Gerald Gershaw Departs From Ther-A-Pedic International

Furniture World Magazine

After 43 years with THER-A-PEDIC INTERNATIONAL, Gerald Gershaw, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, has elected to relinquish active responsibilities as President Overseas Division and to pursue more personal endeavors. Gershaw started in the bedding business in 1952, working for his father-in-law who was a prominent labor and association President specializing in the Bedding Industry. In 1956, he left to take a position as Sales Manager with a small firm in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Bedding Industry of America. After a year, the owner of the company died, and working with the company creditors and the labor union, Gershaw was able to take over the firm. In the later part of 1957, he and long time friend Richard Berman started BMMC (Bedding Manufacturers Marketing Corporation) later to become THER-A-PEDIC INTERNATIONAL With an Esso credit card, and an automobile, they set out to seek bedding manufacturers to form a new group to do cooperative advertising and purchasing. They were convinced that the future of the industry would be in the hands of the big players. Also convinced were five now members who immediately signed on to the company. Holding a dual position as President of B.I.A., Gershaw also assumed the position of BMMC C.E.O., with Mr. Berman acting as C.O.O. With Mr.Berman's untimely death in 1959, Mr. Gershaw was forced to leave day to day operations of B.I.A and turned his full time attention to B.M.M.C as now THER-A-PEDIC INTERNATIONAL. The first Licensees signed outside of the United States were in Canada and Mexico in 1960. THER-A-PEDIC INTERNATIONAL continued its unusual fast growth through the 1970's and 1980's. After the major markets had been covered by the Domestic Licensees of THER-A-PEDIC. Gershaw felt that any major growth for THER-A-PEDIC would be overseas so he started to focus towards that philosophy. With the strain of a the Domestic and International divisions becoming more difficult, Mr. Gershaw decided to sell his stake in THER-A-PEDIC INTERNATIONAL over a ten year period. That period has drawn to a close... leaving 17 Domestic and 33 International factories. Mr. Gershaw now intends to take a more active role at THER-A-PEDIC SLEEP PRODUCTS OF NEW JERSEY, where he is a partner with Stuart Carlitz. Mr. Gershaw intends to stay active in the bedding business.