IMS Affiliates Obtain Westco Group, Inc. Assets And Mattress Warehouse Locations In Ohio And Kentucky.

Furniture World Magazine

Innovative Mattress Solutions, Inc. (iMS), has announced the details of an agreement with Westco Group, Inc., which involves the purchase ofselect assets and Mattress Warehouse trademark name. The deal, which was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division on January 20, is slated to take effect on February 1, 2004. The terms of the agreement include the transfer of the federal trademark for theMattress Warehouse name, domain addresses, certain physical assets andintellectual property from Westco Group, Inc. to various companies associated with iMS. Affiliates of iMS include Sleep Outfitters of Ohio, LLC., Sleep Outfittersof Kentucky, LLC. and Knopf Systems, LLC. iMS is a privately held company based in Winfield, West Virginia whose affiliated companies operate 24 retail-bedding showrooms in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky operating as Mattress Warehouse and Sleep Outfitters™. The Westco Group, Inc., based in Akron, Ohio, operated bedding showrooms in several Midwestern states. The acquisition agreement will allow iMS affiliated companies to assume selected Westco Group, Inc. showrooms in the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Louisville markets immediately. In addition, affiliated companies have plansto continue expanding into surrounding states with the Mattress Warehouse name. “We are very pleased at the result of this agreement,” stated KimberlyKnopf, president of iMS. “The name Mattress Warehouse has meant top quality bedding products and outstanding customer service for many years and we want to continue that tradition.” “We have operated our Mattress Warehouse showrooms in West Virginia for over 20 years. With this acquisition, we can continue to take our successful formula into new markets and expand our operations.” Knopf added, “This agreement will allow our company to expand into new markets, and build upon the foundation and strong name that the Westco Group has already developed in these larger markets.” With the expansion into new markets, iMS and affiliates have increased their employee base including corporate administration, sales and delivery / operations departments. Sticking to the sleep-shop formula, iMS and affiliates plans to offer a full line of mattresses and boxsprings from Sealy, Simmons and Stearns & Foster in all the Mattress Warehouse showrooms. In addition, showrooms will feature the Tempur-Pedic brand of pressure relieving Swedish mattresses and pillows. The selection of brass beds, headboards, footboards, futons and other bedding related products will be greatly expanded in the new showrooms.