Member Spotlight: BLU SLEEP - A Visual and Verbal History

Family trip to Italy in 2019 with our sons Alessandro and Stefano. This picture was taken in Amalfi in the countryside.

Imagine yourself surrounded by beautiful and calming ocean views – the sound of the waves lapping at the shore, the feel of the sand between your toes, and the smell of salt water. Looking out, you catch a glimpse of all the vibrant colors of the rainbow – brilliant reds, golden yellows, pastel pinks, sea-foam greens, light lavenders, saffron oranges, and electric blues.

These sensory references encouraged Blu Sleep’s husband-and-wife co-founders, Alex Ciccolella and Elizabeth Dell’Accio, to develop the company’s wellness-oriented sleep products.  Using European engineered Italian colorful foam, Blu Sleep’s pillows and mattresses are made with distinctly unique technology and materials including essential oil infused foam, washable memory foam, water expanded memory foam and foamed gel.

“Some of our best memories were our summer trips to the south of Italy. We were both drawn to the calm and soothing feeling of the water and the sand,” says Dell’Accio. “We wanted to share the experience that brings us back to those beautiful landscapes, culinary experiences, and the vivre of the culture which truly inspired us to create what Blu Sleep is today. Everything from our patented technologies, essential oils, and even the signature ‘blue’ in our logo echo the personal homage we pay to those memories.”

Ceramo is the latest in Blu Sleep's innovation. This ultra-breathable machine-washable foam has a cooling bio-ceramic layer that gives the body benefits of an infrared spa.

THE BIRTH OF A BRAND

Raised in a family of luxury Italian furniture craftsmen, Elizabeth inherited her eye for quality from her parents. Alex, who was educated as a bio-chemist, had the imagination of an inventor, the gift to question standards, and liked to invent new solutions to existing problems. When the two married, the couple realized by bringing their experiences together they opened the door for new business opportunities in the home furnishings industry.

In 1997, before the birth of their children, Elizabeth noticed that baby mattresses, made from plastics that were not breathable or cooling, were not comfortable for infants. The couple worked together to create a new category of memory foam – one that was both breathable and safe – marking the beginning of a journey that would eventually become their life’s work.

 Alex and Elizabeth started Blu Sleep, a latex foam supplier for the mattress industry, in 2006. The company’s principles focused on the belief that advanced chemistry, quality manufacturing, innovation, and strong R & D can improve the way people sleep. Realizing that pillows were an important yet underdeveloped part of the sleep products industry, Blu Sleep shifted its focus to making finished pillow offerings for small manufacturers and retailers which, through private labeling, led to success in their Canadian homeland. When distribution expanded into the United States, the company started selling mattresses and pillows under the Blu Sleep brand.

Our CONFORMA mattress is our most innovative offering that provides luxurious supportive sleep with the best technology Blu Sleep has to offer.

WHEN SCIENCE AND SLEEP MEET

After three years in development, the company’s first breathable and cooling foams were brought to market as the Blu Sleep AIRFLOW pillow. The introduction surprised and delighted industry professionals and encouraged Blu Sleep to partner with Italian foam suppliers to develop innovative products – specifically designed to provide the same kind of restorative and refreshing night’s sleep Alex and Elizabeth experienced during their trips to southern Italy.

“Our products are made with water expanded foams – a process that uses water instead of chemicals to expand our pillow foams for a more natural product,” explains Alex. “Each Blu Sleep offering is designed with Sleep Cool Technology which works by using breathable and heat dissipating materials to keep your body at the perfect sleeping temperature. This technology is specially engineered in our pillow and mattress foams as well as our covers to absorb body heat, keeping you cool all night long.”

CONFORMA wins the approval of even the fluffiest of critics

The company started manufacturing and marketing a whole line of breathable foams that include best sellers ICE GEL and BIO ALOE. These breathable foam and gel products continue to win accolades and praise from editors and industry critics alike. Today, Blu Sleep offers an entire range of sleep products including mattresses as well as accessories.

While many home furnishings companies use foams that produce off gassing, Blu Sleep’s foam pillows and mattresses are Oeko-Tex certificated, which ensures they have been tested for harmful substances and have met all safety standards. Because it uses water as an expansion agent, Blu Sleep’s memory foam, latex and gels are cleaner and more environmentally-friendly. Each product also features an open-cell structure, so they are non-temperature-sensitive ensuring you stay cool as you sleep.

Today, Blu Sleep’s pillow lineup includes memory and gel foam, infused with essential oils including sleep inducing scents such as chamomile, lavender and green tea. While both breathable foams are designed to support both your head and neck, each has its own unique feel. The company’s memory foams are quick responding and envelop you so you feel cozy while the gel foams are more breathable than traditional memory foam and have a softer, bouncier feel.

The company’s breathable mattresses are designed from “the base up” using advance foam technologies to better suit your individual sleep needs. Shaped into adaptive columns, or Air Pods, Blu Sleep’s base foams keep the spine aligned and lets air flow through up and out. Each Air Pod is adaptive and moves independently to conform to the unique shape of the body and pressure points.

Blu Sleep’s husband-and-wife co-founders, Alex Ciccolella and Elizabeth Dell’Accio

PROMOTING BEAUTY SLEEP

With the company’s streamlined logo, Blu Sleep wanted to pay homage to Italy, where its foam is manufactured.  A refreshing blue hue was selected to represent the vibrant ocean water of Southern Italy. On its side, the stylized “B” of the insignia evokes the shape of a plush mattress and pillow and the bold typography marries style with functionality. The new point-of-purchase (POP) and packaging highlights Blu Sleep’s unique construction and materials such as water-expanded foam, essential oils, aromatherapy and breathable fabrics.

Blu Sleep’s branding and marketing campaign focuses on the company’s innovative features and technologies that help transform sleep into  part of a beauty and wellness ritual. Designed to emphasize the spa-like feeling consumers can experience each night on Blu Sleep mattresses and pillows, the company believes the simplified narrative on the POP and packaging tells a visual story to which consumers can emotionally connect.

Blu Sleep began their sojourn with the Specialty Sleep Association in October 2011, when they exhibited in the SSA’s High Point showroom. SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones remembers, “They were part of the SSA’s showroom neighborhood in both Las Vegas and High Point until January 2014 when they opened their own showroom in Las Vegas. We are elated at their success, however we miss them!”

October 2011 in the SSA’s High Point showroom. Tambra’s flip phone has Elizabeth and Alex in the dark - but their product lineup looked good!

Today’s Las Vegas showroom - B960

Las Vegas April Market Wrap-Up

This was one for the record books. COVID19 made its mark on the Las Vegas Market in so many ways, including the postponement from January to April. There was the temperature-taking before entering the Market; the no-badge rule set by the State of Nevada (our phones were our badges, so there was no easy identifying who were buyers or sellers or what…); the stickers on the elevator floors allowing only 5 spots per car, the ghost-town feel of the courtyard between buildings; the masks mandated to be worn (but the level of “askew-ness” was not a seeming issue); and the marked “quiet” that engulfed the entire event.

The Specialty Sleep Association showroom was open with 5 member companies open and present in the room. There were another 9 companies who had their displays in tact, but were available only via phone.

The SSA February survey indicated that about 30% of attendees were planning to attend. There was indeed that number who came through the showroom, with about half of that being buyers. It was a quiet show. Exhibitors in the SSA showroom, and around the market said that the buyers who were there were serious, and the meetings that happened were meaningful. The comments below each photo below show the spectrum of the April experience in Las Vegas.

SSA Director Tambra Jones reflected, “Although it was a quiet market, it was a time to reconnect. Everyone I spoke with was looking forward to the August show, and optimistic about the vibrancy that will come back to the Las Vegas Market. We at the SSA are absolutely optimistic about the return of the vibrancy of the Las Vegas Market!“ On that note, please contact Tambra if she can help you with your August Las Vegas plans. Call or email her at Tambra@sleepinformation.org or 559-868-4287 office / 559-676-8639 mobile.

Brent Polunsky, W.Silver Frames: “Although traffic was down significantly, I believe our traffic met our expectations. The quality of the buyers that went through the space was good, and they were not tire kickers! I met with the right people, and I opened up significant new accounts. I think the market was worth attending for my company.”

