RODD CAYTON/Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 6:00 pm
One-third of a person’s life is spent sleeping.
Unless, of course, a problem mattress is limiting a person to fewer winks.
Land and Sky Manufacturing of Lincoln is out to right that wrong — and clear up any aches and pains caused by lack of sleep or a sleep surface that fails to provide the type of support that wards off those aches and pains.
The 34-year-old company made its name as a waterbed manufacturer. Waterbeds are still (though not much in North America) part of Land and Sky’s “specialty sleep” strategy that also includes latex, air and memory foam beds.
Land and Sky actually reached a deal to sell its waterbed business in 2003 to a Canadian firm, but at the last minute, Larson said, the buyer-to-be instead sought a licensing agreement. The Canadian firm, Halcyon Waterbed, later backed off, leaving Land and Sky again in control of the waterbed operation.
Waterbeds, which remain popular in Europe and Asia, fell out of fashion in North America as consumers continued to envision them as wooden cabinets with bags of water in them (long after more modern designs entered development), said Co-president Ron Larson. But Land and Sky remains committed to the waterbed, and to what it represented — the best way of providing the right balance between comfort and support.
The latex and memory foam beds are intended as a kind of substitute waterbed, designed to offer the same benefits as a waterbed.
To make an air or water mattress, Land and Sky binds several sheets of vinyl together, using radio frequency, but no heat. For an air or water mattress, a valve is attached. For a memory foam or latex bed, several layers are joined with a latex glue and wrapped with a flame retardant material sewn inside or under the quilted cover.
Land and Sky’s latex beds are filled with air in many cases. Some are shipped filled, and others are shipped uninflated and pumped up later.
Either way, said Larson, all get tested for leaks.
The finished mattresses get delivered either to retail stores, or directly to the end user, on behalf of smaller retailers.
Land and Sky closed its only retail store in 2003. Ron Larson blamed the realignment of O Street for closing the store, access to which was made more complicated after the O Street project.
He said relocation wasn’t possible at that time, as the company was going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Larson said all creditors have been paid most of what was owed them, and the company is healthy again, due in part to vendors, customers, employees and the community showing faith in Land and Sky. Employment is now at 40, but on the way up, he said.
In the future, Land and Sky may start another retail store, Larson said.
But for now, Lincoln customers can simply go to the factory to “shop.”
Dr. Timothy Swihart, a Fort Wayne Ind. chiropractor, said not only does he regularly recommend Land and Sky’s iSleep beds for his patients, he spends his nights on one as well.
“They’re the best things I’ve found for myself in terms of supplying good support for my spine and my wife’s spine,” Swihart said.
Swihart knows he risks a little bit of his reputation when he recommends a Land and Sky product, but the company hasn’t let him or his patients down yet.
He said follow-up meetings with patients have shown them to be satisfied.
One colleague, Swihart said, did have a beef, but not with the bed.
“He asked me ‘why didn’t you tell me about this sooner,’” Swihart recalled.
Lincoln is a good place to do business, Larson said, because of the affordable and educated work force and the customer base, as well as its easy access to Interstate 80, which helps the company distribute products all over the world.
Reach Rodd Cayton at 473-7107 or rcayton@journalstar.com.
Land and Sky mfg. Inc.
Address: 1401 W. Bond Circle, Lincoln.
Telephone number: (402) 470-2468
Web address: www.landandsky.com
Owners, location: Ron Larson and Lynn Larson, Lincoln.
Chief executives on site: Ron and Lynn Larson, co-presidents.
Number of local employees: 40
Products, services: Memory foam mattresses, natural latex mattresses, air adjustable mattresses, contour pillows and warming mattress pads.
Awards: Include 1994 Blue Chip Enterprise award from the Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative and three manufacturer of the year awards from the industry association now known as the Specialty Sleep Association.
Company history: Began in 1972, when Ron Larson bought a downtown Lincoln waterbed and stereo store. The next year, he and brother Lynn founded Land and Sky. The factory started at 1325 O St, then moved several times over the next 15 years. Moved to current location in April of 2004.
The company also runs a division called iSleep, which markets beds to chiropractors and other doctors.