Business Spotlight: Springfield Mattress Co. Inc.

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There aren't too many places where you can go and see your mattress and box spring as they are being made. Springfield Mattress Co. Inc. is one of them. |ret||ret||tab|

"We make the mattresses in this room, and we sell them next door," said John M. Reynolds, company president.|ret||ret||tab|

Reynolds' grandfather founded the third-generation, family-run company in 1957 in a small house in Springfield. A year later, he moved the business to its current location on Commercial Street.|ret||ret||tab|

Initially, Springfield Mattress Company was a wholesale mattresses and box spring manufacturer. Increased competition, however, prompted a shift in the company's focus, and in 1985, Springfield Mattress Company began manufacturing more custom and specialty mattresses and box springs, such as those used in hospitals, semi-trucks, recreational vehicles and boats. |ret||ret||tab|

Custom and specialty orders now account for 80 percent of the company's business. |ret||ret||tab|

However, Springfield Mattress Co. still sells standard-sized mattresses at its factory-direct showroom on Commercial Street.|ret||ret||tab|

"Our mattresses range in size and price," said Reynolds. "But if you compare our top-end mattresses to other manufacturers, you'll see you're getting a much better product for your money."|ret||ret||tab|

The technology used to make the mattresses and box springs sold at Springfield Mattress Co. hasn't changed much over the years, according to Reynolds, as many of the machines used by the company are more than 30 years old. |ret||ret||tab|

"We probably could get some newer machines in here that would allow us to do things a little quicker, but I'm not sure they would help us manufacture a better-quality product," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Providing a high-quality product has helped Springfield Mattress Co. survive in an increasingly competitive market. When the company first opened 46 years ago, it was one of several wholesale bedding manufacturers in Springfield. Today, most of those companies are gone, said Reynolds, thanks to increased competition at the national level.|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield Mattress Co. also faces stiff competition on the retail front. |ret||ret||tab|

Now, the company competes against local furniture stores, discount stores and department stores that sell mattresses, as well as several large, national mattress retailers that have set up stores in Springfield in recent years. Despite the competition, Springfield Mattress Co. has continued to prosper.|ret||ret||tab|

"I think one of the reasons people come here is we're local," said Reynolds. "We stand behind every mattress we make. If you have a problem with your mattress, we'll come pick it up, fix it and deliver it. You don't get that kind of personal service from a large retail chain."|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield Mattress Co. also offers quick turnaround time on custom and specialty mattress orders. Most of the company's custom and specialty orders are completed within two weeks, Reynolds said, compared to the industry average of four to six weeks. |ret||ret||tab|

The company's longevity in the market also has helped it remain strong. In fact, 75 percent of Springfield Mattress Co.'s sales come from repeat customers. |ret||ret||tab|

Despite its success, Springfield Mattress Co. has weathered its share of challenges. In 1991, the company opened a store in south Springfield in an attempt to capture more retail business. |ret||ret||tab|

"We thought that was the way to go at the time," said Reynolds. "The overhead was high, though, and it was tough managing employees at another location. We were working harder, but we weren't making that much more money."|ret||ret||tab|

In 2001, the retail store closed, and the company once again started selling mattresses from its showroom on East Commercial.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've gone from wholesale to retail to retail custom," said Reynolds. "There's a lot of demand for custom-made mattresses and box springs, and I feel like that's our niche." |ret||ret||tab|

Although Springfield Mattress Co. has made many changes over the years, the business always has been family-owned and -operated. The company has passed from father to son for three generations, being headed up first by John S. Reynolds, then John P. Reynolds, and now John M. Reynolds. |ret||ret||tab|

John M. Reynolds handles most of the day-to-day operations for his father, who still owns the company. Several other family members also work at the business, including his mother Sue Reynolds, who does the company's bookkeeping, and his sister Jennifer Reynolds, who helps out in the sewing room. |ret||ret||tab|

Employee Jim Blake, who has been with the company for 20 years, serves as the manager. |ret||ret||tab|

Reynolds plans to set up a Web site, which will allow customers to obtain pricing information on regular and custom-made mattresses online. The company's showroom location, however, will remain the same.|ret||ret||tab|

"We discovered that most of our customers are willing to drive a little farther because they know they'll get a good-quality mattress from us at a reasonable price," he said. "We also have a lot of very loyal customers who live in north Springfield and who don't like to drive all the way over to the south side of town to shop. There are advantages to being in midtown, and we have no plans to move." |ret||ret||tab|

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