previous VMK model with three needle bars. Mert Makina specializes in automated mattress lines, allowing nine people to manufacture 500 mattresses in one eight-hour shift, said Nebi Dogan, general sales manager of the Kayseri, Turkey-based machinery supplier. The Hotmelt Glue Line Machine was a new introduction at the show. Osaka, Japan-based Matsushita Industrial Co. Ltd.s focus was on sewing machinery produced in conjunction with Chinese manufacturer Nanjing Square Mattress Machinery Co. Ltd. The MS-T601 tape-edge machine handles heavyweight materials with greater ease and the MS-T501 tape-edge machine boasts faster speeds, adjustability and an auto-flip sewing head, according to the company. Other offerings include the MS-ST3 handlestrap tacking machine and the CTF Mattress Logo Tape Sewing Machine. Adhesive supplier SABA, with headquarters in Dinxperio, Netherlands, is seeking to reduce steps in the gluing process. Its new one4two spray gun is a one-coat sprayer with a booster feature for adding more adhesive where necessary. Benefits include high transfer efficiency, ease of application and reduced adhesive consumption, the company says. Agro, with headquarters in Bad Essen, Germany, seeks to simplify and demystify the mattress design process with its new innerspring construction kit. The kit narrows Agros large product selection to six choices and spells out recommended uses, coil sizes, counts and other features. The company also introduced a number of taller, lighter and quieter encased coils, as well as a unique hinged innerspring unit designed for adjustable bases.
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BedTimes July 2011
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@ Interzum 2011
Two innovative DesleeClama mattress solutions win the much coveted 2011 Interzum Awards. A professional jury distinguished Argentum+ and QuickFit in the category High Product Quality. Argentum+ integrates silver ion technology into the mattress, combining antibacterial properties with highly effective moisture management. For cool, fresh and dry sleeping.
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DesleeClama challenged Jrgen Missotten, a renowned Belgian artist, to symbolize sleep. His creations adorn an exclusive limited edition of mattresses and come together with a framed version of the art work. A unique combination of art on the wall and in bed.
A fresh fix for the bedroom

Frix mattress fabrics contain innovative microcapsules that neutralize bad smells and disperse a subliminal hint of mint. Simple friction with the fabric unleashes the refreshing effect of the mattress on the sleeping environment.
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Atlantis is a 100% polyester mattress fabric that underwent an intensive and environmentally friendly micro cleaning process. This results in a hygienically pure and fresh mattress fabric at a very competitive price.
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collectionsBrioso HD (for high definition) and the colorful Rayoz. Bekaert enlisted students at the Flanders Fashion Institute to create haute couture looks from the tickings, which were displayed on mannequins in a department storestyle window in the showroom. Ticking supplier DesleeClama, based in Zonnebeke, Belgium, ex-
hibited four mattresses created by artist Jrgen Missotten. The series, titled Dreams Never End where deep blue waves make way for pure white serenitysymbolized the four phases of sleep. The projects goal was to illustrate the overriding importance of the beds appearance to consumers. Stretch has become the most
widely used adjective in describing mattress fabricsand not just when talking about knits. As part of the renewed interest in damask fabric on beds, Stellini expanded its collection of high-end woven fabrics with two-way stretch. Many customers are going back to jacquards to be different,
Stellini said. Everyone has knits now; theyre getting boring. We were born a jacquard manufacturer. We love jacquards. Stretch met science at Bodet & Horst. The textile producer, which has headquarters in Elterlein, Germany, displayed an unusual prototypea bed upholstered in a pressure-mapped
And the winner is Interzum lauds intelligent material & design

rganizers of Interzum Cologne honored trade fair exhibitors with 35 awards, including eight Best of the Best accolades. several honors went to mattress industry suppliers. The juried awards aim to put a spotlight on innovative design, intelligent details, aesthetics and functionality. Bekaert Textiles, based in Waregem, Belgium, earned one of the highest honors, receiving a Best of the Best award for its smart Wrap. Described as an intelligent mattress cover, smart Wrap is embedded with fiber optic technology from lightspeed systems of asten, Netherlands. On display was a test bed able to monitor a sleepers breathing via a digital display. The technology, which can be programmed to track a sleepers presence in bed, sleep positions, pressure points and more, has a number of potential uses. Perhaps the next generation of smart Wrap will be able to tell when its time to replace your mattress, said Wim Van Thienen, Bekaert research and development manager. Fabric supplier Bodet & Horst, which has headquarters in elterlein, Germany, received a High Product Quality award for its Bielastic Comfort streeetch collection. The fabric has 50% to 60% stretch in both directions, said apollonija spela Honigsman, Bodet & Horst research and development manager. We wanted to create a textile that takes the bodys shape, conforming in all directions, no matter how you move in bed. Textile supplier DesleeClama, with headquarters in Zonnebeke, Belgium, won two High Product Quality awards. Quick Fit is a new fabric collection thats prequilted and ready to fit over the mattress core. The company also offers a Quick Fit kit that includes a quilted panel with border fabric attached. Deslees second award was for anti-bacterial, moisture-inhibiting argentum fabric with silver particles. Tilburg, Netherlands-based knit supplier Innofa won a High Product Quality award for airvent. The fabric stretches in all directions and requires no quilting. It has air grids or vents that can be matched to the mattress cores air channels to optimize air circulation throughout the bed. This certainly was a timely award with so many mattress manufacturers around the world paying increased attention to the importance of ventilation and stretch in nonquilted mattress covers, said Job Drge, Innofa president. latexcos Fire retardant latex earned an award for High Product Quality. The company says the foam meets a number
Top Best of the best Bekaert Textiles Wim Van Thienen (left) and lightspeed systems Koen lauteslager demonstrate smart Wrap, an award winner. Left Silver winner Hans Dewaele (left) and Eric Delaby of DesleeClama show off Interzum awardwinning Argentum with silver particles.
of european Fr standards, while retaining all of the properties of latex. Fire retardant production technology can be applied to all latexco productsfrom foam cores to pillows. Zwevegem, Belgium-based Maes Mattress Ticking NV won a High Product Quality award for its Cocona Natural Technology textile. The fabric contains activated charcoal from coconut shells for moisture and odor management. The Frolexus Koala mattress and box spring by Froli Kunststoffwerk GmbH & Co. KG in schloss Holte-stukenbrock, Germany, also took home a High Product Quality award. Both bed and base are said to be highly breathable and contain flexible plastic springs.
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BedTimes July 2011
Right Big on breathability The new WaterGel by Gommagomma is an open-cell polyurethane foam, says Isabella Mariani.
fabric. The knit pattern matches its stretch to strategic pressure points for back, stomach and side sleepers.
G
n
lashy foams Textile showrooms didnt have a lock on cool visual aesthetics. There was plenty of pizzazz to be found among foam displays. Suppliers offered up vivid colors, unusual cuts and contours and new formulations. There was much to touch and test. Paris-based Sapsa Latex displayed a wide selection of topper rolls, pillows and foam cores with signage that beckoned mattress makers to Choose your profile, Choose your thickness and Choose your technology. Sapsa offered a thick, 18-centimeter latex core that it manufactures without adhesives, using proprietary multifoaming technology. Another innovation was its hybrid latex core made of Dunlop latex poured over colored polyurethane foam rods that lend zoned support to the mattress. Polyurethane foam producer FoamPartner Group, which has headquarters in Wolfhausen, Switzerland, wanted to prove that foam can be fun. In its dream world-themed showroom, the company displayed concept mattresses similar to the concept cars rolled out at an automobile show. Standing on end were colorful, multipart foam cores with balls of foam in place of coils. Color adds drama to foam, said Rita Kollbrunner, FoamPartner Group head of marketing and communications. The use of color makes the finished product easier to market because its so attractive.
reener aspirations Many exhibitors touted green features. There were products and processes that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, use fewer petroleum derivatives, are recyclable and are derived from sustainable resources. A number of suppliers say they are aiming for cradle-to-cradle sustainability. Five Dutch companies that supply the mattress industryDraka Interfoam BV in Hillegom, Netherlands; Enkev; SABA; Innofa; and Radium Foam BV, part of the Vita Groupannounced their joint commitment to promote
WERE YOU AN INTERZUM EXHIBITOR?
Following events like Interzum Cologne, BedTimes presents an overview of trends and innovations seen on the show floor. Its not possible to include every new product from every exhibitorand given the crowds at this years event, we had a difficult time even getting in to talk to some companies. Were sorry that there are a few we missed. If you introduced new products or services at Interzum Cologne that havent already been reported in the pages of BedTimes, youre welcome to submit them for inclusion in the News section of an upcoming issue. email the news release and photos to jpalm@sleepproducts.org. and look for more product news from Interzum Cologne in the august BedTimes when well report on whats new in foams and innersprings and then again in October when we examine mattress fabric trends.
sustainability. They have formed the Sustainable Sleep Alliance with the goal of helping make better beds for a better future. The group says that producing sustainably manufactured goods is the responsible thing to do and meets the needs of consumers. In a showroom decorated with leaves and fronds,, Orsa Foam S.p.A., based in Gorla Minore, Italy, celebrated its new BB Foam, a polyurethane with a high percentage of bio-based content from soy. Orsa presented findings from an ISO-accredited U.S. testing laboratory that found the new foam formulation contains between 34% and 41% total bio-based content. Water-based adhesives supplier Simalfa, based in Hawthorne, N.J., and Rafz, Switzerland, introduced 335 OF (overspray-free) adhesive. Use of the product creates a clean, safe and waste-free environment by ensuring that no spray particles go airborne, the company said. Billing it as the nonwoven for coming generations, Starsprings introduced Enviro, a nonwoven fabric made from cornstarch-derived polyactide polyester that it uses to encase coils. Enviro is biodegradable, recyclable, contains no petroleum products and is available with all Starsprings encased coils, said Johan Dahlin, sales and marketing manager for the company, which has headquarters in Herrljunga, Sweden. Textile supplier Pratrivero S.p.A., based in Trivero, Italy, announced it had made significant capital investments in new machinery and manufacturing techniques, allowing it to improve production by 50% while at the same time dramatically reducing energy consumption and manufacturing waste. Our customers are constantly looking at ways to improve their manufacturing processes, said Jim Tweddle, managing director of Wintech Engineering, a manufacturer of foam-cutting machinery based in Perth, Australia. Theyre looking for ways to reduce waste, use or recycle remnants. Were seeing a real change in focus in manufacturing in the management of materials. n
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BedTimes July 2011
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News
Kluft buys Pennsylvania factory
uxury mattress maker E.S. Kluft & Co. has purchased an 86,000-squarefoot manufacturing and distribution center in Denver, Pa., from Park Place Corp., a mattress producer based in Greenville, S.C. The purchase price was not disclosed. E.S. Kluft & Co., which produces Aireloom and Kluft brand mattresses, has headquarters and production facilities in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. It plans to use the facility to service dealers in the eastern and central regions of the United States. Kluft and Aireloom brands are so unique in the industry that there has been growing interest by high-quality retailers who have wanted to carry the brands but were hesitant to make a commitment because we were only producing in California, said Earl Kluft, E.S. Kluft & Co. president and
chief executive officer. This new facility changes all that as we can very efficiently and effectively service these accounts. It will open many new retail doors for us. The Pennsylvania facility, built in the 1970s, is being retrofitted for Klufts production processes. The company expects to retain the plants work force of about 40 employees. Park Place sold the facility as part of a realignment of its manufacturing and distribution processes necessitated by a licensing deal it signed with Comfort Solutions in August 2010. We are very pleased that our Pennsylvania associates will continue in the mattressmaking profession, said Jimmy Orders, Park Place president. Earl Kluft is a quality and design leader with a long-term commitment to the industry.
L&P donating $1 million to aid tornado victims

