30-year furniture veteran and President of St. Louis Based Phillips Furniture and combat veteran of the Korean War Thomas E. Phillips Sr., died Friday (Dec. 10, 2010) at a his nursing home in University City. He was 81 years old.

He was the son of Percy Phillips, an entrepreneur who ran the old Phillips Mercantile Company in downtown Saint Louis, a railroad salvage company that opened in 1937. Mr. Phillips and his wife Marianne recently celebrated their 59^th wedding anniversary.

After the Korean War, he worked at his father’s store until his dad retired in 1962 when he and his brother, Clinton took control of the business. That same year, the state of Missouri bought the downtown location for their new Hwy 40 project. The Phillips Brothers moved the company to its new location in St. Louis County 10525 Manchester Road in Kirkwood, where it is still presently. Today it is owned and operated by his family members. In 1976, the family members renamed the business Phillips Furniture. Mr. Phillips retired from the Phillips Furniture in 1992.

Mr. Phillips had quit smoking nearly 30 years ago and in November had been diagnosed with lung cancer that quickly turned fatal.

He is survived by his wife, four sons, 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mr. Phillips Furniture spun off another well-known local furniture company, Weekends Only, owned by two of Mr. Phillips’ sons. Two other sons own and operate five local Ashley Furniture franchises.

Private Burial held at Bellefontaine Cemetery.

On a personal note we never met Mr. Philips or his family. We only knew him as an honorable businessman and a tough competitor. Our prayers and sympathy go out to his family and friends from our STL Beds Family.

Our commitment to you.

I am proud to say that STL Beds has become a member of the Sustainable Furnishings council. This is just another step in our company’s journey to become a more environmentally responsible furniture and mattress retailer.  Saint Louis and online shoppers can know that through our joining of the SFC that we have agreed to make a commitment to everyone from our customers to the environment that gives us all the bounty needed to survive, live comfortably and live healthy.

Who is the The Sustainable Furnishings Council?

The SFC is a non profit group of people who seek out manufactures and retailers in the home industry who are committed to making sure that sustainable practices are carried out and a committment to educate all of us in and out of the furniture industry while making the necessary changes that will benefit both man and the environment.

What does the SFC encourage?

1. Legally- logged wood.
2. A verifiable chain of custody by the loggers.
3. It asks businesses to reduce known toxic substances and reduce and lower resources that are unsustainable for products such as mattresses and bedroom furniture.
4. Minimize transportation if and when ever possible.
5. Encourages the reduction of packaging and packing materials.
6. Offer customers meaningful certificates and help educate consumers about sustainability.
7. The SFC asks the MFC and retailers to make reasonable choices concerning sustainability by partnering in such things as personal and company reductions in energy usage, committing to a high level of safety standards, while paying a living wage and eliminating sweatshops.

What are the benefits?

Nearly everyone is in agreement that by carrying out the previously mentioned goals that the global environment that we all live in  and share can be improved with just a little effort on everyone’s part. This can and will lead to a better public health in the home, work, or the great outdoors. The idea is that it doesn’t have to be life altering but through daily responsible purchases, sales and manufacturing methods everyone can be positively affected.

The sustainable furnishing council can be a great source of education for all. In future blogs STLBeds looks to help pass along news of any kind related to mattresses and bedroom furniture. We hope that our customers will make their own commitment and seek out information concerning the bedroom furniture and the mattresses we all sleep in. Like STLBeds, we had little knowledge about our products origins, construction, and it’s environmental impact. We believe you will be as shocked as we were when you too research and learn where your mattresses and furniture comes from. When we looked into it we realized the previously mentioned SFC goals are never advised or considered by most manufacturers in our industry. We do not believe that mattress and furniture manufacturers want to do harm to us or the environment, but rather in most cases it is a  simple lack of education of smarter, more environmentally sound ways to live a sustainable way of life that ultimately effects everyone.