Jane Arason, Arason Enterprises: “This was not a good a show from a business perspective. I wish we had skipped it. We did take an order and met a few potential new customers. There is always some positive follow up from the advertising, too. We got to see friends that are out west and that was a plus.”

Butch Craig, Sleep and Beyond: “Sleep & Beyond had a good April 2021 Vegas Market. We launched three new products and the following results speak for the success of the market for Sleep & Beyond. Visitors: 12 companies - Seven States - 24 Buyers- Two Leads. The April Vegas Market was a Dress Rehearsal for the Vegas August 22-26 Market which is only four months away.

There is an old saying! Same song different verse! Success is 80% Showing and 20% Follow Up! Plan your work & Work Your Plan! The Right Frame Of Mind Work Every Time.”

The IMC Mask Patrol Unit

Juan Gonzalez, BestRest: “It was much slower than I expected but iIsaved the trip with my trip thru California.”

Lynn Kelly, Sleep in Motion: “Wish I had skipped not enough there. Wasn’t worth the expense.”

Member Spotlight: Arcusbeds Organic and Natural Mattresses from Europe

The idea for Arcusbeds developed organically (no pun intended!) over several years--the result of personal lifestyle preferences, family origins, career histories and business decisions all coming together in the form of a top-quality, honest, 100% organic and natural bedding product that we are very proud to sell.     

Since childhood, Peter Laurens, Founder and CEO of Baltica Natural Products, LLC, has had a personal preference for using natural, chemical-free materials in everyday life, even when many things we now take for granted, like 100% cotton shirts and sheets, natural toothpaste and the like,  were not easy to find in the mainstream.  Growing up in a family of physicians, he has always been very health-conscious.

While working in international finance in the mid-2010’s, he seized the opportunity to turn this long-lasting lifestyle into a business.  A search for investment deals in Europe turned into a quest to find manufacturers there who operate on ecological principles and share a commitment to making top-quality natural and organic products.  He was joined in the search by a close relative, an orthopedic surgeon and beekeeper in the Baltic States, who contributed his wide expertise in human physiology, the healthcare business and organic farming. 

After looking at many different European companies and business fields, they settled upon organic and natural bedding as the most promising market for a business in which to collaborate.  After finding a top-level producer in Lithuania who shared their vision for ecological bedding and sustainable production, “we were off to the races”, Peter says.  “We took their excellent, existing product as a base and made it even more upscale, designing a dual-sided, robust product with heavy layering of the finest-quality organic and natural materials, including organic wool and organic cotton, organic Dunlop latex and horsehair.  Materials are sourced from certified producers—mostly in South Asia and Europe—and our product is manufactured under very high quality and safety standards.  Arcusbeds has a complex structure that provides lumbar support and incredible comfort at the same time—a combination that can be difficult to achieve, but we have—and the product speaks for itself.” 

Peter Laurens is describing his mattress to Anthony Page in the SSA Showroom during the Las Vegas Market.

Right now, Arcusbeds sells its two flagship models; Organic Classic—a multi-zoned, hand-nested pocket-coil line with two different comfort levels, and Organic Asana—a multi-zoned Dunlop latex line with a split core and three comfort levels.  Both are on display at the SSA showroom at the Las Vegas Market. Arcusbeds has been exhibiting at the SSA for several years now, and it’s the company’s preferred venue for showcasing the products.  The company has designed a fully compressible “mattress-in-a-box” for online sales but for now is concentrating on meeting the needs of upscale, brick-and mortar retailers in North America who are equally devoted to organic and natural bedding.  We invite all readers to visit our virtual showroom, stop at our booth at the SSA (we plan to return for the Summer 2021 show), or drop by one of our retailers’ stores to try out our wonderful products!    

Survey Results: Who's Going to Las Vegas in April?

The Specialty Sleep Association conducted a survey this month to its approximately 4000 person list of industry professionals who have visited our showroom over the past years.

We had a 10% return to provide our data, with about 65% of respondents being retailers.
30% of respondents said YES, they will attend the April Market. 20% said MAYBE, and 50% said NOPE.

This information is important to gauge the number of buyers you might see at the upcoming Las Vegas Market. SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones said, “I sent an email to our showroom exhibitors to let them know our survey results, and what kind of attendance to expect at the April Market. Based on a “normal” winter market for us, the survey indicates we can expect about 130 groups visiting the showroom at this point. That is a significant number, but not what we would expect in a non-COVID circumstance. It’s an iffy time, and there are some companies still deciding whether or not they will participate in April, or wait until the August show.”

There are spaces available for rent in the SSA showroom. Click here for more information and to see the floor plan.

An Attitude of Gratitude

By Tambra Jones, Executive Director

Since the Thanksgiving holiday is this week, I sent out a call to our members asking what they can be grateful for, even in the midst of 2020 and its COVID-19 challenges.  The prompt was “Thanks 2020 - you actually brought something of value to me/my company.  Because of you…”
Their responses are below, and I encourage you to read every heart-warming one of them. 

---

I will begin.  Thanks 2020, because of you…
I learned how supportive our partners at the IMC and Las Vegas Market really are towards the Specialty Sleep Association.  Our gratitude for our leasing team is exponential, and our showroom is in good shape because of their commitment to our well-being. 
I learned how resilient our SSA members really are.  2020 has been a year of the pivot, and many of us are becoming masters at it. 
I learned about virtual meetings and trade shows.  These platforms have allowed buyers and sellers to meet in spite of social distancing practices, and we are pivoting into the use of a virtual component for our showroom exhibitors in Las Vegas. 
On a personal note, I am so grateful that the SSA is on solid ground, that we can stand strong and that I can stay fully active.  Oh, and 2020 has allowed me to witness the beauty of ZOOM on countless occasions - I wish I had bought stock in it!  Tambra Jones, Specialty Sleep Association

---

Thank you 2020.  Because of you… I am happy, lucky and grateful that I do not live alone and that I have work to do everyday. Even though my social outings have been curtailed, I do not feel lonely because I have full days at work where I can talk to our customers, suppliers and the drivers that pick up and deliver our goods.  I have a great husband, Jon, to keep me company at home and at work some days, too. Tonight he will build a fire in the fireplace because it has gotten cold here in Maryland.  Jane Arason, Arason Enterprises

---

Thank you 2020 for good health. Our family and staff are in good health. That is not something to take for granted.  For understanding staff that stepped up to the challenge.  For loyal customers. For our pets that keep us company while working at home. That we are a business that keeps moving forward, innovating and evolving even in these challenging times…and good wine to keep us calm.  Elizabeth Dell'Accio, Blu Sleep Products

---

Thank you 2020.  Because of you….
I began—taking better care of myself.
I stopped—worrying about ‘little stuff’ that’s really out of my control
I learned—how to blend work and personal life better (since my home is most definitely my office too)
I think everyone in our company became better communicators—especially to customers.  Mark Schwartz, Blue Ridge Home Fashions

---

Thank you 2020.  Because of you I began using video conferences to maintain/improve our business relationships.  I stopped my worldwide travels/events and invested that time into the company and working together much better with our internal sales team.  I learned other ways to interact with the market and consumers.  My company is contributing to society by producing masks and medical gowns to help people as much as possible during this terrible period.  Manel Nart, BSensible. 

