(This interview has been transcribed.)

John Fuller: First of all Craig what is this furniture and metal to food program?
 
Craig: There is a program that Operation Food Search started about four years ago. What they do is take all of the old furniture and all of the old metal that comes from all of the corporations that partner with their programs. Well the program got a little large for them to manage. So they came to us St. Louis Green and said hey would you be willing to take this program over. We acquired it in October. Since October we have worked in all the programs that we’ve done with all the people and diverted 300,000 pounds of furniture in something like 60 days so it’s been fabulous. A group like Johns is one of the groups that we’ll send the furniture to if it’s still useable.
 
John Fuller: A beneficiary?

Craig: A beneficiary.

John Fuller: Well then how can a company help as long as we’re talking about the program.

Craig: A beneficiary. Well the biggest thing is to get a hold of us if you’re planning on moving anything let us decide if it’s of value or not for us to come in and say yes we can get someone to use it here or we can use it there that the best way for us. Just call us if you would.
 
John Fuller: Now the beneficiary or the group the Harris House tell us about the Harris House John

John Alipertz: Harris House is a not for profit United Way agency located in south St Louis we provide residential treatment services for men and women suffering from alcoholism chemical dependency and mental health issues. We have 99 beds. Being a not for profit we have a relatively limit budget so; the furniture and various items that we have gotten from St Louis Green. It’s just been like Christmas for us.

John Fuller: How big of a problem is substance abuse and alcoholism you say you have 99 beds how many people do you provide services too.

John Alipertz: Close to five hundred a year

John Fuller: Wow.

John Alipertz: The impact of Harris House goes well beyond that five hundred people leave the Harris House and they return to the work place. We help people get jobs. Provide employment skills. A lot of the women come to Harris House in an effort to regain custody of their children they lost due to their addiction. So it’s a tremendous impact on their community.
 

John Fuller: What would be some of the items that you would reuse from Craig’s group?

John Alipertz: We got some beautiful furniture and it’s gonna be the first time in our 50 years history that we have matching furniture in our living room. (Everyone Laughing) We’re pretty excited about that!

Craig: Washington University redid their library last week the nineteenth. We went in there with five agencies and took four floors of old furniture from Wash U. and they were one of the agencies that got some of that furniture. It’s just fabulous.

John Fuller: Wow and it’s keeping it out of the landfills as a waste
Craig: Yeah everybody wins.

John Fuller: Thank you John and Craig also for joining us today about how about precious earth segment can help other by repurposing furniture for those who need it.

See the video interview from KPLR 11 Precious Earth: Green Furniture and Metal To Food Program

Photo By Jepoirrier The scam truck

It’s not just people that can get scammed on Craigslist. We wanted to share an email conversation that turned out to be nothing more than a mattress dealer (STL Beds) getting scammed on Craigslist. I thought our STL Beds readers might find this email interesting to say the least.  As you will eventually see  a caring individual was trying to help orphan kids in Ghana Africa, and she wanted to purchase 12 $1000.00 queen size mattress sets. She was even willing to pay USA sales tax. In the end we found it interesting that she wanted to supply orphan kids with queen size organic beds that cost over $1000.00 dollars eachs That same money could have purchased  (60) $200.00 twin size mattress set for the same $12,000.00 budget. This probably would of been enough mattresses to furnish the entire orphanage with a mattress set that the typical teenager sleeps on here in the states.

First I’ll start by saying we never talked to Patricia by phone. So here we go with our Mattress Dealer and Craigslist Scam email transcript:

Patricia Brown <brownp290@something.com> wrote:

Thanks for having time to talk to me over the phone. Well i want you to quote me some prices on the queen size mattress and also the king size mattress about 3 or 4 different prices, so i can also get back to you with my order also i need to know the method of payment that you do accept, hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you
Pat. Brown.

