The History of Serta® Mattresses
In 1931, an assembly of independent mattress manufacturers joined forces. They realized that their future rested on the ability to compete with name recognition and advertising dollars of emerging national companies.
In 1933, the manufacturers organized their companies under one name—Serta—and set national guidelines for the products they would make and market under that brand name.
In creating its flagship mattress, the Perfect Sleeper®, these entrepreneurs struck a powerful balance. They developed a nationally recognized brand as well as a network of local companies dedicated to growing their retail partners’ businesses.
• The Serta Perfect Sleeper®: The best-selling premium mattress in the United States, the Official Mattress of the National Sleep Foundation and a Consumer’s Digest Best Buy.
• The iComfort® Sleep System by Serta: A revolutionary new memory foam mattress featuring Cool Action™ Gel Memory Foam – the world’s first memory foam infused with Serta’s MicroSupport™ gel for more support and a cooler sleep surface than ordinary memory foam.
• Perfect Day® by Serta: Serta’s top-of-the-line mattress collection designed for a rejuvenating sleep experience.
• Sertapedic®: Serta’s promotional product line designed to deliver the comfort and quality of Serta at exceptional values.
• Exclusive Signature Collections including the stylish Vera Wang by Serta® mattress collection and the luxurious Trump Home™ mattress collection.
As the leading provider of mattresses to the hospitality industry, Serta partners with hotel groups such as Hilton Hotels, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Bellagio Hotel, Wyndham Hotels, Omni Hotels, Choice Hotels, Accor Hotels and many more.
Today, Serta is the second largest bedding manufacturer in the industry and one of the most recognized home furnishing brands in the marketplace. Serta is a privately held company, owned by 6 licensees and represented by 23 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and 4 in Canada. In addition, Serta is distributed internationally in 60 other countries. With its worldwide network, Serta is able to respond quickly to customers’ needs while still preserving strict control standards to ensure the highest quality products.
National Bedding Company L.L.C. (NBC) is the largest of Serta, Inc.’s 6 licensees, with 18 manufacturing plants in the United States and 2 in Canada. NBC’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Hoffman Estates, IL provides critical services to all of Serta’s licensees including product development, national brand building and marketing programs, national account management and finance/accounting functions.
NBC and Simmons Bedding Company (Simmons) are owned and managed by AOT Bedding Super Holdings, LLC. NBC has primary responsibility for its competing brands of Serta®, including Perfect Sleeper®, iComfort®, Perfect Day®, Sertapedic® and its portfolio of licensed products while Simmons is responsible for its competing brands of Beautyrest® and ComforPedic®. Under AOT Bedding’s direction and leadership, the Serta and Simmons brands will continue to compete aggressively in the marketplace, but the companies will work together where joint activities will achieve efficiencies, enhance sales or provide better products and services to customers.
Serta expands its Trump Home™ mattress collection into the premium category with the Trump Home™ Luxury mattress collection.
FireBlocker® became standard in every U.S.-produced Serta mattress sleep set.
Serta introduced an all-new Perfect Night mattress with several “firsts” including:
• The FreeFlex® Innerspring – The most advanced innerspring in the world, it mirrors
the shape of the human body and provides 63% more support where the body
needs it most.
• Sensifiber™ – An exclusive, temperature-regulating fiber that helps to keep a comfortable sleeping surface throughout the night.
• Quad Beam Frame – Four layers of prime lumber deliver more than twice the
strength of regular wood frames.
A combination of fibers and convoluted foam in the quilt of the mattress, Comfort
Quilt helps to improve circulation, which reduces tossing and turning for a more
restful night’s sleep.
Increasing durability, Serta introduced the Triple Beam® Frame. Three layers of prime lumber deliver more than twice the strength of traditional box spring frames.
Increased Serta’s plant capacity by more than 300%.
Sales top $500 million.
“We Make the World’s Best Mattress™” campaign is launched.
Serta was first to use convoluted foam (egg crate foam) in the upholstery of its mattresses.
Another industry first! Serta introduced a continuous coil innerspring in its Serta Perfect Sleeper line that provided better support to the shoulders, back and hips.