---

Thank you 2020.  Because of you….
I began staying at home 4 days a week.
I stopped going on vacations and dining out with friends.
I learned  how fragile my busines can be because if one employee brings Covid to the office, the office will shut down for a minimum of two weeks.
I/my company is better at living for the moment and controlling the anxiety of potentially catching the virus.  Phil Kraus, Electropedic 

---

Thank you 2020.  Because of you….
I began making organic cotton and copper masks in February 2020
I stopped worrying about tomorrow and started focusing on today
I learned that I am not in control, but I can adapt
My company is better at working together as a team.  Suzanne Diamond, The Futon Shop

---

Thank 2020 for reminding us that without our health all is lost ! 
Also in the words of Mark Twain in regards to business:  I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one.
Additionally it is rewarding to be reminded that less can be more…  Mark Miller, Innomax Corp

---

Thank you 2020.  Because of you….
We began to find different ways to effectively communicate and connect with customers. Expanding digital presentations and use of technologies to enhance customer interactions.
We stopped putting energy into projects that struggle to move forward and require seemingly endless R&D investment. Maintained focus on core business investing in being great at what we do.
We learned creative ways to navigate through a changing environment. Expanding partnerships and collaborations on projects that may not have been created prior to the pandemic.
Our company is better at focusing on our core priority – the customer journey. Improving communication, service, quality and product offerings to support our customers at every level.  Jim Gutierrez, Latexco

---

Thank you 2020.  Because of you the value of what we preach has become all the more acceptable to the public.  We all need to stop using toxic chemicals in our products, and foster healthier lifestyles across the board.  Barry Cik, Naturepedic Organic

---

Thank you 2020. Because of you….
We began taking action on new programs.
We stopped wasting time and materials.We learned that communication is key to success. 
Our company is better at internal communication toward a common goal. Rion Morgenstern, Pleasant Mattress

---

Year 2020 began with Dallas & Vegas January market being the strongest in 10 yrs.
Then in March 2020, when social distancing and lock down and quarantine became the norm, being very negative cut into the being very positive.  But when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
I learned that technology with the like of ZOOM and virtual online will not go away, but will only become more of the norm and online is the wave of retail.  I will say that Sleep & Beyond has become a company better at surrounding ourselves with great people that understand that working together as a team, knowing how precious orders, new accounts are, and staying with the mission and vision statement.  Keeping customer service a #1 priority for on time delivery and communication, and always making sure inventory is maintained.
Nothing great comes easy. Persistence will make you achieve anything.  Every new day is a day you have never had, make the best of the day and count your blessing daily.  Butch Craig, Sleep and Beyond.

---

The sliver lining in the pandemic for me is that it has made me keenly aware to be more thankful, grateful and appreciative for all of the good things in my life. I'm most thankful for the good health of my family and grateful I have a successful business that I have felt pretty safe to work in. Working through the pandemic has helped me maintain a structure and a purpose in life. I have been operating the store, by myself, six days a week since the pandemic started and it has allowed me to get more in touch with my customers and more sensitive to their needs. It reminds me of the way it was when I opened for business in 1975. 
The quiet times in the shop have given me the opportunity to do some showroom planning. If you own or manage a store, you know how difficult it can be to sit alone in the showroom and just think and plan. I've used the time to plan new displays, buy new products and organize the warehouse. I have also updated the signage on our outdoor lighted awning and had the front of the building painted.
My deepest gratitude goes to my customers for they are the ones that have kept me going all these years. I have been deeply moved by their kind and encouraging words and I especially enjoy hearing all of their testimonials about how much they love their waterbeds. My customers have certainly made me feel good about my life’s work.
I had been looking forward to celebrating my 45th anniversary in 2020. I never dreamed I would be doing it with a mask on and now I’m just grateful to still be around.  Lynn Hardman, Southern Waterbeds and Futons

---

This is a nice idea and it made me think a lot about how life has changed so much so quickly! It has been an incredibly difficult and stressful year for us as a business and a family, however.
   I am grateful that this pandemic has brought my family closer together. Zoom happy hours with my family has given us all the support system that helps get us through the week. I talk more with them now than I ever had over the years. Staying connected has been good for the soul, reminding us that we are all in this together.
  I’ve learned that we can do a whole lot more with less. I’ve learned to take some time every day for myself to get centered and stay balanced.
I stopped obsessing over the little things and started appreciating what works and fixing what doesn’t. So often we get caught in the weeds of day-to-day crises, now we are more focused and working together to solve problems.
I began implementing a new ERP to help us better manage our company, inventory, projects, vendors, and customers. Long overdue and suddenly essential. For the past few years so many projects have been put on hold or set aside as being too expensive, too daunting, or unnecessary. We’ve done a complete reassessment of them and found that it may be what we should have focused on all along.
My company is more efficient and better at delegating responsibilities, managing remotely, staying focused. Our long-term plan has been thrown up in the air and as the pieces start to fall, we are re-shuffling them to create a new picture.   Angela Owen, Suite Sleep

---

Thank you 2020 for allowing us the time to reflect honestly on our Swiss Bliss brand and what the future might hold.  While we still believe that the Swiss product we brought to market in the United States is the highest quality and best valued specialty foam available, we have decided to focus our resources and energies towards our 30 yr old regional innerspring operation moving forward.  Thank you 2020 for allowing our innerspring customer base to thrive in these uncertain times.  We are thankful for the long term, multi-generational relationships we have nurtured in the South East region, both with customers and with suppliers.  Our innerspring business is the best it has been in 10 years.  Brian Phillips, Swiss Bliss.

Member Spotlight: Sleep and Beyond for Inspiration and Sustainable Products

Where it begins • Kyrgystan

Welcome to Sleep & Beyond, your ultimate destination for 100% organic and natural cotton and wool bedding. We are a 3rd generation family owned bedding manufacturer with fair trade and sustainable factories located in Kyrgyzstan, “The Switzerland of Central Asia”, England, Belgium, India, Pakistan and China.

Merino Wool bedding set

 Since 1992, we have been helping our customers all around the world to sleep better and healthier through the magic of wool and cotton. We pride ourselves to be the experts in organic and natural wool and cotton bedding and beyond. We dance our way to work because we love what we do and have been perfecting our products since 1992.

 Only the finest and purest nature created raw materials, such as 100% organic Merino wool, 100% natural Shropshire wool, 100% organic and natural cotton, 100% natural latex are used to create each of our master pieces. We raise our own Merino sheep in the mountainous lands of Kyrgyz Republic, which produce superfine organic wool for our myMerino collection. Our world famous myMerino and myBedding products are made with love and perform like no other.  Comforters, pillows, mattress protectors, pads, toppers, sheets and more – we got it all!

Brothers Sardor and Sarvar

Our Mission
Create an inspirational, sustainable, and educational system that will benefit the human being without harming the Planet.

Our Vision
To be the leader in our industry by supplying our customers with highest quality organic and natural bedding at most competitive prices with exceptional customer service and on time delivery.

Our highly valued relationship with Specialty Sleep Association
The beginning of the incredible nine years with Specialty Sleep Association journey began on April 15, 2011 when the Azimovich brothers Sardor Azimovich, co-founder of Sleep & Beyond with his brother Sarvar hired J. W. "Butch" Craig  a.k.a. Man In Black as their National Sales Manager for Sleep & Beyond. The next objective was to conquer Las Vegas Market.

Las Vegas Summer Market of 2011 was the first historic market for Sleep & Beyond when we joined the SSA Association and showcased in the Organic Pavilion. With the creative debut, Sleep & Beyond hired Tim Welch, #1 Elvis Presley Impersonator, for the first three days of the show and Elvis made sure to leave the long lasting impression by meeting, kneeing, singing, and greeting hundreds of visitors and buyers that came through Specialty Sleep Association and all the showroom buildings. Elvis not only performed but launched Sleep & Beyond to the next great level making an incredible journey for Sleep & Beyond to become the Top 3 Best Wool Bedding Brands of USA and marking its 28 Years of Sleep Solutions. Sleep & Beyond looks forward to begin its 10th year with SSA starting with upcoming Las Vegas Winter Market In January 2021.

First Las Vegas Market with SSA and The King and the beginning of Butch and The Stole…

Las Vegas showroom team

Sarvar, Sardor, Dave Perry, Butch

S&B Difference
·       Sleep & Beyond® is the “Top 3 Best Wool Bedding Brands” in North America and one of the largest manufacturers of organic and natural wool filled bedding around the world.
·       We consider ourselves to be a fair trade employer by paying fair wages to our factory workers, providing great working conditions, and never involving child labor.
·       Our products are tested to be free of arsenic, VOC’s and other carcinogenic chemicals that are used in majority of the conventional bedding such as down, polyester and silk.
·       Our products carry the most stringent certifications to back up our statements such as “100% natural” or “100% organic” (GOTS, OEKO TEX, WOOLMARK, FAIR TRADE)
·       By purchasing our bedding, you support many local economies around the world, protect the environment from pollution, promote balanced eco system and prolong your health.

OUR RAW MATERIALS
At Sleep & Beyond, we are committed to using only the finest and purest raw materials to create each of our bedding products.

