Gold Bond Names Two Key Executives

HARTFORD (CT)— Bedding veterans Andrew R. Freedman and Dennis F. Ferry are the new sales and manufacturing vice presidents at independent bedding manufacturer Gold Bond Mattress, President Robert J. Naboicheck announced.

Andrew Freedman was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Gold Bond’s mattress and futon products, a newly created position. Dennis Ferry was named Vice President Manufacturing at the 102-year old futon mattress manufacturer. Mr. Ferry succeeds Pedro Bravo, who recently retired after 40 years with Gold Bond.

Mr. Freedman is responsible for all aspects of sales and marketing. He entered the futon bedding industry in 1984 as General Manager of Webster Spring’s South Carolina and Texas factories, with responsibilities that included sales and manufacturing.

A third generation bedding executive, he was named Assistant to the Chairman of Webster Spring, which was established by his grandfather in 1932. He was responsible for corporate productivity and capital investments.

In 1990, he was named President of Serta of the Northeast and Silentnight U.S.A., the U.S. operating division of Great Britain’s largest bedding company Silentnight U.K.

He was most recently an independent manufacturer representative in the Northeast for Park Place mattress and furniture as well as Comfortaire, air supported sleep systems.

Retail-Orientation Emphasized

Mr. Freedman said, “Gold Bond offers our futon retailers a clearly differentiated product line that competes in a highly profitable way—without sacrificing quality. My grandfather started doing business with (Gold Bond President) Bob Naboicheck’s grandfather back in the Thirties. We’re both third generation bedding people from family-owned factories and long-time associates,” he said.

“Gold Bond dealers enjoy the benefit of a stable and recognizable company that builds mattresses and futons without compromise. Gold Bond supports its futon dealers with customized advertising for each market’s unique opportunities and requirements. We look forward to helping our futon retail customers build their business,” Mr. Freedman noted.

Mr. Freedman is a graduate of Tufts University, BA and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, MBA. He and his wife have two sons and live in Worcester, MA.

New Vice President of Manufacturing

Dennis Ferry, Gold Bond Vice President of Manufacturing, is responsible for all aspects of Gold Bond’s mattress and futon manufacturing, including staffing, materials management, shipping and product development.

He joined the bedding industry in 1983 as Assistant Operations Manager at Simmon’s Jacksonville, FL operation. Subsequently, he was named Simmons first Regional Vice President and General Manager in 1985, assigned responsibility for the Pacific Northwest region.

In 1990 he became General Manager of King Koil’s Pacific Northwest operation additionally overseeing retail operations in Spokane, WA.

Maryland-based Mattress Discounters named him Director of Product Development in 1996. He was responsible for the re-merchandising of their private label futon mattress line-up, including exclusive trademarked features and benefits. Consequently, the private label grew to exceed over 40% of the retail chain’s total futon mattress sales volume.

‘Premium Components’

“Gold Bond’s adherence to strict quality-control and top-quality premium components is remarkable in this day and age of mass production and relentless cost-reduction. I’m pleased to be associated with a sleep products manufacturer with a century-old tradition of excellence,” Mr. Ferry said.

He is a graduate of Villanova University, BA, and lives in Bloomfield, CT with his wife Barbara.
Gold Bond, America’s largest futon manufacturer and one of the country’s oldest and largest independent futon mattress companies, delivers throughout the East Coast and ships to 50 states and 11 countries.

Gold Bond was founded in 1898 and now supplies department stores, furniture stores, bedding and specialty futon retailers with products, sales support materials and extensive in-store training. Hotels, hospitals, schools, and government institutions are provided with a complete line of futon mattresses.

August Lotz Readies New Marketing Support Program For Futon Retailers

Boyd, WI — August Lotz Co., Inc., futon manufacturer of high quality solid wood futon frames, occasional tables, headboards and futon mattresses announced today that the company will be unveiling a comprehensive support program for futon retailers who have limited experience with the futon oriented customer. The company president, Mark Schlichter stated “This fresh approach is designed to give the futon retailer with little or no experience marketing futon frames and futon mattresses swift, expert training that they can use to hit the ground running. This new program will incorporate new and exciting point of purchase material which will showcase the features which make our product line the best in the industry.”

When questioned for more detail about the new promotional material Schlichter remarked, “The new point of purchase material contains all the necessary tools to effectively demonstrate the patented unique strengths of the August Lotz designs. It will contain information pertaining to the history of the company, why we use the kinds of select wood we do. And why these are a benefit to the customer. We will have similar information pertaining to our futon mattress line so that the customer will be better able to understand the difference between an average futon mattress versus a quality August Lotz futon mattress. This new program will generate a lot of excitement… and sales.”

August Lotz also has some exciting new added benefits to their lower cost futon frames. While Schlichter wouldn’t state exactly what they were, he did state that it will “…spur those retailers who think they know our product to take a second look” and that “…they will be unveiled very soon.”

Viking Introduces Front-Operated “Wall Hugger” Futon Frame

St. Joseph, Minnesota — Viking Industries, a futon manufacturer of quality futon frames, will be introducing a wall hugger futon frame at the upcoming Chicago Futon Expo & Specialty Sleep show.

Viking has created its very own wall hugger futon frame that can be reclined without being pulled away from the wall. Not only is this futon frame a wall hugger, it is also a front-operated frame. Like all other Viking futon frame products, the new frame can be reclined and re-seated completely from the front of the frame. To assure consumers that they are getting a piece of fine furniture Viking will place its lifetime warranty behind the futon frame.

The new wall hugger will be constructed from red elm and will be available in all sizes, except Queen.