Eclipse adds Sterling as 8th licensee
David Perry -- Furniture Today, May 26, 2003
North Brunswick, N.J. — Fast-growing bedding maker Eclipse International has signed its eighth domestic licensee, Sterling Sleep Products of San Antonio.
Joe Roff, Sterling's president, said Eclipse's patented Spinal Zone feature and its extensive marketing programs were keys to his decision to join Eclipse. Sterling retains its affiliation with Therapedic, but has dropped its Englander license.
Sterling operates from a 120,000-square-foot facility in Texas. It will be called Eclipse of Texas, and also will service retailers in Louisiana.
Eclipse, based here, is in talks with other producers looking to join the group, said Stuart Carlitz, president and chief operating officer. He said Eclipse is attractive to bedding producers because "our name is respected and has been recognized since 1905. And the management behind Eclipse has been successful in putting together the Therapedic group. People know about us."
Jerry Gershaw, chairman and chief executive officer of Eclipse, founded Therapedic in the 1950s.
All of Eclipse's eight domestic licensees are affiliated with more than one bedding group. Carlitz said those dual licensing arrangements make the producers stronger players.
His own company, Bedding Inds. of America, is affiliated with both Therapedic and Restonic, in addition to Eclipse.
Eclipse has five international licensees, the newest being in China and Indonesia.
The domestic licensees will be getting a proprietary innerspring unit from a major U.S. supplier, Carlitz said.
Eclipse's Spinal Zone feature uses an inner border rod to reinforce the center third of the mattress, providing more back support, Carlitz said.
