SSA to host Greenguard seminar in Las Vegas - UL To Give GREENGUARD Certification Presentation to Furniture and Mattress Manufacturers and Retailers at the Winter 2015 Las Vegas Market

“Clearing the Air on Chemical Emissions Claims”

Sponsored by the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA)

Friant CA- November 12, 2014 -  The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) and UL jointly announced today that Mr. Scott Steady, Product Manager, Volatile Organic Compound(VOC’s) Emissions Testing and Certification, UL Environment will be giving a presentation to the furniture and mattress/ bedding industry on chemical emissions and the UL GREENGUARD Certification program.  The program will be entitled: “GREENGUARD: Clearing the Air on Chemical Emissions Claims.”  and will be held in Las Vegas World Market Center, Room C-174, Monday, January 19th from 4 PM until 5:30 PM.

Dale T. Read, President of the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA), says that the association and its BEDFAX® program is very pleased to sponsor this in-depth informative program that reaches out to all furniture and home furnishings suppliers, manufacturers and retailers who wish to understand the GREENGUARD Certification program and how it works to back-up chemical emission claims concerning their products with technical data.

Discussing the topic of chemical emissions, also known as VOC Emissions, Scott Steady explains, “Most of our exposure to environmental pollutants occurs by breathing indoor air.  Bedding and furniture products can emit chemicals such as formaldehyde and other VOCs that can cause odor, irritation, and other health effects.  As consumers seek healthier, more sustainable products, increasing scrutiny has been placed on manufacturer’s health and sustainability claims.  The GREENGUARD Certification program tests products to strict chemical emissions limits, which contribute to the creation of healthier interiors.  GREENGUARD Certification provides the market with solutions and resources to identify products with lower chemical emissions, and provides manufacturers with credible tools to legitimize and promote their sustainability efforts.”

 The January program will provide concrete information to manufacturers and marketers of furniture and bedding products including:

• What is the importance of Indoor Air Quality and how does it affect health?

• Learn what GREENGUARD Certification is, the technical requirements, the certification process and how it differs from other programs

• How GREENGUARD Certification provides value to manufacturers, consumers and retailers

• What manufacturers can do ensure the product claims they make are accurate and credible.

The SSA’s Read states “This is another SSA sponsored program in a series focused on educating and informingmanufacturers and retailers about contents labels, certifications, truth in marketing claims and consumer transparency.  In the past SSA has sponsored speakers such as Environmental Consultant Vicki Worden of Worden Associates; Lori Wyman of Control Union who spoke on the Global Organic Textiles Standard(GOTS) ; and Attorney James Kohm, Enforcement Attorney for the Federal Trade Commission(FTC)  ‘Green Guides.’ This is one more service the SSA is providing to our members to keep them and their bedding industry colleagues informed in the arena of marketing claims, standards and certifications,” says Read.

About GREENGUARD Certification

UL's GREENGUARD Certification program helps manufacturers create - and helps buyers identify and trust - interior products and materials that have low chemical emissions, improving the quality of the air in which the products are used. All certified products must meet stringent emissions standards based on established chemical exposure criteria.

About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for 120 years. Its more than 10,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. UL partners with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain. For more information about our certification, testing, inspection, advisory and education services, visithttp://www.UL.com.

For more information on the Specialty Sleep Association ( SSA) and the Winter 2015 Las Vegas Market, go to:

 www.sleepinformation.org

 www.BEDFAX.org

What’s In Your Mattress? Do Consumers Really Care About the Materials, Construction and Chemicals Inside Their New Mattresses and Bedding?

What do consumers really care about when they are buying a new mattress? Every piece of meaningful research on consumer preferences from Furniture Today and other sources confirms that consumers are mostly interested in comfort, support and performance leading to a really “good night’s sleep”, as well as price or real perceived value when purchasing a new mattress.  

So the questions have arisen: do consumers really care about what is in their mattress, just what are the materials used, which chemicals are part of the mattress and what goes into that mattress or how is it constructed?