ndustry supplier Leggett & Platt has pledged $1 million toward tornado relief for residents of Joplin, Mo. An unprecedented storm devastated a large section of the town in May. L&P, headquartered in nearby Carthage, is one of the largest employers in the area and has many employees who We are lost homes, loved ones and suffered injuries in the tornado. grieving with our One L&P worker was killed. fellow partners We are grieving with our fellow partners who lost loved who lost loved ones and homes in this horrific storm, said David Haffner, L&P ones and homes president and chief executive in this officer. We are still gathering information on the losses horrific storm. sustained by those employees who were in the path of the storm. At this point, we know of at least 35 families who lost everything and we mourn the death of one employee partner. The company will direct the donation to local agencies that aid Joplin residents. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the company offered assistance to storm shelters and its employees are volunteering with various relief efforts. Leggett & Platt has been a part of this community for more than 128 years, Haffner said. Our roots include multigeneration employees, customers and business colleagues. We want to help.
Gommagomma marks 15 years
oam products supplier Gommagomma is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a move into new headquarters in Caronno Pertusella, Italy. The building includes a 150,000-square-foot automated warehouse that can hold as many as 25,000 mattresses and new manufacturing and processing lines for flexible elastic materials. A vast integrated photovoltaic system is expected to significantly reduce the companys energy costs, as well as its environmental impact. Construction of those phases is finished. Offices are expected to be completed later
this year. The family-owned company was founded in 1996 and initially produced a line of latex mattresses before adding pillows marketed under the Latexcel brand. It later expanded into memory foam mattresses, pillows, blocks and toppers that are offered under the ExtraPur label. Most recently, the company added WaterGel products. Gommagomma calls the technology a revolutionary high-density gel foam thats both breathable and elastic but that wont lose its shape. Over the years, a few simple rules have distinguished how
More spacious space Gommagommas new facility in Caronno Pertusella, Italy, includes a warehouse, manufacturing lines and administrative offices.
Gommagomma approaches products and the market: a sophisticated manufacturing plant that uses advanced technology, carefully selected and constantly monitored raw materials, detailed checks during the various manufacturing stages, real flexibility in terms of distribution and
manufacturing, no compromises on product quality and a genuine relationship of trust with customers, the company said. Gommagomma employs approximately 100 people and projects annual sales of roughly $26.6 million in 2011about 60% in Italy and 40% abroad.
July 2011 BedTimes
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News
natomic Global, a maker of memory foam mattresses based in Corona, Calif., has re-formed under a new corporation and inked a deal that will provide up to $20 million to help reduce debt, fund working capital, launch new branding and merchandising programs and invest in new equipment. A new corporation, Anatomic Holdings Inc., has been formed. FXI Holdings Inc., the investor group that controls foam supplier FXI in Media, Pa., is part of the new enterprise. Anatomic Global said its sales have grown more than 50% annually in the past two years. It is a good problem to have, but a challenging one nonetheless, said David Farley, Anatomic Global chairman and chief executive officer. This agreement will allow us to relieve all of our
Anatomic Global reorganizes, gets cash influx A
short-term cash burdens and to pick up the pace of investment in our brand and infrastructure. Having the ability to bring in additional funding beyond the initial tranche over the next five years based on our performance makes this deal a real home run. The reorganization will allow the company to reduce a multimillion dollar credit obligation to a key supplier, dating back to the launch of its consumer business two years ago, the company said. Anatomic Global plans significant product introductions at the Las Vegas Market in August and will undertake a comprehensive rebranding in early 2012. The company also expects to add manufacturing equipment to increase operational performance.
Simalfa introduces new overspray-free technology
imalfa, a water-based adhesive manufacturer based in Hawthorne, N.J., has unveiled its newest technology, Simalfa 335 OF (overspray-free). OF is a water-based adhesive that creates a weblike spray pattern and prevents adhesive particles from becoming airborne and creating a cloud. The result is more adhesive on the substrate and less waste in the workplace, according to the company. OF was designed specifically for the mattress industry where adhesive is often applied in large, wide-open production spaces and where a clean work environment is imperative. Traditional water-based adhesives will mist, similar to a spray paint, forcing you to rely heavily on spray gun and system settings, along with operator technique, to control overspray, said Darren Gilmore, Simalfa president and chief executive officer. We wanted to deal with overspray at a chemistry level and take those variables out of the equation.
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BedTimes July 2011
Eclipse receives U.S. patent for Zoned Quilt Technology
L
Simalfa 335 OF (overspray-free) spray pattern
Traditional water-based adhesive spray pattern
OF has the same instantbond characteristics of Simalfas other products, but dries up to 30% faster, according to the company. It doesnt require special equipment and can be used with Simalfas patented gravity feed system, as well as its floor-based pressurized systems. It also works with spray guns that are used for other Simalfa formulations.
icensing group and mattress maker Eclipse International has received final patent approval from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its Spinal ZoneZoned Quilt Technology. The Zoned Quilt Technology incorporates a densified quilt pattern to eliminate body impressions and provide additional support in the lumbar region of the mattress. Designed to work in conjunction with its patented Spinal Zone Unit, the Zoned Quilt Technology is a significant enhancement to Eclipses original Spinal Zone Technology, according to the company. The Spinal ZoneZoned Quilt Technology patent is the fifth patent for Eclipse, which has headquarters in North Brunswick, N.J. At Eclipse, we are continually working on new technologies to enhance our mattresses, said Jason Hagman, a chiropractor and Eclipse executive vice president. This patent adds a new level of support and comfort to the area of the body commonly associated with back pain. In addition, the technology will help to prevent breakdown and improve the longevity of the mattress itself.
News Gold Bond redresses Premier line in time for Las Vegas market
fabrics such as microsuede in hues of mocha, linen and pale blue that help product stand out on the showroom floor. All models feature a handmade coil box spring and an 850-coil count innerspring. The beds are available in firm, plush and European box pillowtop and have suggested retail prices from $1,199 to $3,000. The beds will debut at the Las Vegas Market in August.
Mattress Discounters wants customers to sing

