The Strange Yet True History of the Waterbed in America

Amanda Harding March 14, 2018 CheatSheet.com

Even if you never owned one yourself, chances are you know someone who has or had a waterbed.

The waterbed hit its peak of popularity in the 1980s and has been on a steady decline ever since. In 1987, one out of every five mattresses purchased in the U.S. was a waterbed. These days you’re much more likely to order your mattress online and make a video of the unboxing than you are to fiddle with the cumbersome task of installing a giant, heavy bedfilled with hundreds of gallons of water.

Ahead, discover the history of this unique bed style and the reason why they might be making an unexpected comeback (just not for humans).

Modern waterbeds were invented by a design student

Charlie Hall was just a student at San Francisco State University when he came up with the idea to fill a mattress with water and sleep on it. His previous attempts at providing total liquid comfort for lounging included chairs filled with cornstarch and gelatin.

Hall presented his master’s thesis project in 1968 and allowed his whole class to test out his waterbed creation. “Everybody just ended up frolicking on the waterbed,” Hall said.

It was the beginning of a mattress revolution.

Primitive waterbeds were made for comfort, not cavorting

While Charlie Hall is credited with coming up with the first modern waterbed, there were some earlier attempts worth mentioning. Scottish physician Dr. Neil Arnot made a “hydrostatic bed for invalids” which consisted of a warm bath filled with water and topped with rubber. It was meant to reduce bedsores.

Science fiction writer Robert Heinlein, who was bedridden with tuberculosis, wrote about waterbeds in one of his books but never actually made a real one. The first mention of waterbeds dates all the way back to 3600 BCE, when ancient Persians filled goat skin mattresses with sun-warmed water.

Marketers made the waterbed sexual

Hall’s intention wasn’t necessarily to sell waterbeds as sex aids — but the timing of their release coincided with the sexual revolution, and marketers quickly latched on to the idea of making the waterbed all about sex.

One company claimed that “Two things are better on a waterbed. One of them is sleep.” Another said, “She’ll admire you for your car, she’ll respect you for your position, but she’ll love you for your waterbed.” Even notorious lothario Hugh Hefner had a Tasmanian possum-covered waterbed.

In 1971, Time reported that “in Manhattan, the waterbed display at Bloomingdale’s department store for a while was a popular singles meeting place.”

The rise and fall of the waterbed was dramatic

By the 1980s, waterbeds were more mainstream, moving beyond just playboy bedrooms and into modern suburban homes. Their popularity peaked in 1987, when one in every five mattresses sold was a waterbed and the market was worth $2 billion.

These days, the market share is down to five percent. But the real question is, “Why?”

Waterbeds are a real commitment

Most people believe that waterbeds went out of fashion because they were a little “icky.” But some experts have a different theory.

Installing a waterbed was no easy feat. Running a hose to your bedroom, worrying about leaks, concerns over algae, and bans in certain apartment complexes meant that waterbeds were often more trouble than they were worth. And moving? Forget it. You might as well leave the whole expensive thing behind.

Even the waterbed’s inventor admitted that they were complicated and high maintenance.

The waterbed has come a long way

Technology has changed the entire world, and waterbeds are no exception. Soft-sided “waveless” waterbeds aren’t quite as ugly as the ’80s version you’re probably picturing.

The water is separated into multiple compartments rather than one huge pocket so sleeping on one doesn’t feel as dramatic. New waterbeds look less like “pleasure pits” and more like regular beds.

These days, waterbed customers aren’t human

Even though the waterbed market has been declining for human bedrooms, another species still sees the benefit. Time published an article in 2012 on the trend of buying waterbeds for cows.

There are entire companies devoted to creating waterbeds for cows to help reduce sores and infections since they’re less likely to grow bacteria. One farmer purchased $100,000 worth of waterbeds for his cows and justified it by saying, “Happier cows, happier milk.”

Waterbeds may never be as popular again — at least not for people. But at least the cows are udderly comfortable.

The Weird True Story of the Rise and Fall of the Waterbed

by Nancy Mitchell Feb 11, 2018 Apartment Therapy

If you've ever slept on a waterbed, you know that it is a singular experience. My cousins had one growing up, and I thought it was the most fascinating thing — I had never dreamed that sleep could feel (or, let's be honest, sound) like that. Almost since its invention, the waterbed has been associated with excitement and even licentiousness — but ever since the late 1980s, when the waterbed hit its peak, it's been slowly disappearing from the American home, if not the American consciousness. Read on the for the weird true story of the rise and fall of the waterbed.

The waterbed, as we know it, got its start in California, in the late sixties. After experimenting with chairs filled with cornstarch and even Jell-o, Charlie Hall, a design student at San Francisco State University, hit upon the idea of a mattress full of water. Hall presented the water-filled mattress as his master's thesis one evening in 1968, and his entire class spent the night frolicking on it. Thus the modern waterbed was born.

Hall wasn't the first person to come up with the idea of filling a mattress with water. In the early 1800s, Dr. Neil Arnot created a 'hydrostatic bed for invalids' that was intended to reduce bedsores. The bed consisted of a warm bath filled with water and topped with a layer of rubber, which was then sealed to prevent leaks. And science fiction writer Robert Heinlein, inspired by the time he spent bedridden with tuberculosis, described a waterbed in great detail in one of his books, although he never bothered to build it.

But it was modern technology that really made the waterbed possible. The invention of vinyl meant that a mattress that would reliably hold water and not leak was a real possibility, so Hall began his experiments at just the right time. Of course, it was the swinging sixties, and marketers quickly picked up on the waterbed's more tantalizing possibilities. One company claimed that "Two things are better on a waterbed. One of them is sleep." Hall sold waterbeds to members of Jefferson Airplane and to Hugh Hefner. In 1971, Time reported that, "in Manhattan, the waterbed display at Bloomingdale's department store for a while was a popular singles meeting place."

In the 1980s, the waterbed successfully made the leap from bachelor pad to suburban bedroom. At the peak of the waterbed craze, in 1987, more than one out of five mattresses purchased in the U.S. were waterbeds — meaning that enjoying that sweet, sloshy sleep was almost mainstream. But since then, their market share has declined to a lowly five percent. What happened?

Some people have attributed the decline of the waterbed to their association with creepy '70s lotharios, but their popularity with suburbanites in the '80s seems to refute that. I think the real problem with waterbeds was that they were kind of a pain. Installing one meant running a hose into your bedroom, risking flood-like conditions. Moving a waterbed was even more complicated, requiring an electric pump or another device to siphon out the water. And the wooden frames could weigh hundreds of pounds. Plus there was the possibility of your mattress springing a leak, or growing algae (although, to be fair, this could be avoided by adding a little Clorox to the water upon the initial filling). Many apartment complexes banned them.

But the modern waterbed still had its adherents — and it might look (and feel) much different than you'd expect. New softsided, or 'waveless', water beds lack the telltale wood frame of the old models. They consist of a water-filled pouch or coils surrounded by foam sides, and look just like a standard mattress. Separating the water into multiple compartments cuts down on the wave action, which makes for a bed that's just as supportive and not nearly as sloshy (although maybe also not nearly as fun).

Oddly, waterbeds may be finding a new market, but not a human one. Time, which first reported on the popularity of the waterbed in 1971, published an article in 2012 about the trend of buying waterbeds for cows. Yes, cows. Apparently this unconventional accommodation helps to reduce sores and infections, and is less likely to grow bacteria than beds of traditional materials like wood chips. There are entire companies devoted to producing waterbeds for cows. As one Oregon farmer put it: "Happier cows, happier milk."

So, in its own way, the waterbed persists. It may have disappeared, for the most part, from the American bedroom, but in the American psyche (and maybe the American farm), Charlie Hall's unusual invention still looms large.

What Ever Happened To Waterbeds?

BY JEFF WELLS PRINTED FEBRUARY 10, 2016 MentalFloss.com

For kids and adults alike, waterbeds used to be the coolest—until suddenly they weren’t. After a heyday in the late 1980s in which nearly one out of every four mattresses sold was a waterbed mattress, the industry dried up in the 1990s, leaving behind a sense of unfilled promise and thousands upon thousands of unsold vinyl shells. Today, waterbeds make up only a very small fraction of overall bed and mattress sales. Many home furnishing retailers won’t sell them, and some that do say it’s been years since they last closed a deal.

So what happened? Although they were most popular in that decade of boomboxes and acid-washed jeans, waterbeds had been gaining steam since the late 1960s, and in retrospect seem to have more substance to them than other notorious fads. How did our enthusiasm for sleeping atop gallons and gallons of all-natural H2O drain away so quickly?

