Joe Carman V joins Emerald's bedding division

David Perry -- Furniture Today, February 28, 2013

Joe Carman V gets comfortable on a new Cool Jewel mattress introduced by Emerald Home Furnishings in Las Vegas.

TACOMA, Wash. — Emerald Home Furnishings is stepping up its mattress game with the addition of a well-known bedding executive to its team and a "cool" new bedding line that got a hot reception at the recent Las Vegas Market.

Bedding veteran Joe Carman V was in the Emerald space in the newly created role of marketing manager in the bedding division. He will be responsible for managing bedding brand and product development issues, as well as sales training, strategic marketing planning and the creation of sales presentations to key furniture and mattress accounts.

Carman's first project for Emerald Sleep Systems was the recent launch of the division's Cool Jewel sleep collection, a new line of gel-infused memory foam mattresses, toppers, and pillows. The collection, with bedding retails from $499 to $999, is designed to offer cooling sleep through the use of open-cell memory foams, air flow technology and breathable mesh, among other features.

"Joe hit the ground running and helped Emerald launch our new Cool Jewel line to a great response from retailers at the recent Las Vegas Market," said Al Matthews, vice president of sales for Emerald Home Furnishings. "We are investing in the future of the Emerald Sleep Systems division, and Joe will be a significant contributor as we expand the brand, product offerings and presence on retail sales floors."

Carman has worked in the mattress industry for nearly 15 years and joins Emerald from his most recent roles as president of Recovery Systems International, and director of operations for T3 Recovery Products, where he was responsible for corporate and consumer-facing marketing, supply channel management and international license sales in support of the Official Sleep Products of the Ironman brand.

Earlier, Carman was a regional account manager for Spring Air, overseeing sales and merchandising programs in 14 states.

"Emerald Sleep Systems offers me an exciting opportunity to continue to grow the bedding offering from Emerald Home Furnishings, a well-respected full-line home furnishings company," said Carman. "We are on a very positive path with the Cool Jewel gel memory foam line and I look forward to promoting an array of new products down the line that will appeal to our current furniture and mattress retail partners and open new sales opportunities for the company."

Carman began his mattress career in the family business at Carman Mfg., which was run by his father, Joe Carman IV, who worked in the industry for years and was a recipient of the Russell Abolt Exceptional Service Award from the International Sleep Products Assn.