Mattress makeover Gold Bonds Premier line has gotten new styling. The beds will debut at the Las Vegas Market in August.
attress maker Gold Bond says it has broken with conventional styling in the redesign of its Premier series of two-sided mattresses. In speaking with retailers, we know consumer tastes can vary greatly from the traditional to the
ultra-modern. In reintroducing our top line, we wanted to cater to those consumers who gravitate toward more contemporary color palettes and updated fabrics, said Bob Naboicheck, president of the Hartford, Conn.-based company. The new Premier line features
Sleep shop chain Mattress Discounters, which is based in Jessup, Md., is sponsoring a Sing Our Jingle video contest. Entrants are invited to record and upload either an interpretation or a completely new version of the Mattress Discounters jingle to the companys Facebook page. (The retailers jingle goes: Lay on it. Play on it. Save on it. Pray on it. Drink on it. Think on it. Have a good nights sleep on us, Mattress Discounters.) The contestant with the most votes will win a Samsung 3-D TV. If the video is shot in front of or inside a Mattress Discounters store, the winner also will receive a Stearns & Foster or Tempur-Pedic bed. All eligible entrants will receive a free T-shirt. Winners will be selected July 15.
SHORT
July 2011 BedTimes
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News
Leggett & Platt rebrands its encased coils
ndustry supplier Leggett & Platt, headquartered in Carthage, Mo., has given its fabricencased coils a new name, Comfort Core. The brand umbrella includes Body Print, Body Print Advanced, Bolsa, Hi-Low, Joey and Softech encased-coil lines. According to the company, Comfort Core encased coils add comfort directly into the
spring system, reducing the need for additional layers of
fabric and foam and allowing for lower-profile mattresses. When you are able to reduce the excessive height of a mattress and eliminate the foam and fiber that typically cause body impressions, you end up with a better product for the consumer, said Mark Quinn, L&P segment vice president of marketing. When it comes to mattresses, we
teach consumers that thicker is better. Its time we addressed this myth. When we talk to retailers about issues that they face, returns are always at the top of the list. If we start telling a better story and eliminate the misguided beliefs that cause this problem, we can exceed customer expectations with the end-product. We think Comfort Core products will help bedding manufacturers do that.
Carpenter wins for 2 Guys 600 Pillows

ndustry supplier Carpenter Co., which has headquarters in Richmond, Va., has earned two Webby awards. Webby Awards, considered the Oscars of the Web, are presented annually by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence on the Internet. Carpenters 2 Guys 600 Pillows video earned both a Webby and a Peoples Voice award. The video was created for the companys SleepBetter.org website by Rhett & Link, who
put 600 pillows to work in a music video about what happens to pillows when they are kept for far too long. Combined views of the video, bonus footage and a behind-the-scenes video about the making of the video have topped 5 million since its launch in September 2010. We know that in addition to whole new audiences being entertained by the video, the Webby Awards will help us in our mission to inform more and more people about whats inside old bedding and how
that can affect getting a good nights sleep, said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co. and
creator of SleepBetter.org. The video can be viewed by searching for the Rhett & Link channel on YouTube.
McRoskey creates byDesign bed with help of designers
igh-end mattress maker and retailer McRoskey Mattress Co. in San Francisco has added a luxury model to its collection that, for the first time, incorporates latex and wool into the mattress. The handmade bed was developed with input from San Francisco interior designers, who told McRoskey that their clients want a comfortable mattress that is locally made, features natural materials, has visual appeal and is well constructed.
The bed includes natural latex rubber, as well as Eco Wool batting sourced from Woolgatherer Carding Mill, a northern California sheep ranch and carding mill. The core of the bed is a steel spring unit with crimped hourglass-shaped coils laced together with steel spring helical wire. McRoskeys box-spring construction includes steel coils fastened to a wood frame to provide a pressure-absorbing support for the mattress. The byDesign mattress is covered in a knit ticking with a vine pattern in shades of green, taupe and beige. As with all McRoskey mattresses, the byDesign uses specifically selected materials and our time-tested construction techniques to deliver comfort thats supple, supportive and durable, said President Robin Azevedo.
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BedTimes July 2011
News
Hstens extends line with two beds
uxury bed maker Hstens with headquarters in Kping, Sweden, has added two continental-style beds to its product lineup. Each has a three-part constructionan innerspring base, mattress and removable topper. All beds are constructed and sewn by hand. The Hstens Proferia uses a unique layering method in the coil-on-coil base, in which horsehair fiber is divided into several thin layers, with membranes of cotton or wool placed in between. The construction allows the springy horsehair greater room to move and provides increased comfort, the company said. The mattress contains a pocket spring system, as well as 10 layers of cotton and New Zealand wool.
WorldBed helps victims in Japan

The Corona, Calif.-based nonprofit organization WorldBedhas shipped 100 of its cot-sized field beds to survivors of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The donation was made possible by retailers Ergo Customized Comfort in Irvine, Calif., and Relax the Back in La Palma, Calif. Ashley Furniture HomeStore of Kearney, Neb., and Grand Island, Neb., is matching donations of WorldBed, plus giving a $38 gift cardequal to the donation cost of a bedto every customer who donates.IntoBedWeGo, an e-tailer based in San Diego, is donating a WorldBed for each bed it sells. The charity has created a special fund for donations to the Japan relief effort. Learn more at www.worldbed.org.
High-end & handmade Hstens newest beds are the continental-style Proferia and Auroria.
It has a suggested retail price of $23,640 for a king-size set. The Hstens Auroria has a similar construction, but a thinner profile with fewer layers. The base contains a Bonnell coil spring unit. The mattress has a pocketed spring system and layers of natural cotton, wool and horsehair. It retails for $16,500 in king.
SHORTS
Cargill supports charity via Facebook