Response:

Pat, Give either Dave or myself Doug a call at the store. 636-296-8540 We would be glad to go over any price or size with you. I am out of the office until after 12:00 today, but if you call me we can even get on the website together and price specific models over the phone.
Thanks Again
Doug

Patricia wrote:

Good hearing from you back… Well am sorry i cant talk on the phone, thats why i did called you with the operator relay am having problem with my ear…am damb and am ordering this mattress to the orphanages. So i will be glad if you can go ahead and quote me with some prices and i will choose from the prices that am interested in, so we can continue hope to hear from you soon.
Respectfully,
Pat.

Response

What size are you looking for queen 60 x 80 or king 76 x 80. Second which models are you interested in. What price range are you looking to stay with in or under so I am not guessing and wasting your time on beds out of your budget?

Patricia wrote:
Okay good hearing from you back… well am not looking for a specific brand, I want prices on both king and queen size and my price range start from $800 to $2000. hope to hear from you soon
Pat.

Response:
Pat, Quick question do you live in the St. Louis Metro area?

Patricia wrote:
No David am sorry

Response:
What city do you live in? I will need to see if it is even possible to ship the item to you b4 we go any further.
Doug

Patricia wrote:
Thank you David, you dont have to worry about the shipping i will send for pick-up after payment has been done. am in Springfield. hope to hear from you soon
Pat.

Response:
Pat, As a courtesy I just wanted to let you know that you are working with Doug.
Are you planning on coming in and test resting the mattresses first? I would suggest if at all possible to do so. A mattresses feel is subjective and if they all felt the same we would only offer one model. If you must purchase via the internet please see attachment. Also both here are a couple models that are not on the web site as of yet. These are all set prices and include mattress and foundation.
Symphonic Queen 1600.00 king 2000.00
Harmonious queen 1000.00 king 1350.00
(Link) Vistit our Organic beds Meadow starts in Queen 1500.00 king 1800.00
Zippered Rainforrest or Natures Select are the same beds. Queen is slightly over budget but is 2100.00 and is a fantastic seller.
Doug

Patricia wrote:

Hello,
Okay Doug sorry for calling you David, also thank you very much for your good customer service once again for making this purchase a suscessful….l recommeded by my associate  shipping company to take care of the shipping, we recomemded by my associate for a shipping company to pick up the mattress from your store after payment has been made so l will want you to contact the shipping company, Inter- ship asap so that they can pick up the mattress from your store after the payment has been done because l will like to order 12 set of the Harmonious  queen set that you quoted $1000.00 for a set  (So pls let me know the price without shipping) shipped to the Osu Childrens Orphanage Home in Accra Ghana, west Africa…l will want you to contact them for the frieght charges, weight,diamensions and thier terms of payment and email me back…..l’m ready to order so l will want you to email me back with the Grand total price and plus frieght charges so l can get back with you for the payment with my credit card info via email….looking forward to hear from you back soon….Thank you.

Respectfully, Patricia.

Shipping companies information:
the manager….. Mr Isaac xxxx
Address….. “Named Road”, 3rd street 00233, Ghana W-Africa
Email ……  inter-ship@hotmail.com
Tel ……….  xxx-xxx-xxxxxx

Tell us your Craiglist scam story.

While STL Beds believes that 5 percent green is better than making no effort what so ever and while some mattress stores are beginning to introduce bio foams, organic cotton and wool STL Beds continues to strive for bedding products that can make a bigger difference.  They refuse to settle for non-genuine  green marketing or better known green washing practices in the name of profits a practice being found industry wide.

Why go green?

Why promote sustainability and recycling? Because all of these initiatives preserve the Earth, life, jobs, and health for our friends, family, and fellow men and women. All of the following are industry leading offerings that STL Beds is proud to established before all other furniture, mattress, and specialty bedroom stores in the area.

