ISPA Expo honors Malkiewicz, Van Dyke

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Bedding veterans Ray Malkiewicz and Sandy Van Dyke received the top two awards bestowed by the International Sleep Products Assn. here.Malkiewicz, formerly of Wickline Bedding, received the Russell L. Abolt Exceptional Service Award, the industry’s highest honor. “Ray Malkiewicz has been one of the most outstanding contributors to ISPA during his 40-plus years with the association,” said Don Wright, ISPA chairman, who presided over the awards breakfast this morning. “He has been one of the great leaders of our industry and a great mentor to many.”

Van Dyke, president of Interwoven Group, received the Robert MacMorran Memorial Award, given by the Suppliers Council to recognize outstanding service to the mattress industry. “Sandy embraces the spirt of hard work, dedication and partnership in the bedding industry,” Wright said. “He has extraordinary integrity, and a tremendous amount of dedication toward ISPA.”

Kudos to Ray and Sandy for their well-deserved awards.

LUNAR LANDING AT L&P: Last night was party night at the Expo. My dance card took me from Wright of Thomasville’s party to a reception for international licensees at Therapedic. Then it was on to StrikeCity for a lot of fun at the Hickory Springs gala. Bowling was the featured entertainment at this sports hub, whose walls were lined with TVs. Scott Smalling and Butch Webster of ComforPedic were knocking ‘em down on the lanes. This party was a strike with attendees. Finally I wound up at the Leggett & Platt party at the Music Factory, where Party on the Moon, a sensational band, rocked the house with a high-voltage, rousing performance. Yes, we did party on the moon, as it were. The band was out-of-this-world good, wowing the attendees with its energetic dancing, crisp chords and sharp vocals.

SATISFYING SPIKE: “Business spiked in the last few weeks,” commented Brent Limer, regional sales manager at Hickory Springs. “People are feeling good. There is a lot of interest in new products.” That was good news on the show floor here. There’s nothing like an upturn in business to give buyers confidence. But the big question is: How long will the upturn last? Some see a brief rebound, with tougher days ahead. Others are cautiously optimistic that business conditions will continue to
strengthen this year. Who’s right? Only time will tell.

SPRING NEWS: Hickory Springs is showing a new fine-wire bonnell coil unit here, with 361 coils in a full-sized mattress. The company is also showing a new seven-inch InnerACT coil. These units give bedding producers new selling stories, helping them set their lines apart in a highly competitive marketplace, company officials said.

STUDENT DESIGNERS: FXI, the company formerly known as Foamex, is looking for design inspirations from a number of quarters. At the Expo here, the company honored four students at Philadelphia University who created an innovative new product called Adaptwo, a convertible crib mattress that can grow with the child. The crib mattress is made of FXI memory foam. FXI officials predict the design will attract a lot of interest from crib mattress manufacturers.

NEW (BEDFORD) FRIENDS: I met some factory-direct operators from New Bedford, Mass., who have an interesting story to tell. Worley Beds Factory Outlet is located on a small island. John Worley Jr. and his son, Patrick, gave me the details at the Welcome Reception earlier this week. This was Patrick’s first Expo, so I asked him what he thought. “It was a productive day,” he said. “We looked at ticking, binding tape and machinery.” Yes, those are some of the basic building blocks of the mattress industry. Best wishes to the Worley family.

THANKS, ISPA: These Expos are always special events. The sense of comraderie is strong, there are many interesting new products to see, the seminars are thought-provoking, and the industry just enjoys being together. Well done, Team ISPA.

COMING TOMORROW: I get a day off. The Expo ends Saturday and I head for home. It’s been a great week here in Charlotte, but it will be good to get back home in High Point - and to sleep in my own bed. (Don’t ask what it is; I ain’t telling.) Thanks for reading these daily blogs. I enjoyed sharing them with you. Look for more show coverage in upcoming issues of Furniture/Today.