Category: SSB

From Sleeping Hot to Late Night Visits From Kids and Bed Hogging Pets, New Survey Reveals the Top Sleep Disruptors

By JD Velilla, Head of Sleep Experience at Serta Simmons Bedding

At Serta Simmons Bedding, our mission is built on helping people sleep better so they can live healthier lives. In fact, good sleep is so critical that the American Heart Association (AHA) recently updated its cardiovascular health checklist to include sleep quality as essential for optimal cardiovascular health. However, despite that essential nature of sleep, we know that many aren’t getting the amount of sleep they need.

We recently commissioned a survey with OnePoll* to further understand how people are sleeping right now as well as some of the most common sleep disruptors and discovered the following:

  • Many People Still Aren’t Getting Good Sleep – A fifth of respondents said it’s been more than one month since they’ve gotten a perfect night’s rest (21%), with 28% percent of people not getting a good night’s sleep in 1-2 weeks. The average person also reported waking up three times per night.
  • Poor Sleep Quality Spans Generations – For Millennials (ages 26-41), waking up at least three times per night is the norm. Baby Boomers (ages 58-76) are the most likely to report having missed out on a perfect night’s sleep in more than a month (33%). And, nearly three-fourths of Gen Z (ages 18-25) (74%) and the Silent Generation (ages 77-94) (73%) are most likely to toss and turn at night because they can’t find a comfortable sleep position.
  • Sleeping Hot Ranks Among the Top Sleep Disruptors – Most people wake up more often at night when they feel hot (76%). Interestingly, people residing in the Northeast are more likely to wake up more often when they feel hot (89%) than their neighbors in Southern states (61%). For those sleeping hot, 49% turn on the AC or a fan, 37% sleep without the covers, and 36% change their clothes to cool down.
  • No Rest for Weary Parents and Pet Owners – 40% of parents shared they are woken up more than twice a week by their child(ren) not being able to sleep – usually when their children need to use the bathroom (34%) or when their children have nightmares (31%). After waking up, nearly half of parents almost always give in and let their kids crawl into bed with them (49%). Meanwhile, 41% of pet owners, are woken up by their furry family members twice a week, thanks to their pet’s barks/meows or whimpers (36%), their need to go outside (31%) or when they take up too much space in the bed (30%).
  • Although Better Sleep May Be Just Around the Corner for Parents with School-Aged Children – Nearly half of parents surveyed said they get more sleep when their kids return to school (49%), and 50% said the quality of their sleep is better during this time, too.

While there are many sleep disruptors keeping us awake, there are also some ways to ensure you are a getting a better night of shut eye, including:

  • First and Foremost, Know (And Address) What is Interrupting Your Individual Sleep Routine. Partner or pet affecting your sleep by taking up too much of the bed? Choose the largest bed that can fit into your space, and ensure the mattress includes technology that addresses motion transfer (Beautyrest Black is a great option). Waking up in the middle of the night sweating? Light clothing, breathable linens and a mattress with cooling technology like Serta Arctic can help.
  • Watch What (and When) You Eat Before Bed – Bedtime can trigger cravings for many of us (nearly half (48%) of the individuals surveyed admitted they regularly eat before bed, and these respondents are likely to crave sweets (50%) such as cookies (42%) or salty snacks (32%) like chips (49%) or popcorn (45%). For optimal sleep, it is best to have a light dinner two to three hours before bedtime, so the digestive process doesn’t impact your ability to fall asleep. It is also important that you don’t go to bed hungry. If you find yourself hungry before bed, snack on something easy to digest, like fruit, or my favorite, yogurt with granola.
  • Making Your Bed Can Impact Your Sleep – Seventy-four percent of those surveyed said they sleep better crawling into a neatly made bed at night, with that number rising to 77% among Millennials (ages 26-41). I often talk about the importance of thinking about your bedroom as a recovery room and making your bed each day is a key part of that.

At Serta Simmons Bedding, we’re always seeking to understand what is hindering people’s sleep so that we can help address their evolving sleep needs – whether through the mattresses or through our complementary products and accessories designed to help create the ideal sleep experience.

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JD Velilla is the Head of Sleep Experience at Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), the leading sleep company with a portfolio of brands that includes Serta, Beautyrest, Tuft & Needle and Simmons. He is also a member of the Global Wellness Institute.