• In 2009 STL Beds became the first member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC)
• 2010 STL Beds Manager Doug Belleville becomes 1st Green Leader Certified Accredited Professional in St. Louis and 2^nd in MO.
• 2011 STL Beds is 1st store to recycle worn out mattresses and boxsprings by giving those recycled components new life as other products.
• 2007 Continued to sell two sided mattresses for longer life and save landfill space while nearly all companies went to one sided mattresses.
• 2007 First mattress store in Saint Louis to display and sell organic mattresses.
• 2007 First bedding store to offer organic mattress toppers in store.
• 2009 Second furniture store behind Carol House Furniture to voluntarily support wind energy through Ameren UE Pure Power.
• 2010 Begins showing a second brand of organic mattresses in STL.
• 2008 Initiates new chemical free organic pillows a first time in any St. Louis Mattress Store
• 2008 New Organic Cotton Sheets that is toxic free. A real different choice for those wanting to get a way from potentially harmful bleaches and dyes.
• 2008 Organic mattress protectors begin being offered in showroom.
• 2007 Recycles Plastic Mattress Bags
• 2007 Recycles Cardboard
• 2007 Gives usable old mattresses and boxsprings away to local food pantries, charitable organizations, churches, and individuals
• 2006 Recycles its paper, plastic bottles, and aluminum
• 2009 Paints entire showroom using No VOC Paint.
• 2011 Picks up King Koil Extended Life Mattress sets. These mattresses may be the strongest and longest lasting beds on the mattress market and will save landfill space by not wearing out as fast as other beds.

Ok I know it’s a silly headline but St Louis MO has run the gamut and had its fair share of natural occurrences these past few months. A couple big tornadoes, crazy temperatures, big snow, flooding and as my wife has pointed out to me ” the cicadas”. Now just this morning a minor 4.2 Earthquake positioned around the Sullivan MO area just 50 or so miles south of Saint Louis. This happened according to my alarm clock set 10:00 minutes fast I will admit at 3:12 am 5/7/11. What most of you will find interesting or unbelievably boring is that I rode out this minor Missouri earthquake in my softside waterbed and is the second such happening while owning this bed. Now of course the mattress had nothing to do with the quake but the interesting thing is that I felt the shake through water.  This got me to thinking what kind of mattress is least likely to disturb you during an earth quake? I’m hoping to get some input from you all, but here is my best opinion on the subject.

Earthquake Preparedness In A Waterbed

What mattress is best during an earthquake?

Coil Spring Mattress?

Innerspring beds use coils and let’s face it these bad boys bounce.  Push a coil down it comes right back. I can remember as a kid jumping on mattresses like a trampoline and bouncing my sister around on the bed and laughing about it. Take my advice  no matter what the brand if you have you may find yourself rudely awakened as you are bounced to the floor.

Memory Foam Mattress?

I have got to think this is your hands down winner. They are built to be energy absorbing, isn’t that what they do to earthquake proof buildings? They advertise a glass of wine sitting on the mattress while a full grown adult walks around on the high tech surface with nothing more than small shimmies and shakes of the liquid in the glass and nothing spills. I wonder if it would even register on the Richter magnitude scale?

Always Clasp Your Hands Over Your Head

Airbed?

These things make me think of those inflatable bounce houses kids play in at carnivals and picnics. Bouncing, shaking, tremors and lots of movement need I say more?

Waterbed?

The water bed and tsunami myth, while I own a fully wave controlled waterbed I must admit it wasn’t exactly a tsunami I rode out. However there were definite vibrations and shaking going on underneath of me. I have to think a wavier free flowing mattress with nothing to hamper the waters movement may be nothing short of seismic.

Lawyer Disclaimer: This was written for cheap entertainment value and is in now way intended to suggest a mattress is a safe place of refuge during a real disaster or emergency.

American TV Furniture Electronics Appliance is Closing in St. Louis-Area

Four local American Stores Going Out of Business

As many of us in this industry already know the furniture industry has really struggled in recent years and now another bit of bad news, according News Channel 5 (KSDK) St. Louis – American TV Furniture and Appliance has decided to shut down four of there locations in the St. Louis MO area including it’s local support operations.

While the chain itself is not going out of business, there were 4  local stores that were announced to be closing.

They are located in Cottleville,  Bridgeton, Fenton, Missouri and O’Fallon, Illinois on the east side of the metro area.  It was not said how many jobs were lost or if those jobs would be relocated to other locations.  According to the report all remaining American stores in Illinois, Michigan Iowa, and Wisconsin will continue to remain open providing business as usual.

