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Simmons, Serta, King Koil lead Vegas bedding parade

By David Perry -- Furniture Today, March 31, 2003

Las Vegas — At least three of the Top 10 conventional bedding producers are set to show their wares here at the World Market Center, which has scheduled its first market for January 2005.

Simmons, Serta and King Koil have joined the growing ranks of home furnishings producers who have committed to the WMC.

The Vegas market has scheduled its debut for Jan. 18–21, 2005, and will have a summer market that year on July 19–22.

Specialty sleep producers Tempur-Pedic and Comfortaire also have said they will be showing in Las Vegas. That gives the WMC a solid core of bedding producers, one that the market's developers hope to build upon.

"There is an opportunity for the bedding industry to come together in Las Vegas," said Shawn Samson, one of the WMC's developers.

At least one bedding executive believes Las Vegas could play a major role in bedding.

"It will be interesting to see how the bedding retailers respond to Las Vegas," said Don Hofmann, senior vice president of marketing at Simmons. "There might be an allure there."

Las Vegas "could have a shot" at becoming the national bedding market, he said.

Hofmann said he's eager to attend market in Las Vegas. "There's so much energy in Las Vegas," he said. "It will be a nice change of pace for us."

Simmons Chairman Charlie Eitel said the decision to commit to Las Vegas came down to a decision about where retailers want to attend market. "We finally concluded that our customers would prefer to go to Las Vegas," Eitel said. "It's obvious that it's going to happen."

Simmons officials did not spell out their plans for San Francisco, where the company has a showroom.

King Koil officials believe the Las Vegas market will give them a good platform to showcase their products.

"King Koil is extremely excited to be a part of the World Market Center in Las Vegas," said Larry McKay, president of King Koil. "Retailers all over the United States have stated their intention to attend that market because of the excitement of the city, the growing list of high-profile tenants, and the state-of-the-art complex that has been designed.

"We have leased a space of just under 10,000 square feet and our spacious showroom will give us a venue to show the world what the new King Koil is all about," he said.

McKay said King Koil has no plans to show in High Point.

Top 10 bedding producers who have permanent showrooms in High Point or nearby include Sealy, Serta, Englander and Kingsdown. Simmons takes temporary space in Greensboro when it has a major product introduction in April or October.

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