Minneapolis-based Cargill, producer of BiOH polyols, donated $1 to WorldBed for every individual who liked its BiOH page on Facebook during the first three weeks of April. Facebook fans were eligible to win one of four $50 Target gift cards. BiOH polyols are an ingredient of flexible foam derived from soybean oil. WorldBed is an independent charity based in Corona, Calif.
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BedTimes July 2011
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International Bedding plans R&D center
Eastman House China continues expansion
nternational Bedding expects to open a new 15,000-squarefoot research and development center in early 2012the mattress makers first free-standing facility dedicated to product research, design and testing. This decision not only reflects our firm commitment to IBs future but also demonstrates the tremendous importance we place on innovation, quality and the ethic of continuous improvement at our company, said Jeff Maillet, chief executive officer of the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company. The R&D center will be in an existing, single-story building thats adjacent to IBs 100,000-squarefoot factory in Orlando. It will include a large showroom to display IBs product lines and marketing programs. Were a company that has always focused on exploring bold ideas, using the best quality materials and holding ourselves to the highest possible standards, said Mark Wozniak, IB vice president of marketing. As such, were very excited about how this development will further elevate the design and performance of sleep products that carry the International Bedding brand.
Rapid growth Bedding Solutions Holdings expects to have nine Eastman House showrooms in China by the end of the year. This location in Qingdao is among the latest to open.
edding Solutions Holdings, which operates as Eastman House of China, continues to grow with the opening of two new Eastman House showrooms. One showroom is located in the Macauline Furniture Mall in eastern Beijing. The other is located in the northeast
city of Qingdao. Led by President Peter Yau, Bedding Solutions is positioning its showrooms and products to cater to the premium market segment in China. Bedding Solutions opened its first Eastman House showroom in October 2009 and followed with
three others. Yau plans to open a total of nine Eastman House showrooms by the end of the year. The Eastman House brand is licensed through the Mattress Development Co., which is also the parent of licensing group Eclipse International. All are headquartered in North Brunswick, N.J.
Bemco celebrates 55 years with marketing programs
icensing group Bemco, based in Park Ridge, Ill., is marking 55 years in business with the roll out of its 55th anniversary ad kit and other marketing efforts. A key part of Bemcos promotional efforts for 2011, the new kit includes ads to be used in newspapers and for preprinted inserts, circulars, direct mail and Web art. Retailers can customize each ad with special promotions and anniversary offers. Bemco also supports its retailers with other comprehensive marketing efforts, including the Made in the USA designation, Bemco Fire-
Tec Fire Resistant Technology labeling and specialty promotions that run throughout the year, said Daryl Tarbutton, Bemco president. In addition, Bemco runs other national marketing programs and for 25 years has been a sponsor of The Price Is Right game show on CBS. Bemco sponsored USA Gymnastics for 25 years and the USA Olympic program for four years. We are always looking for great marketing opportunities because these efforts tell Bemco customers we have longevity and they tell retailers that they can count on Bemcos
legacy of support, as they have from our beginning in 1956, Tarbutton said.
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BedTimes July 2011
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News
Boyd Specialty Sleep moves into toppers
oyd Specialty Sleep is introducing its first mattress toppersthree memory foam options under the Responda-Flex brand name. The toppersin 2-, 3- and 4-inch heightsincorporate solid memory foam or a combination of convoluted memory foam for contouring support and a firmer secondary foam layer for extra support. They are wrapped in removable, machinewashable covers in velour, cotton/polyester or bamboobased rayon fabrics. The toppers have suggested retail prices from $99 to $399 for queen size.
New category Mattress maker Boyd Specialty Sleep is offering three memory foam toppers in various heights.
The vast majority of toppers sold today are uncovered blocks or slabs of foam, said Dennis
Boyd, president and chief executive officer of the St. Louis-based company. Our objective was
to differentiate and elevate the quality and look of our offerings, which is why Responda-Flex toppers are aesthetically styled, have a lifestyle-based selling story and include attractive POP materials. The entire topper collection uses varying densities of Boyds Responda-Flex open-cell memory foam. For many consumers who cant afford to buy a new bed and are seeking a better nights sleep, the plushness and support of a properly constructed topper can mitigate the declining support in a mattress thats nearing the end of its lifecycle, Boyd said.
Mattress Firm adds 4 Wisconsin locations
Sleep Country USA marks 20 years

attress chain Sleep Country USA, which has headquarters in Kent, Wash., is celebrating its 20 th anniversary this year with a number of philanthropic efforts. The employee-owned company has 75 stores and 350 employees in Washington and Oregon. It was founded by Sunny Kobe Cook and Bob Cook as a regional home furnishings chain. We are very proud of our history of fulfilling a need for quality sleep products in a growing market and successfully engaging the community, said Dale Carlsen, Sleep Country chief executive officer. Weve created a brand that has become a household name with a jingle that nearly everyone can recite. To celebrate two decades in business, Sleep Country hosted a Pajama Drive for foster children in the spring. It also
ouston-based sleep chain Mattress Firm has opened four stores in the Wisconsin cities of Appleton, Green Bay, Lake Geneva and Oak Creek. The retailer now has 17 stores in the state. The first opened in February 2010 in Pleasant Prairie. Were pleased to bring Mattress Firms unique shopping experience to additional locations in Wisconsin, said Chuck Dawson, a former senior executive at Sealy, who holds the Wisconsin franchise. Through a recent deal, all Mattress Firms in Wisconsin will carry the Dr. Breus Bed, designed by sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus and manufactured by International Bedding. Our relationship with renowned sleep expert Dr. Breus reinforces our commitment to ensuring our customers get a great nights sleep, Dawson said. Mattress Firm operates more than 700 stores in 40 markets and 24 states.
Tools for understanding Canadas safety law

Health Canada has released additional information to assist manufacturers in complying with the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. New mandatory incident reporting and recordkeeping requirements took effect June 20. Health Canada has created a brochure explaining the law and a fact sheet on new recordkeeping requirements. Both are available on the Health Canada website, www.hc-sc.gc.ca.
is thanking customers on Facebook by holding a concert-ticket giveaway for musical performances at the newly christened Sleep Country Amphitheater just outside Portland, Ore. Sleep Countrys Foster Kids Program was founded in 2005. To date, the company has donated more than 350,000 items (shoes, coats, clothing, pajamas, school supplies, gifts) and more than $500,000 in cash to foster care organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Were excited for the future of Sleep Country USA as we plan to expand throughout the Pacific Northwest and other regions, Carlsen said. As an employee-owned company, we are focused on our employees, enhancing product selection, remarkable customer service and increasing our impact on the community through our Foster Kids Program.
SHORT
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BedTimes July 2011
News
SHORT
Sleep Train lauded for charitable work
Simmons launches summer promotion