In his role, JD advocates and educates about the importance of sleep as part of an overall self care and wellness regimen. He connects the dots between the latest sleep science, product development and the habit changes required to achieve transformative rest.

A self-proclaimed sleep nerd, JD has transformed his bedroom into a dedicated recovery room and never uses an alarm clock. He wakes up every morning refreshed and ready to take on the day.

*Study surveyed 2,000 Americans on disruptors most impacting sleep.

Serta Simmons Bedding Unveils Limited-Edition Sleep Collection with Nate Berkus

By Taylor Beckstead, Vice President of Beautyrest, Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB)

At Beautyrest, we strongly believe consumers should not have to choose between comfort and style. On the heels of the launch of our luxury Beautyrest Black® lineup, today we are unveiling our latest design-led sleep collaboration – the Beautyrest® by Nate Berkus Collection.

Celebrity interior designer Nate Berkus has transformed countless homes around the world through his approachable and elevated design philosophy. Today, he is extending his design vision to his new sleep collection which includes an assortment of mattresses, mattress protectors and down pillows, marking Nate’s first foray in these categories.

The new Beautyrest by Nate Berkus Collection features:

– Nate’s Signature Design – Nate is known for his timeless design style. He created an exclusive print for the Beautyrest sleep collection which is a fresh take on a classic herringbone pattern. The mattresses, which are available in varying levels of firmness, feature a white and gray design with black accents. Similarly, the waterproof mattress protector and down pillows lean into that same aesthetic in all white with black accents.

– Conscious Design – We are always looking for ways to incorporate materials that are better for the environment. Every item in the Beautyrest by Nate Berkus collection incorporates SEAQUAL™ Fabric technology, which upcycles recovered plastics from the ocean into a durable and luxurious fabric. For example, each queen mattress includes 50 plastic bottles recovered from the ocean.

– Elevated Performance and Technology – The Beautyrest by Nate Berkus mattresses also feature the latest innovations in support, comfort, and cooling that work together in harmony to offer a better night of sleep. For more information on the specific features and technology, visit Beautyrest.com.

As a busy designer and parent, Nate shares our company’s mission to help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives. We are excited to bring his design aesthetic to Beautyrest as our latest in a series of design-led launches and collaborations from the Serta Simmons Bedding portfolio of brands.

Serta Simmons Bedding Announces Plans for New Manufacturing Facility in Janesville, Wisconsin

New 500,000 square-foot facility, scheduled to open in 2023, to produce leading Serta® and Beautyrest® brands

Doraville, GA (April 12, 2022) – Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (SSB), one of North America’s largest sleep companies, announced today plans to open a new 500,000 square-foot dual-branded manufacturing facility in Janesville, WI. The new facility will be home to both Serta® and Beautyrest® brands and will produce industry-leading lines such as Serta® Perfect Sleeper®, Serta® Arctic™, Beautyrest® Harmony® and Beautyrest Black®, among others.

“Our new Janesville manufacturing facility will become one of the largest dual-branded facilities in our network, enabling us to expand our capacity and continue to meet consumer demand for our trusted brands,” said Terry Litwiler, Vice President of Operations, Serta Simmons Bedding. “This new facility is a critical part of our broader effort to optimize our manufacturing footprint to ensure we are delivering for our retail partners and consumers, while creating an industry-leading work environment for our employees.”

Serta Simmons Bedding will consolidate its two existing facilities in Wisconsin, currently located in Janesville and Beloit, into the new state-of-the-art facility, scheduled to open in 2023.The plant will initially employ more than 300 employees. Over the next few years, SSB plans to add additional jobs in areas including general production and warehousing.

“I’m pleased Serta Simmons Bedding has chosen Janesville to expand their operations, which will retain its existing workforce and attract 100 more to the City,” said Mark Freitag, City Manager, Janesville. “We are happy to use one of the few economic development tools we have in the State of Wisconsin to support this development. I’m proud of our team and partners at Rock County for diligently coordinating efforts between Serta Simmons Bedding, the developer, Zilber, and the City.”

SSB has a rich manufacturing history in Wisconsin that goes back more than 150 years. Simmons Company was founded and first began assembling mattresses and foundations in Kenosha in the 1870s, and opened the current plant in Janesville in 1982, producing Beautyrest® mattresses. The current plant in Beloit has been producing Serta® mattresses since its opening in 1987. Over the years, both plants have continued to grow and have produced leading innovations like the recently launched Serta®Arctic™ line.

