Archive for the Company Happenings Category

Relax The Back & Tempur-Pedic Help Soldiers Sleep More Soundly

By on July 12, 2011
This entry is filed under Company Happenings, Franchise.

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In March, Relax The Back of Austin was contacted by an organization called Operation: Pray Me Home.  This organization was given a ‘Wish List’ of items the soldiers would like to have in their packs to take to Afghanistan.

The soldier’s #1 requested item was a small pillow that could be carried with them to ease the pain of sleeping in crowded air transports and the ground in some very uncomfortable situations. Since this is the 3rd and 4th deployment for this group of dedicated men and women, they requested this comfort from home to have with them.

We are happy to report that 450 soldiers from Ft. Hood 1st Cavalry Division will be resting more comfortably with the help of Relax The Back Stores of Austin, Texas and a generous donation from Tempur-Pedic.  Tempur-Pedic provided 450 of their Comfort Travel Pillows for the soldiers.

Bill and Barbara Simpson, franchise owners of the Austin area Relax The Back Stores were fortunate to meet some of these brave and dedicated soldiers and their families on June 18th at a deployment party. “We are thrilled and thankful to see that Relax The Back and Tempur-Pedic were able to help our soldiers get the rest they so need and deserve,” said Barbara Simpson.

The 2011 Relax The Back Convention

By on June 3, 2011
This entry is filed under Company Happenings and tagged , , .

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Relax The Back’s 2011 Convention in Phoenix was, by all accounts, the best in the company’s history!

With new merchandise from every corner of the industry, the 2011 Convention featured nearly 60 new products, showing how innovative manufacturing and groundbreaking research continue to drive the market.

Tempur-Pedic added to its line of ergonomic mattresses with the Tempur-Contour Collection, a series of mattresses that continue its tradition of contour-forming support. Amfit also debuted a Custom Orthotics Program, featuring orthotic inserts that alleviate pressure for painful feet. In the world of massage chairs, Sogno added another feature to its DreamWave model, creating a massage chair that rocks back and forth. Human Touch also made a splash with its Body Spa, a massage bed that provides hydrotherapeutic massage with a patented jet system.

In addition to new products, the convention featured informative seminars from experts in the fields of sleep, posture, and business management. Dr. William Orr, a pioneer in sleep research, spoke expansively on sleep benefits and the importance of fitting clients with the right mattress. Esther Gokhale, a renowned posture expert, demonstrated how to help clients (and franchisees) maintain a healthy posture, as well as  strengthen and protect their bones and muscles.

The convention’s keynote speaker, Dean Lindsay, provided a wealth of info on how to increase the franchisees’ potential as business owners and how to spur genuine business growth. Guest speaker Gary Henson also offered important insight on how to improve leadership, commitment, and accountability. At the awards dinner, Jason Young added to the conversation with his humorous take on the value of a successful workplace culture.

Besides these speakers, the company’s new catalog agency, J. Schmid, also gave a presentation on a slew of new marketing initiatives that will give Relax The Back a new look.  The new branding effort will debut in August with the break of the Fall catalog.

But, it was the franchisees who were the stars of the show. Many franchisees had breakthrough years and there was improvement in nearly every sector of the network. None of it would have been possible without the franchisees hard work and dedication.

With all signs pointing to an excellent 2011, the company feels confident that next year’s convention will be a continuation of its success.

Relax The Back Joins Haitian Relief Effort

By on March 25, 2010
This entry is filed under Company Happenings. | 2 Comments

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One of the nation’s largest specialty back care retailers, Relax The Back, is joining leading U.S. mattress manufacturer Anatomic Global, Inc., on its humanitarian initiative, The WorldBed Project. The company is launching a company-wide promotion “Buy a Bed, Give a Bed” to raise money and awareness for the delivery of up to 200,000 field beds to displaced Haitians following the January 12 earthquake near Port-au-Prince.

Children in Haiti use the WorldBed

As part of the program, for every PureFit or PureRelax mattress purchased at Relax The Back, the store will donate one WorldBed to someone in need in Haiti. A portion of the proceeds from every coordinating PureCrown or Purefit Body Pillow purchased will be collected to donate to WorldBed. Additionally, clients will have an opportunity to purchase WorldBed products online and in store at a cost of $35 each to be delivered to the relief effort.

“Anatomic Global came up with a very unique concept in the way the sleep product industry can help disaster victims all over the world and we wanted to be part of this noble endeavor,” said Relax The Back Vice President of Merchandising J.D. Nespoli. “Both Relax The Back Corporate and our Franchisees wanted to help with Haitian relief and this program is a great opportunity for us to do so.”

“Buy a Bed, Give a Bed” will be promoted with in-store displays and there are plans to include this program in Relax The Back’s Summer catalogue. In addition, Relax The Back’s corporate office has already donated a pallet of 50 WorldBeds and during the campaign will continue to channel additional funds to assist in this effort.

“Relax The Back is an incredible retail partner that will help us make a lasting impact in Haiti,” said Anatomic Global CEO David Farley. “The WorldBed Project couldn’t exist without their compassion and the support and donations of our business community.”

Anatomic Global started supplying Relax The Back with bedding products in 2008 and based on customer response has continued to expand the relationship throughout the years.

To date Anatomic Global has also been joined in the effort by Relax The Back, FXI Foamex Innovations, Deslee Textiles USA, Royal Packaging, Brookwood Companies, World Hope International, CARE and Parakletos International. The company is re-investing its corporate profits from all operations for the first quarter of 2010 to manufacture WorldBeds for Haitian relief and sent a team to help with the initial shipments. So far 2,216 field beds have been delivered to Haiti with 1,800 en route.

“Relax The Back is a dynamic participant in The WorldBed Project and we are grateful to them and to all of our business partners who share this responsibility with us,” added Farley.

The WorldBed Project is a turnkey sleep system designed for emergency care and relief efforts. Built from high performing 3-inch cushioning foam, the cot-sized field beds can be compression packaged and quickly dispatched, in volume, to areas of need, anywhere, worldwide. It was created to provide needed comfort, increased levels of health and safety, and a more sanitary place to sleep in an effort to speed recovery, aid in healing.

The WorldBed Project was initiated during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in which Anatomic Global mobilized a team to make and distribute 3,000 field beds that ended up benefiting 11,000 persons in need.  In response to the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit near Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010, Anatomic Global, Inc. CEO David Farley, revisited the WorldBed concept and began operating it as an adjunct business unit of his company on January 14, 2010. Its mission is to deliver 200,000 WorldBed products to displaced Haitians over the next year and will continue to aid other global disaster relief programs on an as needed basis. For more information, visit www.WorldBed.org.

Based in La Palma, California, Relax The Back currently operates over 110 locations nationwide with plans to open several more locations in 2010 and beyond.  Relax The Back offers a comprehensive line of products to prevent and relieve the back pain through proper spinal support alignment including ergonomic office chairs, mattresses, and pillows, back and neck supports, massage chairs, fitness and therapy products, and Zero Gravity recliners. For more information, visit Relax The Back.

Founded in 1989, Anatomic Global is a fully integrated, EDI capable globally positioned distribution, logistics and fulfillment-company that today incorporates the brand development and marketing insight of bedding industry leaders to meet the needs of its customers.  Deeply rooted in the medical mattress industry, in 2008 the company applied its medical manufacturing expertise and launched the Ecomfort Mattress brand featuring its signature, exclusive EcoMemoryFoam™ extreme open-cell plant-based memory foam.  For more information, visit www.ecomfortmattress.com