One of the nation’s largest specialty back care retailers, Relax The Back, is joining leading U.S. mattress manufacturer Anatomic Global, Inc., on its humanitarian initiative, The WorldBed Project. The company is launching a company-wide promotion “Buy a Bed, Give a Bed” to raise money and awareness for the delivery of up to 200,000 field beds to displaced Haitians following the January 12 earthquake near Port-au-Prince.
As part of the program, for every Anatomic Global mattress purchased at Relax The Back, the store will donate one WorldBed to someone in need in Haiti. A portion of the proceeds from every coordinating pillow purchased will be collected to donate to WorldBed. Additionally, clients will have an opportunity to purchase WorldBed products online and in store at a cost of $35 each to be delivered to the relief effort.
“Anatomic Global came up with a very unique concept in the way the sleep product industry can help disaster victims all over the world and we wanted to be part of this noble endeavor,” said Relax The Back Vice President of Merchandising J.D. Nespoli. “Both Relax The Back Corporate and our Franchisees wanted to help with Haitian relief and this program is a great opportunity for us to do so.”
“Buy a Bed, Give a Bed” will be promoted with in-store displays and there are plans to include this program in Relax The Back’s Summer catalogue. In addition, Relax The Back’s corporate office has already donated a pallet of 50 WorldBeds and during the campaign will continue to channel additional funds to assist in this effort.
“Relax The Back is an incredible retail partner that will help us make a lasting impact in Haiti,” said Anatomic Global CEO David Farley. “The WorldBed Project couldn’t exist without their compassion and the support and donations of our business community.”
Anatomic Global started supplying Relax The Back with bedding products in 2008 and based on customer response has continued to expand the relationship throughout the years.
To date Anatomic Global has also been joined in the effort by Relax The Back, FXI Foamex Innovations, Deslee Textiles USA, Royal Packaging, Brookwood Companies, World Hope International, CARE and Parakletos International. The company is re-investing its corporate profits from all operations for the first quarter of 2010 to manufacture WorldBeds for Haitian relief and sent a team to help with the initial shipments. So far 2,216 field beds have been delivered to Haiti with 1,800 en route.
“Relax The Back is a dynamic participant in The WorldBed Project and we are grateful to them and to all of our business partners who share this responsibility with us,” added Farley.
The WorldBed Project is a turnkey sleep system designed for emergency care and relief efforts. Built from high performing 3-inch cushioning foam, the cot-sized field beds can be compression packaged and quickly dispatched, in volume, to areas of need, anywhere, worldwide. It was created to provide needed comfort, increased levels of health and safety, and a more sanitary place to sleep in an effort to speed recovery, aid in healing.
The WorldBed Project was initiated during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in which Anatomic Global mobilized a team to make and distribute 3,000 field beds that ended up benefiting 11,000 persons in need. In response to the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit near Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010, Anatomic Global, Inc. CEO David Farley, revisited the WorldBed concept and began operating it as an adjunct business unit of his company on January 14, 2010. Its mission is to deliver 200,000 WorldBed products to displaced Haitians over the next year and will continue to aid other global disaster relief programs on an as needed basis. For more information, visit www.WorldBed.org.
Based in La Palma, California, Relax The Back currently operates over 110 locations nationwide with plans to open several more locations in 2010 and beyond. Relax The Back offers a comprehensive line of products to prevent and relieve the back pain through proper spinal support alignment including ergonomic office chairs, mattresses, and pillows, back and neck supports, massage chairs, fitness and therapy products, and Zero Gravity recliners. For more information, visit www.relaxtheback.com.
Founded in 1989, Anatomic Global is a fully integrated, EDI capable globally positioned distribution, logistics and fulfillment-company that today incorporates the brand development and marketing insight of bedding industry leaders to meet the needs of its customers. Deeply rooted in the medical mattress industry, in 2008 the company applied its medical manufacturing expertise and launched the Ecomfort Mattress brand featuring its signature, exclusive EcoMemoryFoam™ extreme open-cell plant-based memory foam. For more information, visit www.ecomfortmattress.com