“We’re proud to remain one of the largest employers in Southern Wisconsin,” said Jim Fenton, Operations Leader, Serta Simmons Bedding. “We’re opening a new chapter in our history and I’m excited to see how our teams will continue to grow and thrive in the new community, while also continuing to deliver our innovative products that help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives.”

About Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC

Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is one of the largest manufacturers, marketers, and suppliers of mattresses in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages two of the best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta®, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest®. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels, as well as direct-to-consumer platforms, throughout the United States and Canada. SSB also owns the Simmons® and Tuft & Needle® mattress brands. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com.

Media Contact:

Danit Marquardt

Serta Simmons Bedding

dmarquardt@sertasimmons.com

 

Serta Simmons Bedding Announces New Executive Leadership Appointments

John Linker to Join SSB as Chief Financial Officer, Shoukat Ali Bhamani Named Chief Technology Officer

DORAVILLE, Ga., March 25, 2022 — Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (SSB), one of North America’s largest sleep companies, announced today that John Linker will join the company as Chief Financial Officer and that Shoukat Ali Bhamani has joined SSB as Chief Technology Officer. Linker will oversee the finance organization, inclusive of accounting, operations and commercial finance, financial planning and analysis, internal audit, tax and treasury, as well as the procurement and strategy functions. Bhamani is responsible for all aspects of technology implementation and innovation, including internal technology systems as well as SSB’s direct-to-consumer platforms.

“John and Shoukat are world-class leaders who will bring immense subject matter expertise to the Serta Simmons Bedding team,” said Shelley Huff, Chief Executive Officer, Serta Simmons Bedding. “They will both play pivotal roles that will position the company for growth and drive forward our mission to help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives.”

Linker joins SSB with more than 25 years of financial and leadership experience, most recently serving as executive vice president and CFO at JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (NYSE: JELD), one of the world’s largest door and window manufacturers. Prior to JELD-WEN, John held a variety of corporate development and finance leadership roles in the Aerospace Systems Division of United Technologies Corporation and its predecessor Goodrich Corporation.

“Serta Simmons Bedding has an unmatched portfolio of leading sleep brands, and I share SSB’s commitment to bringing innovative products to the market,” said Linker. “I look forward to partnering with Shelley, the leadership team and the broader finance organization to further build a strong and resilient finance function that will support accelerated growth and shareholder value creation.”

Bhamani comes to SSB from Schaeffler Group, a global manufacturer and distributor of automotive, industrial and aerospace products, where he spent more than 25 years in a variety of technology leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Schaeffler’s Chief Information and Digital Officer where he transformed a decentralized IT organization into a unified high-performing team, orchestrated a series of supply chain and business process improvements and successfully introduced digital transformation to the organization.

“I am passionate about using technology to help support business growth,” said Bhamani. “I am excited to join the executive leadership team and for the opportunity to work with the technology organization to leverage both internal systems and our external platforms to enhance the employee, retailer and consumer experience with SSB.”

Both Linker and Bhamani will report to Huff. Linker will join SSB on April 4, 2022 and Bhamani joined the organization in March.

About Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC

Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is one of the largest manufacturers, marketers, and suppliers of mattresses in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages two of the best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta®, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest®. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels, as well as direct-to-consumer platforms, throughout the United States and Canada. SSB also owns the Simmons® and Tuft & Needle® mattress brands. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com.

Media Contact:
Danit Marquardt
Serta Simmons Bedding
dmarquardt@sertasimmons.com

Serta Expands Perfect Sleeper Line with New 12-Inch Options

By Laura Brewick, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing, Serta Simmons Bedding

At Serta, we are committed to providing the most comfortable sleep solutions, across price points and form factors. One of our most popular lines is the Perfect Sleeper collection and today, I am excited to announce the expansion of the line with two new Perfect Sleeper options.

We are introducing new 12-inch Mattress-in-a-Box models for consumers looking for the high-quality, pressure-relieving comfort of our Perfect Sleeper line, conveniently shipped to their door. The new products include:

  • The Perfect Sleeper Renewed Relief™ 12” – A hybrid mattress offering supportive coils and contouring pressure relief.
  • The Perfect Sleeper® Splendid Slumber™ 12” – An all-foam mattress providing durable support through our proprietary geometric cut-out HexCloud™ Gel Memory Foam and as well as cooling relief through our Cool Twist® Gel Foam.