By some accounts, waterbeds date all the way back to 3600 BCE, when Persians filled goat-skin mattresses with water warmed by the sun. In the early 1800s, Dr. Neil Arnott, a Scottish physician, created a “hydrostatic bed” for hospital patients with bedsores. This was essentially a warm bath covered with a thin layer of rubber and then sealed up with varnish. In 1853, Dr. William Hooper of Portsmouth, England patented a therapeutic rubber mattress that could be filled with water. It, too, was for hospital patients suffering from poor circulation and bedsores. In the mid 20th century, science fiction writer Robert Heinlein—inspired by the months he spent bedridden with tuberculosis in the 1930s—described waterbeds in great detail in three of his novels. The beds he envisioned had a sturdy frame, were temperature-controlled, and contained pumps that allowed patients to control the water level inside the mattress. There were also compartments for drinks and snacks, which sounds really convenient. It was, according to Heinlein, “an attempt to design the perfect hospital bed by one who had spent too damn much time in hospital beds.”

The inventor of the modern day waterbed was an industrial design student named Charles Hall, who in 1968 submitted a waterbed prototype (made with a vinyl mattress rather than a rubber one) for his masters thesis project. Hall wanted to rethink furniture design, and was taken with the idea of fluid-filled interiors. Before settling on the waterbed, he had tried filling a chair with 300 pounds of cornstarch gel, which quickly rotted. He also tried using JELL-O as a filling, with similarly disastrous results. The introduction of water fulfilled his vision without the ick factor. During the graduating class’s thesis workshop, Hall told The Atlantic, students ignored other projects and ended up hanging out on his waterbed.

Hall established his own company, Innerspace Environments, and began manufacturing waterbeds for sale throughout California. Early customers included the band Jefferson Airplane, as well as the Smothers Brothers. Eventually Hall’s bed, which he named “The Pleasure Pit,” made its way into 32 retail locations throughout the state. Success was short-lived, however, as cheap imitators quickly flooded the market. By the early 1970s, dozens of different companies were manufacturing waterbeds, feeding the growing demand for a groovy new way to … sleep.

Although many associate waterbeds with strait-laced suburban living, back in the ‘70s they were a symbol of the free-flowing counterculture movement—more likely to be sold with incense and Doors albums than with fluffy pillows and high thread count sheets. “That fluid fixture of 1970s crash pads” was how a New York Times story from 1986 described them. The names of manufacturers and distributors reflected this: Wet Dream, Joyapeutic Aqua Beds, and Aquarius Products were a few that rolled with the times.

Sex, of course, was a big selling point. “Two things are better on a waterbed,” an Aquarius ad stated. “One of them is sleep.” Another ad proclaimed, “She’ll admire you for your car, she’ll respect you for your position, and she’ll love you for your waterbed.” Hippies and hip bachelors alike were the target market for the bed that promised the motion of the ocean. Hall even got in on the act, offering a $2800 “Pleasure Island” setup, complete with contour pillows, color television, directional lighting, and a bar. Hugh Hefner loved the craze, of course—Hall made him one covered in green velvet, and Hef had another that he outfitted in Tasmanian possum hair.

By the '80s, waterbeds had moved from the hazy fringe to the commercial mainstream. “It has followed the path of granola and Jane Fonda,” the Times noted. Indeed, waterbeds were available in a variety of styles, from four-post Colonials to Victorian beds with carved headboards to simple, sturdy box frames. Allergy sufferers liked having a dust-free mattress, while back pain sufferers were drawn to the beds’ free-floating quality. Advertisements by sellers like Big Sur Waterbeds played up the health benefits with shirtless, beefy dudes like this one:

People were also eager to try a new spin on something as boring as a bed. Kids, especially, loved the squishy, gurgling weirdness of a waterbed. If you were a child of the '80s, it arguably was as close to a status symbol as you could get. Manufacturers, meanwhile, fed the demand with novelty frames, bunk beds, circular love nest beds, and even waterbeds for dogs. They also improved the experience with innovations like “baffles” that cut down on the wave motion many beds created, thereby addressing the one-of-a-kind problem of people getting seasick in their own bedrooms. As waterbed mania swept the nation, specialty outlets like Waterbed Plaza, Waterbed Emporium, and the Waterbed Store opened up shop, and wave after wave of cheesy local television ads followed.

By 1984, waterbeds were a $2 billion business. At the height of their popularity, in 1987, 22 percent of all mattress sales in the U.S. were waterbed mattresses.

Here’s the thing about waterbeds, though: They were high maintenance. Installing one meant running a hose into your bedroom and filling the mattress up with hundreds of gallons of H2O—a precarious process that held the potential for a water-soaked bedroom. Waterbeds were also really, really heavy. In addition to the filled mattress, the frame—which had to support all that water weight—could be a back-breaker. When the mattress needed to be drained, an electric pump or some other nifty siphoning tricks were required. Waterbeds could also spring leaks (as Edward Scissorhands showed), which could be patched but, again, added to the cost and hassle.

In the '90s, it became clear that the novelty of waterbeds couldn’t overcome the additional work they required. By that time, competitors like Tempur-Pedic and Select Comfort were also coming out with mattress innovations that offered softness and flexibility without making customers run a garden hose through their second-floor bedroom window.

These days, the waterbed market is still going, albeit on a much, much smaller scale. Mattress models are lighter than the models of decades past, and come with nifty accessories like foam padding and interior fibers that further cut down on the wave effect. They’re also outfitted with tubes or “bladders” that take in water rather than the entire mattress, making the experience less like filling an enormous water balloon. Most models are quite sophisticated, in fact. The Boyd Comfort Supreme mattress has all the technical specs of a household gadget: three-layer lumbar support, four-layer reinforced corners, “thermavinyl” heat resistant bottom layer, five-layer wave reduction system. That’s a lot of layers! There are also airframe waterbeds that stand firm on their own, and sophisticated temperature-control devices that keep sleepers warm. Marty Pojar, owner of The Waterbed Doctor (which takes mainly online and phone orders), told The Orange County Register that most of his orders come from customers in the Midwest and Northeast, where customers want to hop into a warm bed on cold winter nights.

Like those who still play Sega Genesis or prefer a flip phone to an iPhone, waterbed customers are fiercely loyal to their retro trend. But their enthusiasm alone won’t likely bring waterbeds back to the mainstream. Indeed, even the name “waterbed” carries negative connotations, retailers note. Pojar prefers to call them “flotation” beds. A Washington D.C. furniture salesman interviewed by The Atlantic said he oftentimes doesn’t tell customers when they’re lying on a waterbed. "Everybody who tries the ones we have on our floor is very happy with the feel, but some people won't get it just because it's a waterbed," he said. These days, the most promising market for soft, squishy waterbeds may, oddly enough, be cows.

17 YEARS OF THE WATER BED: A SOCIAL HISTORY

By PATRICIA LEIGH BROWN Printed AUG. 28, 1986 The New York Times

About the Archive
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IT may never join the loftiest ranks of modern furniture design, those hallowed niches reserved for the likes of Mies van der Rohe or Charles Eames. And it is possible to overstate the cultural importance of the water bed. After all, the modern water bed began as a gurgling mass of velvet-topped vinyl, procured in bead-draped record stores along with incense and albums from the rock group Cream.

Still, if contributions to modern design were judged purely on the basis of emotions engendered, the water bed, that fluid fixture of 1970's crash pads, might be at the top of the ratings.

''A capitalist rip-off,'' a floor-loving purist said in Rolling Stone at that time. ''The bounciest bedroom invention since the innerspring mattress,'' said Time.

In the catalogue for last winter's ''High Styles'' show at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Martin Filler called the water bed one of the ''most evocative furniture types of the time.'' Filled with up to 250 gallons of water and who knows how many tons of sexual promise, the organic, free-floating form seemed to capture the spirit of the age. Its mystique was skillfully perpetuated by water bed dealers and manufacturers. ''Two things are better on a water bed,'' read the copy of one popular advertisement in 1970. ''One of them is sleeping.''

But times change. ''When I was a hippie,'' says the San Francisco writer Ben Fong-Torres, a former water bed owner, ''I remember thinking that one day there would be a New Yorker cartoon in which you walked into an antique store and looked at beanbag chairs and water beds.''

Strangely, however, the water bed has not become passe. Rather, it has followed the path of granola and Jane Fonda. ''We have infiltrated the mainstream,'' says Henry R. Robinson, the president of the Trendwest Furniture Manufacturing Company and the official spokesman of the Waterbed Manufacturers Association.