Starting June 4 Store-closing sales will be set in motion and run for several weeks.

There is great news for previous customers of American Furniture and Appliance. The company has announced that the they be honoring gift cards for the duration of the store-closing sale and offer refunds to consumers who decide that they do not want to redeem them.  Extended warranty plans will be honored and will continue to be valid per their agreement and are insured through a third-party insurance group.  It is that refunds will be available on pending orders or regularly delivery for customers who currently have open orders to pick up or waiting for delivery.  Pending service items and orders will either be or returned to the customer prior to closing or repaired.

Tickets By ChiBart

STL Beds is giving away a limited supply of Free Admission Tickets Valued at $8.00 a piece for the Healthy Planet Natural Living Expo 2011. (Limit 5 Tickets Per Family Please!) That saves you up to $40.00. Simply drop by our STL Beds location or send us a self-addressed stamped envelope and mention this blog or print it out too redeem your free money saving tickets. Hurry because when they are gone they are gone!

Information about Green Event:

Healthy Planet Natural Living Expo
When: Sunday, February. 27, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Webster Groves Recreation Complex Located at I-44 at Elm Avenue.
33. East. Glendale Road. Zip Code 63119

This is one of the best St Louis green events of the entire year you won’t want to miss it. Healthy Planet Magazine who sponsors and puts on this home show does it right. It is located in Webster Groves, Missouri. This rare STL Green Event is meant to educate the consumers with an wealth of information for living healthier lives and saving the environment through sustainable and green daily living. Whether people choose to do nothing at all, just 1 thing, or completely change the way they buy, use, and dispose of products people will be shocked and surprised how easy, cheap, and healthy green living can be.  Healthy Planet Magazine and their expo always manage to gather a large diversity of green goods and services under one roof and 2011 will be no different. This show will include everything from health screenings to energy saving tips and products for the home but that is not all.

What’s going on at the Expo?

• Healthy eats include Free Organic and Natural food sample.
• Would you like to learn how to make your work or living space more energy efficient?
• Look for chemical free or low or no VOC household goods?
• Every considered environmentally friendly cosmetics as an alternative?
• How start or own your very own “green” business, there will be plenty of businesses there to share ideas.
• Spinal screening
• Free chair massage
• Organic, Natural, and Eco Friendly Mattresses and Bedding
• 1^st 300 guests will receive a free reusable tote bag
• Wine and beer samples
• Live Music
• Free Giveaways
• Someones going to win a weekend vacation to the YMCA Trout Lodge worth $600.00
• Did we mention FOOD?

There will be live music, wine and beer tasting, and tons of give-a-ways. According to Healthy Planet Magazine, “the first 300 guests will receive a free reusable tote bag.” There will be an Amtrak Ticket Giveaway and a weekend vacation at the YMCA Trout Lodge in the Lake of the Ozarks that is worth $600.

Day of the event

Cost: $8.00 for adults

Cost: Kids under 16 FREE!

Who’s going to be exhibiting at the expo?

Wildlife Center of Missouri

Vitality Unlimited Spa

True-Dose Pets

Treats Unleashed

Thomas Construction

The School of Metaphysics

The Healing Center

St. Louis Vegetarian Society

STL Beds

Soul Esteem Center

Sierra Club

Shining Rivers Waldorf School

Schnucks Market

Schalafly Beer

Sappington Farmers Market

Renewal By Anderson

Pure Power

PB Design

New Life Solutions

Neel’s Pharmacy

Missouri Coalition for the Environment / Earth Designs

Midtown Home Improvement

Juice Plus

Inmotion Health Center

Holistic Fitness

Healing Arts Center

Elements of Wellness

Eckankar – Spiritual Literature

Dancing Spirit Healing & Arts Center

Culver Way Ecovillage

Crown Valley Winery

Complete Wellness Center

Community Acupuncture of St. Louis

Committed to Health Chiropractic

Chipolte Mexican Grill

Butterfly Energy Works

Build St. Louis

Body & Mind / Healthy Harvest Gardens

Blueshadow Photography

Berhanu Organic

Bellaspark Productions

Bath Fitter

Bales Junk Removal

Arbonne International

Animal Health & Healing

Amtrak

Alternative Hospice

Alpha-Health Solutions

Advanced Energy Solutions

You can find more information about the Healthy Planet Green Expo by calling 314-962-7748 or go to www.thehealthyplanet.com