Serta garners even more national attention by hiring screen siren Joey Heatherton as a spokesperson.
In response to consumer demand for firmer mattresses, the Sertapedic line is introduced with the tagline: “You sleep ON it, not in it.”
Serta grows TV advertising presence by sponsoring Bob Hope, The Today Show and The Tonight Show.
Additional Serta information:
Contact Serta
Serta Press Room
Serta Counting Sheep
Shop Serta Mattresses
Find a Serta Mattress Store Near You
In 1933, the manufacturers organized their companies under one name—Serta—and set national guidelines for the products they would make and market under that brand name.
In creating its flagship mattress, the Perfect Sleeper®, these entrepreneurs struck a powerful balance. They developed a nationally recognized brand as well as a network of local companies dedicated to growing their retail partners’ businesses.
Leading The Way In Mattress Innovation And Technology
For more than 80 years, Serta has been making consistent investments into the highest quality and most innovative features to ensure that every mattress set we manufacture delivers superior comfort and support. Throughout its history, Serta has been an industry leader, offering many product “firsts” – including the world’s first-ever “tuftless” mattress. Today, Serta is proud to offer a variety of exclusive features including our patented Advanced Comfort Quilt® and Continuous Support® Innerspring.Today
Serta is one of the most recognized and trusted brand names among retailers and consumers everywhere and is proud to offer a pipeline of innovative products, including:• The Serta Perfect Sleeper®: The best-selling premium mattress in the United States, the Official Mattress of the National Sleep Foundation and a Consumer’s Digest Best Buy.
• The iComfort® Sleep System by Serta: A revolutionary new memory foam mattress featuring Cool Action™ Gel Memory Foam – the world’s first memory foam infused with Serta’s MicroSupport™ gel for more support and a cooler sleep surface than ordinary memory foam.
• Perfect Day® by Serta: Serta’s top-of-the-line mattress collection designed for a rejuvenating sleep experience.
• Sertapedic®: Serta’s promotional product line designed to deliver the comfort and quality of Serta at exceptional values.
• Exclusive Signature Collections including the stylish Vera Wang by Serta® mattress collection and the luxurious Trump Home™ mattress collection.
As the leading provider of mattresses to the hospitality industry, Serta partners with hotel groups such as Hilton Hotels, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Bellagio Hotel, Wyndham Hotels, Omni Hotels, Choice Hotels, Accor Hotels and many more.
Today, Serta is the second largest bedding manufacturer in the industry and one of the most recognized home furnishing brands in the marketplace. Serta is a privately held company, owned by 6 licensees and represented by 23 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and 4 in Canada. In addition, Serta is distributed internationally in 60 other countries. With its worldwide network, Serta is able to respond quickly to customers’ needs while still preserving strict control standards to ensure the highest quality products.
National Bedding Company L.L.C. (NBC) is the largest of Serta, Inc.’s 6 licensees, with 18 manufacturing plants in the United States and 2 in Canada. NBC’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Hoffman Estates, IL provides critical services to all of Serta’s licensees including product development, national brand building and marketing programs, national account management and finance/accounting functions.
NBC and Simmons Bedding Company (Simmons) are owned and managed by AOT Bedding Super Holdings, LLC. NBC has primary responsibility for its competing brands of Serta®, including Perfect Sleeper®, iComfort®, Perfect Day®, Sertapedic® and its portfolio of licensed products while Simmons is responsible for its competing brands of Beautyrest® and ComforPedic®. Under AOT Bedding’s direction and leadership, the Serta and Simmons brands will continue to compete aggressively in the marketplace, but the companies will work together where joint activities will achieve efficiencies, enhance sales or provide better products and services to customers.
2011
Serta introduces a breakthrough in memory foam technology with its new iComfort® Sleep System, featuring Cool Action™ Gel Memory Foam – the world’s first memory foam infused with Serta’s MicroSupport™ gel for more support and a cooler sleep surface than ordinary memory foam.2010
Serta redesigns its flagship mattress, the Perfect Sleeper, with input from the National Sleep Foundation, specifically to address 5 common sleep problems; the Perfect Sleeper becomes the Official Mattress of the National Sleep Foundation.Serta expands its Trump Home™ mattress collection into the premium category with the Trump Home™ Luxury mattress collection.
2009
Serta launches the Trump Home™ mattress collection of innerspring and all-foam mattresses.2008
The beloved Serta Counting Sheep are named Advertising Icon of the Year.2007
Serta introduces the Vera Wang by Serta Specialty Collection of all-foam mattresses.2006
Serta launches the Vera Wang by Serta Collection of innerspring mattresses.2005
Serta Launches Perfect Day by Serta premium mattress collection for a rejuvenating sleep experience.FireBlocker® became standard in every U.S.-produced Serta mattress sleep set.
2004
Serta introduces a memory foam specialty collection with FireBlocker.2003
Serta becomes the first national mattress brand to offer a flame-retardant system in its mattresses.2002
Serta wins a Gold Effie for its Serta Counting Sheep advertising campaign.2000
Serta introduced the Serta Counting Sheep as the reluctant brand icons.Serta introduced an all-new Perfect Night mattress with several “firsts” including:
• The FreeFlex® Innerspring – The most advanced innerspring in the world, it mirrors
the shape of the human body and provides 63% more support where the body
needs it most.
• Sensifiber™ – An exclusive, temperature-regulating fiber that helps to keep a comfortable sleeping surface throughout the night.
• Quad Beam Frame – Four layers of prime lumber deliver more than twice the
strength of regular wood frames.
1990s
Serta introduced the most significant comfort innovation in its history, Comfort Quilt®.A combination of fibers and convoluted foam in the quilt of the mattress, Comfort
Quilt helps to improve circulation, which reduces tossing and turning for a more
restful night’s sleep.
Increasing durability, Serta introduced the Triple Beam® Frame. Three layers of prime lumber deliver more than twice the strength of traditional box spring frames.
Increased Serta’s plant capacity by more than 300%.
Sales top $500 million.
“We Make the World’s Best Mattress™” campaign is launched.
1980s
Progress marches on! Serta now has 43 manufacturing plants in six countries and 34 licensees.Serta was first to use convoluted foam (egg crate foam) in the upholstery of its mattresses.
Another industry first! Serta introduced a continuous coil innerspring in its Serta Perfect Sleeper line that provided better support to the shoulders, back and hips.
1970s
Serta was first to introduce a plusher Pillow Soft® mattress. This new construction countered the theory that you needed a hard mattress for proper back support.Serta garners even more national attention by hiring screen siren Joey Heatherton as a spokesperson.
1960s
Americans are sleeping on Serta in droves. 39 plants and over $70 million in sales.1950s
Serta slants advertising toward growing trend in health consciousness.In response to consumer demand for firmer mattresses, the Sertapedic line is introduced with the tagline: “You sleep ON it, not in it.”
Serta grows TV advertising presence by sponsoring Bob Hope, The Today Show and The Tonight Show.
1941-1945
As everyone feels the pinch of wartime shortages, Serta produces the “4-A Perfect Sleeper” with resourceful material substitutes.1940
The company name evolves to Serta, Inc.1937
A powerhouse was forming. Now with 35 manufacturers, Sleeper Products posted $10 million in sales… some 12% of total industry sales.1933
Company changes its name to Serta Sleeper Products and moves corporate headquarters from Philadelphia to Chicago.1931
Original Guardian Knight, Sleeper Products, Inc. is formed as a consortium of 13 independent mattress manufacturers. That same year, they produced the industry’s first tuftless innerspring mattress… no tufts, valleys or buttons. It was the world’s first most comfortable mattress of many to come.B.S. (Before Serta)
Man rested his head on anything from a pile of rocks and leaves to hay bails and horsehair. Suffice it to say, early man wasn’t a very good sleeper and took a long time to lull himself to sleep by performing mundane mental tasks like counting sheep.Additional Serta information:
Contact Serta
Serta Press Room
Serta Counting Sheep
Shop Serta Mattresses
Find a Serta Mattress Store Near You
