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The Sleep Train

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The Sleep Train
Company typePrivate
IndustryMattress Retailer
Founded1985
FounderDale Carlsen
Headquarters
Headquartered in Rocklin, California
Area served
California
Key people
Founder/CEO: Dale Carlsen; COO: Rob Killgore; CFO: Pete DiCorti
ProductsBrand name mattress sets from Beautyrest, Sealy Mattress Company, Posturepedic, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and Serta (company) iComfort; Foundations, moveable beds, daybeds and convertibles; Mattress accessories
Number of employees
685+
Websitewww.sleeptrain.com

Sleep Train is the largest mattress retailer on the West Coast. It was founded by Dale Carlsen in June 1985. Sleep Train stores carry mattresses manufactured by Beautyrest, Sealy Mattress Company, Posturepedic, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and Serta (company) iComfort. Sleep Train also carries headboards by Fashion Bed Group and Modus International, as well as a variety of bedding accessories including Protect-A-Bed. The company is based in Rocklin, California and has more than 100 locations throughout California.

Company History

One of the original Sleep Train stores, circa 1985
A Sleep Train store in Napa, California in 2011

Sleep Train was founded by Dale Carlsen in 1985, shortly after graduating from California State University at Sacramento. He opened the first Sleep Train store on Folsom Boulevard in Sacramento, California.[1] Within eight months, he added a second store in Citrus Heights, California. Prior to starting Sleep Train, Carlsen worked as a salesperson for local mattress manufacturer, Lady Americana.[1]

In June 2000, Sleep Train sold 24 of its stores (mainly in Seattle and Portland), or about 30 percent of its business, to Fenway Partners,[2] a New York private-investment firm which had acquired Sleep Country USA, a competing chain established in 1991, three months earlier.[3][4] At the time, Sleep Train had 44 stores (of which 18 were in Washington) and Sleep Country USA 28.[3]

In 2002, Sleep Train Inc. announced plans to purchase 54 of Mattress Discounters' stores in California during that company's bankruptcy—which would more than double Sleep Train's size.[5] In 2003, Fenway Partners sold Sleep Country USA to the Atlanta-based Simmons Company,[4] and in August 2006, Sleep Train Inc. purchased the then-55-store Sleep Country USA chain from Simmons.[6]

In 2007, the company initiated its first annual philanthropic event to help at-risk youth in the region with the creation of the Sleep Train Charity Golf Classic.[7] Retrieved May 6, 2012. Then in 2008, Sleep Train founded The Sleep Train Foster Kids Program, a philanthropic program to give back to its communities through the support of nonprofit organizations that aide the region’s more than 60,000 foster children.

In October 2010, Sleep Train became one of few companies nationwide to implement an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).[8] 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 in addition to the company’s existing 401k 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 Train employees currently own more than 25% of the company.

In September 2011, Sleep Train acquired Christian’s Mattress Xpress, converting three stores into new Sleep Train stores in Visalia, Fresno and Fowler.[9] The following month, October 2011, Sleep Train purchased Mattress Outlet, a 14-store company with 13 stores in eastern Washington and one in Idaho, and America’s Mattress, a seven-store company in western Washington.[10] In October 2012, Sleep Train acquired Sleep City, an 8-store chain in Eastern Washington and Idaho.[11]

Business Operations

Interior of a Sleep Train store in 2012

Sleep Train, an employee-owned company, currently has more than 685 employees.

Manufacturer Partnerships

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

The company has more than 100 Sleep Train locations throughout California.

Locations

  • Sacramento Area
  • Redding Area
  • •Central Valley Area
  • San Francisco and Bay Area
  • •San Diego and SoCal Area
  • •Inland Empire Region

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

Philanthropy

For over 20 years, Sleep Train‘s company philosophy has included a commitment to give back to the community.[7] In 2008, Sleep Train created its Sleep Train Foster Kids program to join forces with specific and targeted foster charity organizations and the community to help California’s more than 60,000 foster children.[12] Through advertising and public relations awareness, the collection and distribution of important material items like clothing, shoes, pajamas, school supplies, gifts, and cash donations, Sleep Train’s Foster Kids Program has successfully delivered hundreds of thousands of items and thousands of dollars in cash to these organizations.