The $1.9 billion annual sales of the flotation sleep industry, as it is known, now constitute between 12 percent and 15 percent of the American bedding market, according to Mr. Robinson. In comparison, sales hovered around $13 million in 1971. Water beds now come in popular styles such as four-poster Colonials, which account for 49 percent of current frame sales. There are Victorian water beds with etched-glass and carved headboards. They are sold today in suburban shopping malls in stores with names like Waterbed Plaza. ''The water bed buyer profile is not distinctively different today from conventional mattress buyers,'' says Leonard S. Gaby, a vice president of Simmons U.S.A., which began selling water beds in 1980 and now offers five different styles.

In perhaps the biggest blow to their Haight-Ashbury image, water beds will be making their debut in the popular Spiegel catalogue next year, according to Carl Truett, furniture buyer for the company.

About the only place water beds do not seem to sell, in fact, is New York City, which has the distinction of being considered the nation's worst market for water beds. Manufacturers blame this on restrictions against them in apartment leases and the high costs of retailing, but David Klein, a vice president of Kleinsleep, a major New York bedding retailer, has another theory. ''New Yorkers are urbane, sophisticated,'' he says. ''By 1970, New Yorkers were bored with water beds.''

Born in 1969, the same year as Woodstock, the modern water bed was designed by Charles Hall, then a student, as a project for a class at San Francisco State University. Though therapeutic flotation systems date to the early 1800's, and possibly beyond, Mr. Hall is widely considered the inventor of the water bed in its popular form. The designer had originally turned to starch and Jell-O as a filler rather than water, but the goo tended to swallow the sleeper. This gave rise to newspaper feature headlines such as The Toronto Star's ''Rancid Jell-O Led to First Water Bed.''

Eventually, Mr. Hall hit upon the right formula: a vinyl bag filled with water that was fitted with a temperature-control device and liner and set in a sturdy frame.

Mr. Hall's idea caught on instantly, but there were many cheap permutations. ''They were selling bags of water for $20,'' Mr. Hall says today. ''It was a disaster.''

Water beds became common on many college campuses, though their early reputation for leaks caused them to be banned by some campus housing authorities. A Vassar graduate of the early 70's, now a Manhattan banker, recalled, ''There was always a big scene in September with hoses hanging down from windows when someone moved their water bed in.'' She finally gave up on water beds, deeming them ''too squishy.'' David Klein said: ''It was a countercultural item. It was different. It was not the bed your parents had.''

In the mid-70's, stand-up comics and television sitcoms had a field day with water beds. In an episode of the sitcom ''Phyllis,'' for instance, Phyliss (Cloris Leachman) checked into a motel room only to discover a pink fur water bed. She later accidentally stabbed it with a letter opener, creating a geyser that gushed to the ceiling.

Such scenes created a profound image problem for the water bed industry. Mr. Robinson said: ''There was a stigma. The water bed was associated with sex, drugs and rock-and-roll, let's face it.'' Letitia Blitzer, 25 years old, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., is emblematic of the water bed's image problem. ''They sort of looked left over from the 60's,'' she explains. ''I don't feel left over from the 60's. I can't tell you how fearful I was of having a garbage bag filled with water covered with psychedelic seagull and rainbow-decorated sheets.''

Nevertheless, at the instigation of her husband, Seth, also 25, the couple bought a water bed two years ago. Now, Mrs. Blitzer says, ''I'm glad I took the plunge.''

The advent of ''superwaveless'' mattresses has helped the water bed appeal to a more conventional market. The modification has ''made the water bed more of an adult product and taken away the major sales detriment,'' says Mr. Hall, who now designs beds for Monterey Manufacturing.

Perhaps the water bed, like so many other things in modern life, was bound to grow up. ''It's the old story of the counterculture becoming respectable,'' said Alan Dundes, professor of anthropology and folklore at the University of California at Berkeley.

''The country is in a different mood now than in the 1970's,'' he continued. ''There is a movement of conservatism. The family is coming back. There is a shift away from the self-indulgence of the 1970's.'' He hypothesized that the water bed ''had to undergo a metamorphosis and conform to an image of respectability in order to survive.''

Some of the water bed's original fans have changed, too. Marleen Nienhuis gave up the water bed she had purchased in Greenwich Village over 10 years ago, relegating it to her attic in New Jersey when she took a job on Wall Street. ''It unleashed a reservoir of emotions,'' she said of her decision, but somehow the idea of sleeping on a water bed and then going off to work at a major corporation didn't jibe.

In her place are new adherents, unfettered by history. ''I love it,'' said Annette Zullo, who has a four-poster waveless water bed with a carved headboard in her ranch house in Copiague, L.I. ''You can hardly tell it's a water bed.''

Still, despite its mainstream status, the water bed remains a powerful symbol of earlier, more spontaneous times. Observed Rod Lauer, owner of

Novembre Waterbeds in Baltimore, one of the nation's oldest dealers, ''People kind of smile when you say the word water bed.''

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Michael Nermon shares his journey to Ergo Beds

Michael Nermon is a long time member and past board member of the Specialty Sleep Association. He is Owner and President of Ergo Beds, an 18 year old retail store devoted to the “specialty” side of sleep. We are pleased to showcase Michael and his unique store here for you.

In his own words:

Ergo Beds is a “mattress store” only in the same sense that a Bentley is a “car.” It’s not as though the beds and ergonomic furniture at Ergo have astronomical price tags – they don’t – but presenting the ultimate quality in sleep products, with expertise tailored to maximize each customer’s comfort, is our store’s whole reason for being.

I grew up in the bed industry. My family’s business was manufacturing the adjustable power beds used by major mattress companies. At Maxwell Products our mission was “Adjusting The Way The World Sleeps”. During my 20-year career working with bedding manufacturers in three dozen countries, I found that in Europe mattress technologies were well ahead of those in the United States.

CUSTOMIZED COMFORT

I also had back problems and knew what a big difference a better bed could make. My familiarity with industry technologies and processes gave me the skills to customize my own bed.

It led me to the vision for Ergo. When we opened in 2001, nothing like this existed. Mattress stores were like supermarkets and selection was based on firmness, price, and brand name. I wanted to offer specialty sleep products with unique benefits and share my knowledge with every customer. I joined the Specialty Sleep Association and aligned myself with the best resources in the industry. Dale Read’s marketing company helped me develop the Ergo logo. 

A BETTER EXPERIENCE

Our unique showrooms, with soft music, dim lights, and a warm, relaxing décor have earned several awards. More important, this environment helps our customers comfortably spend an hour or more – a sensible approach to selecting a bed. Instead of the dreaded, rushed ordeal experienced in brightly lit, warehouse-like mattress supermarkets, shopping at Ergo is pleasant and leads to the right decision on an investment that will affect the next 10 to 20 years of your life. All products at Ergo meet the highest performance and durability standards. It behooves customers to take their time choosing, guided by the expertise of our Comfort Consultants.

UNIQUE PRODUCT MIX

In addition to being a legacy Tempur-Pedic dealer since 2001, Ergo’s unique product assortment includes the new iSense range of adjustable firmness mattresses; featuring a choice of support systems, Technogel; which incorporates a true gel layer imported from Italy, Ergo’s private label line Silhouette; featuring all-natural materials and customizable design, and our European luxury mattress options.

I’m especially enthusiastic about our Carpe Diem and Jussi beds from Europe. Aside from being esthetically beautiful, their unique design provides a level of support and pressure-point relief that’s impossible to explain. Of all the qualities in sleep products we carry, our Carpe Diem and Jussi beds epitomize the ultimate sleep comfort. The beds can even be custom-ordered with different levels of firmness on either side so couples sleep in maximum comfort.

Ergo is well positioned to accommodate the growing demand for all-natural, chemical-safe sleep products. We’ve offered organic sleep products for many years because their anti-allergenic qualities align with my personal mission to help people get the full, deep, restoring sleep that is so vital to maintaining good health. Ergo features natural and organic sleep products from Naturepedic, Silhouette, Savvy Rest and other top quality producers. 

A CHANGING MARKETPLACE

The internet has drastically changed the dynamics in every industry, and sleep products are no exception. Operating a brick-and-mortar retail business and providing a higher level of service while staying competitive is difficult in this environment. Even exclusive products that can’t be shopped online are a bigger challenge to market to a consumer who is being bombarded by the plethora of information from online companies who profess to be “experts” in a field that they’ve only recently been involved with. These well-financed marketing machines are a real challenge to compete with on the budget of a small brick-and-mortar store operation, especially since the glut of online sellers has driven the cost of internet advertising to unreasonable levels.

Consequently; finding new customers has become a very expensive challenge. It’s been said many times; the best advertising is “word-of mouth” and we are truly grateful for the strong repeat business and referrals that we continue to get from our highly satisfied customer base.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

We have experienced a lot in our ever-evolving industry, and Ergo has made the difficult moves in this rapidly changing marketplace. Now; after devoting the past 18 years to the retail space I have decided to focus my energies on the manufacturing/supply side of our industry again. I plan to “retire” from operating my small retail business and I look forward to working with both manufacturers and retailers to share my experience and help them build their businesses. We are in an exciting, innovative industry that holds a lot of opportunity for everyone who can dream about better sleep.