Comparing Mattresses

According to the October 2009 Consumer Reports knowing that you cannot compare one mattress to the other as stated in this issue and all previous others they finally figured out a way to inform people about what are the best mattresses. Way to go Consumer Reports you got it right. Instead of rating mattresses that are for the most part incomparable, you decided to ask mattress buyers who already bought these mattresses if they liked them. CR asked the right question of their 17,000 plus online subscribers who bought beds in the recent years. According to CR they asked their mattress buying subscribers if they would buy the same brand mattress again. 41 percent definitely yes, 43 percent probably and 16 percent would buy something else. We would have liked to know if they would have recommended it to friends and family.

Interestingly specialty mattresses like Tempurpedic and Select Comfort came out on top with owners of them saying that they would purchase them again while brand name mattresses like Stearns and Foster and Spring Air owners not so much. We would have liked to know about other beds like All Natural Latex mattresses which get rave reviews on the Internet and also the various types of waterbeds but this was pretty good information they received.

How much does comfort cost?

Almost everyone agreed that any new supportive mattress would win out over an old worn out mattress set of any kind. So how much should we spend to get that new mattress comfort? The numbers were big but if you spent $4000.00 or more on your mattress you were in a class of 78% satisfaction rate while people who spent less than a thousand also had a decent rate of satisfaction 66%. Our conclusion from their results is what we have been saying all along, you don’t have to spend a million bucks to get a good night of sleep.

Testing Mattresses

So should you take a mattress for a test drive and try it before you by it? Well according to 77% of the people their time was well spent even though it was only 10 minutes. We suggest more time if possible. While others who did not take the time to lie on a mattress and compare models was highly unsatisfied.

People that had problems sleeping looked for alternate solutions to their sleep problems and it seems that many of them found relief from “unconventional” mattresses. According to Consumer Reports responders’ relief came from the specialty sleep industries memory foam bed Tempurpedic and Air Bed Select Comfort with a combined improvement of sleep of over 60 percent.

In this same article Consumer Reports even went on to answer what we at STLBeds feels is the biggest mattress myth that consumers are unaware of. The myth is that backs especially older ones need a harder or firmer bed. CR’s answer is the same as ours. There have been no real studies much less conclusive ones that suggest firm is best. The mattress that is best for you is the one that is most comfortable to you. We encourage you to listen to friends, family, and your doctors’ suggestions. In the end take it all into consideration and do the research. With the proper information you can narrow down and determine the level of quality, price, and type of mattress that fits your needs. However remember this, when turn the lights off and go to bed, all these people don’t have to sleep the new mattress whether it be firm or soft or if it’s a Simmons or a Tempurpedic, so be sure to buy the brand and type of mattress that is most comfortable to “you”.

This is a email we received at STLBeds we would like to share with you in relation to our April 2, 2009 blog.
Green Mattresses Standards Coming What Are They?

RE: Results of the first bedding/mattress industry “Green Initiative” meeting sponsored by the Specialty Sleep Association at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs , FL May 8, 2009

Dear Mattress Bedding Executive:

We wish to thank those who were able to attend the initial meeting of the “Green Initiative” sponsored by the Specialty Sleep Association (SSA) as well as those who expressed support for this effort even though you may not have been able to attend (i.e. attending Interzum in Cologne, etc.).

We are particularly pleased by the appreciation expressed from so many leaders of the industry for our bringing this issue to center stage. It was gratifying to see such a diverse group of manufacturers, specialty companies, suppliers, boutique businesses and related consultants and service companies participate in this groundbreaking meeting.

There was a great spirit of unity and support for the purpose we outlined of building consensus around the way our industry defines “green.”

Next Steps

Whether you were able to attend the meeting or not, we hope you will benefit from the following overview of the proposed next steps for the industry.

· Define the scope of this effort. Attendees were asked to send follow up emails with a proposed mission statement or scope for the Green Initiative, as well as key consumer messages. While establishing consensus around the definitions of “green”, “natural”, “all natural” and “organic” was a primary driver and raison d’être for the industry meeting, the desire was also expressed to work toward an overall standard or rating system/certification program. Emails should be sent to Daler@rtppub.com Based on these emails, a revised mission statement or scope will be developed for the next subsequent discussion.