Both models also feature our antimicrobial cover*, first launched in 2020, that helps keep the mattress free from odor-causing bacteria.

The mattresses, which are available on Serta.com and will be rolling out to retailers nationwide, round out our current Mattress-in-a-Box assortment that also includes 10-inch and 11-inch models. The new line is one of many ways we are expanding our assortment to provide a comprehensive set of options that offer our trademark comfort for all.

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*These products do not protect users against bacteria, viruses, germs, or other disease organisms.

 

Less Coffee? No Dessert? Serta Simmons Bedding Unveils The Things People Would Give Up for a Better Night’s Rest and More Insights on Americans’ Sleep Habits

By JD Velilla, Head of Sleep Experience at Serta Simmons Bedding

As a self-proclaimed “sleep nerd,” I geek out when it comes to talking to people about how to get a good night of sleep. Here at Serta Simmons Bedding, we are all about helping people sleep better so they can live healthier lives.

Timed to Sleep Awareness Month, we recently commissioned a study with OnePoll* to understand Americans’ sleep habits and discovered several interesting findings, including:

  • The Average Bedtime is 10:00 p.m. – That said, those who claim they have “excellent” sleep prefer to hit the hay a little earlier at 9:39 p.m. When looking at different generations, Millennials are the most likely to go to bed the earliest at 9:49 p.m., followed by Generation X and Baby Boomers.
  • People Aren’t Sleeping Well Right Now – Only two in five people rate their quality of sleep as “excellent” (41%). And less than a third of adults feel refreshed when waking up in the morning, even after getting the recommended amount of sleep (30%).
  • They Are Willing to Sacrifice to Get Better Sleep – 43% of respondents said they would give up coffee for better sleep, and 30% would sacrifice dessert.
  • Falling Asleep Can Be Tough – Two in three have trouble falling asleep thinking about everything they must do the next day. What likely keeps people up at night is being worried about their family (42%) or work (41%).

With so many challenges tied to achieving a good night’s rest, I’m often asked for tips on how to sleep better. Here are a few:

  • Stick to a Sleep Schedule – Our bodies crave consistency. Many people go to sleep and wake up at different times from day to day, but consistency can fundamentally improve sleep quality. To create an impactful sleep routine, I suggest starting with what time you need to wake up, then counting back 7.5 hours (or five 90-minute sleep cycles) from there to determine your ideal bedtime.
  • Know Your Chronotype – Night owls and early birds have different peak productivity times. Also, their respective biological rhythms impact their sleep/wake schedules. Ideally, you can plan your day based on chronotype to maximize productivity and get better rest.
  • Find Your Sleep Routine – Sleep routines can extend beyond simple bedtimes to encompass nightly habits that prepare our mind and body for sleep. To unwind for bed, our study found that most people take under half an hour to complete their nightly routine like brushing their teeth (45%), completing their skincare regimen (41%) and watching TV (38%). Sleep routines can also encompass anything that enables people to relax before bed, from dimming the lights or lighting a candle.
  • Make Your Bedroom a Recovery Room – Seven in 10 Americans said they need their nighttime environment to be a certain way to get their best sleep (71%), according to our study. For example, our study found that getting shuteye in a silent room (31%) with some light on (72%) contributes to “excellent” sleep.
  • When All Else Fails, Take A Nap – Even after we find the best sleep schedule, refine our sleep routine, and create the ideal sleep environment, we all may encounter restless nights from time to time. Our survey found that, while the average person wakes up twice a night, more than a quarter (29%) of those who have “bad” sleep find themselves wide awake at least five times a night. But there is still an easy way to catch up on rest. After a suboptimal night of sleep, 30 minutes of napping can be a short yet refreshing way to get through the next day.

As you can see, there are many factors that can negatively impact sleep, but having the right gear shouldn’t be one of them. At Serta Simmons Bedding, we offer a wide range of products across our brands – from an assortment of mattresses (Serta Arctic and the Beautyrest Harmony Lux lines are two of my favorites) to bedding and accessories – to provide consumers with everything they need for their personalized sleep journey.