SSA Honors its Roots with a “Waterbeds” Link on the Home Page of their Association Website

The history of waterbeds is near and dear to the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) because the SSA was formerly the Waterbed Association.  Our oldest members began their sojourn into the mattress industry with waterbeds.  Present SSA Chairman Mark Miller of INNOMAX CORP and past SSA President Denny Boyd of BOYD SLEEP (formerly Boyd Flotation, and then Boyd Specialty Sleep) are longtime members and both began in the waterbed industry.  They are STILL a part of the small group of manufacturers and retailers who are involved with the waterbed business.

To honor this amazing industry, and help promote those who continue selling these unique products, the SSA has created an area within their association website devoted exclusively to stories about, and product information for the waterbed industry. This is an area where you will find press releases and product information for waterbeds TODAY.

A young woman listens to a pitch from a waterbed salesman. (Image credit: Bettmann/Getty Images)

Our roots are in waterbeds.
Denny Boyd offers his personal history with waterbeds. “I bought my first waterbed in 1973 and opened a waterbed store in 1977 based upon a business plan developed at the University of Missouri. I have truly enjoyed the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of those unique individuals that brought a great idea to market.”  On his experience with the SSA, Boyd says, “As a member of the Waterbed Manufacturers Assn. (later the Waterbed Association) we were very accepting of further growth and innovative opportunities in the Sleep Industry through new products in the air bed and memory foam technologies. In light of the many manufacturers and retailers broadening their focus to new sleep technologies, our Association decided to transition the name to the Specialty Sleep Association to recognize, legitimize and encourage new sleep technology introductions.”  He continues,  “At Boyd Sleep we still have a very vibrant waterbed segment and have continued to innovate in this market with the recent introduction of our izone product www.izonebed.com. I am honored to have served as a past President of the Specialty Sleep Association, and appreciate its ongoing dedication not only to its foundation in waterbeds, but its continuing growth with innovative sleep products.”  You can visit the page where Boyd outlines the The History of the Waterbed Mattress on his website.

Mark Miller says he is still a big believer in the category because of what waterbeds do differently than any other sleep surface. "We started out in 1975 as Rocky Mountain Inflate-A-Bed, solely based on the idea the world might enjoy something more advanced than just a bed with springs. We added waterbeds to our distribution portfolio in 1978 - and they have been a backbone of our business here at Innomax ever since." He says that while many sleep choices come close, “when it comes to what is truly right for you, your body, and the many sleep issues you may have, we feel it is imperative that we offer you the true magic a liquid support system can provide you due to its ability to not only reduce pressure on your body, but to offer you therapeutic temperature control benefits unique to a flotation bed.”    Miller said that for years Innomax remained staunch air and water flotation-only purveyors, but added other sleep surfaces to their portfolio according to customer desires.  “We found there began to be many waterbed myth’s needing to be debunked in the presentation process, and the evolution of sleep sales moved away from the waterbed as consumers focused on its “complications” more than its unique benefits.  Today we listen carefully to our customers and most definitely include flotation in the options we offer them.”  

Speaking about his thoughts regarding the evolution of the SSA, Miller said, “The Waterbed Association represented a truly exciting time in a world that featured primarily innersprings.  But as the waterbed and its ownership requirements (and in some cases its very dated looks) declined in sales, other simpler, less hassle and more economic choices like the futon came in vogue.  We watched as attendance of the waterbed-only seller at shows dedicated to the category decline as well.”  To the evolution of the association name from Waterbed to Specialty Sleep, Miller continues, “The advent of the Specialty Sleep Association provided a platform for not only water but a new and burgeoning set of sleep choice categories including developments in latex and PU foam, visco-elastic materials ,air and gel. The Specialty Sleep Association became a new platform for the future of sleep and bedroom innovations of all kinds, which certainly has led the way for the very market we are in today.”  Go to the Innomax website to read why Miller and his team think Waterbeds Are Cool.

A Look at the History
So – where did the whole sleep-on-water thing get started?  Let’s go way back to 3600 BCE, when some inventive Persians are said to have filled goat-skin mattresses with water warmed by the sun.  The next report was from the 1800s when two doctors introduced forms of waterbeds for hospital patients suffering from poor circulation and bed sores. Scottish physician Dr. Neil Arnott created what he called a “hydrostatic bed”, described as a trough of water, 6” deep, the size of a sofa, and covered with a rubber cloth to seal it. Then English Doctor William Hooper patented a therapeutic rubber mattress for hospitals that could be filled with water.   Though no new patents were filed, a bedridden science fiction author named Robert Heinlein, suffering from tuberculosis in the 1930s, wrote about his vision of a waterbed in three of his novels.  The beds he described had a sturdy frame, were temperature-controlled, contained pumps that allowed patients to control the water level inside the mattress, and even had handy compartments for drinks and snacks.

(Image credit: The Atlantic)

Fast-forward to 1968 when industrial design student Charles Hall, submitted a waterbed prototype (using a vinyl mattress rather than a rubber one) for his masters thesis project.  He turned his idea into a business, which attracted others with new design ides, and the Waterbeds launched themselves into a $2 Billion Dollar industry by 1984.

 Interestingly enough, Hall is SSA member Todd Youngblood’s Uncle (Todd served as Chairman of the Specialty Sleep Association for several years).  “Charlie Hall was to me first and foremost my uncle,” says Youngblood.  “As a little guy, I certainly didn’t fully understand my successful entrepreneurial uncle traveling to visit from California with his amazing briefcase mobile phone, but in the late 90’s when Charlie was gracious to welcome me to work for him in yet another successful venture, he showed me the clear value of hard work and perseverance.  As a serial entrepreneur Charlie has never stopped working on ideas that will change the world despite the adversity he has faced.  As a former chairman of the SSA – I would say that the world of specialty sleep is a better place because of Charlie Hall and his contributions.”  Visit hallflotation.com  for Hall’s own summary of his journey.

 At the top of their game in 1987, 22% of all mattress sales in the U.S. were waterbed mattresses.  In the 90’s the bloom fell off waterbeds, and transferred to the myriad of “memory foam” mattress designs which are still in vogue today.  Waterbeds remain a niche market, much smaller than in  their heyday, but vibrant and with a loyal following.  In fact, Charles Hall has been in the news this year for something new that he is offering with City Furniture's CEO Keith Koenig, and former waterbed manufacturer Michael Geraghty.  This trio is introducing what they describe as a redesigned version of the waterbed.  Read about it in this Miami Herald article by Dylan Jackson from this summer, “The Waterbed is Making a Comeback” and Brittany Bernsteins’ “Blast from the past:  Don’t confuse today’s waterbeds with the ones your parents had” in the Ft. Myers News.

 We are reprinting several of the articles that have circulated through the years about waterbeds, including the iconic New York Times article “17 Years of the Waterbed: A Social History”, printed in 1986, the extremely well done piece by Jeff Wells for the History section of Mentlefloss.com, “Whatever Happened to Waterbeds”, and the most recent overviews from Nancy Mitchel for ApartmentTheray.com, “The Weird True Story of the Rise and Fall of the Waterbed”, and Amanda Harding for cheatsheet.com, “The Strange Yet True History of the Waterbed in America”, both written earlier this year. We encourage you to take a walk through Waterbed History in these articles – you can “remember the days”…

 The articles we will print hereafter will be discussing waterbeds TODAY, allowing us to stay involved with the products that are the roots of the Specialty Sleep Association.  For instance, check out John Donovons’ “Could Waterbeds Ever Make a Comeback” at How Stuff Works.   This article from June 2018 does a great job of summarizing the waterbed industry and talks to present-day waterbed retailers. 

 We at the SSA support all forms of flotation sleep, and we say with extreme enthusiasm, “we love waterbeds!”  Check back here with us from time to time to see what is new in the waterbed market.

Retailer of the Month - from I LOVE MY PILLOW →

My Mattress was opened in 2010 by Travis and Ryan Leonhardt.  They offer a full line of sleep products and accessories at multiple price points, from bed pillows and sheets to high end mattresses. They’ve done well with pillows, but since the addition of “I Love My Pillow”, their pillow business has increased substantially.

One key point to making their business successful is having plenty of pillows in stock. By displaying the pillows in an attractive, eye catching way, they're able to sell a lot of product to customers. They’ve found when people think others are buying the same product, it’s easier for them to make the same choice. 

