1800mattress.com Founder Receives Latino Trendsetter Award

Furniture World Magazine

Napoleon Barragan, founder and CEO of 1800mattress.com, recently received a Latino Trendsetter Award at Defining Trends Magazine’s (DTM) 7th Annual Latino Trendsetter and Scholarship Awards Gala and was also named 2008 Business Leader of the Year by the Council of Churches in the city of New York (CCNY). “It is an immense honor to be acknowledged by these fine organizations,” said Barragan. “These awards mean a lot as I take great pride in my Latino roots and in giving back to the community that has been so good to me and my family.” The DTM Awards Gala recognizes Latino trendsetters in entertainment, the arts, health, business, sports, education, government and corporate excellence. Barragan, and 19 other honorees, were acknowledged for their innovative and lasting contributions to the Latino community. The CCCNY Business Leader of the Year award recognizes New York City’s most distinguished Christian business leaders. Award recipients are selected based on philanthropic efforts, community involvement and business leadership. Barragan was acknowledged along side fellow honorees Curtis Martin, formerly of the New York Jets, Cheryl McKissack, CEO of the Mckissack Groupm, and NYC Commissioner to Combat Domestic Violence, Yolanda Jimenez. Barragan, a native of Ecuador, founded 1800mattress.com in 1976. His company has changed the face of bedding retail, and has grown to become the nation’s leading multi-channel bedding retailer. Barragan, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1968, is known for his generosity in the local community and internationally. In 2005, he was awarded the Immigrant History Week Award by Mayor Bloomberg for his service to the community. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he gave back by donating 3000 mattresses to shelters, fire departments and victims of the hurricane. Over the last five years, his company has invested over $250,000 to provide educational opportunities to those less fortunate. About 1800mattress.com: Founded in 1976, 1800mattress.com is the leading national multi-channel (internet, chat, call center and showrooms) retailer of mattresses, box springs and bedding products. It features products by Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Tempurpedic and King Koil among others from its 30 beds and mattress menu, including custom sizes, sofa beds, Murphy beds, futons, and adjustable and organic beds. Its award winning customer service is well chronicled in thousands of media articles and books. The company was also the first mattress retailer to introduce a two-hour delivery window, and fast national and international delivery of its products. Its business-to-business sales division supplies schools, hospitals, hotels and other institutions. For more information, please visit www.1800mattress.com. About DTM Group: DTM Group has been involved with publishing, marketing, and event production in the Latino community. The company has earned significant recognition over the years for its effectiveness, excellence, and delivery in recognizing both trends and innovations within the Latino culture. Latinos are influencing pop culture at a fast pace and this growing trend can no longer be ignored. DTM Group delivers traditional and new media content that connects people, bridges cultures, defines trends and recognizes emerging leaders in the Latino community. DTM is the go-to company for trends in Latino Culture. About CCCNY: The Council of Churches of the City of New York is the oldest continuing Council of Churches in the United States. It was organized in 1895 as the Greater New York Federation of Churches and Christian Workers. It combined with other ecumenical organizations in the early 1940s to become the protestant Council of the City of New York and took its present name in 1968. Since its inception, the Council has provided national and international leadership and exceptional service and ministry to the people and the churches in the greater New York area.