The magic of Merino Wool and Merino sheep

Pure Organic Merino Wool
Superfine Merinos are regarded as having the finest and softest wool of any sheep. Unlike other wool, Merino wool is much finer, softer, and best of all, itch-free for all. It is used as a filling for our premium myMerino collection.

Shropshire Wool
In the mid-17th century, Shropshire sheep and their wool were described as “Choicest and Dearest in England”. Shropshire wool is a premium choice for our washable wool bedding (aka myBedding) as it is light, elastic, and fine to the touch. The wool undergoes sustainable and eco-friendly “Biowash” treatment that makes the wool fiber washable and not shrinkable.

Organic and Natural Cotton
From seed to shelf, our organic and natural cotton is grown and processed free of pesticides, harmful dyes and carcinogenic chemicals.

We have created new series of educational videos to help our customers sleep better and healthier through the magic of wool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ-1nem-v14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oAbCaTZekY

Sleep & Beyond takes great pride in continuous quest to being a Zero-Waste and Women’s Empowerment Company

Factory

Empowering Women
·       We employ and empower women in all of our production areas.
·       We greatly rely on their expertise and skills and proud to bring their craftsmanship to the world.
·       In our wool factories, our women play an important role from wool fiber sorting, scouring, carding to cut and sew, packing and supervising transparency and traceability all across.
·       In our cotton factories, our women are employed in all of the production areas from growing organic and natural cotton to fabric spinning, weaving, cut and sew and more.

Merino wool carding

Solar Power
Our S&B Gardens in India have been using the solar power for renewable energy since 2017.
·       Every left-over raw material from our production is reused in one or another way.
·       For example, an excess fabric roll turns into a packaging solution as it is very durable and reduces the need to use regular polypropylene tape.
·       New samples and product ideas are developed from our remaining unused raw materials or first test production runs.
·       We try to recycle as much as we can. You may notice the recycle number for our packaging in the product labels.

Azo Free & Hand-Screen Printing
We utilize a non toxic, azo free and heavy metal free hand-screen printing (GOTS approved) on our organic cotton collection products.

Our Product Packaging

Cotton Packaging
We package our myMerino and organic cotton collection products in reusable 100% natural and organic cotton bags, which can be reused and recycled. You can get even more creative and take them on a camping trip or use them as a laundry or a grocery bag. Our myMerino bags also became very popular for various charity events and organizations.
We are very proud to have become sponsors in such amazing nonprofit organizations such as Teen Cancer America and GIFT (Global Initiative to Free Trafficking Victims).

PEVA Packaging
Our packaging for myBedding products come in PEVA, an ecofriendly, phthalates free and BPA free packaging/plastic substrate with non toxic materials. It is also one of the most environmentally safe packaging alternatives developed today. It is fully recyclable #7.

LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) Packaging
To ensure no chemicals, dust or off gassing potentially affect our bedding, we also wrap our myMerino and organic cotton collection products in LDPE packaging.
It is also
·       100% recyclable (#4)
·       Acid free, amine and silicon free
·       Meets FDA and USDA specifications

USA Distribution Center
Fontana, CA
We have fully switched our office lights to LED lights in 2017.

S&B Factories aka S&B Gardens
Creation of our products starts in the Universe and that is why they are like no other. Every product is made with love in our factories (aka S&B Gardens) that are strategically located around the world to deliver the best customer experience, superior value, reasonable prices and quick deliveries.

The Kyrgystan Team

We are truly a one global family with one great mission: to set the world on fire with the magic of wool and cotton! No matter where we create our magic, we stay true to our core principles and values, such as:
·       Always perfecting our products to deliver the best experience to our fans. It is a never ending quest and we love it!
·       Paying fair wages to our factory workers and many of them have been with us for years, especially families working together.
·       Never involving child labor.
·       Supporting local economies around the world, protecting the environment from pollution, and promoting balanced eco system.
·       Maintaining strict standards for quality control, such as making sure our fibers and finished products are independently tested for quality and purity by various organizations such as Woolmark, Oeko tex, GOTS, USDA among the leading ones.

Our Mascot CoCo

OUR PHILANTHROPY
“Give to Receive” way of life has been deeply rooted in our DNA by our parents, grandparents and our ancestry. When we have an opportunity, we extend our hand to our local community and friends in need. We regularly contribute some of our luscious comforters and pillows to a great organization called Casa, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children. These children deserve brighter future and we are glad to be part of their journey in life.

Would love to finish our story with the quote from our Captain Butch:
You've been given the innate power to shape your life...But you cannot just speak change, you have to live change. Intent paired with action builds the bridge to success. You can't just want it, you have to do it, builds the bridge to success. You can't just want it; You have to do it, live it. Be it! Success isn't something you have, it’s something you do! Captain Butch

As great John F. Kennedy said, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

Member Spotlight: Electropedic Promotes Exclusivity with a Retailer

Electropedic is a Family Business with an interesting History

In 1960 Henry Kraus became the western states distributor for the Contour Chair Lounge.  It was custom fit product where each part of the chair was measured to the size and length of the customer.  There were many selling challenges because the customer had to choose the fabric, style, leg color and have a place for the chair.

 In 1964 Henry visited the World’s Fair in New York City and Simmons had a display for their adjustable beds for in home use.  Henry was drawn to the adjustable bed because it provided similar benefits as the Contour Chair Lounge.  In addition, the adjustable bed could be placed inside a bedroom and become the focal point for customers to get a better night’s sleep.

Henry Kraus saw the adjustable bed as a product that he could grow into a successful business.  Henry understood the importance of having exclusive products because they create higher profit margins and sales.  In 1971 Henry Kraus developed his own adjustable bed featuring a steel frame that extended the full width and length of the bed.  This would be Electropedic’s competitive advantage.

 At the age of 13 second generation Philip Kraus started working at Electropedic.  Philip worked every Saturday and learned the business.  Henry Kraus passion for work help guide Philip’s direction.

Phil Kraus and son Paul looking dashing in their SSA Showroom exhibit space.

In 1979 Electropedic’s business was growing so fast that Henry needed help.  Philip took a leadership role in Electropedic and became the CEO for the manufacturing division.  In 1985 Philip manufactured bases for Sealy and expanded Electropedic retail base to NYC through Sleepys.  

In 2008 with the great recession and the influx of inexpensive imported beds, Electropedic’s adjustable business declined. Third generation Paul Kraus joined the company at this time and started to develop exclusive top of the bed products.   Paul Kraus used Electropedic’s principles to create a product line of ultra-premium sleep products.  Concentrating on the concept of exclusivity, Paul Kraus was able to establish accounts with Nest Bedding and Layla Sleep.

Currently Electropedic’s business continues to grow even with the Covid pandemic.  Customers are spending more time at home and realizing the importance of sleep products.

 Electropedic – Exclusivity with a Retailer

Since 1964, Electropedic has a history of designing and manufacturing unique products.  Electropedic has evolved from a regional supplier to a global partner for a wide range of customers.

From our headquarters in San Fernando, CA, we carefully manage a fully integrated platform of manufacturing and distribution facilities strategically located in the U.S. and China.  Our robust supply chain allows Electropedic to quickly respond to the needs of our customers.

 Advantages of Exclusivity with a Retailer

 Having access to Exclusive products is the key to differentiation for any business.  Exclusive products make it much easier to maintain higher perceived value because there is no direct competition.  Exclusive products drive greater sales and profits.
The majority of Electropedic business is private label products.  Electropedic’s private label products are sold in more than 700 stores in the USA.  Electropedic manufactures for the top bedding companies in the industry.

Latex Side-Sleeper Pillow

 Exclusive Bedding Products

 In today's competitive bedding market, performance fabrics are a key selling factor for sleep products.  Electropedic has developed cutting edge cooling fabrics that help you sleep more comfortably.  Electropedic’s fabric technology combines comfort, breathability and wicking technologies to create the ideal sleeping environment.  

Pillows

Electropedic believes that having the correct pillow is just as important as the mattress. Pillows play a vital role in supporting the intricate structures of the head, neck, shoulders, hips and spine. Pillows can help alleviate or prevent many common form of back and neck pain, as well as shoulders, hip and other form of joint pain.  Electropedic maintains certifications for OEKO-TEX® and CertiPUR-US® for their pillow line.