The company also hosts its annual Sleep Train Charity Golf Classic. The private event brings together industry professionals for one day to raise money for a variety of nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to at-risk youth. In 2012, the event raised a record breaking $600,000, which puts total donations at over $2 million since the event began six years ago. [13] Major event sponsors have included Beautyrest, Sealy Mattress Company (Sealy Corporation), Tempur-Pedic, Leggett & Platt, Pure LatexBLISS, Serta (company), Progressive Finance and DSI Delivery.[7]

In addition, Sleep Train has supported Junior Achievement of Sacramento for more than a decade, and Boys & Girls Club.[7] Sleep Train employees are encouraged to volunteer for and participate in fundraising events sponsored by local charities.

Sponsorship

Sleep Train is committed to its community and ensuring music and the arts are accessible in California. The company sponsors five concert venues in California. Sleep Train currently holds naming rights to the Sleep Train Pavilion, an amphitheater in Concord, California. Additionally, the company sponsors Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California and Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California.[14] On October 15, 2012, it purchased the naming rights for the Sleep Train Arena (Formerly ARCO Arena/Power Balance Pavilion) in Sacramento, California.[15] Sleep Train Arena is the home of the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

In 2011, Sleep Train’s founder, Dale Carlsen, was one of 25 executives who pledged financial support to keep the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento.[16] The company utilized its sponsorship to further promote and capture support for its Foster Kids Program, organizing drives called “Donation Days” at the games to collect important material items for foster children.[17]

Sleep Train's advertising campaign incorporates the use of more than 100 of the top DJ talent in the state of California to endorse their brand. They also advertised for many years on The Rush Limbaugh Show. The owner of Sleep Train has known host Rush Limbaugh for many years and has sponsored the show since its 1988 launch into national syndication. Sleep Train suspended advertising on the show on March 4, 2012 in the wake of the Rush Limbaugh–Sandra Fluke controversy; the company was in discussions regarding future advertising on the show when on March 8 Rush Limbaugh personally terminated the relationship.[18]

Recognition & Awards

Dale Carlsen and staff accepting an award

Sleep Train recognition and awards from the industry and community:

  • Voted #1 "Best Mattress" Store - KCRA-TV A-List, 2013 [19]
  • Voted #1 "Best Mattress" Store - KCRA-TV A-List, 2012 [20]
  • ESOP Communications Excellence Award - ESOP Association CA/Western States Chapter, 2011 [21]
  • Daily Point of Light Award [22] - Points of Light Institute, November 5, 2010
  • Voted #1 "Best Mattress" Store [23] - KCRA-TV A-List, 2011
  • Voted #1 "Best Mattress" Store - Best of the Baylist, 2010
  • Volunteer Spirit Award - Corporate Volunteerism from the Volunteer Center of Sacramento, 2010 [21]
  • "Outstanding Grantmaker" - Sacramento Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, 2010 [21]
  • "Partners in Philanthropy" Honoree in the large company category - Sacramento Business Journal, 2010 [24]
  • Voted #1 "Best Mattress" Store - KCRA-TV A-List, 2010 [21]
  • Voted #1 "Best Mattress" Store - Best of the Baylist, 2010 [21]
  • Voted #1 "Best Furniture" Store - KCRA-TV A-List, 2009 [21]
  • Rated as one of the "100 Fastest Growing Companies in the Sacramento Region" - Sacramento Business Journal, 2008 [21]
  • "Voted Best Mattress Store" - San Diego Union Tribune, 2007 [21]
  • Ranked #1 West Coast Mattress Retailer - Furniture/Today, 2006 [21]
  • Retail Giant of Bedding - Furniture/Today, 2006 [21]
  • Voted "Best Mattress Store" - San Diego City Beat, 2006 [21]
  • Ranked 38th for the "Top Private Companies" - Sacramento Business Journal, 2005 [21]
  • Voted "Best Place to Buy a Bed" - Sacramento (magazine), 2001 [21]
  • Named "National Home Furnishings Retailer of the Year" - National Home Furnishings Association, 1998 [21]
  • "100 Fastest Growing Companies" - Sacramento Business Journal (multiple years) [21]
  • "Recognition of Outstanding Community Service to hearing impaired for underwriting closed captioning" - KOVR 13, 1992 [21]

