WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.239 –> 00:07.159
Serta Simmons is saying goodnight to a 122,000
square foot factory in Jamestown,
00:07.239 –> 00:13.789
New York, a move the company says will take
place in the next few months and impact 84
00:13.789 –> 00:17.629
employees.
According to Furniture Today, the plant closure
00:17.629 –> 00:21.989
is the second one that’s been initiated by
Serta Simmons so far this year.
00:22.159 –> 00:25.399
The company announced in May that it would
shutter a Moreno Valley,
00:25.760 –> 00:31.931
California plant that employed 180 workers.
A site that was built during an expansion plan
00:31.931 –> 00:38.012
and has only been operational since 2018.
And while 2023 has been rough for the company
00:38.012 –> 00:43.372
and its workers, it’s not exactly the beginning
of a trend toward facility consolidation.
00:43.501 –> 00:48.372
The New York closure announcement marks the
eighth plant shutdown for Serta Simmons since
00:48.372 –> 00:52.021
2022.
The company recently told Furniture Today that
00:52.021 –> 00:56.341
these moves underpin efforts to build a best in
class supply
00:56.563 –> 01:02.004
chain, which means optimizing its manufacturing
footprint and creating operational efficiencies
01:02.004 –> 01:08.844
by expanding some operations and closing others.
The company added that these decisions are
01:08.844 –> 01:13.433
never easy, and we are supporting impacted
employees through the transition.
01:13.603 –> 01:17.333
The plant’s production work will be spread out
among three other Serta plants,
01:17.344 –> 01:22.234
bringing the company’s footprint in the United
States and Canada to 16 factories.
01:22.363 –> 01:27.426
According to The Street, the US mattress and
the industry has experienced a rocky year and a
01:27.426 –> 01:31.176
half, and recent numbers point to further
slowdown.
01:31.346 –> 01:36.295
Citing the International Sleep Products
Association, they say Q1 sales in the industry
01:36.295 –> 01:42.026
slid more than 11% year over year.
Serta Simmons has most certainly been impacted
01:42.026 –> 01:48.265
by these trends and was emerging from a 2023
bankruptcy filing as the industry posted these
01:48.265 –> 01:52.746
declines.
Simmons Bedding Company was founded in 1870.
01:53.059 –> 01:57.839
And was reportedly the first company to mass
produce woven wire mattresses.
01:58.089 –> 02:00.610
I’m David Manti, this is Manufacturing Now.