Weighted Blanket

Weighted Blankets

For many people, weighted blankets have become a routine part of stress relief and healthy sleep habits, and for good reason. Research suggests weighted blankets may benefit people with anxiety, autism, and insomnia, among other conditions.  Electropedic maintains certifications for OEKO-TEX® for their weighted blanket line.

Bed Sheets

Electropedic’s aim is to offer you the best-made sheets possible-more sumptuous, more durable, and more exquisite than anything else available. Sheets are essential in helping one sleep well at night.  Electropedic maintains certifications for OEKO-TEX® for their Bed Sheet line.

Mattress Protectors

Electropedic mattress protectors absorb or repel liquids and allergens and are easily washable in the washer and dryer.  A quality mattress protector or encasement can provide the extra layer of protection that you need to avoid flare-ups triggered by common allergens and irritants like dust mites and bed bugs.  Electropedic maintains certifications for OEKO-TEX® for their Mattress Protector line.

Packaging

Electropedic understands that a business can produce the greatest product in the world but if the packaging doesn’t influence your target audience it will not move off the shelf.  Electropedic partners with companies that manufactor packaging products for Apple, Google and Microsoft. This allows Electropedic to offer the highest quality packaging in the world.

Cut & Sewn 

Your business is one step ahead with Electropedic. Electropedic offers on trend “sleep solutions” for the consumer who are increasingly aware that quality time in bed is important. With cut & sewn manufacturing units in the US and China, we produce ready-made mattress covers and pillow covers fitting your exact and unique requests.

What Did You Do Instead of LV Summer Market?

That’s the question SSA Director Tambra Jones asked the exhibiting companies who kept their displays in the SSA showroom intact and ready for the upcoming January Market. She received a myriad of answers. One dominant theme was the search for component suppliers. Several companies spoke about the surprising extent of their supply chain disruption due to COVID, and related how they were handling doing business in spite of so many changes.

Curtis Spain said, “At Bedding Technology Industries we spent time designing new mattresses for production and planning for replacement of import mattresses and looking at possible new suppliers. We canvassed our dealer network asking for their input on the new designs. We also discussed the continuing price increases for them to be aware of and expectation of sales growth with the mattress category.”

Jane Arason at Arason Enterprises said, “We just stayed home and filled orders from existing inventory.  We were really busy with orders until we ran low on goods.  I understand that many suppliers are waiting on containers to arrive.”

Butch Craig flanked by brothers Sardor and Sarvar Abdullaev of Sleep and Beyond

Peter Laurens said, “We were busy producing our newest order of Arcusbeds organic and natural mattresses in Europe, to ship to the US for the Autumn season. Europe is tightening up again due to the second wave, but we have not had problems with production delays.  The factory went on a staggered, two-shift schedule during the height of the crisis but I don't see any intention to do that again, yet.”

Juan Gonzalez said, “Best Rest dedicated these last months to developing timely new product lines geared towards incorporating anti viral treatments, and proprietary materials focused on health, wellness and a clean environment.” When asked how his customers liked the new stuff he said, “They love it....it was time well spent.”

Suzanne Diamond told us that The Futon Shop/Honest Sleep has been very busy selling organic sofas and mattresses.

Sleep and Beyond National Sales Manager Butch Craig said that on line business for August 2020 was very strong, “and brick and mortar stores are beginning to sell in store and on-line more as well.” Then he waxed philosophical. ”First of all thank you for the follow up during these uncertain time and showing that The Specialty Sleep Association is a team player working to get through this uncharted water. When the going gets tough: the tough get going.  You’re the ones that honestly recognize the ginormous challenges and gather strong people who will work hard to solve them. Patience and persistence work. Patience puts us in direct control of ourselves. When we are patient, we give ourselves time to choose the right response in a given event rather than be hijacked by our emotions. Butch finished with “Everyone safe and well.”

We at the SSA agree with that - no matter how you are filling your days between now and the January Las Vegas Market when we will see you again, - stay safe, stay well and stay sane.

Member Spotlight: Arason Enterprises, Inc. "Sleeping places in small spaces"

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.

SUMMER MARKET UPDATE: SSA Showroom Closed for Las Vegas Summer Market

This was a difficult decision, but as we polled attendees and IMC showrooms, it was clear that the majority of those who usually attend the Las Vegas Market would be sitting this one out. “I was in constant communication with our exhibitors about what I was finding from my polling attendees and showrooms”, said SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones. “When it was clear that the summer show was shaping up to be a dismal 20% of what other Summer Markets usually attract, the SSA member exhibitors decided to opt out of the upcoming Summer Market.” There are 16 companies who have their displays in place in the SSA showroom, and are looking forward to participating in a vibrant January Market. “There are spots available for new companies who would like to exhibit with us in January,” said Jones. Scroll down and note the floor plan. The yellow highlighted spots are available, with the size and prices noted.

The Specialty Sleep Association wishes to thank our members, exhibitors and showroom attendees for their continued support. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may have about our showroom or our association. Association Office: Tel • 559-868-4187 Email • tambra@sleepinformation.org

A letter from the Specialty Sleep Association Board Chairman

Dear Fellow Board Members, SSA Members and Showroom Buyers and Visitors,

In these extraordinary times we have all been struggling. Retailers, manufactures, and suppliers have been hard-hit by COVID-19. Attending the summer market appears to present greater risks than many attendees are willing to take. Our SSA show space represents only a portion of the World Market, but with none of our exhibiting members willing to display it is indicative of the absence of belief in the market being a safe haven from the virus.

We recognize that incremental exposure to people, places, and things equates to incremental risk and therefore we will not be opening our showroom for this Summer Market. We will begin to put our energies towards the winter show not knowing what the new norm will be or when it will occur. In the meantime we will keep you appraised of our activities and look forward to seeing you very soon.

For now, stay safe and healthy.

 All best,
Mark Miller
SSA Chairman

Floor plan as of 8/12/2020

SSA Survey Asked "Are You Coming to Summer Las Vegas Market?"

Las Vegas Market: August 30 - September 3, 2020

For the past couple of weeks the Specialty Sleep Association has been receiving responses to a 2-question survey they emailed to over 4000 of their showroom attendees. Attendees were mostly retailers, however there were some manufacturers, suppliers and reps in the mix. “We had a 15% return, so we feel it is a pretty strong indicator of what our attendees are thinking about the upcoming market.”, said SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones. “The response was not very encouraging.”

Of the 700 responders, 63% said NO to attending the Summer Las Vegas Market, 19% said YES, and 18% said MAYBE.

The survey finished before the latest COVID shut-down in California. The virus numbers are reportedly spiking and it is difficult to gauge what the travel climate might be like in late August. Based on the number of attendees recorded in the SSA showroom in July 2019, the projection would be that between 60 and 100 companies could visit our showroom during this upcoming market.

“We have six companies who have committed to exhibit with us at the Summer Market”, said Jones. “Our showroom will be open for the companies who wish to exhibit. We emailed the survey to give our exhibiting members the information they need to finalize their plans for Las Vegas. We want to go there knowing what we are up against.”

The second question in the survey asked whether or not the respondent would attend the January 2021 Las Vegas Winter Market. 49.9% said YES, 37.5% said MAYBE and only 12.6% said NO.

Show space is available with the SSA for the Summer Market. Click here for more information, or contact Jones at: tambra@sleepinformation.org

Spotlight on Latexco US ~ Defining Sustainable Products and Pillars

Longtime SSA member Latexco US is in the Member Spotlight this month. General Manager Jim Gutierrez sits on the SSA Board and Latexco US CEO, Ben Ducatteeuw is a valued supporter. We asked their team to write something for the Spotlight that tells their company story. Here’s what they sent in.

---

Latexco US is a leading manufacturer of latex and polyurethane foam products to the bedding industry. It’s been on a strong, rapid growth trajectory since 2008 when it established headquarters and manufacturing in Lavonia, Ga., and accelerated the pace with expansion in Phoenix in 2018.