Recent reports from ISPA and Furniture Today indicate that nearly 20 million mattress units are sold in the United States every year, and along with that another 17 to 19 million foundations or box springs are sold. Total sales for these reached 38 million-plus units and  $14.2 billion in retail mattress/ bedding sales.

According to Furniture Today’s July 27th “Making the SLEEP Connection” column written by David Perry, consumer research “…found that one in three consumers –31% - said that the main construction materials in a mattress are important to them when they buy a mattress for themselves or spouse or partner..”  That 31% of $14.2 equals $4.58 billion in sales that are affected by consumers wanting to know what is inside a mattress. Perry wrote,  “Any good retail sales associate should be able to talk knowledgeably about how the materials inside the bed will yield a good night of sleep.”

In October 2015 Colonial LLC, a leader in mattress showroom top-of-bed displays and POP materials released a study that stated “ seven in ten respondents said that it is ‘very important’ to them too know how a mattress in constructed.”  This research makes an even more compelling case that  $9.94 billion in mattress sales could be affected by a retail sales associate knowing what is in the mattress that the RSA is selling to the consumer.

Believing there is ample evidence that a significant percentage of consumers really do want to know “What’s in Your Mattress”, while also keeping it simple, and getting to the point, The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) is now re-introducing a new, simplified “consumer disclosure contents label program called BEDFAX. It is a simple, third-party, voluntary contents verification program supported by extensive written documentation, testing and certifications declaring the percentage by weight or volume of the materials, chemicals, and contents in the mattress cover, the quilt or comfort layer and the core of the mattress. BEDFAX is a contents transparency program, not a “green” marketing program, although one can make “green” claims by submitting current, active certifications and testing reports from valid third parties according to guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission for meeting substantiation requirements.

The simple, easy-to-read BEDFAX contents labels will make it easy for both sales people and consumers wanting to know exactly “What is in Your Mattress.”

Dale T. Read
President of
The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA)
www.sleepinformation.org
daler@marketingarmgrp.com

SSA Vice Chair and Sec/Treas are re-elected - Angela Owen of Suite Sleep and Roger Coffey of Latexco West Are Re-elected Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the Specialty Sleep Association

Friant CA – September 8, 2015 – Following the election of the chairman and a new board member, the Specialty Sleep Association has re-elected Angela Owen, Owner and “Sleep Diva” of Suite Sleep, Boulder, Co to serve as Vice Chairman. The SSA Board also re-elected Roger Coffey, President of Latexco West / Sleep Comp West of Sante Fe Springs, CA to serve as Secretary/ Treasurer of the non-profit industry association.

Owen who has been an activist and community leader in natural, healthy, safer and sustainable products for the home and family, created Suite Sleep in 2003 and has been one of the chief pioneering voices in the sustainable bedding industry for the past 12 years. She also has served as a leader of the steering committee developing the BEDFAX transparency and consumer labeling program for the SSA. 

Coffey has played an active role in the development of specialty sleep products both fabricating and marketing polyurethane and latex foams.   He founded Sleep Comp West to fabricate and market latex mattress cores and toppers; and later, became President of Latexco West when Latexco-NV, the largest latex manufacturer in the world purchased Coffey’s company in 2006.

SSA President Dale Read stated that Owen and Coffey serving as officers of the SSA Board will help the SSA fulfill its dual vision and mission to not only embrace “consumer transparency” with mattresses and bedding through the SSA’s BEDFAX® program, but also to vocally promote the unique and distinct advantages offered by specialty sleep products including air beds, flotation beds, memory foam beds, latex rubber beds, polymer gel beds, adjustable beds, natural “bio-based” and “organic” beds “SMART BEDS” and futons.

