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IB builds able management team

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 17, 2008

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Tony Smith first became familiar with International Bedding as a competitor. The former Sealy executive remembers seeing “beautifully tailored products” on the floor of a West Coast bedding retailer and being impressed with the line.

These days, Smith is responsible for keeping those IB products looking good. The 28-year bedding veteran joined International Bedding just over a year ago.

“I'm here for the long haul,” he said in a recent interview. “This is a wonderful opportunity.”

Smith said he is proud of the management team he heads at IB. Bedding veteran Eric Johnson, senior vice president of merchandising and marketing, said Smith has brought a steady hand to the business.

“When Tony came in, there had been a void,” Johnson said. “Tony grabbed the steering wheel. The passion of the previous owners has carried through. We have a lot of good people here. We are mattress guys. We take care of the customers. Our business is built on that.”

Smith has extensive bedding experience at retail and manufacturing. He was a bedding buyer for Gimbels Department Stores before joining Sealy in 1983. He moved from Pennsylvania to California, where he was regional vice president for Sealy's western division, a post he held for about a decade. Then he was president of Sealy Canada for three years.

After doing some consulting work after his departure from Sealy, Smith was looking for another big bedding job. His IB post fits the bill, he said.

One of his recent hires was Dan Hige, a former top operations executive with Sealy, who is “focused and excited” about his work overseeing IB's seven bedding plants, Smith said.

Working with Johnson, who is based at IB's Phoenix facility, is Julia Arkadie, recently hired as marketing manager. She formerly worked in the wireless communications industry. “We are very lucky to have someone of her caliber on our team,” Johnson said.

Another recent hire was Mike Clark, chief financial officer. “Mike has quickly become an invaluable member of the senior management team by bringing a high level of business analysis, performance tracking and financial management experience to IB,” Smith said.

Smith said he's pleased that IB's employees still exhibit the drive and spirit that the founding Ellman family originally brought to the business. “When the Ellmans left,” he said, “that spirit didn't leave.”

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