| Type | Advocacy |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1915 |
| Location | Alexandria, Va. |
| Key people |
Chairman Gerry Borreggine President Ryan Trainer |
| Focus | Mattress Industry Advocacy |
| Mission | Dedicated to protecting and enhancing the growth, profitability and stature of the mattress industry. |
| Motto | The Voice of the Mattress Industry |
| Formerly called | National Association of Mattress Manufacturers; National Association of Bedding Manufacturers |
| Website | www.sleepproducts.org |
The International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) is a trade association based in Alexandria, Va. Its members are mattress manufacturers and mattress industry components suppliers.[1]
Contents |
Founded as the National Association of Mattress Manufacturers in 1915, the organization renamed itself two years later as the National Association of Bedding Manufacturers. Its goal was to create state tagging laws and address the health sanitation issues affecting consumers. The association's name was changed to the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) in 1987 to reflect acceptance of international members.
ISPA's stated mission has been to support the mattress industry through public policy, public affairs and education initiatives. It works on behalf of the bedding industry on a range of commercial, health, safety and environmental issues, including legislative lobbying at the state and federal level.[2] It also seeks to present a positive image of the sleep products industry to the general public.
ISPA currently represents nearly 700 mattress manufacturers and bedding component, machinery and service suppliers in over 50 countries around the world. ISPA members range from multinational mattress and sleep products manufacturing companies to small, family-owned operations.
The association provides a range of legislative, informational, and educational services to the mattress industry. Many services are exclusive to ISPA members, others benefit the industry in general as well as the public. [3]
The association's products and services to members and non-members include:
ISPA provides regular and member communications through its website, through its publications BedTimes and Sleep Savvy and their websites, and through a range of social media including Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs and Twitter.
BedTimes magazine, published monthly, covers mattress industry news for manufacturers and components suppliers[5]. The Supplies Guide is a listing of products and services used in mattress and other sleep products manufacturing.
Sleep Savvy magazine is targeted to mattress retailers. Editorial content centers on tools and information to assist in boosting mattress sales.
ISPA Insider, a weekly industry e-newsletter for members, covers association news, legislative and regulatory issues, meetings and trade show information, and breaking news impacting the mattress industry.
Founded by ISPA in 1979, the BSC's stated goal has been to increase mattress sales and shorten the mattress replacement cycle by educating consumers about the importance of sleep to health and quality of life, and that the sleep surface and sleep environment are important contributors to quality of sleep.[6]
The BSC funds regular research studies of consumers to explore attitudes toward mattresses and the shopping experience. Findings assist the BSC in developing its messaging. ISPA membership dues support BSC research and other programs. BSC public relations campaigns aim to keep mattresses top of mind as consumers decide how to spend disposable income. The campaigns target a broad segment of U.S. consumers via print, broadcast and online media.
One example was the BSC-sponsored "Suite 7" media campaign and web series, which debuted on MyLifetime.com on December 17, 2010. The seven episodes are syndicated on Lifetime's Hulu, YouTube and Verizon mobile VCast channels. In each episode, a couple — newlyweds, a divorcing couple, siblings, best friends — check into Suite 7 and unpack their emotional baggage. The bed is meant to be the centerpiece of each conflict-resolution. The Lifetime audience provided a good overlap of the BSC’s target demographic--over two-thirds (67 percent) of viewers are female (32% age 50+; 24% age 40-49).
The annual focal point of the association's public relations campaign is Better Sleep Month (BSM) each May. Media hits for the campaign reach into the millions each year.[7] During BSM, the BSC has used a national spokesperson for a satellite and radio media tour, as well as 30: and 60: “In the Know” news vignettes, which are put on the BSC website.
The BSC has conducted several studies on consumer shopping behavior and the typical mattress replacement cycle. The council takes credit for helping reduce the average mattress replacement cycle from 13-plus years to about 10 years. The BSC sponsored a groundbreaking study conducted by the Oklahoma State University to scientifically evaluate whether a new mattress improves sleep quality and efficiency, while reducing back, spine, shoulder and neck stiffness, thus leading to a more restful night’s sleep. The results were positive.[8] This study is a resource for the BSC’s consumer messaging.