A DREAM REALIZED: THE STORY OF PLEASANT MATTRESS

The origin of Pleasant Mattress, Inc. stretches back to the throes of World War II, when the original Morgensterns immigrated from Vienna to the United States and cobbled together a new life. Today, we continue their tradition of resourcefulness and forward-thinking. Our success rests on the synergy between father and son. Generation after generation, Morgenstern sons have taken inspiration from their fathers, each one building on the tradition of the last. As Issac Newton said, the secret to success is standing on the shoulders of giants.

After immigrating to America, Ernst “Ernie” and Grete Morgenstern founded Pleasant Mattress, Inc., originally named the Pleasant Bag Company, in Fresno, CA. Ernie swiftly put his newfound freedom and entrepreneurial passion to work. Using commercial bags and unusable clothing from thrift stores, he stitched together a business that produced recycled bags for local industries. In other words, the story of our company is truly rags-to-riches. Ernie grew more successful and developed an entire line of businesses. One fateful day, he noticed many decent mattresses were being disposed of prematurely, and he started the Pleasant Mattress Company to repair the beds. Suddenly, the thrift stores and used furniture dealers of Central Valley had access to good-quality, inexpensive mattresses.

As the company grew into its own, so did Ernie’s son Herb. After graduating from Fresno State with a strong vision and passion for the family business, Herb became a full-time partner with his father. In 1979, Herb succeeded his father as President, and the company became fully incorporated. During the transition, Pleasant Mattress, Inc. began to manufacture new bedding. By the mid 1990’s, we produced new bedding and futons exclusively. With the help of his wife Judy, Herb grew the family business from meager beginnings in chicken coops to a company manufacturing nearly 200,000 pieces per year in a 150,000 square-foot facility.

Meanwhile, Rion, Robert, and Jeff worked with their father to learn the business from the ground up. The eldest son, Rion, left Fresno in the early 1990’s to pursue a successful 20-year career in California’s tech sector. He became Director of Sales and Marketing for the oldest interactive agency in San Diego, and then returned to Fresno to put his remarkable skill set to work for the family business. He became Vice President in 2011.

Rion arrived eager to transform the company from a second-tier mattress producer to a first-rate regional powerhouse featuring national and home-grown brands. Rion hit the ground running and provided the company with a roadmap to its future success. Business promptly doubled as we reestablished the Spring Air brand in Southern California. In 2014, Rion was promoted to President and CEO. He strengthened his senior team with a Director of Finance and a Director of Operations. They came determined to become the leading mattress provider on the entire West Coast.

Today we press forward as we approach our goals. Our sales territories now include Southern California, Arizona, and Southern Nevada. Our brands include McRoskey, Airflex, Spring Air, Chattam and Wells, MAXX, NextNature, and MUFNTOP. We also remain a top producer of OEM and contract products for several regional and national retailers and E-commerce companies. Pleasant Mattress has a leadership team of mattress industry veterans, supported every day by loving family members and a great night’s sleep. That’s the reason we are the number one independent mattress manufacturer in Northern California.

As generations continue to unfold, we expect to continue realizing our dreams. To that end, we rise every day committed to making the customer experience as pleasant as a dream.