It started in concept as a home furnishings store and evolved in execution to become the number one mattress store in the Pacific Northwest. Sleep Country USA marked the celebration of its 20th year in business, boasting 75 stores and 350 employees. Founded in 1991 by Sunny Kobe Cook and Bob Cook, Sleep Country USA opened with approximately eight stores and 25 employees. Early stores were known for their unique interior design style that replicated the ‘pretty’ aesthetic found in furniture stores paired with a versatile selection of top name-brand mattresses sold by a knowledgeable sales staff.
Today, Sleep Country USA stores span the region from Bellingham, Washington south to Eugene, Oregon, all of which feature modern interiors, the region’s best selection of brand name mattresses at unbeatable prices, a well-trained, friendly staff, and one of the region’s top philanthropic programs. “We are very proud of our history of fulfilling a need for quality sleep products in a growing market and successfully engaging the community. We’ve created a brand that has become a household name with a jingle that nearly everyone can recite,” said Sleep Country USA CEO Dale Carlsen.
The company’s steadfast commitment to employee satisfaction endured, most recently leading to the implementation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in the fall of 2010, making Sleep Country USA one of very few employee-owned companies in the region. Sleep Country also remains wholly committed to customer service, with many of its first customers still returning today. And as a show of thanks for their support, Sleep Country USA is holding a concert ticket giveaway on its Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/sleepcountryusa) throughout the summer for shows at the newly named Sleep Country Amphitheater just outside Portland, Oregon.
Sleep Country USA’s anniversary also marks 20 years of giving back to their community; starting with donations of gently used mattresses to St. Vincent DePaul in the early years to the creation of its award-winning Sleep Country Foster Kids program in 2005. To date, the company’s Foster Kids program has donated more than 350,000 important material items like shoes, coats, clothing, pajamas, school supplies, and gifts during the holidays, and over $500,000 in cash to its foster care organization partners throughout the Pacific Northwest.
According the executive director, Janis Avery, of Treehouse for Kids, a non-profit dedicated to foster children advocacy, “Sleep Country USA has become incredibly important to the cause, creating a long-term marketing commitment to raise awareness about the needs of foster children and urge action. The company’s approach and emphasis on positive, action-oriented messages is inviting and attainable for everyone, making the general public feel they can really make a difference. For us, the Sleep County Foster Kids program has translated into growth for our organization and a powerful impact on the lives of these children and their families.”
During its anniversary celebration, Sleep Country USA is hosting its annual Pajama Drive for Foster Kids from April 4th through May 22nd, 2011 to obtain donations of new pajamas in all sizes.
With an eye toward the next 20 years, Carlsen closed, “We’re excited for the future of Sleep Country USA as we plan to expand throughout the Pacific Northwest and other regions. As an employee-owned company, we are focused on our employees, enhancing product selection, remarkable customer service, and increasing our impact on the community through our Foster Kids program.”
About Sleep Country USA: Sleep Country USA, an employee-owned company, is the No. 1 bedding specialist in the Northwest with more than 70 mattress retail stores throughout Washington and Oregon. Founded in 1991, Sleep Country USA features top-quality, brand-name mattresses from Serta, Sealy, Posturepedic®, Simmons Beautyrest®, Stearns & Foster, and Tempur-Pedic®, as well as premium adjustable beds, futons, and wood and metal accent beds. The company emphasizes customer service and satisfaction with its Money Back Comfort Guarantee and Free Same Day Red Carpet Delivery Service. Sleep Country USA’s award-winning Sleep Country Foster Kids program actively contributes to its communities through ongoing donation drives and fundraising events that benefit the area’s nearly 20,000 foster children. For more information about Sleep Country USA or the Sleep Country Foster Kids program, please visit www.sleepcountry.com or call 1-888-88-SLEEP.