SSA's BEDFAX Program Placed on Hold

After several years of research, the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) is not moving forward with the BEDFAX® Mattress Contents Label Verification Program. SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones explained that while an increasing number of discerning and educated consumers want to know more about the contents and materials in products they purchase, the number of mattress manufacturers who are interested in a contents or consumer disclosure program remains quite low.  “We have had a hand full of dedicated manufacturers who have worked to create and launch this program. They have mostly been companies who market products with claims in the health, wellness and environmental market,” says Jones. “Based on our best efforts and outreach we have found that most of the main stream mattress/bedding manufacturers are not interested in a third-party, impartial contents label program that requires written documentation and verification of the materials and chemicals used in their various models. While in theory transparency is important for consumers, the vast majority of consumers are simply not pressuring mattress companies to tell them what is in the mattress they are purchasing.” At the same time, Jones also pointed out that with those companies who did show an interest in the program, especially in the area of “green” verification or certifications, these companies often already have detailed programs of their own in place.

Jones explained that the SSA is not moving forward with the program, retaining all records and materials on file. “We are no longer actively managing the BEDFAX program. However should the market dynamics change, should consumers begin to demand a third-party contents verification program, we could, with the right momentum, funding and support, re-activate this voluntary industry consumer disclosure label program.”

Changes for the SSA Board of Directors

This year will be a shift for the SSA Board of Directors.  Longtime member, and recent President Dale Read announced his retirement from the SSA Board, after serving faithfully and effectively for several years.  Dale began his tenure on the SSA Board when he was publisher of Bedroom Magazine, in the late 1990's. In 2010 he became President of the Board and ushered in the SSA’s Environmental & Safety Program, and then the Bedfax Consumer Disclosure Labeling Program. Dale has been a strong proponent of market transparency and saw to it that the term is now in the SSA’s overall Mission Statement.   Dale remains a member of the SSA, and is actively promoting several mattress/bedding companies via his PR firm, The Marketing Arm Group. The SSA salutes Dale for his devotion to the specialty category as well as to the association.  This is not a goodbye to Dale, just a new chapter in the SSA’s relationship with this dynamic industry veteran.

Click above to see more pictures

With Dale's departure, and the pausing of the Bedfax Program efforts, the SSA Board will revert back to it's structure of 9 voting board members, with an Executive Committee comprised of a Board Chair, Vice Chair and Sec/Treasurer, and an Executive Director.  Chairwoman Angela Owen's (Suite Sleep)  term has finished, and Mark Miller (Innomax Corp) was voted in as the new Chairman.  Thomas Frismodt (Danican) and Pascal Roberge (Beaudoin) have renewed their positions as Vice Chair and Sec/Treasurer respectively. 

Regarding his Chairmanship, Miller said, "I am excited for the opportunity to chair this terrific and energetic SSA board.  It will be fun to continue to enhance the vendor experience within our Las Vegas showroom.  We have a long history of promoting very strong business to business connections within our Specialty network that have proven to be beneficial to suppliers, so expanding upon our success in this area seems to be a natural.  We also look forward to continuing to bring very timely and topical seminars to the market as these have been well received".  Reflecting on recent conversations he has had with Exec Director Jones, he says, "Having been a part of the SSA both as a member and on the board since its inception we hope to go back to our roots in waterbed and encourage its current resurgence.  We are always looking for new ways to be value added to the industry, our members, and marketplace".

Filling the 9th spot on the board is new member Rion Morgenstern (Pleasant Mattress).  Rion says "The SSA is where innovative products are introduced to our industry and I am honored and excited to be a part of this organization."

The present board, along with Executive Director Tambra Jones, is devoted to insuring that the SSA's Las Vegas Showroom continues to be a thriving venue where manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and retailers will meet and create solid partnerships.  The SSA is committed to increasing member visibility in the marketplace, whether that be in the showroom, via articles blogs on the association website, or via direct press releases and communications with the trade press.  At the end of the day, the SSA is about it's members selling more beds, frames, pillows, soft-goods and sales programs.  

Las Vegas Summer 2018 Market Wrap-up: SSA Exhibitors share their experiences

Earlier this month we put one more Summer Las Vegas Market in the books.  Our SSA exhibitors told us they definitely felt the traffic dip this Summer, but when it was all said and done, they did the business necessary to make the Market work for them.  Overall, traffic at the Market was reportedly down, and our own showroom traffic reflected that, experiencing about 18% fewer buyer groups than Summer 2017.  We offered lunchtime snacks for buyers this market, however with the light traffic, it was hard to gauge whether or not it was appreciated.

Click here for full Gallery of Summer 2018 photos

Because our showroom is a coop of our members, we always do an exit poll, and take everyone’s experience at Market into serious consideration as we plan for the future.   It is fun to compare and contrast the comments from new companies (freshmen) with the seasoned upperclassmen in the room.  Let’s take a look at our post-Market exhibitor comments and suggestions.

The Freshmen

            Art Felix, frame maker/distributor JP Products:  I thought the show was perfect for me. Everyone in the SSA showroom was nice and helpful. For a first time exhibitor the traffic seemed accommodating. The summer show gives other exhibitors an opportunity to visit our showroom and see what we all have to offer. Many of us are not only trying to show our products to the retail side but are also trying to present products to other wholesalers.   I think over all most of us are happy being part of the show and the success is up to each of us to our own due diligence. I want to thank you (the SSA) for all your help and desire to make all of us feel at home.
            Brian Philips, mattress maker Swiss Bliss:  The Specialty Sleep Association is a value to the industry and the Las Vegas Market.  It provides one stop shopping for all your sleep related needs.  Most of my quality opportunities were created in the months and weeks leading up to the market.  We had a few walk ins but our new neighbors were so exhausting to the majority of walk ins that there was very little interest in slowing down after breaking away from those guys.  (They must have been enthusiastic!)
            Peter Laurens, mattress maker Baltica Naturals:  In terms of the ratio of booth expenses to visits by attendees, the showroom is the best place to be for specialty bedding industry participants at the Las Vegas Market. Foot traffic in the showroom and to our booth in particular was good during the Summer Market and we received strong interest and much useful feedback from our visitors.  The Summer Market was a fine experience for us; we expected it to be slower than the Winter Market but we received a surprising number of visitors. I invited a few retailers who were to attend the show anyway, but did not send out an email blast to unknown prospects.  I expected to meet new people here and I did.  
            Maureen Delker, top-of-bed soft goods maker Gotcha Covered/Sweet Dreams:  I am so happy to be apart of the SSA showroom family now.  Not only are the other vendors a wonderful resource for networking, discussion, and feedback but knowing there is a support network to help with space logistics makes my show times much less stressful.  Summer is typically a slower market than January.  While this market did seem slower than last year, it still proved beneficial for even the few key appointments we had.   
          Steven Wu, pillow importer Coolist Sleep Technology:  It feels like a big family. I knew some neighbors in the showroom.  It was my first time to be an exhibitor in the market.  It felt like it was very slow. Hopefully it will be better in the winter market. 