The forward-thinking, customer-centric organization is uniquely positioned to serve as a one-stop shop with innovative bedding solutions, customization and fulfillment capabilities and impressive speed to market. With facilities on the east and west coast, Latexco US is the only producer of both latex and polyurethane foam under one roof in North America.

In an industry of making things, it’s easy to overlook what makes a company more than the products they make – a view into its culture and a sense of its soul. Beyond Latexco’s innovativeness and agility that enable it to respond nimbly to customer and market needs, lie a strong ethos and commitment to economic, ecological and social sustainability.

The company identifies three pillars of its sustainability commitment. The Economics pillar represents healthy long-term business management with added value for the local economy. The Ecological pillar serves to maintain and strengthen the forest ecosystem. The Social pillar exercises respect for the rights of local people and employees.

“Sustainability is a leitmotif that runs through everything we do,” said Ben Ducatteeuw, CEO of Latexco US. “Our goal to be an industry leader goes beyond the impeccable quality products and service we provide. Caring for our environment and being stewards of our natural resources are part of our corporate responsibility.”

In 2011, Latexco introduced the patented SonoCore technology, a revolutionary process used to make an all-new product category and the company’s flagship natural foam product called Pulse®. Using radio frequency technology instead of conventional steam heating and drying, the SonoCore process is significantly more energy efficient while producing an extremely soft natural foam with high tensile strength, superior ventilation properties and the best ecological footprint in the latex foam industry.

“The most durable, flexible, ecological, revolutionary and competitive natural foam in the marketplace.”

“Extreme comfort and softness are Pulse’s signature attribute and benefit,” said Brent Limer, Chief Sales Officer for Latexco US. “The SonoCore process differentiates Pulse® as a sustainably responsible product that also provides the benefits of a perfectly balanced microclimate with superior ventilation and humidity control properties.”

In early 2019, Latexco US obtained FSC® certification from NEPCon for its natural Pulse® products, making it the only single-source producer of latex and polyurethane foam in the U.S. with FSC-certified natural foam products.

“FSC® is about transparency and traceability throughout the process, which is vital to the Latexco commitment to sustainability,” said Ducatteeuw. “We’re proud of this distinction and to be able to tell our growing base of customers that our latex products come from responsibly managed forests, transported directly to our plant and made into premium products designed to improve the quality of life of consumers.”

That consumer perspective is one of the unique aspects of Latexco that contributes to its growing success. While it has always been a supplier to bedding manufacturers, arguably making it once removed from the end consumer, Latexco approaches product development and marketing with the consumer in mind.

Latexco’s natural Pulse® brand is a perfect example because the company believes sustainability makes a difference in the way we all work and live. Pulse® is derived from a natural and renewable raw material, sourced from environmentally responsible forests and manufactured using the highly efficient SonoCore process based on radio frequency.

Sleep health and hygiene are an essential part of the conversation when Latexco talks about the benefits of natural foam. Latexco mattresses also meet Oeko-Tex Standard 100 standards, making them safe for babies and all other sleepers. Products carrying the Oeko-Tex label provide assurance that every component of the article has been tested for harmful substances and is therefore harmless to humans. From cutting-edge research and development through durability testing, its natural latex mattresses offer best in class performance for optimum body support, balanced pressure distribution, enhanced blood circulation and long-lasting comfort and quality. 

Pulse® natural foam has an open cell structure made up of millions of microscopic interconnecting air bubbles that allows constant air circulation through the mattress, and the natural movements during sleep helps ventilation. Natural foam is hypoallergenic and proven to be resistant to mold and mildew. Recent tests show it is also resistant to dust mites.

These product attributes fulfill the economic pillars of sustainability because they give bedding manufacturers and retailer a strong basis to provide real solutions to consumer problems when it comes to buying comfortable, durable and safe bedding for their home and family. In the end, it comes full circle to support Latexco’s primary goal to take care of people and nature.

Member Spotlight: PureCare ~ Welcome Home to Wellness®

For over 20 years, PureCare has been devoted to designing premium, wellness-focused sleep essentials. With every fiber of our being—with every stitch of our fabric—we care about the well-being of everybody and every body. That’s why we design products with one simple mission in mind: to wrap the world in care, comfort and wellness. Because when we sleep well, we rise to live well too.

---

 Our focus on hygiene and wellness has been a staple of our brand since day one. Originally founded in New Jersey as Fabrictech 2000 by industry veteran Sam Chase, PureCare was one of the first accessory manufacturers to adapt mattress and pillow protectors for the general market. Our patented OmniGuard® Advance protector material remains the premium standard for sanitization with a wash and dry heat tolerance of 220º. Over the past two decades, we’ve employed textile experts and product designers dedicated to putting care into their craft, and have worked with a handful of the world’s most respected wellness and hygiene experts and institutes to ensure our products deliver on our promise of wellness.

---

 Family owned and operated, the Hershbain and Bergman families bring over 100 years of combined retail and product development experience to PureCare’s retail partners. Together, our ownership team has paved the way to aggressively expand our product offerings to include protectors, sheets, pillows, and weighted blankets that combine PureCare’s signature responsive fabrics and cleaner sleep treatments. Our innovative and consumer-centric approach to product development has earned us the official seals of both the National Sleep Foundation and the Women’s Choice Award.

---

As a “what’s next” culture, PureCare remains constantly focused on continuing our heritage of growth and excellence. In the past three years we have relocated our operations to Phoenix, Arizona where we’ve expanded our warehouses, improved our shipping efficiencies, and most recently, invested in domestic pillow manufacturing with state-of-the-art Brighi machinery. Our newly expanded production capabilities allow us to support our current retailers with incredible quality and accuracy, as well as expand our business opportunities into new categories.

Our ability to quickly source and produce pillows domestically has allowed us to adapt quickly to retailer and mattress manufacturer’s needs during these unprecedented times. PureCare has developed an entire collection of Clean Cover Hospital Pillows that are domestically produced and shipped daily to meet the demands of hospital and government contracts nationwide. We continue to work with our retail partners and industry connections to source a variety of products and PPE.

In all of our goals, initiatives and future aspirations, one idea remains deeply rooted at our core; everything we do, we do with heart. This includes our dedication to supporting and improving the specialty sleep industry. We are true partners to our retailers, responsibly sourcing our products and building strong relationships that serve their needs. We have proudly served as board members and supported important organizations like the SSA and BSC for years. And as always, we remain focused on delivering quality wellness products that help improve the lives of our customers. We care for the wellness of others, pure and simple.

Pandemic News...(not to be confused with the Pandemic Blues...)

Since our last newsletter, the airwaves have been full of pandemic-related items. Here are some things that have come across my desk that you may find interesting and/or helpful during these disruptive times.
Hope you are all holding up out there,
Tambra Jones, Executive Director, Specialty Sleep Association

---

#DoTheShelter

Shelter in Place | The Family-Made Music Video (Original Song)

Mike Magnusson is simply irresistible is this video that he and his family created!  Check it out HERE: 

---

WEBINAR:  How COVID-19 is Impacting the Mattress Retail Landscape 

Mike Magnuson, CEO of leading independent mattress review site GoodBEd.com, provides an update on the online mattress marketplace as the industry deals with the coronavirus crisis.  He will chat with Dave Perry to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on both mattress shopping and mattress retailers.  Magnuson will share his perspective on how this pandemic has impacted the consumer journey, discuss general trends he is seeing in consumer behavior, and provide thoughts on what retailers can be doing right now.  Check HERE to register: 

---

An Update for IMC Tenants on COVID-19 and Plans for Market

A special message from CEO Bob Maricich addressing the impact of COVID-19 and IMC’s support of recovery and plans for markets.  Check it out HERE: 

---

Home Furnishings Education Network

Furniture Today’s series of educational videos featuring discussions with thought leaders across the home furnishings industry and the world at large. 
Check it out HERE: 

---

IMC to launch 3-week virtual High Point Market

These offerings, which include the debut of a new sourcing tool as well as a series of pop-up virtual market events, will run on IMC’s High Point Market website May 11-29.  Check it out HERE: 

---

IMC converts High Point Market TrendWatch program into webinar series

The free three-part webinar will be held on April 29, May 13 and May 27  Check it out: HERE

---

Google to offer free listings to U.S. retailers

Company plans to expand offerings globally by year end. 
Check it out HERE: 

---

They lived in a factory for 28 days to make millions of pounds of raw PPE materials to help fight coronavirus

At his factory just off the Delaware River, in the far southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, Joe Boyce clocked in on March 23 for the longest shift of his life. Check it out HERE

---

CPA Firm Hertzbach has compiled a list of COVID-19 Resources For Your Business 

Check it out HERE: 

---

IHFRA pens open letter to Vice President

Dear Mr. Vice President……”With their customers — furniture stores — deemed to be non-essential businesses, and their suppliers — furniture manufacturers and distributors being sidelined — self-employed independent furniture sales professionals find themselves being financially suffocated as a result”. 
Read the complete letter HERE: 

---

Podium planning to launch free version

Software company raises $125 million in new funding round.  Check it out HERE:

SURVEY: How Does This Corona Virus Affect Your Sleep?

