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From Home Furnishing Business

Kingsdown Is the “Koolest” at Las Vegas Market with New Foam

July 27, 2023  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry   

Showcased in the showroom’s front window, K2—designed to turn heads both at the Market and on retail floors—features eight models with two distinct looks on the beds’ uniquely “Kool” knitted covers. A snow-capped mountain range indicative of the world’s second-highest peak stretches across the surface of the collection’s premium models, while a snowflake pattern on a darker background drift across the opening price point beds.

All eight are backed by custom-made, back-lit headboards picturing the mountain range and the tagline “Koolest Mattress in the World.™”

With suggested retails ranging from $1799 to $2799, K2 offers a unique cooling story with a focus on heat removal and marks a significant expansion into the all-foam category by Kingsdown. “We believe there is plenty of room in the marketplace for a great foam line to do extremely well,” said Kingsdown Chairman Mike James, “and we know that retailers are looking for alternatives.”

Drawing on the learning from the success of Kingsdown’s regional Zedbed brand, James said, “We knew that to be successful across the U.S., the product has to have a great story and a great feel, so the design team really tore the engine apart and started from the ground up in creating the K2 collection.”

The team began by experimenting with softer cores and railroaded components to innovate the ideal core structure.

“While coolness and heat removal are vital for sleeping well, and we address that at every level in these beds, comfort is paramount, and the feel has to be right. Given the increasing popularity of adjustable bases, we also looked at bendability.”

“Inspired by the articulation of Zedbed, which bends wonderfully on a motion base,” James said, “we have incorporated a flex-stretch bottom to allow for smooth transitions on motion bases.”

“We then visited suppliers to find foams that would offer a really wonderful, cuddly feel on the surface with a cooling story, along with something that would be a bit firmer. The result is that we’re bringing to Market two great feels, a firm and a plush, at every price level, with the most premium version incorporating microcoils.”

Additionally, although James noted that the collection’s knit covers do incorporate PCM, the team found ways to avoid the slick and slippery feeling that cooling yarns tend to impart to create “a much better hand.”

All of the models feature heat-wicking centi(GR)ade technology (which uses graphene strips to dissipate heat from the body) and all of the core and upper foam layers are ventilated for cooling performance. Covers are also ventilated to allow heat to escape.

Finally, the K2 collection is supported with a full slate of engaging marketing materials for what James called “a total package that we expect to really stir up the dust in the marketplace this summer.”