Atlanta-based Simmons Bedding Co. kicked off summer with a Beautyrest Cash & Comfort Rebate Event that ran through July 5. Customers had the chance to win more than 20,000 rebates of as much as $1,000 and were automatically entered to win a weekly rebate of $5,000. The promotion was designed to generate excitement around new Simmons lines at retail, a redesigned Beautyrest.com website and a national advertising campaign.
attress retail chain Sleep Train has earned several awards for its efforts on behalf of at-risk and foster children. The Sacramento, Calif.-based retailer earned a Daily Point of Light Award from the Points of Light Foundation & Corporation for National and Community Service. The award, founded in 1989 under President George H.W. Bush, recognizes those who help find innovative ways to meet community needs and support the development of long-term solutions that positively impact social problems in local communities. Sleep Train also has received a Child Champions Award from KidsFirst, an organization in the Sacramento region that works to ensure that all children live in a safe environment. Additionally, the company was recognized at the recent Every Child Deserves a Champion event held by the New Millennium Foster Family Agency, which helps match foster kids with nurturing homes. Sleep Train has been committed to the plight of at-risk children since its founding 25 years ago. In 2008, the company created the Sleep Train Foster Kids Program to focus its philanthropy on providing items such as clothing, shoes, pajamas, school supplies, gifts and cash to foster organizations that aid the more than 60,000 foster children in California. Over the years, it has donated thousands of items and more than $700,000 in cash.
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July 2011 BedTimes
57 |
News
Simmons ComforPedic gets charitable
immons Bedding Co.s ComforPedic memory foam mattress brand has recently teamed up with several charity events by donating mattresses and other items. We see these events as an extension of our longtime commitment to leaving lasting, positive impressions on the people and communities where we operate, said Scott Smalling, president of Atlanta-based Simmons Specialty Sleep division. William Shatners Priceline.com Hollywood Charity Horse Show benefits L.A. charities that aid special needs children. More than 600 guests attended the April 30 festivities in Burbank, Calif. Smalling and Shatner auctioned off a ComforPedic mattress set, which was the evenings single highest-earning item. A ComforPedic mattress also was featured in a silent auction at the Red Cross of Santa Monicas Red Tie Affair on April 9. The gala honored individuals who have exhibited altruism, a helping nature and the desire to give back to their community. City of Hopes Spirit of Life dinner, held during the High Point Market in High Point, N.C., in April kicked off a ComforPedic by Simmons online charity auction. A ComforPedic mattress set and an autographed footstreamer signed by nearly 40 celebrities were auctioned to benefit City of Hope, one of the nations lead-
No low prices here During William Shatners Priceline.com charity event, Scott Smalling (left) and Shatner auctioned off a ComforPedic mattress set. It was the evenings single highest-earning item. Smalling is president of Simmons Bedding Co.s Specialty Sleep division.
ing centers for cancer research, treatment and education. The George Lopez fourth annual Celebrity Golf Classic, held May 2 in Pacific Palisades, Calif., earned funds for the George Lopez Foundation, which raises awareness of kidney disease and organ donation and helps underprivileged children and adults. A ComforPedic mattress set was part of the live auction.
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BedTimes July 2011
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News
L&P makes final consumer brand changes

ndustry supplier Leggett & Platt has finished creating the new brand architecture for its Whittier, Calif.-based Consumer Products Group, transitioning the last of its sleep accessories and home textile brands to the Leggett & Platt name. As the final step, both the Leggett & Platt Home Collection and Southern Textiles by Leggett & Platt are now marketed
under the Leggett & Platt parent brand. The changes leverage the equity in the well-recognized, 128-year-old parent brand and provide retailers with an easy-to-understand, unified marketing message to present to consumers, the company said in a news release. Marketing all categories of sleep accessories under the venerable Leggett & Platt
name helps clarify our unique offering to retailers, all of whom can benefit from enhancing their mattress sales by offering a robust suite of sleep accessories, said Herman Tam, Consumer Products Group vice president of marketing. The Consumer Products Group includes ornamental bed frames, power foundations, steel bed support systems and sofa sleepers, as well as pillows, sheets, mattress protectors and pillow protectors.
SHORTS
Englander adds licensee in Southeast Asia

Mattress licensing group Englander, based in Olive Branch, Miss., has inked a licensing deal with Mattressworld Industries Sdn. Bhd. in Selangor, Malaysia. The company will manufacture and distribute Englander products to Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. In addition to manufacturing beds, Mattressworld operates one of the largest latex foam manufacturing facilities in Southeast Asia. Its a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lee Swee Kiat Group. This particular deal is quite an important one for us, to have one of the largest manufacturers in the region shipping our products. In less than four years, we now have all of Southeast Asia and China covered, as well as Australia, Canada, the Middle East and Turkey, said Englander President Kevin Toman.
Magniflex offers Shop-in-Shop

Bedding manufacturer Magniflex, with headquarters in Prato, Italy, is supporting its expanding dealer networkthe company now has more than 100 doors in North Americawith the Magniflex Shop-in-Shop. The customizable merchandising program is available in three sizes that can be tailored to a range of retail settings. Shop-in-Shop includes mattresses, pillows, accessories, display racks and other point-of-purchase materials.
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BedTimes July 2011
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Newsmakers
Culp names operations director

ulp Inc., a textile supplier based in High Point, N.C., has promoted Pat Rosser to director of operations for Culp Home Fashions, the companys mattress fabrics division. Rosser is responsible for the warehouse, shipping and receiving, sample department, customer service, weave room planning and general operations management for Culp Home Fashions. He reports to Robert G. Culp IV, president of the division. Rosser previously was operations coordinator for Culp
Home Fashions. Before joining the company, he had held sales management positions at Rose Furniture, Furnitureland South and Ashley Home Stores. Pat Rosser brings a wide range of operations experience in the furniture industry to this position, Culp said. He is well qualified to take on this important role for Culp Home Fashions with a deep understanding of our business and important insight into critical areas of operations and customer service. Pat will be a valuable member of our management team and we look forward to working together to enhance our leadership position in todays marketplace.
Foam group honors 2 late industry pioneers

he Polyurethane Foam Association has posthumously inducted two foam industry leaders and innovators into the Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame. The ceremony honoring Bob Bush Sr. and E. Rhodes Carpenter took place during a PFA meeting in May in Baltimore. Bush was a founder of the Loudon, Tenn.-based PFA. He played a pivotal role in the development of the flexible polyurethane foam and furniture industries throughout his 50-year career at Hickory Springs Mfg. Co., a Hickory, N.C.-based supplier of bedding and furniture components and one of the largest polyurethane foam producers in the country. He received both the Robert MacMorran Memorial Award (1989) and the Russell Abolt Exceptional Service Award (1998) from the International Sleep Products Association and was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 2006. Bush retired from Hickory Springs in 2002 as executive vice president of sales. He died in 2010 at age 78. Accepting the Hall of Fame honor on his behalf were Bushs sons, Bobby Bush Jr. and Jimmy Bush. Both are members of the
Hickory Springs management team and are active in the U.S. foam, furniture and mattress industries. Carpenter, founder of Richmond, Va.-based Carpenter Co., started as a distributor of Goodyear latex rubber and built his company into one of the worlds leading producers of comfort cushioning products for a variety of industries, including bedding. Today, Carpenter Co. has 19 foam production plants, 4,700 employees and 56 global locations. Carpenter semiretired in 1965 and died in 1980. His legacy lives on through the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, founded in 1975. Accepting the Hall of Fame honor on Carpenters behalf were Ed Malechek, Carpenter Co. president; Myron H. (Bud) Reinhart, retired Carpenter Co. president; and Ann Day, Carpenters stepdaughter and president and chairwoman of the board of the Carpenter foundation. The Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame, online at www.pfa.org, was established to recognize individuals and corporations that have significantly contributed to the growth and betterment of the flexible polyurethane foam industry in North America.
Remembering E. Rhodes Carpenter Celebrating E. Rhodes Carpenters posthumous induction into the Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame were Bob Luedeka, (from left) Polyurethane Foam Association executive director; Myron H. (Bud) Reinhart, former Carpenter Co. president; Ed Malechek, Carpenter Co. president; Ann Day, president of the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation; and Dimitri Dounis, PFA president.
Honoring Bob Bush Sr. Framed by Bob Luedeka, (far left) Polyurethane Foam Association executive director, and Dimitri Dounis, (far right) PFA president, Bobby Bush Jr. and Jimmy Bush accepted the Flexible Polyurethane Foam Hall of Fame honor on behalf of their late father, Bob Bush Sr.
July 2011 BedTimes
63 |
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atex International has named two key managers to new positions. Tomas Eisenberg assumes leadership of marketing and branding efforts as vice president of strategic marketing. James Siragusa has been promoted to vice president of sales for LIs global sales efforts. We are recognizing two of our most seasoned executives and giving them both expanded responsibilities that are critical to the mission of our company, said Dave Fisher, LI president and chief executive officer. They will each play an important role as we evolve from a company that simply manufactured latex cores and toppers into the leading brand in the hottest growth sectorlatexin the sleep products space. Eisenberg joined the Shelton, Conn.-based latex supplier in 2002, leading pillow sales before assuming a number of senior sales positions. He had a decade of senior sales management experience in the consumer products sector prior to joining the company. In his new role, Eisenberg will spearhead LIs new corporate branding and marketing initiative, which the company expects to unveil later this year. Siragusa returned to LI earlier this year to assume responsibility for international sales. He first joined the company in 1998 as director of business development and later was promoted to managing director of international growth. He left the company in 2009 to start an international business consulting practice. Before joining LI, Siragusa held senior sales positions at Sealy, Simmons and Premier Bedding Group. Earlier in his career, he was a buyer for Gimbels, Macys and Dillards.
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Sleep Train promotes several, names new COO

