Holder Mattress Factory Expands Operations Kokomo, IN

Furniture World Magazine

Holder Mattress Factory recently expanded and combined their operations at 130 W. Morgan Street in Kokomo. Previously, the factory was located at 1508 N. Washington and the Morgan Street facility served as a warehouse only. "Holder Mattress Factory began making custom mattresses in Kokomo in the early '50s and we hope as the company grows we can continue handcrafting our mattress sets here for many years to come. Our goal is to provide the perfect night's sleep for as many lucky people as we can," said President Steve Holder. A graduate of Purdue University, Steve worked at the Holder store in West Lafayette while attending college fulltime. Steve and spouse Lisa, who oversees the operations of the Holder Home Collection retail stores, reside in Carmel, Indiana. Holder Mattress/Home Collection retail stores are located in Carmel, Castleton, Greenwood, Speedway and Kokomo, Indiana. Holder Mattress Factory has approximately 50 employees statewide. Lyle Holder and his brother Wayne founded Holder Mattress Factory in 1947. The Holder brothers started their business rebuilding mattresses during the Depression in Oklahoma. When the war ended Lyle Holder came to the Midwest and established operations in Kokomo marking the beginning of handcrafted custom mattresses with the Holder name. Today there are more than ten styles of mattress sets offered direct through their five central Indiana retail locations. Twin set prices range from $200 to the top of the line at $1,500. In keeping with the philosophy of their founder, Holder is one of very few manufacturers who still craft custom size mattresses for antique beds, RV's and boats. Additionally, adjustable beds are available with Holder mattresses. Holder is still a family-owned business. Steve Holder, son of founder Lyle Holder, serves as company president and heads the mattress division. Steve's spouse Lisa is secretary/ treasurer. The Home Collection stores were opened in 1994 and offer an extensive variety of accessories as well as several lines of heirloom-quality furniture, including Harden Furniture, Inc., also a family-owned company. Technical Information: Holder Mattresses sets are made to order. There are several choices for the core of the mattresses including traditional innerspring, muslin-encased English pocket coils, or latex foam. In addition to these cores, Holder handcrafts their mattresses with high-density urethane foam rated as high as 2.8 pounds per cubic foot. Some manufacturers use foam rated as low as. 8 pounds per cubic foot. Only the most natural materials are used for the padding, quilting layer and covers, including cotton, cashmere and silk blends imported from Europe. Ultra firm, soft top, ultra plush and pillow-top mattress styles are available. Holder box springs are manufactured with the coils attached to a wood base. The coils serve as a "shock absorber" so that the life of the mattress is prolonged. The wood base is constructed with the slats positioned vertically as opposed to flat. The positioning of the slats makes the frames stronger to support the mattress. This construction, often referred to as "old-fashioned," has proven to be an ideal design for comfort, durability and longevity. Recently, Holder introduced muslin-encased English pocket coil mattresses. "Very few manufacturers in the United States are using this spring style. I'm constantly looking for new and exciting ways to provide the ultimate handmade bed with superior quality at every price point. Sometimes that means researching ideas from around the world and bringing them to Kokomo," said Steve Holder. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Friday, September 15 in Kokomo to celebrate the expansion.