The Upperclassmen

            Thomas Frismodt, Mattress and softgoods importer Danican:  Danican’s experience in the SSA showroom has always been positive.  We feel there is always good traffic of different types of contacts and buyers each market.  Additionally, we feel there is great value being part of the “community” that exists with the other exhibiting SSA companies and also SSA staff.  Yes, the buyer traffic was generally viewed as a bit light for the recent Summer LVM.  However, each market presents the opportunity to nurture existing relationships and start new ones, which we continued to do at the summer LVM. 
           Brent Polunsky, frame maker W.Silver:   I thought the overall traffic was down a bit, but I did see enough of the right people to have a successful market.
            Barry Cik, organic mattress and bedding maker Naturepedic Organic:  The SSA showroom is really an excellent place to experience new thinking and products.  It actually deserves to be much bigger in size.  To improve it even further, it can use more separation among brands, so that it never gets a “bazaar” feel.   If anything, it deserves to be presented as an “exclusive” group of brands.  The Summer Market is always slower than the Winter Market - not aware of anything that can be done about that.  2018 was much slower in volume and in people willing to make appointments.  There are always those who will stop by and chat.  Then there are those who don’t really need to stop by.  But the biggest hurdle is getting new interested parties.  That said, it was clear that several other similar type manufacturers throughout the buildings didn’t get much traffic.  So there may be a much bigger issue regarding overall traffic for the whole market.  And, if that’s the case, then even if the SSA showroom had a modest drop in traffic, SSA may be well ahead of the market overall which may have experienced a much bigger percentage drop in traffic.
            Brice Hata, pillow maker Remarkable Pillow/TMI Molded Foam:  This market was much tougher than any other one we have attended.  We ended up doing ok simply due to the fact that we pour foam as a manufacturer and found customers in that arena.  The brick and mortar retail sector of the market was pretty horrendous. We normally write a brisk amount of business opening up new accounts at each show.  This time around, we opened relatively few new accounts.  That being said, I truly believe Winter will bring about pent up buying with retailers spending more freely.   Let’s hope the traffic for Winter makes up for Summer.  Thanks for all your help.  Although we always get verbal commitments from our normal buyers, for our category they do not make a concerted effort to create time to visit.  We normally grab them at the show and they say, “Oh yeah, that’s right, good to see you…..let’s get down to business”   For the first time, we had some great Market Specials for the show only and were able to open the new customers as a result.  We will continue the specials during the Winter Market as well.
            Suzanne Diamond, bio-friendly futon and mattress maker The Futon Shop/Honest Sleep:  Summer market was dreadful, slow and no traffic. We had appointments so that was good, but if not for that we would have died. The showroom was pleasant as usual!  We do make appointments, many small retailers did not come to market, mostly the majors.
            Paul Kraus, frame and top-of-bed/softgoods maker Body Sense/Electropedic:  The SSA showroom is always warm and inviting. The process for a new buyer gaining entry to the suite is easy.  The Summer Market is very slow compared to the Winter Market. I would estimate there are less than one-half less buyers in the summer compared to the winter.
            Curtis Spain, top-of-bed/softgoods maker BeddingTechnology:  The SSA Showroom is always friendly and good flow of dealers.  The  attendance at this summer market was a very low, but the dealer optimism was good.
            Butch Craig, top-of-bed/softgoods maker Sleep & Beyond:  The SSA showroom was very organized and the flow was great.  Although the overall attendance was off, the buyers who attend were quality.  For a Summer Market not that much of a difference between years, just have to be creative as to having the right frame of mind.  All the time making sure the buyers know that you are glad they came by your space and having new products is always a positive approach.  Looking forward to the Vegas 2019 Winter Market.
           Richard Loo, mattress and softgoods importer Aximon Sleep Products:  This summer was slow, worse than last summer.

Stay tuned

We asked about the lunchtime buyer snacks, and got mixed reviews.  Stay tuned – we will come up with something FUN that everybody can snack on in the SSA Showroom for Winter Market 2019. 

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Danican Introduces TrueStuff Certified Organic Linens at Las Vegas Market

Danican reports that it is introducing their new TrueStuff line of certified organic sheets and linens to buyers at the Las Vegas market in the SSA Showroom, C-1565. The California based brand is a distinctive marketer of European-inspired, high performance, sleek, modern and stylish mattresses, pillows, sheets, protectors and accessories.

Thomas Frismodt, Danican’s CEO says, “This is the first time we have shown the TrueStuff line in Las Vegas. Our TrueStuff fabrics are designed and developed exclusively by TrueStuff and manufactured in cooperation with our partners around Europe. We offer the Las Vegas marketplace contemporary and attractive organic designs. Many customers who are cautious about their sleep environment still want colors, style and fashion. They get that with TrueStuff along with a quality that is second-to-none. We don’t really see anyone offering that at the Vegas market,” explains Frismodt. He further explains, “We work with selected European spinners, weavers, and finishers, who use only the best combed yarns spun from extra-long staple certified organic cotton. This is the basis of our ability to deliver elegant pure organic bed linen to our valued customers,” says Frismodt. “We will make this high-end organic linen line available to the entire US market through our expanding private label program.” 

The company will also introduce their new “Less Than Container Load (LCL) private label program, which is specifically designed to offer small, medium and larger customers a flexible and price-competitive lower quantity program. “This is a new offering for our customers,” say Frismodt. “We have recently had success in offering clients the opportunity to participate in our private label program with smaller order quantities for encasements, protectors, and sheet sets.” Frismodt explains that when they refer to smaller quantities, the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) wil be much less than a 20 foot container load. Prior to Danican’s test marketing, a full 20-foot container load had been the starting point in order to provide products as private label or at container load pricing.

“We now have the ability to offer these products at lower Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ) and ship them at “Less Than Container Load” LCL pricing. Frismodt explains that while the LCL pricing is not as low as the full 20-foot container price, Danican has found that the price per piece through their LCL program is close enough to create an attractive opportunity. “In the past there may have been retail buyers and designers who resisted private label or their own branded protectors, encasements and sheets sets because they had to purchase a 20-foot container minimum to achieve the right price range. Now we have solved this problem; we will work with our clients to fit their needs. This new LCL program is cost effective for our clients allowing for a lower MOQ and a lower inventory commitment.”

“Danican makes private labeling easy and profitable for our customers worldwide,” says Frismodt. “Our focus is on our clients’ needs, helping them to stand out by designing, developing, manufacturing, assessing quality and shipping the right product mix at the right prices. We give our customers a real story, a custom-designed blend that meets the needs of customers who are big or small.” Frismodt explains that Danican’s worldwide Private Label Program is flexible and specifically meets the requirements of retailers, distributors and manufacturers.

More about Danican: Danican, which is a contraction of the words “Danish” and “American” is a Danish-based producer and designer of innovative bed products since the year 2000. Danican,, which is known for its unique, innovative technologies and contemporary fashion styles, distributes its highly advanced mattresses, pillows and protectors in more than 30 countries around the world. In 2012, Thomas Frismodt started distribution in North America from the Atascadero, California US headquarters.

Sleep & Beyond To Showcase Three New Products at Summer Las Vegas Market

Sleep & Beyond, a 3rd generation family owned manufacturer of organic and natural bedding since 1992 announced that it wwill be showcasing three new top-of-bed products at the SSA Showroom C-1565, during the Summer 2018 Las Vegas Market.

These products are:

• The myProtector, a unique 2 in 1 wool filled washable mattress projection to protect against stains, spills, and other accidents.
• The myComforter Light, a perfect all year round washable wool filled comforter designed to keep the sleeper warm in winter and cool in summer.
• The myWooly Side Pillow, a curved wool filled and washable adjustable pillow that provides a “comfy” feel for all sleepers.

More about Sleep & Beyond: Since 1992, Sleep & Beyond has been helping their customers all around the world to sleep better and healthier through the magic of wool. Their world famous myMerino and myBedding wool filled bedding products are made with care, and they feel and perform like no other.

Sleep & Beyond invites retailers to stop by and visit them in the SSA Showroom, C-1565, Booth 43 at the Summer 2018 Las Vegas market. For more information, visit www.sleepandbeyond.com or call 877-777-WOOL.

SSA Announces 30 different brands and Manufacturers at Las Vegas Market

The Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) recently announced that it will host 30 different brands and manufacturers in Showroom 1565 of Building C at the World Market Center, July 29 – August 2, 2018. SSA Executive Director Tambra Jones confirmed that the SSA has once again sold-out all its exhibit space with 25 returning exhibitors and 5 brand new exhibitors reaching out to retailers at the Las Vegas show as members of the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA.) “We continue to serve as an advocate, a marketing platform for new companies, and support for expanding entrepreneurial companies,” says Jones.

The summer 2018 Las Vegas SSA Showroom will feature a wide range of innovative technologies and designs including adjustable beds, ergonomic bed designs, engineered foams, fibers and polymers, infusion technologies, display and racking systems, knock down foundations and frames, comprehensive private label programs, health and wellness products, point of sale and inventory programs, accessories, as well as a broad array of “natural”, “all natural” and “certified organic” products including mattresses, pillows, sheets, protectors and other top of bed products.

The five new exhibitors include: 

Coolist Sleep Technology of Katy, Texas , who report they are helping the world recharge with a more restorative night's sleep, thanks to their revolutionary technology that provides comfortable, cool and customized pillows. The company will feature three major lines of pillows – BioLite, BioMate, and BioLux: each line with three types of thickness – Classic, Cloud, and Dream – to suit different types of sleepers.

Dreamzy Mattress will exhibit mattresses featuring only the finest European foams and fibers, which they say provide luxury at an affordable cost. The company reports their mattresses feature cooling technology to help customers sleep cooler than other foam mattresses in the market, while helping to increase bloodflow with Bio-Ceramic textile fibers. Better posture during sleep comes from double layer memory foam that adapts to the sleeper’s body. Flippable, Dreamzy allows customers to select firm on one side and plush on the other giving the marketplace a mattress made for every body..

Gotcha Covered “Fine Linens for America” is a USA Manufacturing company providing sewn in the USA bedding products featuring high quality cotton, Tencel, organic, linen and protectors. Private label and drop shipping programs are available. 

