Jane Kitchen, editor in chief
When I first started working for BedTimes a year ago, many described the mattress industry as a family—a close-knit group of people, tied together by a mutual love for the business. I’ve spent the last year getting to know that family, and gradually becoming more and more a part of it.
And yes, after a year, I can say wholeheartedly that this industry does feel like a family, and that each trade show, conference or charity event that I’ve attended has been like a reunion of sorts.
It was no surprise, then, to see just how much of the industry literally is a family—the second-, third-, fourth- and even fifth-generation family businesses that have helped build and grow the bedding world, passing on knowledge and a passion for the business. Some were long ago sold or absorbed by larger companies, but many survive and thrive despite a changing landscape and ever-increasing competition. Many have become large companies themselves, while still others have kept small, grassroots sensibilities.
I’ve also heard plenty of people say that bedding gets into your blood. But for many in the industry, they were born with bedding in their blood. There’s something about family businesses that makes an industry better. Having that legacy, whether it’s your name on the company or the history of so many generations who came before you, means that you do what you do with just a little more pride.
This month, in anticipation of ISPA’s 100th anniversary in 2015, we kick off a new series, “Born into bedding,” that highlights and celebrates many of those founding families. Some may be familiar faces; some you may not know. But with each short profile, we hope to share with you some of the history that brought these people into our industry.
These companies all have lessons from the past to draw from in forging their paths into the future, but that doesn’t mean they simply do things the way they’ve always been done. On the contrary, all 10 of the companies profiled in this month’s pages are finding new ways to build on that past, and bringing their organizations into today’s more complex marketplace with style and gusto, and often with the influence of a younger generation.
I, for one, learned something new and valuable about each of these companies from the stories, and I hope you do as well. To me, hearing first-hand about the hard work of the generations that came before has added an extra dimension to the people and companies I already knew, and provided an insightful introduction to the ones I didn’t.
Look for more special features throughout 2015 in celebration of ISPA’s 100th year, including the continuation of the “Born into bedding” series. And if you know someone who should be profiled for this special feature—even yourself—please let us know! ■