And don’t forget: if you don’t have a great night of sleep, you always have another night ahead of you to try again.

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*Study surveyed 2,000 Americans on their sleep habits.

Serta Simmons Bedding Names Shelley Huff Chief Executive Officer

David Swift to retire as Chairman and CEO after serving on the Board of Directors since 2013

Doraville, GA – Nov. 2, 2021 – Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (SSB), one of North America’s largest sleep companies, announced today that Shelley Huff, Chief Operating Officer of SSB and Chief Executive Officer of Tuft & Needle, has been named Chief Executive Officer of SSB, effective Dec. 1, 2021. Huff succeeds David Swift, who will retire from his post after serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dawn Holdings, Inc., SSB’s parent company, since 2013 and as Chairman and CEO since 2019. Huff will also join the Board of Directors of Dawn Holdings, Inc. on Dec. 1.

“When I stepped into the CEO role two and a half years ago, I had a clear objective – to set the foundation for the company’s transformation from a heritage mattress business into a digital-first, consumer-centric sleep company,” said Swift. “One key focus was on ensuring we had the right people in place to drive the business forward and, from day one, Shelley has been a critical addition to the team. Her outstanding track record and deep expertise in omnichannel retail, as well as her consumer-centric and team-first approach, is unmatched. She is uniquely qualified to lead Serta Simmons Bedding into the future.”

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the Serta Simmons Bedding team into the next phase of our company’s transformation,” said Huff. “Dave has put in place the critical building blocks to set the company up for growth. With this foundation, in addition to our unwavering commitment to quality craftsmanship and innovation, portfolio of power brands, top retail and supplier partners, and most importantly, incredible talent across the organization, we are well-positioned to become the trusted authority on sleep.”

In conjunction with Huff assuming the role of CEO, the company has appointed David Porter as non-executive Chairman of the Board. Porter is a retail executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience at companies including Walmart, DreamWorks Animation and Microsoft, where he currently serves as Corporate Vice President responsible for the company’s direct-to-consumer global retail business.

“It is an honor to join the Dawn Holdings Board at this dynamic time in the industry, as consumers increasingly prioritize sleep and wellness,” said Porter. “I look forward to partnering with Shelley, her leadership team and the existing board as the addressable market grows and consumer expectations evolve in the sleep industry.”

Huff joined SSB in July 2020 as Executive Vice President of Direct-to-Consumer of SSB and CEO of Tuft & Needle and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in April 2021. She came to SSB from Hayneedle.com, a Walmart-owned online home furnishings destination, where she served as President and CEO. Prior to that, Huff held a variety of leadership roles within Walmart’s U.S. division and at Walmart eCommerce, including serving as the Vice President of Operations at Walmart eCommerce, General Manager of Home and Apparel at Walmart.com and Vice President of Housewares at Walmart U.S. Huff is Chair of the University of Arizona Alumni Association Governing Board, where she is an advisor to the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing and the School of Family and Consumer Sciences. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and her master’s degree from the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

 

About Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC

 

Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is one of the largest manufacturers, marketers, and suppliers of mattresses in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages two of the best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta®, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest®. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels throughout North America. SSB also owns the Simmons® brand and Tuft & Needle® direct-to-consumer mattress brand. SSB operates 27 plants in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com.

 


Media Contact:

Gabrielle Braswell
Serta Simmons Bedding
470-303-1964
gbraswell@sertasimmons.com

 

 

Serta Simmons Bedding Announces New Supply Chain and Operations Roles

Doraville, GA – September 23, 2021 – Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (“SSB”), one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of mattresses in North America, recently announced two organizational enhancements that will accelerate its industry-leading Supply Chain journey.

Heather Decker now serves as the company’s newly created Senior Vice President of Central Operations. Heather, who joined SSB in 2020, is responsible for centrally driving the processes, systems, capabilities, and investments across 27 plants in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, she continues to serve as Chief of Staff for the company’s Direct-to-Consumer business and Operations organization and leads its Partnerships, Data Science and Analytics, and Transformation teams.

Heather has over 20 years of experience in merchandising, buying, product development, digital transformation, and direct-to-consumer operations. Prior to joining SSB, she served as Chief Merchant of Hayneedle, a digitally-native Home Specialty retailer that was acquired by Walmart in 2017.

