BEDDING WAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE FURNITURE TODAY

Bedding was in the spotlight at the Furniture Today Leadership Conference here.

A number of bedding CEOs and presidents attended the event, and bedding leaders were also part of the program.

Serta’s name shined brightly in elevated globes that provided illumination for the opening night cocktail party. And Serta was in the spotlight at the awards dinner the following evening, when its iComfort Hybrid line, launched earlier this year, was named Product of the Year.

Two bedding leaders had slots on panel discussions.

Kim Knopf, CEO of Innovative Mattress Solutions of Lexington, Ky., talked about her path to leadership, admitting that it would have been helpful to have the kind of mentors available these days back when she was starting her company.

Knopf said her company, which operates under the Mattress Warehouse, Mattress King and Sleep Outfitters brands, will rebrand under the Sleep Outfitters banner.

Sam Malouf, CEO of Malouf Sleep, talked about how he is leading a culture of change at his company with a clever portfolio of employee-friendly benefits. He has grown Malouf from a company of two 13 years ago to a staff now of more than 140, and he’s expanded the product line to encompass pillows, woven linens, protectors and mattress toppers.

Executives from Top 15 bedding producers Tempur Sealy, Therapedic, Englander, Restonic and E.S. Kluft attended the conference, as did executives with Leggett & Platt, Hickory Springs, Protect-A-Bed, PureCare, GBS Enterprises, DreamFit and Cozy Mattress, among other bedding companies.