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Baker Joins Glideaway as VP of Sales
June 24,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on June 25, 2012
Industry veteran Dan Baker has joined bedding vendor Glideaway Sleep Products as vice president of sales.
He will oversee Glideaways entire sales force and will assist in the overall marketing and merchandising of the Glideaway brand and product lines.
With more than 15 years of industry experience, Baker most recently led sales for the U.S. division of Natura Worlds NexGel brand. He had joined NexGel's founders in 2008 as general manager and vice president. Baker is credited with setting up the companys Utah manufacturing facility, merchandising a complete line of products and hiring more than 20 U.S. sales representatives who collectively opened 250 doors. His initiatives propelled the brand to the forefront of the emerging gel category' and after six months, Natura World purchased NexGel. Baker stayed with the company as the vice president of sales for the United States.
Were excited to have someone with Dans extensive sleep products experience on our team, said Ron Fredman, executive vice president of sales at Glideaway, St. Louis. Through his past work with major brands, Dan really understands the category and what retailers are looking for, which will greatly enhance our abilities to serve the market.
Previously, Baker spent more than a decade in key sales positions with leading bedding sleep products companies, including one year at Southerland. In 2006, he joined International Bedding as vice president of sales for the companys southwest division. Prior to that post, Baker spent five years as executive vice president of sales and marketing at Spring Airs Salt Lake City licensee, where he delivered a 47 percent increase in sales through the strategic implementation of unique marketing strategies. Baker started his bedding sales career in 1997 with a six years stint as key account manager at Simmons.
Glideaway has developed one of the nations finest value-added sleep products brands, said Baker. They provide customers with a one-stop shop because they have the unique ability to fill up a truck with various components of the sleep system--from mattress protectors to bed frames--which is a really innovative service in the industry.