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Kluft, Robb form strategic alliance to market Aireloom, Chittenden & Eastman nationwide

By David Perry -- Furniture Today, March 28, 2004

ONTARIO, Calif. — ONTARIO, Calif. — Bedding veterans Earl Kluft and Don Robb have formed a strategic alliance to provide national marketing and distribution for the Aireloom and Chittenden & Eastman bedding brands.

Kluft, formerly a Spring Air licensee in California, has signed an all-cash deal to purchase from Robb the Aireloom trademarks and product designs along with Aireloom's manufacturing facility here. Aireloom is a respected high-end brand established in the 1940s.

Robb, based in Burlington, Iowa, is CEO of bedding producer Chittenden & Eastman.

Kluft will become a Chittenden & Eastman/Eastman House licensee for the western United States. He will be responsible for future development of Aireloom products and marketing support, and will assist Robb on the development of products and marketing for Chittenden & Eastman.

Chittenden & Eastman will continue to distribute Aireloom, under a license from Kluft, along with its C&E brands in its current areas of distribution. C&E will work with Kluft to further expand distribution of its products nationally.

Robb said the alliance will facilitate efforts to open an Aireloom/C&E manufacturing facility in the Northeast to serve the rapidly increasing business base in that area.

David Tenuta, a veteran bedding executive, will be senior sales vice president of E.S. Kluft and will be president of the soon-to-be-established Aireloom Licensing Division. Tenuta will have an equity position in the new venture.

Industry veteran Neil Friedman, currently general manager of the Aireloom facility in Ontario, Calif., will continue in that capacity and also will have an equity stake in the new venture.

The new venture marks Kluft's return to the bedding business. The creator of the high-end Chattam & Wells line left Spring Air last summer.

"I wanted to get back in the business from the day I left," Kluft said. "The Aireloom name makes this such an exciting opportunity. I'm looking forward to giving the industry the finest products available. I like giving people a great night's sleep."

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