Rory O’Kane joins SSB as its new Vice President of Operations for the Southeast. Rory is responsible for driving operational excellence, safety, quality, service, and cost across eight manufacturing facilities. He oversees continuous improvement, lean manufacturing initiatives, and talent development for the region.

Rory joins SSB with over 30 years of extensive Supply Chain experience in domestic and international supply chains for billion-dollar organizations. Rory recently served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Cornerstone Building Brands, where he was responsible for Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Engineering.

“The world continues to rapidly change and it’s critical we drive operational excellence in everything we do, which starts with great leadership and role models,” said Shelley Huff, COO, Serta Simmons Bedding and CEO, Tuft and Needle. “I’m confident Heather and Rory’s expertise and industry knowledge will help us deliver even better on our mission to provide innovative sleep solutions to our consumers, all while creating a great workplace where our employees can grow their careers.”

ABOUT SERTA SIMMONS BEDDING, LLC

Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is one of the largest manufacturers, marketers, and suppliers of mattresses in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages two of the best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta®, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest®. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels throughout North America. SSB also owns the Simmons® brand and Tuft & Needle® direct-to-consumer mattress brand. SSB operates 27 plants in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com.

Serta Simmons Bedding Elevates Two Key Leaders, Streamlines Organizational Structure to Accelerate Growth and Transformation

Melanie Huet Named Chief Commercial Officer, Shelley Huff Named Chief Operating Officer
Sleep Company Aligns Sales, Marketing and Innovation Under Huet’s Leadership, Extends Huff’s Oversight to Also Include Supply Chain and Customer Experience

Doraville, GA (April 6, 2021) – Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (“SSB”), one of North America’s largest sleep companies, recently announced organizational enhancements, including changes to its leadership team, as part of its transformation and growth strategy. Most notably, Melanie Huet (formerly Chief Marketing Officer and EVP of Marketing and Innovation) will take on the role of Chief Commercial Officer for SSB, and Shelley Huff (formerly CEO of Tuft & Needle, EVP of Direct to Consumer) will become SSB’s Chief Operating Officer. Huet and Huff will maintain their former titles of Chief Marketing Officer and CEO of Tuft & Needle, respectively, continue to serve on the company’s executive leadership team, and report to SSB Chairman and CEO David Swift.

“We are relentless in our pursuit of helping people sleep better through consumer-inspired innovation, a digital first mindset, our commitment to exceptional service and an outstanding team who always strives to set the bar higher,” said David Swift, Chairman and CEO of Serta Simmons Bedding. “Both Melanie and Shelley have made a tremendous impact on our business in their time with the company. I look forward to partnering with them as we continue in that pursuit and accelerate our strategy for growth.”

Huet has been instrumental in developing SSB’s portfolio of brands over the last two years and has led the company’s transformation to a consumer-centric organization. As Chief Commercial Officer, she will lead an expanded, unified team which brings together sales, marketing and innovation functions. She will work in partnership with Chief Sales Officer Derek Miller to accelerate eCommerce growth, strengthen SSB’s omnichannel approach and increase speed to market. Huet joined SSB in 2019 after spending time in a variety of marketing and sales roles with The Kraft Heinz Company, Kimberly-Clark and Unilever.

Huff has played a critical role in building the SSB’s direct to consumer (DTC) business across its portfolio of brands and growing the Tuft & Needle brand. As Chief Operating Officer, she will oversee the company’s supply chain and enterprise-wide customer experience teams, and will continue to lead the company’s (DTC) business and the Tuft & Needle brand. Under Huff’s leadership, this expanded Operations team will bolster the company’s digital-first mindset and better leverage data and technology to drive growth across the business. Huff joined SSB in July 2020 as CEO of Tuft & Needle and EVP of DTC after serving in a number of leadership roles across Walmart U.S. and Walmart eCommerce, including as President and CEO of Hayneedle.com.

Bob Hellyer, formerly Chief Supply Chain Officer, will take on a new role as EVP of Strategic Initiatives designed to leverage his deep industry expertise and strong relationships throughout SSB’s value chain. He will also support the Commercial team in accelerating breakthrough innovation.

