Eighteen years ago in November 2002, Jane and Jon Arason created Arason Enterprises. This entrepreneurial couple focused on providing “sleeping places in small spaces.” They knew that traditional beds and mattresses would not meet this need, nor in fact would cumbersome Murphy Beds. To fill the need for an extra bed for their household, one that would not take up a lot of space in her small home office, Jane Arason came up with the idea of the Fu-Chest™, so named because it held a futon. Jon, her husband, made a prototype in his basement shop in 2002. The introduction of the new, patented Fu-Chest™ was the beginning of Arason Enterprises, Inc.
Carey, Jane, Molly dog and Jon Arason
Novices in the furniture and bedding market, Arason Enterprises focused on the distribution and sales opportunities offered by the futon marketplace. Growth was achieved by selling the Fu-Chest™ through futon dealers and e-tailers that addressed the needs of people who wanted sleep options in studio apartments, vacation homes, guest rooms, dens, home offices and playrooms. E-tailing was in its infancy in 2003 and Arason Enterprises was able to cultivate a strong internet presence which remains today. However, as the futon market began to decline in the early 2000’s, the Arasons were introduced to the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) under the leadership of Executive Director Tambra Jones. They became an anchor manufacturing brand showing their cabinet beds to a broad array of retailers who attend the bi-annual winter and summer SSA Show at the Las Vegas market. For over a decade (prior to the pandemic) Arason Enterprises has held a key front-of-the room, exhibit space in the SSA Showroom.
Stepping beyond the traditional brick and mortar retail marketing channels Arason’s www.Fu-chest.com reaches out to today’s modern consumer with an informational website that provides detailed product information and assistance in finding dealers. Well positioned for the fast-growing direct-ship-to-consumer marketplace, Arason Enterprises began drop shipping for catalogers and online merchants in 2004.
The original Fu-Chest is no longer available as their cabinet bed concept has evolved into an even better patented product. The innovative Creden-ZzZ™ cabinet bed looks like a buffet, chest, or credenza but, opens to a full-length bed with a comfortable tri-fold, foam mattress hidden inside. The “space-saving, free-standing” piece of furniture is offered in several trendy styles and seven finishes, featuring many improvements over the original Fu-chest™. These include a storage drawer, a raised sleeping platform, a flip top and an elegant deployment mechanism that makes the cabinet bed easy to open and close.
Arason, as the inventor and patent holder, has perfected the cabinet bed design over the last 18 years. Even though they hold the patents and they set the standard for design, style, performance and quality with the Creden-ZzZ™, the Arasons always seek to improve upon and add to their overall line. “We are quality, style and performance driven. We are not price driven, but we strive to provide the best styles and finishes at a competitive price point,” says Jane Arason, president of the company. “We always want to be ahead of potential competitors. We give the best customer service in the category and focus on innovative and attractive designs that serve the needs and desires of our customers”. To this end the Arason Enterprises will be introducing two new Creden-ZzZ™ cabinet beds this October at the fall High Point market and the January Las Vegas market.