Grand Rapids Bedding from Michigan, which has been providing sleeping comfort since 1889 , has now partnered with CuTEC® Fabric and Mountain Top Foam to bring consumers copper-infused fabric and copper-infused latex in a mattress the company calls a “Copper Infused Sleep System.” Copper is used for its health and wellness properties, antimicrobial protection, and restorative effect on skin texture. The CopPure Collection harnesses the power of copper by infusing Coppergel™ into the Continuous Comfort™ Cu29 latex comfort layer of our mattresses, as well as in the top fabric. These copper-infused mattresses transfer heat away, provide good airflow, and offer soothing pressure relief and support for a better night’s sleep.

J P Products, LLC, which is a wood foundation manufacturer with over 50 years of experience, will show four new products. The first two items are heavy duty knock down foundations and bunk frames engineered with quality craftsmanship. The third new product is the ultimate folding metal foundation perfect for all mattress types. Rounding off their new products is the form fitting mattress cover for those customers who need a new look for their old box spring.

In addition to these five new exhibitors, Jones invites retailers to visit 25 returning companies and organizations featuring new, refined or expanded sleep products in the SSA Showroom. Some of these participants submit the following:

Aximon Sleep Products/Rest-Medic will present their new highly ventilated open cell foam which they say is perfect for airflow through the mattress. They also have far-infrared material for mattresses known for providing health and blood circulation benefits. The company also offers a “100% safe for human beings bedbug eliminating” material on their mattresses.

Baltica Natural Products, LLC, which “promotes only the finest quality natural and organic bedding” will present their Arcusbeds a new line of luxury mattresses from Europe, which are robust and largely handmade, of certified natural and organic materials. 

Bio Sleep Concept will feature natural and organic bedding products with private label and drop ship programs available.

Danican will be featuring the company’s expanding private label products and programs for clients whom they serve in over 30 countries worldwide. Danican takes care of the complete process: design, production, quality control, shipping, and all details in between for the private labeling of mattresses and bedding accessories.

Naturepedic invites retailers to come see their collection of organic mattresses and learn more about their products at the Vegas Market. Naturepedic specializes in the design and manufacture of the highest quality organic mattresses; so mattress and bedding customers never have to compromise their well-being for a good night’s sleep. From crib mattresses to “big kid” and adult beds, the company provides everyone in the family their best night’s sleep. 

Remarkable Pillow by TMI will feature their revolutionary pillow line up emphasizing private labeling for more profitability.

Sleep & Beyond, is a third generation family-owned business, whose Organic Merino Wool Toppers were awarded Top Three in US by “Sleep Like the Dead” reviewers, as well as “Top Choice Award 2018” by Baby Maternity Magazine. They make a full array of natural and organic bedding products including wool blankets, wool comforters, and wool mattress pads since 1992, and they will feature three new products. These are the company’s myWoolly Side® Pillow, the myComforter Light® and their myProtector® for mattresses and pillows. 

Smartwerks Point of Sale is excited to introduce 'Easy Sales,' the company’s new web-based point of sale app. Retailers can create sales quotes, pay with third party financing, exchange items on a single ticket, and complete sales faster than ever before. Smartwerks invites retailers to enter the prize giveaway.

Swiss Bliss Mattress Company will be introducing its new container program to help meet the needs of its larger customers. Retailers will see the most technical foam cores available at market. Swiss Bliss Mattress Company is proud to announce its partnership with CIT Finance. They will offer on the spot approval decisions for all new orders received at market.

TFSleep and The Futon Shop will display natural and organic products which they have been manufacturing in California for over 40 years. After searching the market for a bed that did not contain petro-chemicals or flame retardants proved unsuccessful, Suzanne Diamond went into her garage where she made her first mattress for her son in 1976. This led to a simple sign at EREWON health food store in Los Angeles that said, "want a natural bed, no petro chemicals, no fire retardants call Suzie " and The Futon Shop was formed. Every pound of organic wool, organic cotton, organic latex cores, and coconut fiber is accompanied by transactional certificates that can be traced back to the Control Union or the USDA. TFS reports processing every bat of organic wool and organic cotton used in their mattresses and bedding products giving them the ability to control the quality and consistency of all ingredients.

PureCare Continues Global Expansion into Southeast Asia Through Partnership with Index Living Mall

Phoenix, AZ, USA– June 21, 2018 –Starting this summer and expanding into the autumn of 2018, Index Living Mall will feature a customized selection of PureCare’s bed linens, mattress protectors and pillows offering customers an array of clinically tested and proven attributes that include cooling, performance, recovery and other benefits made possible by the unique technical textiles developed and marketed only by PureCare. With 28 stores in Thailand, Index Living Mall is that country’s “Number 1 Home Furnishings and Decorative Retail Chain Store.” The retailer also has a “Top of Mind” presence in Southeast Asia with 114 stores in 12 countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Russia, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Nepal, Maldives and Singapore. This partnership follows upon PureCare’s past expansions into Canada, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Central America and the Caribbean. According to Jeff Bergman, President and COO of PureCare, the addition of Index Living Mall stores in Southeast Asia is a highly valued, significant addition to PureCare’s global network of dealers. “We could not be happier than to have Index Interfurn Group as our partner. We are both committed to a common vision of excellence in the sleep essentials category,” says Bergman. “By partnering with PureCare, Index Living Mall has embraced what we envision as a growing global movement of health and wellness in the ‘top of bed’ category.  All of these carefully selected, high-quality, and distinctive PureCare bedding products will help to create a healthy sleep environment for discerning Index Living Mall customers.”

“There was an instant attraction between the two companies when we first met,” says PureCare Vice President of Business Development Ralph Rosen. “Both of our companies are committed to offering the very best quality and value to today’s health conscious consumers and allergy sufferers. Our international product and sales team worked closely with their merchandizing team of professionals to come up with a specific selection of products that augmented and enhanced Index Living Mall’s current retail offering. There really is great chemistry between our two companies, and we look forward to growing the program together.”

“Everyone knows just how much a perfect sleep is important to the human body,” said Ms. Pichapim Patamasatayasonthi, VP Product Development, Index Living Mall Thailand.  “This year Index Living Mall aims to become the total “sleep solution center” for our customers. We offer “PureCare” one of the leading innovative brands in the world from the USA now to the Thailand market. PureCare has everything you need to help you have the perfect sleep. It’s comfortable, relaxing and promotes a better sleep. We offer a full range of pillows, pillow protectors, mattress protectors and bedding.”

 Index Living Mall is Thailand’s number one home furnishings and decorative retail chain store.  With over forty years of business experience, Index Living Mall has developed the largest network of home goods retail stores in Thailand, self-owned factories, and an international presence and reputation as a world class exporter. Index Living Mall is committed to creating balanced living for all customers by delivering thoughtful, smart design solutions for the home and for life. For more information, please visit us at: www.indexlivingmall.com

PureCare® designs essential elements necessary to create a healthy sleep environment. PureCare mattress and pillow protectors, sheets and pillows – all of which combine superior technology, innovation and the highest quality materials – are revolutionary to today’s health conscious consumers and allergy sufferers. PureCare continues to change the conversation in the sleep essentials industry to focus on health and wellness. PureCare’s entire collection of mattress and pillow protectors are the official protector products of the National Sleep Foundation and the Women’s Choice Award. For more information, please visit us at  www.PureCare.com

AUGMENTED REALITY for the Rest of US

How to Make your Business Cards, Literature, Displays and Print Ads Come Alive!!

Carla Green of CLARITY Designworks to Speak at SSA Market Seminar:  Las Vegas Market, Tuesday, July 31st. 10-11 AM in Room C-174

Friant, CA- June 1, 2018 – This Summer Market in Las Vegas the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) will continue their offering of educational seminars for members as well as the bedding industry at large.   On Market Tuesday (July 31, 2018) California-based graphic designer Carla Green, of Clarity Designworks, will present a timely and cutting edge topic for mattress and bedding retailers, manufacturers and suppliers entitled “Augmented Reality for the Rest of Us”.  

In this presentation, Ms. Green will highlight the capabilities of Augmented Reality (AR) and share examples of it currently in use, from custom applications by major corporations to an exciting new marketing tool called REVEALiO that makes AR an affordable and viable option "for the rest of us." 

In basic terms, AR is the overlaying of virtual content such as images or video on top of reality, whether it is the world around us as with Pokémon Go or a handheld business card or literature. REVEALiO works via a mobile app on your smart phone to make any 2-D or static, flat printed material come alive with a personal video message.

Before REVEALiO, adding AR to the marketing mix meant a big investment in time and money. Now, this ingenious tool levels the playing field to make AR realistic for businesses that want to tap into the incredible power of AR without breaking the bank in the process. Ms. Green will explain how REVEALiO is more than just cool tech because the interface leads to immediate engagement with customized call-to-action buttons.

