Category: Press Release

MEBANE, N.C.  – Luxury bedding manufacturer, Kingsdown, Inc., has appointed Gene Pierce, a widely respected home furnishings industry executive, its global chief operating officer.

Pierce is responsible for managing day-to-day operations, providing strategic guidance, and overseeing daily administrative and operational functions. He reports to Kingsdown’s President and CEO Frank Hood.

Pierce most recently was with United Furniture Industries in Tupelo, Miss., one of the largest furniture producers in the U.S. and parent of Lane Home Furnishings. For seven years, he held various senior leadership roles, including vice president of operations and vice president of manufacturing. During his time at United Furniture, Pierce managed a network of 15 facilities that spanned more than 9 million square feet of production and distribution space.

He started his professional career working in the automotive industry, moving onto sporting goods, industrial lighting and ultimately furniture manufacturing in 2009. Pierce spent six years at well-known high-end manufacturing companies, Philips Lighting and Furniture Brands International.

“Everyone in our industry can appreciate the value a seasoned operations leader brings to an organization. The challenges from supply chain to labor have never been greater, yet we are fortunate to have someone like Gene on our team to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our organization,” said Hood.

Pierce said the fact that Kingsdown is one of home furnishings industry’s most iconic and well-established brands, with a growing global reach, made the position very compelling for him.

“I have had the privilege to work for some of the leading brands in the home furnishings space over the course of my career and am honored to join Kingsdown with its rich heritage for producing high-quality products,” he said. “The Kingsdown team has so much talent and energy, which translates into great results for our customers. It is an exciting time for our industry and The Kingsdown Group.”  

Pierce received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management, and master’s in business administration from Mississippi State University. He recently relocated from Mississippi to Mebane, North Carolina, where he will reside with his wife, Susan.

Kingsdown, Inc., founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, is a manufacturer of premium mattress systems that serves leading retailers across the United States, Canada, and in more than 20 countries. Each Kingsdown product is manufactured using handcrafted techniques, combined with state-of-the-art research, materials and equipment.

Research and development, manufacturing and distribution facilities are headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, with international offices located in England, Hong Kong and Japan. Canadian manufacturing and distribution are based in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Australia, Brazil, China, England, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam. In 2018, The Kingsdown Group was formed through the acquisition of Zedbed International, a leading foam mattress manufacturer, and the merger of Owen & Company with Kingsdown, Inc. to form one of the fastest-growing sleep technology groups in North America. For more information, visit www.kingsdown.com.

Mebane, NC—Kingsdown Group, the company known for meticulously handcrafted mattresses built on a foundation of sleep science, is introducing new offerings in its Zedbed, high-end, infused artisan foam line, with new fabric selections and dramatic cover designs, as part of its focus on “The Art of Sleep” at the Summer Las Vegas Market July 24^th-28^th.

Among the new models presented in a gallery format, Zedbed Graphite, available in firm, medium and plush comfort levels, combines graphite foam –to pull heat away from the body– with plush gel foam for cooling luxurious comfort, and resilient latex to enhance pressure relief and maximize support. It provides the responsiveness of memory foam but does not react to body heat or ambient air to provide a cooler and more comfortable sleep experience.

The new Zedbed Copper models, also available in firm, medium and plush constructions, feature naturally anti-microbial Copper VX Foam, perforated to increase airflow for cooler sleep.

All Zedbed mattresses feature engineered foam cores, optimized for use on adjustable bases. Three new and distinctive aesthetic packages will debut at the Summer Market.

“Zedbeds look different, and they feel different thanks to specially formulated infused foams that provide a spa-like sleep experience,” said Frank Hood, president, and chief executive officer of Kingsdown.

Crafted using eco-friendly, soy-based foams, beds and pillows are infused with a variety of natural botanical options like lavender, citrus, coconut charcoal and eucalyptus, and in the case of Zedbed Graphite and Copper, naturally cooling and antimicrobial elements.

