Lester Mesner reopens mattress plant in Denver

Colorado Mattress to be independent producer

David Perry -- Furniture Today, October 27, 2009

DENVER — Former Spring Air licensee Lester Mesner has reopened his old plant here and is back in business as Colorado Mattress Co., an independent mattress maker.

Mesner said he has rehired his former workers and has regained his biggest previous customer. Now, he says, he can be a more efficient producer, offering better values to his dealers.

"It feels good to be wanted by my former customers," Mesner said. "This was the major contributor to reopening with the same people in the same building, one that was home to a successful Spring Air franchise since 1949."

But, Mesner said, Colorado Mattress will have some advantages over the former Spring Air business.

"As an independent, we can improve on that level of service by passing on to our customers a better value because we do not have a financial obligation to a third party, we can be far more efficient by producing a limited line, and we can be even more creative and responsive with product to meet dealers' individual needs," he said. He also said he won't have "the restraints of a franchise organization."

Mesner, president of Colorado Mattress, said most of his workers had been employed by Spring Air for years before they lost their jobs in August 2008 when Spring Air closed the factory.

He said that when the 50,000-square-foot facility became vacant, he and his team were able to set it up in a more efficient layout and do some remodeling. He said the company secured "the latest in manufacturing equipment" to produce bedding for what he called "meat and potatoes price points."

The company's new line retails from $299 to $1,199 for distribution in Midwestern states.

Mesner said he has started shipping floor samples and stock to Yotes Inc., a Mattress Firm franchisee with 22 stores in two states.