The money Trussell and Hoeller raised allowed them to start the business, which they incorporated as Tempur-Pedic Inc. The Swedes purchased a stake in the company, using cash as well as stock, and Tempur-Pedic soon began to exhibit strong growth, most of which was the result of sales channels with chiropractors and physical therapists. These channels were augmented by the opening of a retail outlet at a Lexington Mall, the Tempur-Pedic Swedish Mattress Centre, the first of a number of stores the company hoped to open, a plan that actually never became reality.
Trussell wanted to introduce Tempur-Pedic into ten regional medical markets in a matter of six months, but all he had at his disposal was a single sales manager in charge of a small number of independent sales representatives. Rather than incur the expense of hiring a staff to line up new reps, he turned to Sales Staffers International, a Danvers, Massachusetts company, to create a transitional outsourced national sales force.
Sales Staffers then set up video-teleconferencing interviews with some 75 candidates, of which 25 were hired.
Although they were paid by Sales Staffers, Tempur-Pedic set the pay rate and goals, which included visiting five nursing homes and two hospitals each week. Trussell controlled a minority stake and was named CEO of Tempur World, essentially run out of the Kentucky offices of Tempur-Pedic, which he continued to head.
No matter how the business was organized, Tempur-Pedic continued to grow revenues at a steady clip. The company also added a number of new products, including the use of the foam in office chairs and recliners. They lay on a Tempur-Pedic mattress in a dark room and then took a ten-minute simulated space flight. In effect, the potential customer was induced to lie on the mattress for ten minutes, far longer than they were likely to do in a showroom.
When the space cabin was then used by retailers, they experienced a sharp spike in mattress sales. Tempur-Pedic also was proving quite adept at generating publicity. Aside from its successful television direct sales efforts, the company received a great deal of free publicity. It was especially successful in when it was able to include a gift certificate for a free mattress in the goodie basket given to the presenters at the Academy Awards.
Also in that year the parent company was sold to two private equity firms after Fagerdala decided it needed to divest the business and gain liquidity. Trussell was retained as CEO of Tempur World and no major changes in the business were anticipated, although TA Associates hoped to bring some of its experience to bear in taking Tempur-Pedic and Tempur World to the next level.
The equity firm was also well versed in the ways of taking companies public, a possibility that the new owners would not rule out for Tempur World in the future. Many consumers who are disenchanted with memory foam are choosing natural latex mattresses instead. Latex is derived from rubber trees that grow in tropical climates. The industry originated in Brazil, but today most commercial rubber is processed in India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. There are, however, important differences. This chart summarizes the qualities of the various foams used in mattresses.
Moreover, astronauts spend a lot more time travelling than your average commuter. NASA needed cushioning that would keep them comfortable on their very long space journeys. Yost created the open-cell, polymeric memory foam material that we know today. This memory foam had unusual viscoelastic properties - it was capable of absorbing a high amount of energy while still remaining soft. It was great padding for seats, and also served as a good buffer against pressure, increasing the likelihood of survival during a crash.
Memory foam was known back then as temper foam. This was before it was released for use in the many consumer goods we see today. In , Yost formed the company Dynamic Systems, Inc.
The company sold the rights in , but later came back with derivatives of the original. By distributing seating pressure evenly, FIPS improves blood circulation and relieves pressure from pressure points. In short, FIPS helps slow progressive deformities, improves body functions, and eases the soreness and fatigue associated with confined or prolonged seating.
Producing a FIPS insert is an easy process that takes less than a day and does not require expensive equipment. Within minutes, the liquid ingredients set. All that is left is trimming of any excess material and covering. For patients with less-severe debilitations where complex contouring is not required, Dynamic Systems offers a fabric finish molding bag that is pre-upholstered and ready for immediate use after the FIPS insert sets. With slight modifications, the FIPS process is well-suited for prosthetic cosmesis.
Prosthetic limbs incorporating SunMate materials have the natural feel of flesh and can be molded into a variety of muscle tones and dyed to match exact skin color. Once cured, the SunMate foam prevents friction between the shoulder skin and the prosthesis, creating a soft, comfortable interface.
Furthermore, the open-celled structure of the foam allows it to breathe, preventing heat buildup. The same medical advances applied to the treatment of humans can be easily transferred to veterinary applications. When a large animal suffers a leg injury that requires bracing or splinting, healing can be a long, slow process. Using a layer of cushion material beneath an orthotic brace can speed up healing, however. Equine Prosthetics, Inc. Thor is a year-old, thoroughbred gelding with a right hind foot prosthesis.
The majority of his leg is present, although completely nonfunctional from the fetlock down. An accident had caused trauma to the leg, severing his deep and superficial flexor tendons and his lateral suspensory, and breaking his lateral splint bone. Equine Prosthetics rescued him with the intention of putting him to sleep, because his condition was so unusual and extreme, but the company learned that he could be saved and kept comfortable if fitted with a special, customized prosthesis.
0コメント