Therapedic offers first FR guarantee to retailers
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, July 2, 2007
Princeton, N.J. — Top 10 bedding maker Therapedic has become the first bedding producer to offer a guarantee protecting retailers who sell its fire-resistant bedding against fines or penalties.
Therapedic, based here, said it will reimburse any retailer who is cited for selling a non-compliant product that is manufactured after July 1 by Therapedic for the full fine or penalty levied against that dealer, according to Gerry Borreggine, Therapedic's president and CEO.
He said Therapedic can make that offer, which he described as the first such offer by any major bedding producer, because his company is that confident of the integrity of its fire-safety solution.
"We hired the best consultants, purchased the finest FR materials, and rigorously tested every product," Borreggine said. "We pursued a robust FR solution so that we could insure dealers that they and their customers would be safe with Therapedic."
A federal open-flame mattress flammability standard took effect July 1. Retailers who sell non-compliant sleep sets produced on or after that date face the prospect of fines, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has said.
In addition to announcing its new FR retail guarantee, Therapedic also unveiled a four-point education program targeted to the retail community. The centerpiece is a six-page booklet that explains the law, the regulations, and the responsibilities of each segment of the industry in complying with the regulations.
"We aim to demystify the new law and, simultaneously, give the retailer confidence and security that product they get from Therapedic will protect both them and their customers," said Borreggine.
He said the new law will give retailers an opportunity to boost bedding sales and draw attention to the bedding category.
"This will be a big story in the media for several weeks," he said. "Attention will be focused on our industry and the leadership role mattress manufacturers have taken in making homes safer from catastrophic fires. Retailers should look at this exposure as an unprecedented opportunity to not only sell product, but to make multiple sales so that consumers may bring the new, safer and compliant product to every bedroom of their home."
Therapedic said it will make its FR educational materials available to all retailers who request it, whether they are a Therapedic dealer or not.
"Consumer safety is too important an issue for producers to limit release of key FR information," he said. "We have a responsibility to make this information available to everyone."
Borreggine said education is the key to helping retailers overcome any challenges they believe the FR issue may pose.
"Education is the solution to every obstacle the retailer faces at the point of sale," he said. "If we can educate retailers about the new FR law, and reveal strategies of how the new law may create opportunities to significantly spur new mattress sales, we will have provided a great service to the industry. And we will have done our part in the very noble cause of helping to make the consumer's home a safer place."