The Zedbed presentation starts in the front window of the company’s new showroom, C-1401, with an impressive dreamscape display featuring branded projections and other sensory effects. Showroom imagery highlights the artistic craftsmanship of the brand born in Quebec and now distributed across Canada and the U.S., and the intricate designs of its artfully stitched, scroll-quilted covers. The display makes the connection between the visual appeal of the beds—the Art of Sleep—and elevation of the sleep experience.

Dealers and interior designers are invited to explore Zedbed following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new showroom on Sunday, April 24^th at 2:40 p.m. An opening day social event follows from 3 to 5 p.m.

Kingsdown, Inc., founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, is a manufacturer of premium mattress systems that serves leading retailers across the United States and in more than twenty countries. Each Kingsdown product is manufactured using handcrafted techniques, combined with state-of-the-art research, materials, and equipment. Research and development, manufacturing and distribution facilities are headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, with international offices located in England, Hong Kong, and Japan. Canadian manufacturing and distribution are based in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Australia, Brazil, China, England, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam. In 2018, The Kingsdown Group was formed through the acquisition of Zedbed International, a leading foam mattress manufacturer, and the merger of Owen & Company with Kingsdown, Inc. to form one of the fastest-growing sleep technology groups in North America. For more information, visit www.kingsdown.com

MEBANE, N.C. – Leading luxury bedding manufacturer, Kingsdown, will debut its re-engineered, domestically sourced Sleep Smart^® mattress at the upcoming Winter Las Vegas Market. The new design focuses on customized support through the company’s unique 3×2-zone air chamber technology and a new simplified app.

Unlike other adjustable mattresses on the market, Sleep Smart^® features three reinforced air chamber support zones on each side allowing for individualized comfort preferences. The lumbar support zone can be independently controlled by each sleeper to maximize postural support in the lower back area. To enhance support even further, the mattress includes a complete edge-to-edge sleep surface with high-density foam on all sides.

The specialty foam layer with cooling gel conforms to the body while dispersing body heat and relieving pressure points to enhance comfort and support. The performance fabric cover also regulates temperature, wicking away moisture and heat to keep the mattress cool and comfortable throughout the night. The Sleep Smart^® will retail for $2,199 in queen.

“The new Sleep Smart® is designed for consumer interested in performance. If they track their exercise, monitor their health and diet, they should be as vigilant about their sleep performance,” said Frank Hood, president and chief executive officer of Kingsdown. “The 3×2–zone air chamber technology allows consumers to adjust their mattress to their exact sleep preferences. We even took it a step further and updated our mobile app by taking out all the unnecessary ‘bells and whistles’ and simplified it to focus on one thing – providing a better, more supportive night’s sleep.”

Kingsdown has also designed a silent air pump that is built into the mattress, which eliminates the noise commonly heard when using an adjustable mattress. To enhance accessibility for all consumers, the new Sleep Smart^® is ‘plug and play,’ meaning there is no installation needed, the consumer simply plugs in the mattress and can utilize its features right away.

The new model will no longer be controlled by a wired remote, but instead be fully adjustable through the new Wi-Fi based Kingsdown Sleep Smart^® App. The iOS and Android app has been redesigned to streamline the adjustment process while also allowing several users to connect to mattress at one time. This feature lets co-sleepers adjust their side of the bed through their personal device eliminating the need to disturb their partner. In addition, for retailers the new Wi-Fi capability allows multiple sales representatives to connect to the mattress while on the sales floor to demonstrate the Sleep Smart^®’s capabilities to interested customers. 

To experience the re-engineered Sleep Smart^®, visit Kingsdown’s Las Vegas Market showroom C-1588.