The presentation will demonstrate how this unique mechanism captivates the viewer and provides a whole new way to build customer relationships and will also cover the steps involved in creating a REVEALiO, none of which require sophisticated tech tools or knowledge. 

Discussing AR for the average mattress/bedding retailer Ms. Green explains, “While many people have heard of Augmented Reality (AR), not so many really understand what it is. The Pokémon Go craze in 2016 gave AR mass-market attention, yet today, business owners remain largely unaware of how to leverage the power of AR to benefit their bottom line or believe they cannot afford to implement it.”

Green enthusiastically states, “We are in the early-adopter stage of using AR for marketing purposes, and that fact alone means anyone who uses it will stand out and get noticed because it’s so different, unexpected and frankly, pretty darn cool. It packs a strong one-two punch of impact and influence, which translates into being remembered by and staying top of mind with customers and prospects. The term “disruptive marketing” is popping up more and more and AR definitely falls into this category.”

Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) Executive Director Tambra Jones states, “Our purpose is always to help our SSA members to shine and stand out in the marketplace, so when we learned about this new AR marketing tool called REVEALiO that makes print materials come alive with video, we knew it was a perfect cutting-edge topic to present to our SSA members as well as the entire bedding industry fraternity.  This tool appears to bring a new innovation into the hands of mattress and bedding marketers in such an affordable and streamlined way.  We are looking forward to this presentation!”

Carla Green of CLARITY Designworks

Radium Foam Joins the Specialty Sleep Association

Radium Foam Sales and Marketing Manager Ila Farshad met SSA Executive Directory Tambra Jones at the Furniture Today Bedding Conference earlier this month.  Interested in the added visibility that the SSA could bring to the company, Radium/Vita Talalay has joined the trade association.  Says Jones, "We are thrilled that Ila and Radium/Vita Talalay have joined with us.  We welcome them into our group and look forward to enhancing their visibility in the industry."

About Radium/Vita Talalay - from Ila Farshad:

Radium Foam is headquartered in Maastricht, The Netherlands, since 1932. In 1961 we bought the so called ‘freeze-foam’ process patent, later named for its inventor Joseph Talalay. Nowadays we still make Talalay just as the inventor intended it. Therefore we are the longest standing, only global Talalay producer of Talalay latex, delivering our comfort material to more than 40 countries worldwide.

Vita Talalay® latex is unrivalled. A luxurious natural bedding material that offers support, comfort and ventilation inside a latex mattress, topper or pillow. Making top quality products without compromise is what we have always done best.

We wish for everybody to sleep healthy and to be healthy. Healthy living means a more balanced diet, regular exercise and stress avoidance. What we often neglect to remember is that a good night’s sleep is equally - if not more - important. It regenerates your body, but also has an effect on your stress resistance, physical condition and your eating habits. A quality sleep is what's important.

Vita Talalay latex is the best ventilating comfort material in the world, thanks to its unique round, open cell structure. This ensures that moisture and heat are directed away from the body, helping you to sleep healthier and more hygienically. The material is deliciously soft, yet still able to offer optimum support; enhancing comfort. Vita Talalay® provides the most pure, natural and healthy sleep experience as a result.

We look forward to meeting you.
https://www.facebook.com/vitatalalay/
https://www.instagram.com/vita_talalay/
https://www.youtube.com/VitaTalalay
https://twitter.com/vitatalalay

Talalay Global appoints Navarre as CEO

SHELTON, Conn. — Talalay Global has appointed Marc Navarre as CEO.

Navarre is a 30-year veteran of the highly competitive housewares, electronics and consumer products industries. Most recently, he was the CEO of Focus Products Group International.

Navarre replaces Dave Fisher, who will leave the company to pursue other opportunities. Fisher had been CEO since 2010, successfully leading the company through a significant business turn-around.

“Now is the ideal timing for a transition to new leadership," said Lynn Clarke, chairman of the board, Talalay Global, "The business turnaround is completed. … The entire board is confident the new leadership will deliver exceptional customer focus and growth to meet strategic objectives."

Previously, Navarre was president and CEO of Groupe SEB North America.

“I’m pleased to be joining Talalay Global to lead its growth strategy to meet the needs of its customers and partners,” said Navarre.

Currently Navarre is on the board of directors of Canadian-based, Trudeau Corp. He has served on the boards of the James Beard Foundation, Housewares Charity Foundation, International Housewares Assn., Assn. of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Croscill, Glenoit and Focus Products Group. He was also a member of Groupe SEB’s management board.

TALALAY GLOBAL, founded in 1975, is the premier worldwide producer, and the only U.S. producer, of the natural comfort material known by the same name – TALALAY. Pure Talalay Bliss is the company’s direct-to-retail line of luxury mattresses comprised entirely of Talalay material.

A BAKER’S DOZEN of MARKETING / PR IDEAS AND A “GOOD MEASURE”

By: Dale T. Read, Partner / Owner of The Marketing Arm Group, LLC

So let’s start with the “Good Measure”: in this case a key good rule or standard for your PR and marketing stories. It’s really simple;  but so often we miss the mark.
The Measure: “It’s what is important to your customer, your prospect or your target audience…NOT what’s important to you!”

A Baker’s Dozen: Thirteen Ideas or Suggestions for Your PR  and Marketing Messaging

!-        Think beyond NEW PRODUCT press releases.  While these are the most obvious and most powerful stories for trade shows and exhibits,  there are so many more opportunities to think about if you want to have an on-going story.
2-       A whole new innovation, technology or approach to address the needs of your existing markets…..bringing about a new promise, or a fundamental change in the marketplace

Research and development. New science. New findings. New approaches
3-       Innovations geared to a whole new and different market –addressing new prospective customers and opportunities.
4-       Add-ons, enhancements or supplements that add value and performance to your products for your customers.
5-       New delivery, set-up and recycling policies that enhance the post purchase experience for your customers.
6-       New personnel. Not how it will enhance or help your company, but how this expanded team will better serve your customers.
7-       New programs, events, meetings or policies designed to reach out to your team of strategic partners including suppliers, team members, employees, contractors, financial resources and stockholders, etc.
8-       New, expanded and improved factories, facilities, warehouses….and how these help you better serve your customers’ needs, wants and desires
9-       New logos, marketing themes, signage, exhibits, or retail displays…..Also, new packaging, materials handling and customer interface in stores or direct to consumer..
10-     Trade show or expo themes and special events to reach your target customers
11-     New website (SEO), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google (social media)  E-blasts, direct marketing or target marketing initiatives.
12-     Announcements about charities, community service and giving back.
13      And FINALLY, pricing policy changes.. But this does not mean perpetual low ball sales. Marketing based on ongoing sales is not pricing policy at all. There really should be a strategic season, reason or intended purpose for a pricing policy to have a positive impact.

SUITE SLEEP HOSPITALITY

April 20, 2018– Suite Sleep is excited to announce we are emerging fully into the hospitality industry! A great night’s sleep is not just something you can attain at home, but all across the globe! We are proud to be working directly with small, boutique hotels both nationally and internationally who want the best sleep experience for their guests. Suite Sleep provides luxury, customizable mattresses to discriminating properties that are made with all-natural latex and organic cotton. We hand select the pieces that go into each mattress to match the uniqueness and character of each hotel and their guests.

We take pride in our core values including service and transparency, which is why we have established a guest purchase program for each hotel. We are transparent about our ingredients and pricing to provide the best customer experience. If you spend time at one of our many hotel partners, you are able to purchase our mattress directly from us at a discounted rate.

“We’ve taken the guess work out of guest purchases.”
-Angela Owen, founder and CEO

SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC CUSTOMIZABLE SLEEP

SSA Website "Member News" Added to Increase Visibility For Member News/Press Releases

The SSA has added 2 new features to it's website Home Page with the goal of increasing Member exposure in the marketplace.  The new "Member News" item in the top menu is designed so that members can have their press releases and news links posted on the SSA site for added visibility to trade professionals, retailers and consumers.  Says Executive Director Tambra Jones, "Members can now send me their press release or links to their news items, and we can post them directly to the SSA site.  We will link the news back to the member website or news source, for what we hope is an ever increasing SEO for our members."  Click here to see what we posted for one member who sent in press links.  

The second new feature is an "Are you Shopping for a Mattress" button which is designed to assist consumers looking for a new bed, and promote SSA Members who have consumer shopping information published on their websites.  Says Jones, "We envision this creating increased exposure to our retail and affiliate members who are consumer-facing."  Click here to check out this new feature.

We are ready for more Member News...!  SSA Members - send your press releases and press links to Tambra so that you have another level of exposure for your company.  What you have to offer is valuable information.  Let us help you get your message out.

Send your Member News to:  ssadirector2013@gmail.com.  
Questions?  Email above or call:  559-868-4187