leep shop chain Sleep Train has promoted a number of executives. Leading the list is Rob Killgore, previously senior executive vice president, who has Rob Killgore been appointed chief operations officer. He oversees strategic planning and daily operations for the Sacramento, Calif.-based company. Killgore started with Sleep Train 25 years ago as a driver. The company also has named: Diane Hanratty as director of human resources Brett Thornton as director of training and development Mark Tseu as vice president of information technology Gina Davis as director of branding Hernani Alves as enterprise vice president of retail sales Matt Jessell as vice president of alternative channel sales
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strategic plan execution. In addition, Sleep Train has made a number of regional promotions: Scott Higgins to regional vice president of Southern California sales Brian Fifield to regional vice president of Northern California sales Scott Murphy to regional vice president of California operations Mike Estes to regional vice president of Pacific Northwest sales Bob Young to regional vice president of Pacific Northwest operations. We are proud to announce that these new positions are being filled from our own pool of talented individuals, said Dale Carlsen, Sleep Train chief executive officer. As an employeeowned company, we strive to cultivate and expand our teams professional skills through training, promotions and growth and are proud to reward those who have been instrumental in Sleep Trains growth and success.
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BedTimes July 2011
Newsmakers
Sullivan takes helm at CertiPUR-US
that, he was a project leader at Dow Chemical Co. Sullivan has presented numerous technical papers at industry meetings and serves as chairman of ASTM Internationals subcommittee on furniture flammability. As a longtime colleague and respected scientist, Doug Sullivan is the ideal person to lead CertiPUR-US to the next level, Luedeka said.
as the chief spokesman ertiPUR-US, and administrator a voluntary of the CertiPUR-US testing, analysis and program. He is responcertification program sible for managing operated by the Althe certification and liance for Flexible renewal process and Polyurethane Foam for monitoring use of in Loudon, Tenn., the program seal. He has named Douglas Douglas Sullivan reports to the board of Sullivan executive the Alliance for Flexdirector. ible Polyurethane Foam. He replaces Bob Luedeka, Sullivan has more than three executive director of the Polydecades of experience in the flexurethane Foam Association, ible polyurethane foam industry. which initiated the CertiPURHe worked for Hickory Springs US program. Luedeka served as Mfg. Co. for 20 years, first as direcCertiPUR-US interim executive director until the program reached tor of research and development and then as technical director. Bea level of success that allowed for hiring a permanent director, the fore that, he was a research sciengroup said. tist at Union Carbides urethane In the new role, Sullivan serves chemicals division and prior to
Robinson joins SSA board

ick Robinson, president of Bostonbased licensing group Spring Air International, has been named to the board of the Specialty Sleep Association, an organization dedicated to facilitating the growth and positive awareness of the specialty sleep category. The SSA board Rick Robinson welcomes Rick Robinson and his unique perspective regarding our future of sleep mission, said Dale Read, SSA board president. Robinson will complete the term of Jeff Scorziell, president of bedding producer Anatomic Global, who is taking a leave of absence to do missionary work in Zimbabwe.
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BedTimes July 2011
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ISPA
Now is the time to be part of the BedTimes Supplies Guide

f youre a supplier to the bedding industry, its time to make sure youre included in the BedTimes Supplies Guide both online and in the December issue of the magazine. The BedTimes Supplies Guide is the place the mattress industry turns to when searching for machinery, equipment, components, supplies everything needed to produce mattresses and related sleep products. The guide also includes an array of servicesfrom legal advisers to testing labs to logistics providers. All supplier members of the International Sleep Products Association receive a free basic listing, which includes company name, address, phone number and fax. Consider upgrading to a complete
listing that provides more comprehensive information to prospective buyers about your company. A complete online listing costs only $395 a year and includes your company logo, complete contact information, company description, link to your website, email address and placement in as many as 10 predefined product categories.
Additional upgrades include priority/premium placements and video enhancement, as well as online banner and product showcase ads. MultiView, BedTimes partner in the directory, is contacting ISPA members (both first-time participants and members
renewing or upgrading their listings) about their listing in the guide. Whether or not you choose to upgrade your listing, be sure to check the online BedTimes Supplies Guide at www. bedtimessuppliesguide. com to verify or update your listing information no later
than Sept. 23. The information we have on file on Sept. 23 is what will be published in the print guide in December. If you dont hear from MultiView and need to make updates, contact a representative directly at ispa@multiview.com or 972-402-7000. To advertise in the December issue, contact Kerri Bellias, ISPA vice president of sales, at 336945-0265 or kbellias@ sleepproducts.org.
Newsletter gets new name, look

The International Sleep Products Association has revamped its weekly enewsletter. BedTimes Bulletin, emailed to members on Wednesday each week, has been redesigned and renamed ISPA Insider. Your weekly member newsletter will still carry the important industry information youve come to depend on week after week, but its being presented in a fresh, new, more reader-friendly format, said Mary Helen Uusimaki, ISPA vice president of membership and communications. This is among the first in a series of efforts to upgrade and improve ISPA communications vehicles.
Get new Product Safety & Recall Directory
embers of the International Sleep Products Association can download the 2011 edition of the Product Safety & Recall Directory. Its published by ADK Information Services in cooperation with the Centers for Supply Chain Management and Entrepreneurship at St. Louis Universitys John Cook School of Business. The resource is especially helpful for manufacturers seeking to comply with increasing numbers of new product safety regulations. ISPA provides the
directory as a member benefit and offers it for downloaded at www.sleepproducts.org/ advocacyissues/ productsafety recalldirectory.php. The directory helps corporate product safety staff locate information and resources to assist them in planning and implementing product safety and recall programs. It lists nearly 200 service provider locations in 40 countries, enabling manufacturers
to locate testing labs, product liability attorneys, product safety consultants, insurers, call centers, product collection and destruction companies and other vendors that can help them design and implement product safety programs or recall defective products. The directory also contains information about government agencies with safety authority and articles about product safety from leading industry experts.
SHORTS
Space reservation for EXPO 2012 starts

If you exhibited at ISPA EXPO 2010, your priority exhibitor package containing important information about space assignments for ISPA EXPO 2012 is on its way to you. Be sure to watch for it in the mail and open it promptly. The deadline for the priority exhibitor space contracts and deposits is July 14. ISPA EXPO 2012 will be March 14-17 in Indianapolis. Questions? Contact Kerri Bellias, ISPA vice president of sales, at 336-945-0265 or kbellias@sleepproducts.org.
July 2011 BedTimes
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ISPA
Two key ISPA statistics reports available to members