Kingsdown, Inc., founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, USA is a manufacturer of premium mattress systems serving leading retailers across the United States and in more than 20 countries. Each Kingsdown product is manufactured using handcrafted techniques combined with state-of-the-art research, materials and equipment. Research and development, manufacturing and distribution facilities are headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, with international offices located in England, Hong Kong and Japan. Canadian manufacturing and distribution are based in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.  Additional manufacturing facilities are located in California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Australia, Brazil, China, England, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam.  In 2018, The Kingsdown Group was formed through the acquisition of Zedbed International, a leading foam mattress manufacturer, and the merger of Owen & Company with Kingsdown, Inc. to form one of the fastest-growing sleep technology groups in North America.  For more information, visit www.kingsdown.com.

MEBANE, N.C.  – Luxury bedding manufacturer, Kingsdown, the leading authority in sleep diagnostics, is once again expanding the international reach of its bedMATCH™ system, this time via a licensing agreement with Netherlands-based bedding furniture company, Beter Bed.

Headquartered in Uden, Netherlands, Beter Bed operates more than 100 stores throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. Twelve locations in the Netherlands will now feature the innovative bedMATCH™ technology, with an additional 30 locations adopting the system later this year. The agreement marks the company’s second European bedMATCH™ placement. The retailer is branding the system in their stores as “Beter Slapen ID,” and the introduction of the technology in the Netherlands is being supported by an extensive omni-channel marketing campaign including TV, radio and digital.  

Created by Kingsdown as a brand-agnostic technology that provides retailers with valuable insights into the needs of customers who are often confused by a bewildering array of mattress choices, the patented bedMATCH™ diagnostic system uses 18 statistical measurements and makes more than 1,000 calculations to help match consumers with the mattress that provides the correct level of postural support and pressure relief for their specific body type, sleep position and wellness needs. 

Revolutionizing the way bedding is sold, there are currently more than 1,000 bedMATCH™ systems in use by more than 100 retailers worldwide. The system also includes an online diagnostic feature that consumers can use before entering a retail store, or it can be linked to a dealer’s e-commerce initiatives.  

“When we rolled out bedMATCH™, we knew it would be transformational for retailers across the globe,” said Spencer Nicholls, vice president of international sales at Kingsdown. “Retailers using the system have a much higher chance of closing the sale and lower chance of a comfort return than dealers who don’t use bedMATCH™. More than 15 million people have created profiles during their shopping experiences, and each additional profile in the database allows for a sharper and better diagnosis to inform our processes in both product development and in fitting individuals with the proper postural support and pressure relief.”

Nicholls added, “Kingsdown’s bedMATCH™ system will be the primary tool that Beter Bed stores will use for all its mattress offerings.”

Kingsdown, Inc., founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, is a manufacturer of premium mattress systems that serves leading retailers across the United States and in more than 20 countries. Each Kingsdown product is manufactured using handcrafted techniques, combined with state-of-the-art research, materials and equipment. Research and development, manufacturing and distribution facilities are headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, with international offices located in England, Hong Kong and Japan. Canadian manufacturing and distribution are based in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Australia, Brazil, China, England, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam. In 2018, The Kingsdown Group was formed through the acquisition of Zedbed International, a leading foam mattress manufacturer, and the merger of Owen & Company with Kingsdown, Inc. to form one of the fastest-growing sleep technology groups in North America. For more information, visit www.kingsdown.com.

MEBANE, N.C.  – Luxury bedding manufacturer, Kingsdown, the leading authority in sleep diagnostics, has partnered with physician, board certified sleep specialist and sleep coach Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell to bring the Kingsdown message—Sleep to Live—to life on social media.

A campaign featuring Dr. Holliday-Bell launched on Instagram @lovemykingsdown late last month with an announcement of the collaboration, followed by ongoing posts and video footage throughout the month of May documenting the Dr.’s journey with the Kingsdown brand. Reels begin with her introduction to the brand during a stay at the historic Hotel Weyanoke in Farmville, VA—a boutique hotel noted for its high-touch hospitality and mid-century style—where she experiences sleeping on a Kingsdown mattress for the first time. As the story progresses, the Dr.’s more than 11.2K Instagram followers are able to witness a mattress shopping expedition to Green Front Furniture, where she and her husband experience the innovative technology of the in-store bedMATCH^® diagnostic system, choose the Kingsdown mattress right for them, and ultimately welcome the delivery of their new bed to their home.

