Paviglianti to Head Kingsdown Retail Effort

July 24, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Bedding on July 2007 Kingsdown Inc., Mebane, N.C., has named Joe Paviglianti as president and chief operating officer of its newly formed retail division. Paviglianti, previously president of Seattle-based Sleep Country USA, will head up the development and roll-out of “Sleep to Live” stores, a concept centered on Kingsdown’s BodyDiagnostic System and assortment.

“The importance of sleep and its connection to health and wellness is a fast growing consumer market”, Paviglianti said. “With the BodyDiagnostic line by Kingsdown, ‘Sleep to Live’ stores will be able to provide a unique, scientific and proven way to select the right mattress for its customers.”

Paviglianti will report to Pat Flippin, Kingsdown president and chief operating officer.

“Joe’s experience and leadership in retail, most recently with the very successful Sleep Country USA, will be a tremendous asset to Kingsdown as we begin the creation of the Sleep to Live retail concept,” Flippin said.

The initial stores are targeted for the Raleigh/Durham, N.C., market, but may be quickly expanded to other markets.

“It is not our intention to enter into markets where we presently have retail partners,” Flippin said. “However, there are many areas of the country which do not have a dominant retail outlet that can properly present the BodyDiagnostic concept.”

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Eric Hinshaw said that the entry into retailing is a natural evolution for Kingsdown.

“We have been very successful with retailers who understand the power of the BodyDiagnostic system,” he said. “Being able to create our own environment will not only provide a research model for further advancements in our diagnostic system, but will also allow us to properly present our commitment to better sleep in areas of the country we are not presently serving.”

Paviglianti will be responsible for overall operations and development of the Sleep to Live store concept.

“We will make the environment extremely customer friendly, with emphasis by the team members on providing an outstanding service experience,” he said. “Through the use of the BodyDiagnostic profiling system, we have the ability to change the way the customer experiences the selection and purchase of their mattress. While effective promotional efforts are always an element of successful retail, we have the ability to step above the ‘price-price-price’ message, and legitimately offer the customer the right environment for better sleep and, as a result, a better life.”