Industry Updates
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page 2 |
Gold Bond Bringing ‘Strongest Product Line-up Ever’ To Las Vegas Futon Show
HARTFORD (CT) – Las Vegas Expo buyers will be given the “premium treatment” April 4 – 6 when the 2001 Gold Bond Futon Line—its largest and strongest futon product mix ever—will be introduced.
Over 1000 square feet of show space will be devoted to Gold Bond’s broad line, Bob Naboicheck, company president, announced. It was over a decade ago when Gold Bond began developing the first upscale “premium” and “super-premium” futon mattresses in the futon industry.
The company now has the broadest line of premium and super-premiums in the business. Gold Bond will show its newest introductions—the first pure natural latex futon mattress (“Latex Plus™”) and a new encased spring futon mattress (“Coil Wrap™”)—with its other successful super premiums, premiums and standard futons.
The company’s new encased spring unit is backed by two proven innerspring successes—America’s best selling innerspring futon (“Cotton Coil™”) and the promotional “Comfort Coil™“ futon mattress.
“We’ve developed the futon industry’s widest selection of price points in the fast-growing futon premium mattress category,” Mr. Naboicheck notes. “Without question, this year marks our most powerful and aggressive futon lineup ever,” he said. “We are eager to see Las Vegas buyers,” Mr. Naboicheck said.
The company will also showcase its ultra-plush SofTouch™ futon mattress, and its Comfort Plush™, made from a specially formulated densified poly batting. Additionally, the “Wool Wrap™, built with pure New Zealand wool, high resilience foam and cotton, will be displayed. Each premium futon mattress features a Gold Bond 10-year warranty, except for the new Latex Plus™ warranteed for 15 years.
Along with its premium line, Gold Bond will show its standard line of futon mattresses, built with Gold Bond’s famous Joy® pure cotton batting, super-quality foam, and the industry’s premier twill durable outer shell.
A Gold FAI Expo sponsor, Gold Bond’s support helps the Futon Association host its conferences, meetings, round table discussions, receptions and an annual banquet each year.
Gold Bond is one of America’s largest independently and family-owned sleep product suppliers. The 101 year-old company recently expanded into a new 115,000 square foot factory to expand production and speed up shipping schedules. Earlier this year, the company introduced its redesigned and upgraded Gold Bond innerspring futon mattress product line to the bedding industry.
Gold Bond is a sleep surface innovator. The company added the concept of “plush” to the original thin futon pad and helped begin the futon boom of the 80’s and 90’s. The company provides Gold Bond retailers with high-quality point of sale and co-op advertising, along with the finest in-store sales training.
Gold Bond is sold at quality futon, bedding, furniture and department stores throughout the USA, Europe, Middle East, and Australia.
Hickory Springs To Show New Premium Line
HS Fibers and Hickory at Home, divisions of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, will present their high-end line of futon mattresses, the Passport Collection, as well as an innovative product line of metal futon frames at the upcoming Las Vegas Futon Expo in April.
Hickory at Home is Hickory Springs’ retail division that produces and sells bedding support products across the nation, while HS Fibers produces an extensive line of quality futon mattresses and polyester fiber for furniture seat cushioning.
Two new futon frames were added to the Hickory at Home line-up after an exciting October High Point market debut, and will be featured at the Las Vegas show. These futon frames, which highlight unique styling and close attention to detail, are finished in distinctive pewter and bronze.
HS Fibers offers a number of quality futon mattresses available in a variety of configurations, ranging from a basic 8 inch foam and fiber mattress to the deluxe Monte Carlo mattress that combines fiber, down, latex, high performance foam and an innerspring unit. In addition, futon mattresses from the premium Passport Collection, handsomely decorated with custom artwork created by Muse Artists Gallery of San Diego, CA, will be displayed at the Expo. Also worthy of note, the entire HS Fiber product line features a unique synthetic batting material specifically designed to pass CAL 177 and UFAC flammability requirements with no additives.
With over 55 years of experience providing high quality seating to leading futon furniture manufacturers, Hickory Springs has developed futon mattresses that enhance both seating and sleeping comfort.
Sleep Products Safety Council Launches SafeSleep.org
New Web Site Conveys Futon Mattress Industry’s Commitment to Product Safety
Alexandria, VA — SafeSleep.org was launched by the Sleep Products Safety Council (SPSC) to expand and communicate the futon mattress industry’s commitment to product safety and to provide futon mattress retailers with accurate, up-to-date and relevant sleep and futon mattress safety information. The internet site will also inform futon mattress buyers, as well as futon mattress manufacturers and futon mattress suppliers, about important sleep safety issues.
“The futon mattress industry has a strong commitment to product safety and an impressive record of compliance with state and federal regulations. SafeSleep.org will give us the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience by providing futon mattress buyers and the futon mattress industry with the very latest information,” stated SPSC President Al Klancnik of Serta.
SafeSleep.org currently features a cover story on futon mattress flammability that includes information on federal flammability regulations, SPSC partnerships and studies currently underway. The feature story will be rotated periodically to cover other key safety issues affecting the futon mattress industry.
Futon mattress manufacturers, suppliers and retailers will also benefit from the “Safety Issues” section of the website which provides tips and information on common mattress safety concerns, including bunk bed safety, bedroom air quality, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and the storage and disposal of old mattresses. In addition, a variety of articles and frequently asked questions are featured to keep futon mattress makers and retailers current on issues of interest to today’s consumers.
“SafeSleep.org is an exciting step in our overall plan to raise futon industry and consumer awareness of futon mattress related safety issues. The Sleep Products Safety Council is delighted to enable a greater number of people to benefit from our knowledge,” said Klancnik.
Established in 1986 by the International Sleep Products Association, the Sleep Products Safety Council provides consumer safety information, supports research and promotes activities aimed at reducing hazards associated with sleep products. The mainstay of the SPSC’s program is the safety hangtag.
‘Butch’ Naboicheck, Past NABM President, Dies at 83
West Hartford, CT — N. Aaron “Butch” Naboicheck, CEO Emeritus of Gold Bond Mattress Company and former president of the National Association of Bedding Manufacturers, passed away Sunday, February 18, 2001 following an extended convalescence. He was 83.
A graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the business institutes at Yale and Harvard Universities, Mr. Naboicheck built Gold Bond’s mattress business while he was active as NABM Board Member and President, president of the NABM’s New England Chapter, a founding member of the Connecticut Young President’s Organization and President of the Young President’s Organization.
Through his guidance, Gold Bond became the nation’s largest independent futon manufacturer of mattresses and the largest maker of futons.
He served on the Chief Executive Forum and World’s Business Council. He was a board member of the Hartford Symphony and the Hartford Ballet Company.
He was known throughout his life for his philanthropic and cultural activities locally, nationally and in Israel. He served on the American Board of Trustees of the Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University, and was active on the President’s Council of Yeshiva University. He also served on numerous boards and directorships in the Greater Hartford Jewish community.
He leaves his wife Lois; two sons, Robert and his wife Alice of Hartford, and Peter Naboicheck of Farmington (CT); his sister Ruth Lipman; and three grandchildren.