Kingsdown discovered Dr. Holliday-Bell as an ideal partner who aligns with the brand’s promise of quality, restorative sleep following an exhaustive search of micro-influencers with a minimum of 10,000 followers. “She rose up very quickly as a credible and animated voice given her credentials as an MD and a sleep advocate, and high caliber, bona fide expert in wellness as it relates to sleep,” said Kevin Spencer, vice president of marketing and branding at Kingsdown. “We wanted someone with dimension and authority and she’s a relatable, self-made young professional with a dynamic, attractive lifestyle, who herself suffered from insomnia for years. She firmly believes that better sleep leads to better mental and physical well-being and she created The Solution is Sleep LLC to provide transformative, targeted, and customized sleep coaching based on proven therapeutic techniques to help her clients take back control of their sleep.”

A board-certified physician specializing in advanced pediatrics, Dr. Holliday-Bell earned her Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, her Master of Science in Biotechnology at Rush University, and her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine.

According to Spencer, Dr. Holliday-Bell’s education and experience speak directly to the DNA of the Kingsdown brand. “We’re very excited to be working with her, because she is a dynamic personality with a loyal following able to reach and educate consumers in new ways about how important sleep is to their well-being,” he said. “She embodies and fulfills the Kingsdown mission—improving lives by improving sleep and is a natural fit for our Sleep. Love. Share. digital platform. She adds value and vitality to our brand marketing and will serve as another key touch point over the coming months when consumers are evaluating their sleep options.”      

 “I am ecstatic to be given the opportunity to work with Kingsdown on amplifying their brand voice” said Dr. Holliday-Bell.  “I hope to inspire others to view the importance of a good night’s sleep as a priority in one’s self-care journey.” Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell can be followed at Kingsdown’s Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/lovemykingsdown, her website: https://thesolutionissleep.com, and her Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesleep_md.

Kingsdown, Inc., founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, is a manufacturer of premium mattress systems that serves leading retailers across the United States and in more than 20 countries. Each Kingsdown product is manufactured using handcrafted techniques, combined with state-of-the-art research, materials and equipment. Research and development, manufacturing and distribution facilities are headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, with international offices located in England, Hong Kong and Japan. Canadian manufacturing and distribution are based in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Australia, Brazil, China, England, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam. In 2018, The Kingsdown Group was formed through the acquisition of Zedbed International, a leading foam mattress manufacturer, and the merger of Owen & Company with Kingsdown, Inc. to form one of the fastest-growing sleep technology groups in North America. For more information, visit www.kingsdown.com

Mebane, NC—Kingsdown, the company known for meticulously handcrafted mattresses built on a foundation of sleep science, will unveil its 17,000-square-foot showroom at C-1401 at the Summer Las Vegas Market. The space is more than twice the size of its former showroom and dedicated to over 75 mattress sku’s presented around a Style and Substance theme.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for Sunday, July 24 at 2:40 p.m., and a cocktail celebration will follow from 3 to 5 p.m. Dealers, interior designers and media are invited to attend.

The collections that will be spotlighted include Vintage, Insignia, Anniversary and Zedbed. Indeed, Zedbed will add a new dimension with its premium artisan foam line, brought to life by the Art of Sleep campaign and a sensory dreamscape display in the showroom’s front window.

Throughout the new space, the product focus is on Kingsdown’s mission to elevate the sleep experience, while highlighting the connection between design, craftsmanship and luxury. Reflecting its global and growing presence in the luxury sector, the company has created a dedicated area for exploring international opportunities, as well as space devoted to marketing   communications promoting the Kingsdown and Zedbed brands.