Mark Miller Elected SSA Chairman - InnoMax President and CEO Mark Miller Is Elected Chairman of the Specialty Sleep Association Board of Directors

Friant, CA – September 1, 2015 -  The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) announced today that the SSA has elected longtime specialty sleep advocate and manufacturer Mark W. Miller, President and CEO of InnoMax Corporation to serve as the association’s chairman of the board. Miller and his company InnoMax Corporation have been active promoters of advanced specialty sleep technologies since 1975.  Miller replaced Todd Youngblood , who stepped down from the chairman’s seat after serving for two years. 

SSA President Dale Read stated that Miller’s role as chairman will be to help the SSA fulfill its dual vision and mission to not only embrace “consumer transparency” with mattresses and bedding through the SSA’s BEDFAX® program, but also to vocally promote the unique and distinct advantages offered by specialty sleep products including air beds, flotation beds, memory foam beds, latex rubber beds, polymer gel beds, adjustable beds, natural “bio-based” and “organic” beds “SMART BEDS” and futons. 

In accepting his new role as Chairman of the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) , Miller stated, “ I am highly motivated and excited to work with the other members of the SSA to increase retailer and manufacturer participation, and to develop marketing strategies to enhance consumer awareness of the important aspects of better health through better sleep with specialty sleep products.”

New SSA Board Member Sarah Budensiek - PureCare Vice President of Marketing and Creative Sarah Budensiek is Elected to Three Year Term on Specialty Sleep Association Board of Directors

Friant, CA – September 1, 2015 -  The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) announced today that the SSA has elected Sarah Budensiek, Vice President of Marketing & Creative of PureCare  of Fairfield, NJ, designers, manufacturers  and marketers of “essential elements necessary to create a hearty sleep environment” to a three-year term on the SSA Board of Directors. For over a decade, Sarah, a graphic designer has fused creativity and visual communication to enhance the voice of countless brands.  In her leadership role at PureCare, Budensiek oversees all brand development, design, social media, PR, marketing, retail enhancements and more. A Graphic Design USA award winner and involved bedding industry advocate, Budensiek is a member of both WithIt and the Specialty Sleep Association. 

SSA President Dale Read stated that Budensiek will play a vital role by bringing both her energy and experience as well as her marketing talents to the SSA Board.  “Sarah will help us fulfill our dual vision and mission to not only embrace ‘consumer transparency’ with mattresses and bedding through the SSA’s BEDFAX® program, but also to vocally promote the unique and distinct advantages offered by specialty sleep products including pillows, sheets, comforters, air beds, flotation beds, memory foam beds, latex rubber beds, polymer gel beds, adjustable beds, natural “bio-based” and “organic” beds “SMART BEDS” and futons.

Also industry veterans Roger Coffey of Latexco, Mark Miller of Innomax and Pascal Roberge of Julien Beaudoin were re-elected to three-year terms on the SSA Board of Directors.

Ballast Solar Roof System and Money in a Mattress Equals Big ROI - How Day & Night Solar Helped Boyd Specialty Sleep save Money and Go Green

Money in a Mattress

When it comes to investors, there are the risk takers and those who want security. In the past, security meant stuffing hard-earned money into or under a mattress. President and CEO Dennis Boyd put his money into mattresses in 1977 when he founded Boyd Specialty Sleep. For him, it wasn’t a gamble because he knew he had something valuable to offer customers – all of the benefits from a good night’s sleep.

Seeing Green and Creating Green Products

The investment paid off. Boyd is a major mattress innovator and manufacturer in the specialty sleep industry. As the company saw green in the form of profits, Dennis Boyd also wanted his company to be greener in the form of sustainability and in its product lines. Mattresses take up a lot of landfill space since they are bulky, not easily reused, and difficult to recycle.  Environmentally unfriendly chemicals have also been used in producing traditional mattresses, adding to the disposal problem. A big focus was put on using greener materials such as bamboo and less man made materials to directly combat this issue, while at the same time adding to the customer's sleep experience.

Owning a Solar System – Does it Make Financial Sense?

