Mattress producer Therapedic teams with China-based Stylution
Will roll out import program, licensing partnership
David Perry -- Furniture Today, April 1, 2009
 New Therapedic licensee Jack Chen, left, of Stylution receives a plaque from Therapedic CEO Gerry Borreggine. |
DONGGUAN, China — Bedding producers Therapedic International and Stylution have announced a wide-ranging partnership, including a program to import finished goods under the Therapedic brand name and a long-term license agreement that has Stylution representing Therapedic in much of Asia, including China and Japan.
"Therapedic now has the strongest and most prestigious partner representing our brand in the Far East," said Gerry Borreggine, president and CEO of Therapedic, who met with Stylution officials at their sprawling factory complex here to welcome them to his licensing group. "We are proud to be connected with the quality reputation that comes with being associated with Stylution."
The new Chinese import program will feature exclusive Therapedic models from Stylution using foam-core and encased coil constructions, set to retail from about $499 to about $1,099. The beds will be shipped in compressed and rolled formats, an approach expected to save about $65 per mattress in transportation costs, Borreggine estimated.
He said the import line features a contemporary design that includes a "Dyna-Flow" airstream system that consists of a polyester fiber bonded to a grid fabric mesh. The system allows air to circulate in the mattress, providing for a cooler night's sleep, according to Borreggine.
The line will be tested with selected Therapedic licensees before it is officially introduced at the Las Vegas Market in September.
The brand partnership began to take form last spring when Stylution CEO Jack Chen visited Therapedic Chairman Norman Rosenblatt at Rosenblatt's factory in Brockton, Mass. Borreggine and Stylution USA President Ed Scott became involved in the talks and the import program became part of a larger plan that included a long-term license agreement between the two companies.
"We have big plans for the Therapedic brand," said Chen. "We will make Therapedic number one in China."
The Therapedic-Stylution import goods will be made specifically for markets such as the United States and Australia and will not necessarily mirror the goods Stylution produces for the China market, said Borreggine. The import goods will be unique to both the current Stylution and Therapedic offerings.
The import line will carry the Therapedic brand and will be distributed under the brand name ComfortTouch by Therapedic, said Borreggine.
"Jack, Ed, and the entire Stylution team have put together a compelling product and value story for Therapedic to take to marketplaces throughout the globe," said Borreggine. "The world markets have never been more ready, as they are now, for a value story such as the one we have with ComfortTouch."
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