The center of the showroom highlights Kingsdown’s proprietary technology with bedMATCH and Sleep Smart displays, and a mixed-used social space dubbed the Kingsdown Café offers hospitality throughout the Market.

“We have elevated the look and feel of many of our collections and our new showroom is reflective of premium, luxury branding,” said Frank Hood, president and chief executive officer. “Affluent consumers are redefining what luxury means to them today. They want products of real style and substance now, and the kind of restorative sleep experience that Kingsdown delivers night after night. We look forward to sharing that story with dealers and designers in this exceptional space.”

Kingsdown, Inc., founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, is a manufacturer of premium mattress systems that serves leading retailers across the United States and in more than twenty countries. Each Kingsdown product is manufactured using handcrafted techniques, combined with state-of-the-art research, materials, and equipment. Research and development, manufacturing and distribution facilities are headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, with international offices located in England, Hong Kong, and Japan. Canadian manufacturing and distribution are based in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Australia, Brazil, China, England, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam. In 2018, The Kingsdown Group was formed through the acquisition of Zedbed International, a leading foam mattress manufacturer, and the merger of Owen & Company with Kingsdown, Inc. to form one of the fastest-growing sleep technology groups in North America. For more information, visit www.kingsdown.com.

Mebane, NC—Kingsdown, the company known for meticulously handcrafted mattresses built on a foundation of sleep science, will unveil over 25 new mattress designs in its Vintage, Insignia, Anniversary and Zedbed collections at the Summer Las Vegas Market July 24-28.

The focus throughout the company’s new showroom is on the overall elevation of the sleep experience and shining a spotlight on the relationship between high-fashion, artistry and luxury. To this point, new fabric packages will make their debut in the elegant, hand-tufted Vintage Collection for the summer show, for a total of five differentiated aesthetics.

Crafted from luxurious materials, Kingsdown’s flagship Vintage Collection combines exceptionally high coil counts and patented motion separation construction with latex and ultra-soft, breathable natural materials like pure cotton, ethically sourced New Zealand Joma Wool, Alpaca wool from Peru and genuine horsehair imported from the United Kingdom. Retails range from $3,499 to $12,999 in queen.

“Our Vintage Collection offers the kind of old-world construction rarely encountered today and is emblematic of our rich history of handcrafted perfection performed by generations of master artisans who take exceptional pride in a time-intensive manufacturing process,” said Frank Hood, president, and chief executive officer. “Vintage epitomizes the kind of design, craftsmanship and exceptional materials that affluent consumers equate with luxury products of true style and substance.”  

Insignia is a next generation luxury hybrid line, with eight mattresses in the collection and it too will highlight all new fabric selections at Summer Market. Set apart by Secure Stitch scroll quilting, fabrics are stitched up to two inches directly into the first comfort layer for enhanced durability that resists body impressions. Phase change materials are encapsulated within the surface layer’s cooling foams to absorb excess heat and continually regulate the skin’s microclimate, while performance fabrics and cooling yarns combine to keep the sleep surface cooler and more comfortable. Infused specialty foams positioned near the mattress core aid with cooling by pulling heat away from the sleeper. Wrapped coils with a posturized center third contour to the body and provide personalized support for sleep partners in the most important zones. Retails range from $1,399 to $2,699.

Anniversary, Kingsdown’s entry-level luxury collection includes more than a dozen models in the lineup with four entirely new entries and retail price prints ranging from $699 to $1,399. Features include specialty foams infused with copper, gel, and graphite, wrapped coils, tri-zoned support, and the Fresh Comfort Quilt with cooling gel fibers on the surface of the mattress to help regulate body temperature. 