In March 2020, the folks at SleepStandards.com surveyed 1014 respondents across the United States on how Coronavirus pandemic affects their sleep. They asked the SSA to publish their results, which they believe reveal some interesting data from factors that prevent Americans from a good night’s sleep to activities they prefer during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Chris Norris is the Founder & Chief Editor at SleepStandards.com - A health blog that provides research-based sleep health advice, actionable sleep tips, and unbiased sleep product reviews. He aims to inspire better sleep and make the world of sleep easy to understand for everyday people.

CLICK HERE to read the survey results.

Member Spotlight: TFS Natural Home is Committed to Non-Toxic Furniture For All

TFS Natural Home By The Futon Shop's founder Suzanne Diamond started in 1976 with her commitment to a chemical free lifestyle designing healthy non-toxic futon mattresses. From 1976 to today The Futon Shop has continued that commitment using eco-friendly ingredients to create healthy non-toxic furniture for all. The Futon Shop brand continues to evolve manufacturing their products with an increased emphasis on craftsmanship and high quality chemical-free materials. From The Futon Shop manufacturing floor in San Francisco to their stores throughout California the end goal remains consistent, to empower their customers and the community. Assisting them to live a comfortable and healthy life in their homes.

Suzanne Diamond

These are trying times as the coronavirus continues to spread, the biggest fear is a lack of personal protective equipment. The Futon Shop values the importance of this timing and given the shortage of vital PPE, they are doing their part to answer the call for the common good, by refocusing a large part of their Cut & Sew Department to the production of face masks. The Futon Shop's face masks are not intended to replace medical grade N95 masks, but since the disease spreads by respiratory droplets, they are still a barrier for those exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19. The Futon Shop uses an organic cotton barrier fabric in all of their face masks. The Futon Shop's organic barrier fabric is so tightly woven the spaces between the threads are under 3.5 microns, and filters about at least 95% of very small 3-micron particles.

Masks and face coverings are recommended, but not required, for Americans who go out in public during the coronavirus pandemic. Seven states (Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island) took that guidance further, and they're requiring residents to cover their faces when they visit essential businesses or use public transportation. The CDC recommends wearing face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The CDC also advises the use of face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  

The Futon Shop is ready to help with bulk orders for medical, government, state, and local use. They are able to provide bulk face masks for retail, personal, and PPE use. All products are manufactured in San Francisco, California in their factories with immediate delivery available. The Futon Shop's research & development department is busy at work designing new types of face masks that could possibly be a better deterrent against COVID and other similar viruses. One of those masks is a Copper Infused Organic Cotton Barrier Face Mask. Copper is well-known for its ability to stop and kill the growth of bacteria and other infectious pathogens. The Futon Shop copper infused masks have 17% copper infused into threads of fabric woven into the cotton and will never wash out. The Futon Shop is making all their masks in adult and children sizes. 
Click here to check out what this kid has to say about his mask.

We all must do our part to prevent the spread of coronavirus and save lives. That’s why it’s essential to slow the spread of Covid-19 through social distancing and protective equipment. By “flattening the curve,” we can help ensure the infections and hospitalizations occur over a longer period of time and don’t overwhelm our medical system and cause a higher death rate. The Futon Shop cannot emphasize enough their appreciation for the life-saving work that our healthcare professionals are doing at this critical time and proud to support them with washable, reusable and sustainable masks.

The Futon Shop brand continues to evolve manufacturing their products with an increased emphasis on craftsmanship and high quality chemical-free materials. When you choose to buy local the value of any product “Made in the USA” represents more than just a victory for small business in America, it means a victory for our neighborhoods as well! The Futon Shop makes the choice not to outsource their manufacturing to anyone else for many reasons. In order to bring you chemical free solutions The Futon Shop carefully monitors the process from start to finish in order to Provide Affordable Made In America Products for Completely Organic lifestyles.

COVID-19: Dr. Dave Price Speaks About Protecting Yourself And Your Family

Dr. David Price of Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City shares information in a Mar. 22 Zoom call with family and friends on empowering and protecting families during the COVID-19 pandemic. He says he wants people to feel more empowered about navigating this pandemic. He is hopeful, and says that if we all FOLLOW THE RULES we should get through this with our health pretty much in tact.

While the SSA does not recommend watching any particular doctor or official over another, we found that Dr. Price’s video was easy to understand, and so we have provided it here for you.

Click here to watch the video (it’s pretty long).

Dr. Price says “COVID is in your community”. He advises that the main form of transmission seems to be from touching the face.
These are his RULES:

1. Become a Hand-Nazi. Know where your hands are at all times. Keep them clean - wash them or use hand sanitizer after you touch anything.

2. Work on not touching your face. Become aware of when you touch your face.
   *He recommends wearing a mask when you leave the house to insure that you are not touching your face.

3. You don’t need a medical mask. They are primarily to keep your hands from your face.

4. Distance yourself from others (3’-6’).

Dr. Price goes on to address many aspects of a typical day in the midst of COVID-19. He also talks about what happens if you are living with somebody who has the Corona Virus. He advises what to do, when to go to the hospital and when to stay home. We found his comments enlightening.

Hope you found this helpful. We wish you good health!

Navigating COVID-19 Financial Relief Efforts

During this unprecedented time in our history, the Feds have been working on financial relief programs for individuals and businesses. It’s not easy to know how to handle today’s hurdles, and weighing our options is feeling pretty complicated. We are posting links here from Hertzbach, the Specialty Sleep Association’s CPA Firm, and The International Market Centers (IMC) which outline financial programs that are available so far.
It’s an uncertain time, we at the SSA are wishing for you clarity of mind and strength of spirit.

From Hertzback:
HERE’S WHAT IS HAPPENING SO FAR

1. THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM IS ABOUT TO GO LIVE – WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

   Posted By: Hertzbach , April 1, 2020

2. 2020 RECOVERY REFUND CHECKS FOR INDIVIDUALS

   Posted By: Tax Department , March 31, 2020

3. THE CARES ACT – A SUMMARY

   Posted By: Hertzbach , March 30, 2020

From The IMC: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

Table of Contents

I. Summary of COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
II. Small Business Paycheck Protection Program
III. Disaster Assistance Loans & Advances
IV. Other Types of SBA Assistance Measures
V. SBA Access to Capital
VI. SBA Exporting Assistance
VII. Employee Retention Tax Credits
VIII. Unemployment Insurance & Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (For Employees)

A Special Offer for IMC Vendor Partners

Free ShopZio B2B Marketplace for 2020

The release below comes from the International Market Centers. We encourage all companies who are exhibiting in the SSA’s showroom (C1565) to go to the ShopZio web page and enroll. Please let us know about your experience with enrolling into this program, and then about what you find as an enrollee. These times are unprecedented for us, and we salute the IMC for their efforts to help mitigate how we are experiencing the changes in our marketplace.

---

IMC Offers Free Subscriptions & Transactions On Its Shopzio B2B Marketplace to Help Customers Address Business Disruption Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic

From International Market Centers (see Press Release)
April 2, 2020 | Atlanta, Las Vegas, High Point, NC

ATLANTA, HIGH POINT, N.C., LAS VEGAS., (April 2, 2020) – In an effort to address business disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, International Market Centers (IMC) and its digital innovation division IMC_di announced today that free subscriptions and transactions will be offered to customers through year-end on ShopZio, its B2B digital platform that facilitates product and resource discovery as well as e-commerce.