tee, ISPA forecasts that the industry will continue the positive trend from 2010 with consistent unit and revenue growth through 2012. The forecast also contains economic and market analyses provided by Jerry Epperson, a partner in Mann, Armistead & Epperson Ltd., an investment banking and corporate advisory firm based in Richmond, Va., and Mike Egart, a senior project manager with Association Research Inc., a research firm in Rockville, Md. These reports are an exclusive ISPA member benefit and are available on the ISPA website, www.sleepproducts.org. If you have trouble logging onto the members-only section, contact Deborah Nicholas, ISPA manager of database and website operations, at dnicholas@sleepproducts.org or 571-482-5433.
he U.S. mattress industry grew both in terms of sales revenue and units sold in 2010the first time it has seen growth in both measures since 2005, according to the new 2010 Mattress Industry Report of Sales and Trends from the International Sleep Products Association. Wholesale revenues were up 4.1% and unit sales (mattresses and foundations) rose 6.2% over 2009. In addition to annual revenue, unit and average selling price data, the report includes information on contract sales, mattress imports and exports, trends in mattress sizes and retail price points, sales activity in 60 foreign countries compiled by CSIL Milano and more. ISPA also has released a new U.S. mattress market forecast for 2011 and 2012. Based in part on an economic analysis prepared by the University of Michigan and input from its Statistics Commit-
Join other like-minded women in the mattress industry Like the ISPA Womens Network on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/ISPAWomensNetwork
ISPA Womens Network (IWN) is open to all women who are employed in the bedding industry, from the supplier and manufacturer and to the retailing sectors. Join us on Facebook and meet other women in the bedding industry. Stay up-to-date on the latest industry events, share inspiring stories, and create professional relationships with your female peers. You are just a few clicks away from meeting other smart, savvy, and inspiring women -- just like you!
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BedTimes July 2011
ISPA
ISPA extinguishes Texas flammability bill
The International Sleep Products Association helped defeat lawmakers efforts to create an open-flame flammability standard for mattresses in Texas. ISPA lobbied against the bill because existing federal mattress standards pre-empt states from creating their own flammability regulations. The Legislature adjourned its regular session in May without passing the bill. Chris Hudgins, ISPA vice president of government relations, said similar legislation could be introduced when lawmakers convene for the 2013 regular session. unscrupulous mattresses renovators. The bill was approved in committee but the Legislature adjourned in May without voting on it. Were relieved that the Legislature decided not to roll back protections for mattress consumers, said Chris Hudgins, ISPA vice president of government relations. We hope in the future the state will not only retain this law, but will strengthen to protect consumers from health and safety concerns, including bedbugs.
SHORTS
Renovator bill dies in Florida Legislature

The Florida Legislature adjourned in May without taking action on an ISPAbacked bill that would make it tougher for unscrupulous mattress renovators to operate in the state. The International Sleep Products Association had lobbied lawmakers to strengthen Floridas bedding law in response to news stories about filthy renovated beds and mattress flammability recalls involving at least one Florida renovator. ISPA will continue its efforts to get the legislation passed when lawmakers convene next year. ISPA also is working in other states, including New York and Tennessee, to promote proper regulation of mattress renovators.
Association defeats repeal of Colo. bedding law

The International Sleep Products Association was successful in defeating Colorado legislation that would have repealed the states bedding law. According to ISPA, had the bill passed, Colorado consumers no longer would have been protected from deceptive marketing or fire and safety risks posed by
July 2011 BedTimes
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Calendar
|
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 6-10 International Furniture Market Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Phone 603-8024-7736 info@ifm.net.my www.ifm.net.my
Sept. 14-17 Furniture China Shanghai New International Expo Centre Shanghai, China Phone 86-21-64371178 furniture@ubmsinoexpo.com www.furniture-china.cn Sept. 14-18 Habitare Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre Helsinki, Finland Phone 358-9-150-91 info@finnexpo.fi www.finnexpo.fi
Top: Furnitex July 21-24 in Melbourne, Australia Bottom: Habitare Sept. 14-18 in Helsinki, Finland
July
July 21-24 Furnitex Melbourne Exhibition Centre Melbourne, Australia Phone 61-3-9654-7773 furnitex@aec.net.au www.furnitex.com.au
| AuGuST Aug. 1-5 Las Vegas Market World Market Center Las Vegas, U.S. Phone 888-416-8600 info@lasvegasmarket.com www.lasvegasmarket.com
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BedTimes July 2011
Your Gateway to the Mattress Industry

