Lifestyle Solutions Opens New West Coast Distribution Center, Complete With New Corporate Offices

Lifestyle Solutions of San Jose, CA is moving to a new office and warehouse facility in Milpitas, CA. a northern suburb of San Jose. The spacious facility will feature new offices and an expanded warehouse operation. The new warehouse is about 30% larger than the current San Jose facility.

“ Our move into conventional bedroom furniture and expanded case goods demand has created the need for more space,” says JC Gholston (Corporate Sales Manager). “We have been waiting for the right place and the right time for expansion.”

“Being located in the world famous Silicon Valley has made it difficult to find cost effective warehouse and office space so when we found the right site we had to make our move on it,” he said.

The new facility will house the core line of futon sofa-bed convertibles, Siesta futon mattresses, platform and conventional beds, along with case goods, and the LS Kids line up.
This marks the first time in several years that the corporate office will be housed within their West Coast distribution center. Gholston added, “This move will enable us to provide better and more responsive service to our customers throughout the region. We have started moving and wiring for the change and will be complete by year end.”

Wolf To Show Ultra Premium Line At Philly Futon EXPO

Wolf Corporation is introducing two new Ultra Premium futon models at the upcoming Futon & Specialty Sleep EXPO in Philadelphia. These models were displayed as prototypes at the recent High Point Market and the reception was terrific.

The “Legacy” has the ultimate in natural cushioning for comfort, which includes silk/cashmere blend, memory foam, and latex finger foam as well as the company’s heralded Aerolife cotton blend. This combination results in a unique product which can neither be found nor equalled on the market today. “The comfort must be felt to be understood and the crisp tailored look is beautiful and befitting of the quality within. This is truly an ultra-premium product with the comfort characteristics of beds and sofas costing thousands more,” said Tony Wolf, company President.

The “Platinum” utilizes a high-density memory foam core laminated to a high-density polyurethane foam core specifically engineered for a bifold futon frame and provides luxurious, visco-elastic comfort. A true premium product for both seating and sleeping, the Platinum lives up to its name, providing nothing short of the finest comfort on the market. For those in search of the molded, body conforming fit of the latest technology, Wolf has brought this product to market to meet the need.

Wolf continues to expand comfort options through our research and development center. These are but the latest products that fulfill consumer comfort desires and at the same time enhance quality and durability. Our vertical integration and focus on proven quality gives Wolf the value edge that our brand is known for in the marketplace.

Ludlow Textiles Celebrates 135 Years of Continuous Operation

Ludlow, MA—Ludlow Textiles Company, Inc., a leading manufacturer of twines, threads, cords, tapes, and yarns, is celebrating 135 years of “total product support” this year. Ludlow has been in continuous operation since 1868 and was the first industrial thread manufacturer in the United States to achieve ISO9001 registration for its full process.

The company manufactures specialty twine for 8-way hand tying of springs, jute welt cord, nylon button tufting twines, futon mattress braid and webbing. Products are sold through distributors for the upholstered furniture market.

“Ludlow’s ability to prosper for so many years is a tribute to generations of employees and management dedicated to partnering with customers and suppliers to produce the best value-added product for a specific application,” says chairman and CEO Martin A. Lower.

“Our long-standing philosophy of total product support has made Ludlow the preferred supplier of twines, threads, cords, tapes, and yarns to nearly 1,000 customers worldwide,” says Joseph J. John, Jr., executive vice president. “Our engineers often partner with our customers in research and development, and they really appreciate our willingness to go the extra mile,” he adds.

In the 1880’s, the company was known as Ludlow Manufacturing Associates and operated the “largest jute mill in the world.” Prior to World War II, Ludlow concentrated on the production and sale of jute gunnysacks, grain bags, cotton baling, webbing, yarns and twine, and expanded into linen threads. The company was purchased in 1983 by its current ownership. Today, Ludlow Textiles Company, Inc., operates a state-of-the-industry facility in one of the original, historic factory buildings along the Chicopee River. The company has an extensive research department committed to continuous improvements and product development.

“We’re thankful for our success and are looking forward to serving our customers for another 135 years,” says Lower.

Leggett & Platt’s Consumer Products Unit Promotes Ralston and Ehle

Terry Bowen, President of Leggett’s Consumer Products Unit, announced the promotion of Dick Ralston to the position of Vice President-Business Development of its Consumer Products Unit, headquartered in Carthage, Missouri. Dick most recently was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Fashion Bed Group, which is based in Chicago, Illinois. Bowen said, “Dick has worked for Leggett for over 30 years and is the logical choice to assist me in the future growth of our business, given the recently announced departure of Joe Blazar. I have directly worked with Dick since 1984, when we started Leggett’s Consumer Products activities from scratch. I have always appreciated his willingness to do whatever task was at hand, to get the job done. I anticipate that Dick will be a terrific resource, to assist our divisions in many regards, as we continue to expand our Consumer Product activities in all paths of distribution and geographies.”

Kevin Ehle will assume Ralston’s former responsibilities as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Fashion Bed Group. He will report directly to Ron Ainsworth, President of the Fashion Bed Group, and will be responsible for all domestic sales and marketing activities in the United States. Said Ainsworth, “Kevin has eleven solid years of experience as Vice President of Sales for the former Ornamental Bed Division of the Consumer Products Unit. As we continue to complete the integration of our Bedding Support and Ornamental Bed product lines, Kevin’s intimate knowledge of the marketplace, and strategic thinking abilities, will continue to be of tremendous value.”

Leggett’s Consumer Products Unit supplies ornamental beds and bedding support products through its Fashion Bed Group; adjustable beds through its Adjustable Bed Division; and coated fabrics through its Coated Fabrics Division, which includes Vantage Industries and Rug Hold.