Contact Information:
Doug Belleville 636-296-8540
info@STLBeds.com

Salesman becomes St Louis’ First Green AP Certified in Eco-Friendly Home Furnishings and Design

One year ago Doug Belleville’s small 3-man business STL Beds became a member of a unique group called the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC). They are a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and educating people inside and outside the furniture industry about earth friendly alternatives and choices. The SFC green furnishings group consists of industry suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and interior designers. Doug felt the need within his industry to reach out to his customers by helping them get a better understanding of why it’s important to support green furniture programs. Recently he completed an intensive course, the only one of its kind, which focuses on training industry leaders so that they can educate their customers in sustainability, eco friendly home furnishings, and design. Doug is the 1st in St. Louis, 2nd in the state of Missouri, and is one of only a handful of people across the nation to be certified as a Green Leader Accredited Professional  (Green AP) recognized by the SFC.

Why be Green Leader Certified?

Anything and everything green is certainly the buzz. Up until now most of the populace has taken few steps in the direction of green education. Doug took those steps and found a way to make a difference not only in his own life, but also in the lives of other people he comes into contact with everyday. He says “often times the consumer knows very little about green initiatives. They do the best they can, purchasing organic food, recycling aluminum cans, and possibly even participating in a local recycling program. As they should most say they feel good about what they’re doing, yet more often than not these same people are not always sure how or if they are really making a difference. While each of the aforementioned are important steps to saving the earth, it’s also important to recognize every little thing we do can makes a difference in either a positive or a negative way . The first step is recognizing personal responsibilities like what kind of individual impact each of us have on the environment in which we all live.”

What Doug and His Company are Doing to be Green

For nearly 4 years Doug has researched sustainable green home furnishing and has put in a plan to educate others in sustainable furnishings as well. Not only by becoming the first Green AP certified furnishing salesman in St Louis, but he has put his money where his mouth is and expanded his company product selection to include chemical free, organic mattresses and various other environmentally safe products. He is one of the first to actually deal with issues of biodegradable mattresses. Doug says “Mattress recycling is virtually non existent curbside in St. Louis and it is a huge undertaking to try and budge a waste disposal system that is virtually entrenched in the old habits of simple throwing mattresses away. Costs of disposal will only get higher as landfill space becomes scarcer. That’s why three years ago we chose to offer consumers new cutting edge product choices that utilize recyclable materials, biodegradable, and sustainable parts saving up to 25 cubic feet of landfill space.” He believes buying recyclable products, chemical free organic foods, and sustainable goods can make a real difference – and that people must continue to do that.

Doug saw the waste in his industry and has made a switch to try to do more business with companies that practice sustainability – such as companies that make use of earth friendly growing methods, source their raw materials legally and properly, and make a difference in indoor air quality.

Ho! Ho! Ho! And Deck the Halls the Holiday Home and Gift Show is just around the corner. The show will be held November 13th from 9am-5pm at Fox Service Center at 845 Jeffco Blvd in Arnold. The event has Free admission for all visitors and should be fun for all those attending.

Gift ideas at the show

Kids need to bring mom and dad and get their photo with Santa and a live reindeer along side a sleigh (a great Christmas card photo op). Vendors displaying their products include gift items such as Avon, purses, billfolds, home décor, Christmas ornaments and décor, pet products, gift cards and more. Home improvements vendors will also showcase their products such as granite counter tops, cabinet, windows, gutters, beds, bathrooms and more. Vendors are being added daily, so come out and check out all the great products and services.

The Holiday Home and Gift show is a perfect time to gather the family, call your friends then make your way to the Fox Service Center for fun shopping and visit with Santa and his reindeer. Some men will be hunting so this might give women a chance to start their Christmas shopping early.