March 14-17, 2012
IndIAnA ConVentIon Center
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Indianapolis, Indiana USA
For information about exhibiting, please contact Kerri Bellias, kbellias@sleepproducts.org or call 336-945-0265
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www.Ispaexpo.CoM
a d v e r t i s e r s
A. Lava & Son Co. Steve Appelbaum 800-777-5282 (800-777-LAVA) www.alavason.com Amelco Industries Ltd. Andreas Georgallis 357-22-484444 www.amelco.com Atlanta Attachment Co. Inc. Hank Little 770-963-7369 www.atlatt.com 18 Costa International 57 Daniel Vazquez 305-885-9761 www.costa-international.com Creative Ticking Jerry Pratt 704-861-1536 www.creativeticking.com Deslee Textiles NV Erik Delaby 864-431-6006 www.desleetextiles.com 61 Global Systems Group C3 Russ Bowman 954-846-0300 www.gsgcompanies.com Gommagomma 55 Isabella Mariani 39-02-965100 www.gommagomma.com Hengchang Machinery Factory Ren Ying 86-769-83307931 www.hcjixie.com Hickory Springs Mfg. Co. Rick Anthony 828-328-2201 www.hickorysprings.com Integrity Software Solutions Bill Seres 604-574-7900, Ext. 101 www.efreedomis.com Islatex Evelio Alvarado 502-2279-7159 www.islatex.com John Marshall & Co. Ltd. Peter Crone 64-3-341-2004 www.joma.co.nz Jomel Industries Inc. Phil Iuliano 973-282-0300 www.jomel.net Kenn Spinrad Inc. Randy Weinstock 800-373-0944 www.spinrad.net 15 Pacific Spring Inc. Victor Nguyen 626-272-8882 Quilting Inc. Dave Pritchett 614-873-6667 www.quiltinginc.com Radium Foam Cees Zielman 31-43-32-88-774 www.radiumfoam.nl P.T. RubberFoam Indonesia Andreas Janssen 62-21-53662190 www.rubberfoam.co.id SABA North America LLC Jim Turner 810-824-4964 www.saba-adhesives.com Simalfa Darren Gilmore 973-423-9266 www.simalfa.com 49
19
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C2-1, 23
41
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Atlantic Thread Vincent Diaz 800-287-4624 www.atlanticthread.com
62
Diamond Needle Corp. 71 Abe Silberstein 800-221-5818 www.diamondneedle.com P.T. Dunlopillo Indonesia Sham Bharwani 62-21-3858626 www.dunlopillo.co.id Duroflex International George Mathew 415-990-4343 www.latexglobal.com 75
30
Albrecht Bumer 66 GmbH & Co. KG Phillipp Schuster - Germany 49-2734-289-211 Bumer of America Terry Borchard U.S. 973-263-1569 www.baumerofamerica.com Bekaert Textiles Lien Sinnesael 32-56-62-41-60 www.bekaerttextiles.com 67
64
72
16
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Bloomingburg Spring 72 & Wire Form Vickie Schwarm 740-437-7614 www.bloomingburgspring.com BLR Martin Leroux 819-877-2092 www.blrlumber.com Boyelik Erol Boydak 90-532-274-3193 www.boycelik.com Boyteks Tekstil AS Deniz Boydak 90-352-322-0588 www.boyteks.com BRK Group Jeff Miller 562-949-4394 www.brk-group.com 12
Eclipse International/ 11 Eastman House Stuart Carlitz 800-634-8434 www.eclipsemattress.com www.eastmanhousemattress.com Edgewater Machine 39 Co. Inc. Roy Schlegel 718-539-8200 www.edgewatermachine.com Enriquez Materials 33 & Quilting Inc. Silvia Enriquez 323-725-4955 www.enriquezquilting.com Foshan Ruixin Nonwoven Co. Ltd. (Rayson Global) Himy Lee 86-757-85806388 www.raysonchina.com Global Depot Pty. Ltd. Darren Nelson 61-7-3883-3031 www.globaldepot.com.au 52
59
Springs Creative Products 29 Group George Booth 803-324-6505 www.springscreative.com Therapedic International Gerry Borreggine 800-314-4433 www.therapedic.com Tietex International Ltd. Wade Wallace 800-843-8390 www.tietex.com 45
60
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C4
Latex Systems 51 Kitti Charoenpornpanichkul 66-2-326-0886, Ext. 204 www.latexsystems.com Lava Textiles Ann Weaver 864-998-4892 www.lavatextiles.com 20
Vertex Fasteners Inc. 27 Tom Fowler 847-329-8530 www.vertexfasteners.com Vintex Customer Service 800-846-8399 www.vintex.com Wright of Thomasville Area Account Executive 800-678-9019 www.wrightlabels.com 46
31
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New England Needles Inc. 53 Thomas Lees 800-243-3158 www.newenglandneedles.com
58
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BedTimes July 2011
C l a s s i f i e d s
For Sale
n TAPE-EDGE MACHINES, MULTINEEDLE AND SINGLENEEDLE QUILTERS, long-arm label machines, sergers, etc. Contact Victor LeBron, American Plant and Equipment. Phone 864-574-0404; Fax864-576-7204; Cell 864-590-1700; Email apesales@charterinternet.com; Web www.americanplantandequipment.com. n REBUILT AND RECONDITIONED MULTINEEDLE QUILTING MACHINES. Specializing in PATHE precision parts and service. Technical consultants. SEDCO. Phone 201-567-7141; Fax 201-567-5515. n TAPE-EDGE MACHINES, QUILTERS AND MISCELLANEOUS SEWING MACHINES. Contact Frank Carlino, U.S. Mattress Machinery. Phone 815-795-6942; Fax 815-795-2178; Email usmattmach@hotmail.com. n AIR CAPITAL MATTRESS CO. INC. EMCO quilter, 86 inches 325, approx. 1976. Gribetz 900 DG with slitter and windup, 90 inches, approx. 1990. Contact Dean Schlabach at 316-263-7985. n LOST CONTRACT. For Sale: Spuhl Anderson BK-6 bale opener. Only 24 hours running time. Like new. $12,500. Call 731-285-2991 or 731-676-3266.
Employment Opportunities
n SOUTHERN MATTRESS CO. INC. Reps needed. North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Email southernmattress@embarqmail.com or call 252-446-6511.
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 571-482-5443; Fax 703-683-4503; Email drobbins@sleepproducts.org.
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www.bedtimesmagazine.com July 2011 BedTimes
75
On Sleep
BSC Stop Zombieitis! campaign targets brides
Worries, worn pillows among sleep interrupters
early three-quarters (72%) of Americans say theres something keeping them up at night. Nearly half (49%) blame their sleeplessness on financial issues, 23% toss and turn because of their job and 21% are troubled by current events. Another 17% say its their partners behavior that keeps them up, according to a survey conducted by PrimaLoft, a supplier of microfiber fill for pillow, bedding and furniture products based in Albany, N.Y. More than one-quarter (28%) attribute sleep troubles to uncomfortable bedding, including old pillows. The survey of a representative sample of U.S. adults was conducted via email invitation and online by Kelton Research April 4-11 in recognition of Better Sleep Month.
he Better Sleep Council, the consumer education arm of the International Sleep Products Association, is dedicated to eradicating zombieitisthe epidemic caused by too little sleep. This wedding season, the program is focusing its educational efforts on zombie brides. Brides often get so wrapped up in the wedding planning process that they forget the most important elementa good nights sleep. As the big day approaches, brides want to be as healthy and fit as possible. Zombieitis threatens to sap their energy, steal their glow and can even sabotage plans to lose a few pounds. The campaign gives the BSCand mattress manufacturersthe perfect opportunity to remind
brides that sleeping on a quality mattress is essential to their health and happiness. To learn more about Stop Zombieitis! check www.stopthezombies.com or www.bedtimesmagazine.com.
Facing a big decision? sleep on it
e all face the pressure of making big decisions. When confronting a particularly vexing problem, dont rush to make up your mind. Sleeping on itis the right course of action for anyone facing a challenging quandry, write social psychologists Maarten Bos and Amy Cuddy in a recent Harvard Business Review blog post. Research by Bos published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology shows that when the mind is distracted or not consciously focused on an issue (for instance during sleep), there is an active process that accurately weighs the pros and cons of relevant decision attributes. Bos and Cuddy recommend doing three things before making a big decision: 1. Gather as much information as you can Obviously, before you can make a decision, you need to have the information, they write. We should use our conscious mind to gather and encode all the necessary facts pertaining to a decision. Usually, some options can already be discarded in this stage. 2. Sleep on it Now that you have all the necessary information, you need to process it. Because your conscious attention is limited, you should enlist the help of your unconscious. Conscious processes often disturb unconscious processes, so you need to distract your conscious mind, they write. If you cant literally go to sleep, Bos and Cuddy suggest exercising, listening to music or doing another distracting activity. 3. Double-check your facts After you have made a choice unconsciously, you should check the facts of your decision consciously, they write. Does your decision do any (serious) damage? Attributes are often interdependentthe value of one attribute influences the value of another. Do all the attributes of the choice, taken together, violate a decision rule?
leeping is no mean art: For its sake one must stay awake all day.
Friedrich Nietzsche
76
BedTimes July 2011
Why even try ignoring the 16-foot-tall elephant in the room?
Gribetz International is thrilled to introduce the newest, leanest, fastest quilter in the world the V16. Wed like to share details about the incredible innovations behind the 1600 RPM sewing speed, but we know you just want to see how a simplified, lean machine stacks up against the average mattress quilter... This 5.9-meter stack of 140 panels is the increased daily production you can achieve during an 8-hour shift sewing your panels at 1600 RPM on the V16. Depending on your operating variables, this could amount to an additional $1 - 2 million each year for you.
Contact your local GSG representative to see how much the V16 can impact your annual production value youve got to see the V.
800-326-4742
954-846-0300
www.GSGcompanies.com
Listed calculations and estimates are based on common USA mattress industry standards. Actual results may vary. Contact your GSG representative for full details.
Say bye-bye to the slipping, sliding, bed-making blues.
Introducing Clings.
Now you can sing a happier tune. with Clings, mattresses finally behave themselves. No more shifting and shuffling. No more wobbling and wiggling. Simply apply our proprietary fabric to the mattress bottom or to decking either way, the mattress snuggles neatly to the foundation. Bed linens and dust ruffles stay tucked. and bed makers everywhere thank you.
THE GENTLE HOLD
V A T
ECo faBRICS, CoTToNS, pRINTS, jaCquaRdS, poLyESTERS, BLENdS, STITChBoNdS, waRp kNITS, fILLER CLoThS.
Tietex International Ltd., 3010 North Blackstock Road, Spartanburg, SC 29301, 864.574.0500 www.tietex.com
MATTRESS SOLUTIONS

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PO Box 819 Hickory, NC 28603 (828) 328-2201 Ext. 4516 www.hickorysprings.com

July 2011 BedTimes

SABA: Our target is customer satisfaction

Contact SABA today for a risk-free 30 day testing period.

Call us at 810 824 4964

SABA, dedicated to foam bonding Est. 1933: 78 years of strong bonds

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Julie A. Palm Editor in chief

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Add adjustable beds to your product range.

Maximize Your Profits Today!

U.S. mattress sales keep rising

Small biz media buyS

verything is connectedno one thing can change by itself.

ll appears to change when we change.

15 cities crawling with bedbugs

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OUR ARSENAL OF BEDDING BRANDS WILL GROW YOUR BUSINESS

A World of Sleep Since 1905 www.eastmanhousemattress.com www.eclipsemattress.com

QUALITY BEDFRAME LUMBER MANUFACTURER

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reinvestment, innovation to grow / By Dorothy WhitcomB

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Ph: (800) 777-5282 Fax: (773) 254-0800

BedTimes July 2011

Some rules havent changed

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LAVA B.V.B.A. RIJKSWEG 138 B-8710 WIELSBEKE / BELGIUM INFO@LAVATEXTILES.COM WWW.LAVATEXTILES.COM

TEL.: +32 (0) 56/60.21.41

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with third-party laboratories / By Bryan Stratton

Photos courtesy of Intertek

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One-Stop Shop for ALL Expendable Parts Needs

Needles Hooks Loopers Spreaders Knives & more

Atlanta Parts Depot

Branding from the Inside Out

its more about your people than your product packaging

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spot in a 2011 global ranking of brand value.

Apple holds the top