Press Releases
January 3, 2007 - Princeton, NJ
The story of the little engine
The little engine that could became the little bedding company that can, when Therapedic group president, Gerry Borreggine, was reminiscing about the Therapedic group’s history with founder, Jerry Gershaw.
“We were discussing how the equity groups have swallowed-up so many of the bedding companies, and how they continue to do so today,” said Borreggine. This is because the  equity groups see bedding as a “strong buy,” explained Borreggine.
“But, when investors buy-up bedding companies, the service provide by those mattress companies usually changes once the investors take hold,” said Borreggine. In addition, what those companies can do for their dealers is radically augmented once the equity groups assume management control, explained Borreggine.
As Gershaw and Borreggine reminisced about the industry’s past, and ruminated on its future, they started to realize that Therapedic was probably the largest group of independent mattress manufacturers left in the industry.
“We are the biggest guy left standing,” said Borreggine. “And, that puts us in a very unique position to be one of the few brand names that is able to be flexible, versatile, and responsive to the individual needs of individual dealers, in individual markets.”
“I feel like we’re on top of the mountain, now.” he said. “We’re the only big brand that can be whatever we need to be, market-to-market.”
The idea sprouted that Therapedic was the little company, who worked harder for their dealers across the country, and in Therapedic’s case, all over the world.
“I thought that we were like the little engine that could,” explained Borreggine. “And that, the idea would draw a very descriptive parallel to Therapedic and what we do,” he added.
Hence, the Therapedic little engine was born.
Therapedic developed a trade ad campaign and has adopted the little engine as its brand icon.
The company is making plush toy engines to distribute among its dealer base. The idea seems to be “rolling along,” as they say in the railroad business.
“Everywhere we take our little engines, dealers and customers, alike can’t get enough of them – everybody wants one,” said Borreggine.
It looks as if Therapedic’s little engine may become more than a symbol for the way it does business; it may become a popular icon that gets bedding dealers jumping aboard the company’s program, as well.
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