Kingsdown, Inc., founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, is a manufacturer of premium mattress systems that serves leading retailers across the United States and in more than 20 countries. Each Kingsdown product is manufactured using handcrafted techniques, combined with state-of-the-art research, materials, and equipment. Research and development, manufacturing and distribution facilities are headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, with international offices located in England, Hong Kong, and Japan. Canadian manufacturing and distribution are based in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in California, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Australia, Brazil, China, England, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam. In 2018, The Kingsdown Group was formed through the acquisition of Zedbed International, a leading foam mattress manufacturer, and the merger of Owen & Company with Kingsdown, Inc. to form one of the fastest-growing sleep technology groups in North America. For more information, visit www.kingsdown.com.

Luxury bedding manufacturer, Kingsdown, Inc. is partnering with well-known Dallas-based interior designer Kristi Hopper as brand ambassador to the interior design community.  

“We are excited to launch our partnership with Kristi Hopper as our ambassador to the interior design community at High Point Market,” said Kevin Spencer, vice president marketing and branding, Kingsdown. “More consumers than ever before are looking to interior designers as the authority in the marketplace when purchasing products for their home, and we believe designers will be a key distribution channel for our brand moving forward. Kristi Hopper is a trusted voice whose expertise will be integral to helping us understand the needs of the design community and create strong relationships.” 

Hopper will help introduce designers to the Kingsdown brand throughout the High Point Market, October 22-26, during Meet and Greets in Kingsdown’s presentation inside the HPMKT Selfie Pavilion in the Center Stage area. 

“We felt it was particularly important to launch this initiative with a presence at the High Point Market, the hub for the industry’s interior design community,” Spencer said. “High Point is where serious designers shop and we look forward to introducing the community to Kingsdown, getting to know their needs and creating strong working relationships.”

Hopper is founder and principal of Kristi Hopper Designs, a thriving 22-year-old design firm specializing in residential and commercial design. She is a member of ASID and IDS and an active member of ART (Accessories Resource Team). An award-winning designer, Hopper has a licensed product line with Harp & Finial and is also a brand ambassador with Geometry House. She is known throughout the industry as “a designer’s designer,” and for being passionate about home. She holds fast to the notion that design should be exceedingly personal, and “everyone should love where you live.”

“I am very impressed with the Kingsdown brand which focuses on making undeniable comfort and health a priority via great sleep,” Hopper said. “They are the first mattress manufacturer that has ever said to me, ‘We want to partner with designers,’ and it is a brilliant move on their part because the design community has long been overlooked by the traditional bedding industry. Kingsdown understands that designers typically influence 15-plus purchases of mattresses per year, and with 21,000 ASID members alone, this will no doubt represent significant business.

“The brand defines affordable luxury,” Hopper continued. “The products are gorgeous,  breathe, and feature the same materials (horsehair, wool and latex) that others charge much more for. They have exactly what clients want today and designers will want to do business with them.”

Luxury bedding manufacturer, Kingsdown, Inc. has extended its license agreement with Euro Colchões, a bedding manufacturer in Brazil for another decade. 

The desire for North American-branded products has been increasingly significant in Brazil, as well as other parts of South America. Since the start of the licensing partnership in 2012, Euro Colchões has grown its in-country Kingsdown production and retail operation to include 70 store locations, plus e-commerce business at www.eurocolchoes.com.

“This has been a very successful relationship for both companies, and we look forward to another decade of continued success and growth,” said Frank Hood, CEO of Kingsdown. “Our global license business has been a strategic asset for our company in large part because of great business partners, like Euro Colchões.”

Today, the Brazilian manufacturer and retailer produces and sells four exclusive models in Kingdown’s Vintage Collection –Platinum, Diamond, Royal and Windsor mattresses. Product specifications are tailored to local comfort preferences and foams and fibers used in the beds are sourced locally. 

“North American products have forever represented quality and advanced technologies. These fundamental pieces of Euro Colchões’ growth strategy has only elevated during our partnership with Kingsdown,” said Mauricio Aballo, CEO of Euro Colchões. “We are looking forward to strengthening Euro Colchões and Kingsdown ties in Brazil to bring additional innovation through American market research to collaborate with our ambitious growth.”