Christmas is just around the corner, so make plans to visit the Holiday Home and Gift show to kick off the Holiday Season with nice Gifts and great fun!

For more information call 636-296-3030 or 314-393-3030
Sponsored by The Rock News Paper
A Solid Community Built on the Truth

How about this?
2 Free full size pillows just visiting our showroom!
$25.00 value
Free pillow promotion not available online. 1 set of 2 pillows per family / household.

And this?
STL Beds will beat any sale price on a comparable item by the difference in price. Not only that but to sweeten the deal we will also give you 25% of the difference in prices. We’ll call it…

STL Beds 125 % Off the Difference Sale!
Must bring in a price quote, competitors ad, or a url address to a website ad.
Merchandise must be comparable.

Just like Wal-Mart, we offer the lowest prices everyday in addition we are offering some great in store Labor Day event savings.

Buying a New Mattress and Box Spring?

When you purchase a premium mattress set, take advantage of free accessories like bed frames, sheet sets, delivery & set up.
Deals vary and are available with every premium mattress set you select $550.00 or above.
Limited delivery 20-mile radius of store.

Buy a Complete Bedroom Set over $1000.00 get a Mattress Set FREE.

You can even apply the value of the FREE mattress set towards upgraded mattress sets that are plusher, more supportive, and longer lasting.

Twin headboards starting @ $44.00
Twin mattress sets starting @ $129.00

Full headboards starting @ $79.00
Full mattress sets starting @ $169.00

Queen headboards starting @ $50.00 (While they last)
Queen mattress sets starting @ $199.00

In Store Inventory Clearance on Land and Sky Beds

Been thinking about a chemical free, adjustable firmness, biodegradable, and long lasting all natural Dunlop latex rubber mattress? You will save hundreds of dollars! While they last.

Land and Sky Meadow Organic Mattress (While they last)
Land and Sky Rainforest Organic Mattress (While they last)

Twin Full or Queen steel bed frames.
$29.00 Regularly priced at $39.00

Labor Day Holiday Event Hours
Friday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed to observe “Labor Day” and spend time with family and friends.
Tuesday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

STL Beds is located at 1360 Jeffco Blvd in Arnold on the St. Louis County Line.  Click here to find us!

What’s that, still not enough saving? All right you asked for it, were giving away stuff for FREE!

22-Hour Special Fourth of July
Sales Spectacular

Friday 7/2/10 10:00 – 8:00
Saturday 7/3/10 10:00 – 5:00
Monday 7/5/10 11:00 – 4:00

How about Buy 1 Mattress Set Get 4 Options Free?

That’s right when you buy any Twin, Full, Queen, or King Premium Mattress and Boxspring Set valued at $499.00 or more and we will give you 4 Options Free with your purchase.

Free Sheet Set (1200 thread count)
Free Mattress Pad
Free Delivery Free Set Up 25-mile limit
Free Disposal of your old Mattress Set

Buy any 4 Piece Bedroom Set (Bed, Dresser, Mirror, Chest)

Huge Selection of Bedroom Sets

Purchase any 4 Pc. Bedroom Group Get These Free

Free Nightstand (or) 10 Percent Off the Bedroom set
Free Delivery
Free Set Up
Free Haul A Way of Your Old Furniture

Need a new mattress set for the kids?

Buy one of these 2 Mattress Sets & Get a $40.00 Bed Frame Free

Lux Pillow Top

Twin Set $175.00 Free Bed Frame
Full Set $209.00 Free Bed Frame

Easy Sleep Plush Top

Twin Set $249.00 Free Bed Frame
Full Set $338.00 Free Bed Frame

Two Sided Premier Comfort Plush or Firm. Your Choice!

Looking for a mattress that can be flipped over?

Twin $499.00
Full $649.00
Queen $699.00
King $949.00

Click on Image to see more mattresses that can be flipped over!

Buy 1 Set of Bed Sheets @ regular price and Get a 2nd set at ½ Price