· Set up working committees and board of governors. Initial discussion centered around creating one participating or “working” committee of several dozen interested companies—large and small and representative of our diverse industry to develop and execute a work plan. A smaller initial group—such as a board of governors—will also be formed to lead and administer this project. Over a half-dozen companies have already volunteered for this initial body.

· Develop a work plan, timeline, and budget. Once formed, the board of governors will develop a proposed work plan, timeline, budget and scope/mission statement. Subcommittees will then be formed from the working committee to establish consensus on terminology and primary topics that should be included in a working document or draft standard. Subcommittees have been suggested including: Definitions/Terminology (materials); Standards; Finance; Sustainability Processes/Factory Operations; and Compliance.

· Obtain financing. Discussion took place at the meeting around the need for a budget to be established and fundraising to take place to support this effort. Several companies immediately offered contributions ranging from $4,000 to tens of thousands of dollars. The SSA will nominate a Chairperson to lead the fundraising effort. Funds would go toward meetings and teleconference expenses, consultant and staff support for definitions/standards work, public relations, research and website development (for on-line bulletins, blogs, and discussions) if deemed necessary.

We would like to convene the first subsequent meeting of this working committee in June by teleconference or on-line Go-To-Meetings. Please use the form attached to indicate your ongoing interest in this effort.

Thank you once again for your interest in the Green Initiative. We are excited about the opportunity to continue moving the industry forward and demonstrate our commitment to delivering high value to consumers while considering and educating on environment impacts.

Sincerely yours,

Dale Read Tambra Jones

President Director

www.sleepinformation.org

Download the Sleep Information Green Initiative Form

On July 1 2007 the federal mattress safety standards were increased requiring all mattresses to pass measured levels of fire retardantcy through 3 controlled burn tests. To meet these standards mattress makers were allowed the freedom to come up with new ways on their own to meet or exceed the new federal standards put into place. Is there a reason most manufacturers will not disclose their methods to slow the rate of mattress burning in the condition of a fire. Is there a dirty little secret the mattress makers aren’t telling us?

Many mattress companies have opted to use chemically treated fibers. This might not be so bad if we didn’t have to sleep in the bed for 6-8 hours. Here is where we believe a problem has potential to develop.  Statistics show that 1000 people are injured and 300-400 people die every year, most related to smoking in bed. Is it worth it to have the CPSC (Government) protecting us from ourselves? Apparently they think so, but at what price is all of this mattress safety and protection going to cost you and me?

• Mattress manufacturers have to comply with a burn law, but do not have to disclose on the law label what chemicals have been used to help the mattress comply with burn testing.
• Mattresses that use chemicals haven’t been properly tested in long term human testing.  What happens with prolonged exposure through years of chemical nighttime snuggling?
• Unnecessary research and development along with miles of required documentation demonstrating that a mattress meets all federal standards.

I believe the CPSC and the mattress industry could be putting all of us in jeopardy to other health risks maybe even cancer. I guess an illness, or death 15, 20, or 30 years later is a problem we will deal with if and when it happens. I truly feel for the loss of life due to smoking in bed or the injuries caused from it. What I do not see is the senseless increase in retail and wholesale mattress costs for the mistakes of a few people that know not to smoke in bed. Mattresses are typically covered with a mattress pad, bottom fitted sheet, top sheet, and bed spread wouldn’t the mattress be the last item to catch fire? It just seems like another ridiculous attempt for the Government to protect us from ourselves.

Never mind the fact that retail prices jumped significantly and two sided mattresses mysteriously disappeared. Never mind that the new one-sided mattresses and all of the skepticism they come with meet FR compliancy with greater ease. Never mind that some manufacturers control mattress costs by cutting quality in using cheaper raw materials.

With all of that said STLBeds of St. Louis Missouri is offering anyone who doesn’t trust the mattress manufacturers or the Government a virtually chemical free alternative choice through organic mattresses. These mattresses comply with the CPSC standards by passing all 3 burn tests by using naturally raised and certified organic wool.  Contact us for more information or please follow our regular blogs.