Recognition for Founder & CEO Dale Carlsen for his efforts in the community and role in the mattress retailing industry:[21]

  • Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Award [25]
  • "Distinguished Alumni Award" - Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, 2007
  • "Businessman of the Year" - Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, 2005
  • "Business Hall of Fame Honoree" - Junior Achievement of Sacramento, 2005
  • "Father of the Year" - Father's Day Council benefiting American Diabetes Association of Sacramento, 2005
  • "Alumnus of the Year" - California State University, Sacramento's College of Business Administration, 2001
  • "Volunteer of the Year" - Junior Achievement, 2000
  • "Sacramentan of the Year, 2012" - Sacramento Metro Chamber [26]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Celebrating 25 Years Sleep Train website. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  2. ^ Johnson, Kelly (June 11, 2000). "Sleep Train sells off 24 stores for cash in Seattle, Portland". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Lee, Thomas (March 3, 2000). "N.Y. firm acquires Sleep Country". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 10, 2011. Cite error: The named reference "sea-times-2000" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Levesque, John (August 9, 2009). "Sleep Country jingle has been waking up the Northwest for 18 years". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  5. ^ Johnson, Kelly (October 23, 2002). "Sleep Train agrees to buy 54 stores". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  6. ^ "Sleep Train purchases Sleep Country USA". Sacramento Business Journal. August 30, 2006. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d Charitable Programs Sleep Train website. Retrieved May 6, 2012 Cite error: The named reference "Charitable Programs" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Sleep Train pulling into new Rocklin HQ, plans expansion". Sacramento Business Journal. August 30, 2006. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  9. ^ Sleep Train announces acquisition, expansion. The Business Journal. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  10. ^ Sleep Train buys two mattress companies. Sacramento Business Journal, October 28, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  11. ^ Sleep Train acquires more stores, expanding Got Sleep format. Sacramento Business Journal, October 26, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  12. ^ Daily Point of Light #4370 Sleep Train Foster Kids Program. Points of Light Blog, November 5, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  13. ^ Sleep Train Charity Golf Classic Raises a Record Breaking $600,000 for Foster Kids. Furniture World, Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  14. ^ Live Nation Concerts Sleep Train website. Retrieved May 8, 2012
  15. ^ Sosenko, Ben (October 15, 2012). "Kings Now Call 'Sleep Train Arena' Home". KOVR. Archived from the original on January 7, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Businesses step up to help save the Sacramento Kings. KXTV, April 26, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  17. ^ "Sleep Train promotes foster program through Kings sponsorship". Sacramento Business Journal. January 18, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  18. ^ Seidl, Jonathan. Limbaugh drops company that suspended ads from show over Fluke remarks. The Blaze. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  19. ^ KCRA-TV Best Mattresses. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  20. ^ KCRA-TV 2012 Award Winner: BEST Mattresses. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Awards. Sleep Train website. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  22. ^ Points of Light Institute Prestigious Daily Point of Light Award Honors Sleep Train Foster Kids Program. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  23. ^ KCRA-TV / Best Mattresses. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  24. ^ Philanthropic businesses win awards. Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  25. ^ / Sleep Train CEO recognized as entrepreneur. Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  26. ^ 2012 Annual Business Award Winners Announced, Sacramento Metro Chamber e-news, November 28, 2012.

Additional references

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