Thanksgiving lesson: Change reveals dynamic industry

The phones are quieter than usual. The pace of e-mail has slackened. Those are the unmistakable signs, in the news business, of a holiday approaching.

As we reflect on the coming Thanksgiving holiday, we can’t help but recall that a few years ago a bedding company was based in Plymouth, Mass., the site of that first Thanksgiving. Yes, Restonic was briefly based there, not far from the  famous Plymouth Rock, where the Pilgrims first set foot in the new world, according to tradition.

I saw that rock, now set at water level and surrounded by a monument that dwarfs it, during my one trip to Plymouth. As we all know, that Plymouth venture wasn’t a lasting one for Restonic, which now has a “virtual” headquarters.

It’s customary at Thanksgiving to take stock of the things we are thankful for. I’m thankful that the mattress category remains a vibrant one, full of change. Just look at the recent changes in where the bedding companies are based. In addition to Restonic’s moves, Spring Air left Chicago, moved to Tampa, Fla., and is now based in Boston. And Comfort Solutions relocated in the Chicago area a while back.

Those have been but a few of the changes we’ve seen in the mattress industry in recent years. Not all of the change has been positive, of course, but the pace of change is a healthy sign, I think. It’s an indication that the industry, for all of its warts, remains a dynamic one.

As we all take some time off this week, I wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving.