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Blue Ocean Sleep may be a new company but
its owners have decades of experience in the mattress business.
Brothers
Mike and Jim Malkiewicz, founders of Blue Ocean, previously
held the titles of president and vice-president of Wickline
Bedding, the third largest family-owned bedding company in
America. However, the pair's experience began over three
decades ago at the best known mattress company of all, Simmons.
Built in 1976 in a forest preserve along the Chattahoochee
River, the Simmons Corporate headquarters captured a state-of-the-art,
environmentally-friendly design. The Atlanta-based building
was the dream corporate headquarters for Grant Simmons,
chairman of the number-one mattress brand in the world.
It was in
this lovely locale that all Simmons executives, including
vice-president Ray Malkiewicz, settled into their offices.
During summer breaks from college, Ray's sons, Mike and
Jim, worked 30 miles away in the Simmons factory assembling
mattresses.
However, on Fridays, Mike would join his father at the
cedar-built corporate headquarters. Once a month, Grant
Simmons would
have lunch with Mike on his private balcony just off the
executive suites. Simmons, an avid bird watcher, spoke
about life lessons while peering through the lens of his
binoculars.
He was most intrigued by birds and frequently told Mike
about the wonder of the winged creatures. The birds had
the freedom
to go where they wanted and could fly as high as they wish.
Mr. Simmons impressed upon Mike that he should live his
life in the same manner. Live with no boundaries and fly
above
all else regardless of what he decided to do. Mr. Simmons
retired later that year but his sound advice will always
be remembered.
With the support of Grant Simmons, Ray Malkiewicz and Jack
Novascone left their executive jobs at Simmons Company
in 1979 and purchased Wickline Bedding from its founder,
Roy
Wickline. Located in San Diego, the 63-year-old company
would grow to become the third largest family-owned bedding
company
in America. Mike and Jim helped the company expand through
innovative marketing, including bringing baseball legend
Tony Gwynn on board as a spokesperson for Sleep Therapy
for over 25 years. Various other celebrities, such as Tom
Cruise,
Madonna, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson all slept on
their products as well. Wickline Bedding is also recognized
for
its industry leading technologies, including being the
first company to develop and market Sleep Therapy, America's
Original
No Turn Mattress. Since 1982, this design has influenced
how manufacturers globally assemble mattresses. NASA also
chose this design for the new Space Shuttle program as
its lightweight design proved valuable to space shuttle
launches.
It's safe to say that Wickline Bedding has influenced the
way the world, and space, sleep.
Due to the ailing health of Mike and Jim's father, Ray,
the family elected to suspend operations and sell Wickline
Bedding
to the largest bedding producer in Asia in 2009. Wickline
continues to grow not only in the United States but also
in a rapidly expanding export business to Japan, Taiwan
and China.
Upon the sale of the company, Mike and Jim began working
on a new business plan. Established in October 2011, Blue
Ocean Sleep is a U.S.-based entity working in cooperation
with the largest bedding manufacturer in Germany. As a
highly innovative mattress company, Blue Ocean Sleep recognizes
the trend of traditional Western assemble while moving
towards
European methods of operation. Inspired by technologies
used by Nike, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porshe, the company
has created
the Activcor Advanced Comfort System. The German-engineered,
patent-pending Activcor incorporates old technology into
a brand new use. Recognizing the performance requirements
of these industry leading companies has enabled us to develop
the science behind the sleep in an all foam mattress core
.
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