Blazar joins Sleep Innovations
David Perry -- Furniture Today, August 11, 2003
West Long Branch, N.J. — Joe Blazar has left Leggett & Platt to join fast-growing Sleep Innovations, a bedding accessories company based here.
Blazar, who left the components supplier and metal bed maker last week, is executive vice president of sales and marketing for Sleep Innovations, which sells sleep-related consumer products primarily to retailers in the mass merchant, home furnishings, catalog and wholesale club channels.
The privately held company has manufacturing facilities in Mississippi and California.
"Sleep Innovations has grown very rapidly in a very short period of time," Blazar said. "Michael Fux, the chief executive officer and president, is interested in sustaining that growth."
The company's line primarily is oriented toward visco-elastic pillows and mattress toppers.
Blazar, a 33-year veteran of the home furnishings industry, had been vice president of marketing for L&P's Consumer Products Unit, which he joined in 1997. "During that time our business has grown significantly," said Terry Bowen, president of the unit. "Joe's leadership has been an important component of that success."
Blazar said his Leggett & Platt experience was a highlight of his career. "I learned a lot there," he said. "This is a big business that thinks small. It is very entrepreneurial in nature."
No successor has been named at L&P.