Since Boyd owns its own buildings, they had two choices: 1) to purchase their own solar system or 2) allow a company to install a system and lease the power generated to other companies. Solar needed to make financial sense in addition to helping achieve the company's green initiatives. CFO Bryan Vonderahe began doing the research necessary to make this decision.

“One solar company stood out from all of the rest – Day & Night Solar. I felt as though they were committed to making sure I was educated both in solar products as well as the entire process cycle to implement such a project,” says Vonderahe.

Managing Partner Bob Eaton went to great lengths to answer all of his solar questions and alleviate any of his concerns. Having just completed installation of new roofing systems at their properties, there were concerns about the potential damage caused by thousands of perforations being proposed by other solar companies to secure their solar panels.

Day & Night Solar eliminated this concern by proposing a ballast mounting system which would equally distribute the weight of the panels and eliminate multiple invasive perforations. Sales representative Patrick Murphy also exerted great effort to show the financial benefits of installing solar. Presenting multiple scenarios, each documented the return on Boyd’s investment. “As someone who regularly works with financial models  to evaluate current and future company performance, Day & Night Solar's ability to produce in-depth, viable ROI models was impressive to say the least,” said Vonderahe. With this knowledge, Boyd chose option 1.

Sustainability for Boyd and its Tenants

“As real estate owners, enhancing our buildings and holding energy rates constant adds tremendous value. For our tenants, it’s a huge benefit to be able to keep energy rates constant as the industry continues to predict long-term and constant rate increases,” added Vonderahe.

Solar was a Safe Investment and Helped Boyd Specialty Sleep to Truly Go Green

“We went with the best in class of solar panels for a greater return on our investment,” said Vonderahe. “The product really stood out in terms of long-term durability and efficiency. We liked the fact that Day & Night’s solar panels and mounting structures are made in America. There was an excellent warranty with a proven manufacturer.  This was very important, because, during the timeframe that we were seeking our own solution,  we watched other solar panel manufacturers go out of business, or be named in property damage lawsuits for fires caused by faulty panels. Plus, no one else, again, offered a ballast system to protect our new roofs.

Getting approvals, filing for designs, tax credits, etc., was all done through Day & Night Solar as part of their service. They made sure every “i” was dotted and “t” was crossed. They took charge and educated us on the entire solar project and process.

The cash outlay was very low and the payback will happen in a period of five years. That doesn’t include the long-term savings with holding down our energy costs.

Thanks to Day & Night Solar’s help, Boyd Specialty Sleep can say “that we have made tremendous strides at becoming a truly green company.” 

2.1 Billion Overweight People Worldwide

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-28/obese-or-overweight-people-top-2-1-billion-worldwide.html

Obese or Overweight People Top 2.1 Billion Worldwide ….That's 30%..Not exactly a niche market.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-28/obese-or-overweight-people-top-2-1-billion-worldwide.html

by Dale Read

United States population as of this morning at 9 AM was 318,135,100 people, and 30% of that number is 95,440,530 people.  That's 30%..not exactly a niche market!! Who would not want 95 million built-in customers?

So I represent a client who  manufactures and markets heavy-duty mattress/ bedding support systems that can support up to 4,000 lbs. depending upon the model selected.  My client wondered if they marketed a PLUS-size bed support, foundation, platform bed concept if this was  too narrow a niche market?  To address this, at the last Las Vegas market we handed out  research statistics from the CDC that showed:

• Percent of adults age 20 years and over who are obese: 35.1% (2011-2012)
• Percent of adults age 20 years and over who are overweight, including obesity: 69.0% (2011-2012)  
• (Source: CDC) www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm

Basically what both the CDC report last year and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation research showed this year is that approximately one in every three Americans now has a Body Mass Index of 25% to 30% or more, and they meet the definitions of overweight or obese. 