The digital-first approach that underpins the company’s customer-focused growth strategy requires fostering, harnessing and elevating the talent of existing team members, as well as recruiting new talent in key roles. Two new executives will join Huff’s Operations team to continue to drive SSB’s digital transformation forward:

• Cream Pepito joins SSB as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for DTC responsible for leading the technology strategy for SSB’s DTC business, inclusive of platform and marketing technology.  Pepito most recently worked with Northwestern Mutual where she led high performing teams responsible for their technology solutions. Pepito has extensive experience leading various technology-enabled transformations for companies in financial services, fin tech, logistics and manufacturing.
• Bhavani Subramaniam joins SSB as Senior Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain, and is responsible for the company’s DTC supply chain, enterprise logistics and warehousing, as well as Sales & Operational Planning. Subramaniam joins SSB with more than 20 years’ experience in strategic and operational supply chain leadership roles in the retail and CPG industries, most recently with Walmart.

About Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC
Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is a leading sleep company and one of the largest manufacturers, marketers and suppliers of mattresses and sleep solutions in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages two of the best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta®, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest®. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels throughout North America. SSB also owns Simmons® and Tuft & Needle® direct-to-consumer mattress brands. SSB operates 27 plants in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com

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Media Contact:
Casey Swanson
ICF Next for Serta Simmons Bedding
Casey.swanson@icfnext.com

Serta Simmons Bedding Closes Previously Announced Deleveraging and Liquidity Enhancing Transaction

Reduces Existing Debt by More Than $400 Million

Provides $200 Million of New Money, Increasing Cash on Balance Sheet to More Than $300 Million

Increases Company’s Financial Flexibility and Supports Acceleration of Business Transformation Plan

ATLANTA, June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (“SSB” or the “Company”), one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of mattresses in North America, today announced the close of a Priority Term Loan and amendments to the Company’s First and Second Lien Term Loans.

The transaction includes $200 million of new capital and the exchange of approximately $1 billion in First Lien Debt and $300 million in Second Lien Debt, and will reduce the Company’s debt held by participating lenders by over $400 million, increasing the Company’s liquidity and financial strength, while supporting the acceleration of SSB’s business transformation plan.

“We are pleased to complete this transaction and are appreciative of the majority of our lenders for their support and confidence in our business,” said SSB Chairman and CEO David Swift. “I am confident that this transaction will position the Company for continued success and enable us to execute on our growth strategy while we continue to offer our customers the leading products they have come to expect from SSB.”

About Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC
Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC is one of the largest manufacturers, marketers and suppliers of mattresses in North America. Based in Atlanta, SSB owns and manages two of the best-selling bedding brands in the mattress industry: Serta®, which has five other independent licensees, and Beautyrest®. The brands are distributed through national, hospitality, and regional and independent retail channels throughout North America. SSB also owns Simmons® and Tuft & Needle® direct-to-consumer mattress brands. SSB operates 27 plants in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about SSB and its brands, visit www.sertasimmons.com

Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements herein are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect current expectations or beliefs concerning future events, and actual results of operations may differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including risks related to the terms of and potential transactions contemplated by the transaction support agreement and the definitive documents implementing the transaction contemplated therein (the “Transaction Agreements”), the ability to comply with the terms and conditions of the Transaction Agreements, the financial condition or results of operations of the Company, the actions and decisions of creditors that may be inconsistent with the Company’s operational and strategic plans, litigation commenced by creditors to challenge the transactions setout in the Transaction Documents, the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern, financing and operational relationships and to retain key executives. Forward-looking statements are also subject to various risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s business, such as its ability to anticipate and timely respond to changes in trends and consumer preferences, the strength of the global economy, competitive market conditions, its ability to attract and retain key personnel, its ability to successfully develop, launch and grow its newer concepts and execute on strategic initiatives, product offerings, sales channels and businesses, its ability to implement its growth strategy, material disruption to its information systems, compromises to its data security, its ability to maintain the value of its brands and protect its trademarks, its ability to implement its real estate strategy, changes in demographic patterns, adverse or unseasonable weather or other interruptions in its foreign sourcing, customer call, order fulfillment or distribution operations, increases in the demand for or prices of raw materials used to manufacture its products, trade restrictions or disruptions, the impact of potential global health emergencies such as COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, including potential negative impacts on the global economy, product demand, foreign sourcing and operations generally. Because of the factors described above and the inherent uncertainty of predicting future events, the Company cautions you against relying on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts
Ed Trissel / Kate Thompson / Sophie Throsby
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449

SOURCE Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC