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Company History

One of the original Sleep Train stores, circa 1985

A Sleep Train store in Napa, California in 2011

Sunny Kobe Cook and Robert Cook founded Sleep Country USA in 1991 as a specialty sleep store chain. It started with 8 stores and approximately 25 employees in Washington. In March 2000, New York-based Fenway Partners Inc. acquired Sleep Country from Robert Cook and Sunny Kobe Cook. In 2003, Fenway Partners sold Sleep Country USA to the Atlanta-based Simmons Company. In August 2006, The Sleep Train, Inc. purchased the then-55-store Sleep Country USA Pacific Northwest chain from Simmons for $55m. Today, Sleep Country has grown to exceed 80 stores and more than 420employees throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Sleep Country USA is famously known for its award-winning jingle “Why Buy a Mattress Anywhere Else? (ding)."

In October 2010, Sleep Country USA became one of few companies nationwide to implement an Employee Stock Ownership Plann (ESOP).The plan allows all qualified employees to benefit from the company’s growth and prosperity by obtaining shares of the company at no cost to them. The ESOP plan is a benefit to employees in addition to the company’s existing 401(k) plan. ESOP’s are established to inspire a sense of ownership in the company within employees, enabling them to strive for a common goal of success, which in turn benefits them upon retirement. Sleep Country USA employees currently own more than 25% of the company.

Business Operations

Interior of a Sleep Train store in 2012

Sleep Country USA, an employee-owned company, currently has more than 420 employees.

Manufacturer Partnerships

Beautyrest®, Sealy Mattress Company®, Posturepedic®, Tempur-Pedic®, Stearns & Foster®, Serta (company) iComfort®, and Protect-A-Bed®

Locations

• Idaho West Area
• Oregon Metro Area
• Oregon Bend Area
• Oregon Corvallis Area
• Washington East Area
• Washington Metro Area
• Washington North Area
• Washington Peninsula Area
• Washington South Area

For detailed store locations, see store locator: http://www.sleepcountry.com/store-locator.aspx

Philanthropy

Dating back to its founding in 1991, Sleep Country USA’s company philosophy has included a commitment to give back to its community. In 2005, Sleep Country created the Sleep Country Foster Kids program to join forces with specific and targeted foster charity organizations and the community to help the Pacific Northwest’s nearly 20,000 foster children. Through advertising and public relations awareness, the collection and distribution of important material items like clothing, shoes, pajamas, coats, school supplies, gifts, and cash donations, Sleep Country’s Foster Kids Program has successfully delivered nearly 449,000 items and more than $490,000 in cash to these organizations.

Since 2006, the company has hosted an annual Sleep Country Pajama Bowl event to bring the community together and provide a fun way for families, individuals and businesses to lend a helping hand to local foster children in need. 100% of funds raised to participate in the Pajama Bowl go to supporting essential services and resources for foster children and their families as well as special experiences they might otherwise miss out on, such as music lessons, team sports or even reuniting with a sibling at summer camp. To date, the Pajama Bowl events have raised more than $476,000 for Pacific Northwest Foster Children.

Sponsorship

Sleep Country is a current sponsor of two Live Nation music venues: Sleep Country Amphitheater in Ridgefield, Washington and White River Amphitheater in Auburn, Washington.

Recognition & Awards

Sleep Country USA has been recognized by its industry and community with the following awards:

Community

• Puget Sound Business Journal’s Top Corporate Philanthropist
• Puget Sound Business Journal’s Healthy Community Corporate Champion for Basic Needs
• Points of Light Institute’s Daily Point of Light Award
• Puget Sound Business Journal and The Seattle Foundation’s Top 75 Corporate Philanthropists
• Puget Sound Business Journal’s Healthy Community Corporate Champions Honorable Mention
• Treehouse Community Partner of the Year Award
• Snohomish County Children's Commission Award
• Oregon Foster Parent Association Appreciation
• Compass Health Appreciation
• Foster Family Care Network Appreciation
• Kids Dream Appreciation
• Washington State Department of Social & Health Services Appreciation

Company

• Seattle Business’ Best Companies to Work For
• Furniture Today’s Top 100 Furniture Stores
• Washington CEO’s Best Place to Work
• Seattle Business’ Best Place to Work
• Kent Chamber of Commerce - Pursuit of Excellence Award

See also

• Sleep Country Canada – not affiliated with Sleep Country USA

External links

• Sleep Country USA