That means one in every three mattress/ bedding customers coming into the retail store has a body that lends itself to a PLUS-Size Solution in terms of support, alignment, comfort, performance and longevity of product. So far only a few mattress manufacturers have taken this issue seriously and developed mattresses AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS FROM THE FOUNDATION UP that will address both the short term and long term needs of bigger, larger and heavier customers. Even if the mattress happens to hold up over a few years, the traditional frame, cheaper foundation solution fails larger customers. Our client has interviewed obese consumers, who have reported to them failure of frame and foundation within a year or so. 

The point is we are making here is that this is NOT a small niche. Retailers have more customers coming through the doors that are overweight or obese than they have suffering from menopause, sports injuries, physical disability, even the very serious problems related to allergies or any of the other myriad of issues the mattress industry has addressed with foams, latex, special innersprings, gels,  natural materials, protection systems etc. 

Sinusitis

• Roughly 13% of people 18 and over in the U.S. have sinusitis.4

Allergic Rhinitis

• Roughly 7.8% of people 18 and over in the U.S. have hay fever. 4
• http://www.aaaai.org/about-the-aaai/newsroom/allergy-statistics.aspx

Our point is really quite simple:  The PLUS-SLEEPER issue is NOT a niche market problem.  It is a huge mainstream market issue affecting 30% of all customers, and that mattress/bedding manufacturers should be addressing through R &D and product development.  That the solution is NOT just a tough, engineered, high performance mattress, but also a system that works from the floor up…from the support system to the top-of-bed.

As president of the Specialty Sleep Association, I believe that if specialty bed categories wish to grow, they should lead the charge to create and market longer term, superior technology products that will perform, will last at least 8 years, and will address the basic support, alignment, comfort and performance needs of the growing 30% of the market that is overweight or obese!  One in three American shoppers needs this totally integrated approach to mattress and bedding.

PS…By the way with ta BMI of 27% yours truly slips into that overweight category…by about 20 to 25 lbs.  It is a real issue for many of us!

To Marketers of "Natural" or "Organic" mattresses

To Marketers of "Natural" or "Organic" mattresses, bedding and top-of-bed products in the United States.

By Dale Read

We (the SSA and its industry partners) have spent four-plus years now defining the terminology, certifications, standards and government regulations regarding "green" marketing claims within the mattress and bedding field in the United States.  We have met with and/or worked with government agencies including: USDA-NOP, USDA-Bio-Preferred, CPSC, the Federal Trade Commission ( "Green Guides”) , and non-government agencies such as Organic Trade Association (OTA) , Sustainable Furnishings Council  (SFC), American Sustainable Business Council ( ASBC), Global Organic Textile Standard, (GOTS), Oregon Tilthe, Control Union, Global Organic Latex Standard ( GOLS).  We have reached out to Green Guard, Oeke-Tex® 100 Standard, CertiPUR®-US as well as ISPA to create a TRANSPARENCY  "truth in 'green' marketing" third-party mattress-industry contents label.

If you are going to market "eco-friendly", "natural", "all-natural" and especially "organic" mattresses and bedding products in the United States, there are very clear guidelines offered by either the FTC "Green Guides"  (on substantiation ofgeneric claims) , USDA-NOP on "organic" agric-crops and food, and also from established third-party certifying bodies such as GOTS and GOLS.

We (the SSA) are here to help any member of the SSA who wishes to make "green” claims correctly in the marketplace using a third-party, accepted consumer disclosure /contents label.

FTC Warns 78 Retailers: Stop Labeling and Advertising Rayon Textile Products as "Bamboo"

FTC Warns 78 Retailers, Including Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart, to Stop Labeling and Advertising Rayon Textile Products as "Bamboo"

February 3, 2010

Seventy-eight companies nationwide have received Federal Trade Commission letters warning that they may be breaking the law by selling clothing and other textile products that are labeled and advertised as “bamboo,” but actually are made of manufactured rayon fiber. The letters, which the agency’s staff sent last week, make the retailers aware of the FTC’s concerns about possible mislabeling of rayon products as “bamboo,” so the companies can take corrective steps to avoid Commission action.