“The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted business quickly and significantly. While ensuring the health and safety of our staff and customers is our top priority, we also have been able to start planning for recovery and we will use our virtual market tools to help our customers do the same,” said Bob Maricich, the CEO of IMC. “To that end, we are offering gift, home and apparel suppliers virtual market tools — at no charge through the end of the year — to help our customers maintain visibility, market available products and transact business digitally as recovery begins.”

Recently acquired as part of the IMC_di initiative, ShopZio is a fully-functional B2B platform that facilitates product and resource discovery as well as transactional e-commerce. In support of economic challenges caused by the current disruption, all marketplace fees will be waived for the balance of the year for both new and existing ShopZio customers.

ShopZio’s B2B platform will be linkable directly from IMC’s market websites – AmericasMart.com, IMCHightPointMarket.com and LasVegasMarket.com – enabling robust product discovery and referrals to vendors’ e-commerce platforms.  IMC’s websites currently receive more than three million unique visitors annually. Combined with IMC’s attendee marketing, which reaches hundreds of thousands of qualified buyers, the sites will help vendors engage buyers and drive traffic and e-commerce sales.

“As recovery begins and the American public emerges from this difficult period, one thing is certain: People will reach for the things that provide comfort, beauty and solace – the very things that our industries design, produce and sell,” said Maricich. “As retailers reopen for business and begin to restock, these virtual market tools will have established a pipeline to jump-start much needed economic recovery for the gift, home and apparel industries.”

IMC_di also is accelerating development of its new digital market experience, which when launched in Fall 2020 will create unparalleled opportunity and streamline digital tools for the industry. By combining IMC’s online discovery and e-commerce capabilities with IMC’s unparalleled scale, reach and buyer engagement, IMC can accelerate sales across the industry. According to Eric Dean, president of IMC_di, “IMC is committed to bringing buyers and sellers together whenever and however they choose to transact. ShopZio allows us to offer an excellent interim solution to an industry looking for assistance in helping buyers and suppliers get back to business and for leadership in a time of economic hardship.”

ShopZio currently has 35,000 active buyers and 100+ vendors and is already conducting millions of dollars per month in online transactions. The IMC_di team is ready to demonstrate the platform to new customers and prepare their product and SKU-level data for upload. New customers will be on-boarded on a first-come, first-served basis. IMC tenants and exhibitors can sign-up now and connect with the IMC_di team at www.imcenters.com/imcdi/shopzio-offer/.

Summer Market Planning Continues

IMC is continuing to plan for summer Markets to be held in High Point, Atlanta and Las Vegas. “We hope to have the opportunity to produce physical Markets this summer – although we recognize they may look and feel slightly different given the impact of COVID-19. We will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with customers if postponement is deemed necessary,” said Maricich.

The current schedule is:

• High Point Market: June 12-14

• June Atlanta Apparel: June 10-13, at AmericasMart

• Atlanta Market: July 14-20, at AmericasMart

• Las Vegas Market: July 26-30, at World Market Center Las Vegas and the EXPO at World Market Center Las Vegas

• World of Prom: August 3-7, at AmericasMart

• August Atlanta Apparel: August 4-8, at AmericasMart

About International Market Centers: International Market Centers (IMC) is the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for furniture, gift, home décor, rug, and apparel industries. International Market Centers owns and operates nearly 20 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furniture, gift, home décor, rug, and apparel industries. For more information, visit http://imcenters.com/.

About IMC_di: IMC Digital Innovations (IMC_di) is a stand-alone division of International Market Centers (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the home furnishings, gift, and apparel industries. Launched in January 2020, IMC_di will build an industry-changing platform including a global B2B e-commerce marketplace, a full suite of integrated marketing and sales automation software and smart showroom tools. With bold people and bold ambitions — and by investing as much as $100 million — IMC_di will change and grow the industries IMC serves.

# # #

The Coronavirus: Are you wondering if you can help?

From Tambra Jones, Executive Director, Specialty Sleep Association 

Every one of us is participating in an event that will be paramount in history books from this point on.  A real-life pandemic. We are witnessing new data, new collection points and the analysis thereof in real-time.  Most of us are working with smaller crews, or from home.  Some of us are not working at all right now.

 So what can we do to help besides the necessary social-distancing and extra hygiene? 
We can make masks for the people who are boots-on-the-ground.  Hospital staffers, first responders and staff manning (and womanning) posts in open businesses are in sore need of more masks.  They are calling for help – from industrial sewers as well as home sewers. In our industry – WE CAN DEFINITELY HELP keep essential staffers safer. 

I saw a write-up in the press about how Stuart Carlitz at Eclipse/Eastman House is converting his mattress factory into one that will produce masks, both surgical and N95 masks.  “ECLIPSE INTERNATIONAL WILL PRODUCE & DONATE INITIAL 38,000 MEDICAL MASKS FROM NEW JERSEY FACILITY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC”.  Of course these will not have the FDA stamp of approval – there is not time for that - and Stuart told me his local hospital does not care.  “They will use these masks where they are appropriate, and they are very grateful for what we will donate,” said Stuart, who also reached out to all of his licensees so that they may begin working with their own community hospitals if they so choose.  Click here to check out the video Stuart and his Eclipse team created to show their mask-making process.

Angela Owen, SSA Board Member and President of Suite Sleep, is in communication with her local hospital in Boulder to make masks and gowns using her sewing team and fabric on hand in her small factory. “I’d like to partner with a non-wovens supplier for materials so that I can supply the appropriate specifications,” she said.  

Here are a few articles showing how others are stepping up to the plate in this regard as well.  “Furniture industry steps up to ‘face’ COVID-19”.  ISPA has also reported that some of their members are mobilizing to help.  “ISPA says its members are helping to meet coronavirus supply needs”.  This ISPA notice points to a page on their website dedicated specifically for How To’s in helping with the COVID-19 supply chain.  And outside our industry – factories are contacting their local hospitals to lend a hand, “DIY Face Masks – Update!”

Those who do not have factories to convert can also help.  There are several groups who have patterns and kits for home-sewers.  There is a group called Crafters Against Covid-19 Seattle who are organizing materials for kits to send to home-sewers.  Also a group called Sew to Fight Covid-19 in South Bed, IN is actually building a system, a step-by-step guide for producing the kinds of N95 barrier products that really work for health-care workers.  I spent half an hour on the phone with their project manager – and this is exciting stuff! Stay tuned, this is something we will be continuing to monitor.

I called my local hospital and am waiting for a call-back advising what their specs are, and if they are working with somebody who could use my help. I’ll advise how this process goes for me. 

So yeah my friends, we are witnessing a pandemic.  I had to look up the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic.  It’s about scope essentially. Does the outbreak remain in one area? Does the method of transmission fall into a geographic model?  The Zika virus outbreak was defined as an epidemic. The Ebola outbreak was defined as an epidemic. Although the SARS virus outbreak did reach outside Asia, it was associated with travel from affected areas – and was defined as an epidemic.  If you are interested in this aspect, Vanessa Caceres wrote an excellent piece explaining this for U.S. News.

The COVID-19 is now a pandemic.  Its scope is worldwide. Its transmission is being studied on the fly.  Who is infected? Can we really tell? There are not enough tests to check everybody – and some sources say that the tests that are being used are not as accurate as they hoped they would be.  We are watching the science unfold right in front of our eyes. With the internet and global information systems at our fingertips, we are watching as data comes in and gets plugged into formulas and hypotheses and real-time treatments. 

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, helpless, and of course worried.  It could very well be that getting busy making things that will help the professionals who are working to keep their fingers in this dike, is the best medicine for us.  To be helpful, helps the helper and the helped…!  

I’m going to get involved in sewing some masks - at whatever level is most appropriate.  Who’s with me? If you have questions about how to get started with helping in your own community, contact me and I’ll tell you what I know.

We are wishing you only good things.  Stay positive. Stay safe. Stay well. 

Contact:
Tambra Jones
Executive Director
SPECIALTY SLEEP ASSOCIATION
tambra@sleepinformation.org
559-868-4187
559-676-8639 mobile
www.sleepinformation.org