Savvy Rest Organic Mattress Sales Up 400%

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- A small organic mattress and bedding manufacturer in central Virginia has grown over 400% in four years, and leads a surging market niche.

Until recently, few consumers recognized that most mattresses are made with toxic chemicals. The British medical journal, The Lancet, and the Harvard School of Public Health have linked high-volume-production (HVP) chemicals in consumer products with developmental brain disorders such as autism and ADHD*. Some, such as formaldehyde and toluene, common in conventional and memory foam mattresses, are known carcinogens.

The Savvy Rest Organic Mattress is all-natural latex, made from the sap of the rubber tree. The casing is certified organic wool and certified organic cotton. Independent organic certifications add credibility to the brand.

Savvy Rest attributes its growth to increasing demand for healthful, eco-friendly products, creative staff (none with MBAs or sales backgrounds), thorough research, and strong relationships with 60+ independent stores. In 2005, Savvy Rest had one idea and two staff. Today, the company employs 15 people. In 2006, Savvy Rest sold 90% of its products directly to consumers. In 2010, over 90% of sales are through the company's growing network of dealers—the broadest among organic mattress manufacturers.

Savvy Rest is a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council and is certified by Green America. The company posts organic certifications and independent materials testing results on its web site: http://www.savvyrest.com. The site features the industry's most comprehensive consumer education, including over 50 articles on materials, design, and sleep issues.

In addition to distinguishing between natural and synthetic latex, the Savvy Rest web site also educates consumers on the differences among mattresses labeled organic. Prior to 2005, even mattresses called "organic" were made with cotton fiber filling, which grows hard or lumpy in a short time. Cotton fiber also harbors dust mites, a major allergen.

Savvy Rest's founder, Michael Penny, a 30-year yoga practitioner, developed a layered mattress design that is customized for each person, based on their height, weight, sleeping positions, and pain issues. Savvy Rest Organic Mattresses can be configured differently on each side to accommodate couples, and can be customized to any dimensions.

The company offers a 90-day exchange period during which customers can change layers to alter the "feel".

The Savvy Rest bedding line includes organic mattress toppers, sheets, mattress pads, and pillows.

Savvy Rest Company Firsts

1. First to offer natural Dunlop or natural Talalay latex, or a combination.
2. First to offer personalized layering, and first to allow layer exchange.
3. First to post USDA organic certifications on the company web site.
4. First to share materials testing from independent labs in the U.S. and Germany.
5. First to use certified organic wool as a natural flame barrier.
6. First to offer organic mattresses in a custom dimension or shape.

*  http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2006-releases/press11072006.html

SOURCE Savvy Rest