Simmons Bedding Company

Simmons Bedding Company is a major manufacturer of mattresses and related bedding products. In business for over 125 years, they are also one of the oldest companies in the United States. Simmons' flagship brand is Beautyrest. According to a Simmons press release, net sales for 2005 were $855 million. [ [http://www.simmons.com/aboutUs/documents/press/PR2006-03-13.pdf Simmons Company - Reports Forth Quarty and Full Year 2005 Results] , Official release] Simmons Mattresses are also offered on cable home shopping channel Home Shopping Network

History

* In 1870 Simmons was founded by Zalmon G. Simmons with its first factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Simmons started off by producing wooden insulators and cheese boxes.
* In 1876 started producing wire-woven mattresses.
* In 1916 Simmons began advertising nationally.
* By 1919 growth was fast. In response, Simmons acquired manufacturing plants in San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Montreal, Quebec; Toronto, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Vancouver, British Columbia; Elizabeth, New Jersey; Seattle, Washington; and Atlanta, Georgia.
* In 1925 Simmons' engineer, John Franklin Gail, invented a machine that could mass-produce the coils and insert them into fabric "pockets". This made mass-production of the previously luxury-only product possible.
* During World War II Simmons produced parachutes, bazooka rockets and 2700 other products for the US military.
* In 1975 Simmons moved to its present day headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
* In 1979, Simmons was purchased by Gulf+Western.
* In 1985, Gulf+Western sold Simmons to Wickes Corporation.
* In 1991, Merrill Lynch Capital Partners, Inc. acquired a majority interest in the company.
* In August 2006 Simmons sold its chain of retail stores to The Sleep Train of Citrus Heights, CA. [" [http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2006/07/24/daily22.html Simmons selling Sleep Country for $55M] ", Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle), July 26, 2006]
* In 2007 Simmons will launch the first mattresses with GEL Technology.
* In 2007 Simmons releases the [http://www.simmons.com/products/brands/comforpedic/index.html ComforPedic by Simmons] line.
* On June 19, 2008 at Simmons Janesville a Box Spring Upholstery Record was set with 360 Box Springs made in 8 Hours by Brandon LaVeen and Cory Brecklin. The most ever made in 8 hours was 382 pieces also by the same team but was never recorded.

References

External links

* [http://www.simmons.com Simmons' web site]
* [http://www.consumersearch.com/www/house_and_home/mattress-reviews/index.html Review of Simmons, Sealy and other mattresses brands]
* [http://www.simmons.com/company.cfm Company official history]
* [http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/d7731.htm Simmons Company Records, 1892-2000]