“We need to make sure companies use proper labeling and advertising in their efforts to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers,” said David C. Vladeck, Director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Rayon is rayon, even if bamboo has been used somewhere along the line in the manufacturing process.”

The FTC sued several companies last year for allegedly selling products labeled or advertised as “bamboo” that in reality were made of rayon. Rayon is a man-made fiber created from the cellulose found in plants and trees and processed with harsh chemicals that release hazardous air pollution. Any plant or tree – including bamboo – could be used as the cellulose source, but the fiber that is created is rayon.

“While we have seen action by some retailers to correct mislabeled clothing and textile products, our hope is that these warning letters will serve as a wake-up call to all companies, regardless of their size,” Vladeck said.

The FTC staff letter outlines the requirements for proper labeling and advertising of textile products derived from bamboo. The letter states, “Rayon, even if manufactured using cellulose from bamboo, must be described using an appropriate term recognized under the FTC’s Textile Rules. . . . Failing to properly label and advertise textiles misleads consumers and runs afoul of both the Textile Rules and the FTC Act.”

In the letter, the FTC tells the companies they should review the labeling and advertising for the textile products they are selling and remove or correct any misleading bamboo references.

Along with the warning letters, the agency sent each company a synopsis of FTC decisions finding that the failure to use proper fiber names in textile labeling and advertising was deceptive and violated the FTC Act. Under the Act, the FTC can seek civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation against any company that receives this information but fails to correct its advertising and labeling.

A complete list of the companies sent warning letters can be found on the FTC’s Web site and as a link to this press release. They include small and large retailers, with both online and brick-and-mortar stores, and firms selling textile products labeled or advertised as “bamboo” that may be made of rayon. The more commonly known retailers include:

Amazon.com, Barney’s New York, Bed Bath & Beyond, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Bloomingdale’s, Costco Wholesale, Garnet Hill, Gold Toe, Hanes, Isotoner, JC Penney, Jockey,

Kmart, Kohl’s, Land’s End, Macy’s, Maidenform, Nordstrom, Overstock.com, QVC, REI, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sears, Shop NBC, Spiegel, Sports Authority, Target, The Gap, The Great Indoors, Tommy Bahama, Toys R’ Us, Wal-Mart, and Zappos.com.

Recent Enforcement Actions. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of four FTC enforcement actions brought against companies selling rayon products that were misleadingly labeled and advertised. According to the Commission’s complaints, filed in August 2009, the companies falsely claimed that their rayon clothing and other textile products were “bamboo fiber,” marketing them using names such as “ecoKashmere,” “Pure Bamboo,” “Bamboo Comfort,” and “BambooBaby.” The complaints also challenged a number of other deceptive “green” claims, including that the products retained the bamboo plant’s antimicrobial properties, were made using environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, and are biodegradable.

The four companies have settled the FTC’s charges and agreed to modify their labels to ensure their claims are not misleading or deceptive. (One of the cases still needs final FTC approval.) Press releases announcing the complaints and related settlements can be found at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/12/dynabamboo.shtm and http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/bamboosa.shtm, respectively.

Business and Consumer Information. The FTC has a publication designed to help businesses that sell clothing and textile products that are labeled as bamboo to market their products in ways that are truthful, non-deceptive, and in compliance with the law. “Avoid Bamboo-zling Your Customers” can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/bamboo. The FTC also has an alert entitled “Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics?” that provides useful information for consumers shopping for bamboo-based fabrics. It also can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/bamboo.

The Commission vote to publicly disclose the warning letters was 4-0. Copies of the letters and a complete list of companies that received them can be found on the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/bamboo and as a link to this press release.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, click: http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.shtm or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. For free information on a variety of consumer topics, click http://ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mitchell J. Katz
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2161 

STAFF CONTACT:
James A. Kohm
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-2640