SHERWOOD HISTORY
More than what we do. This is who we are.
Introducing Softex
NATHAN ELLMAN
Nate Ellman owned and operated “Softex” in South Africa, and began manufacturing pillows and bedding in 1954. Leon Ellman was involved with the company in his youth, as he would assist his father in office tasks and began gaining an understanding of the “family” operation at a very early age.
Leon Joined Softex & Moves to the U.S.A.
LEON ELLMAN & THE 1ST PLANT
Leon joined “Softex” in 1967 with a university degree in accounting, and quickly built the company into one of the largest mattress manufacturers in South Africa. Leon streamlined processes and brought additional assembly process “in house” thus creating a vertical manufacturing structure.
In 1974, Leon made the move to the U.S.A. opening his first U.S. plant in Florida and then growing his manufacturing footprint as a “Nationwide” supplier with 10 total manufacturing plants. The company became a high-quality manufacturing machine with a low overhead structure capable of shipping large volumes throughout the United States.
All In The Family
NEIL & LANCE ELLMAN
With all of this, Leon and Elaine had two children (Neil and Lance). The acorn didn’t fall far from the tree as they were equally active, cutting their teeth by listening and asking lots of questions as they witnessed Leon growing the business
The Personality & The Operations
NEIL & LANCE ELLMAN
Neil graduated from American University in Washington D.C., and before he walked the stage, he had already decided that the family business was his future. Neil’s a natural in business as his mature and calm demeanor builds trust in his business relationships, which is the bedrock of Sherwood Beddings personality.
Lance graduated from Syracuse and felt much the same regarding his employment as his brother. He leaned towards the operational side of the business and jumped straight into opening the family’s Pennsylvania factory. He is responsible for plant layout, personnel management, operations, supply chain, labor, and processes.
Leading the Industry
TOP 100 FURNITURE RETAILERS
The company led the bedding industry in growth in the mid-2000’s and was sold in 2005. During this period, the family recognized the tremendous opportunity developing in an industry that was being absorbed by massive consolidations and private equity firms. The company pioneered new distribution channels (wholesale clubs, electronic retailers) and built a solid array of accounts and management. The company also developed state of the art products and became important to many top 100 Furniture Retailers.
A New Brand is Born
SHERWOOD BEDDING
On November 1st, 2010 the Ellman’s opened “Sherwood Bedding.” The time away from the industry wasn’t wasted, as they had developed a new approach. First, build world-class manufacturing facilities, featuring high-speed computerized equipment with automation in essential areas of manufacturing which increased quality and controls cost. The industry was calling for the family to return. Most of the competitors were run by banks, and the industry lacked true entrepreneurship. It was a perfect opportunity for the family to start again calling the new operation, Sherwood Bedding.
Sherwood Growth & Expansion
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2010 PHOENIX (SHERWOOD WEST)
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2012 ORLANDO (SHERWOOD SOUTHEAST)
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2014 DALLAS (SHERWOOD SOUTHWEST)
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2016 KENTUCKY (SHERWOOD MIDWEST)
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2019 PENNSYLVANIA (SHERWOOD NORTHEAST)
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MORE COMING SOON
Sherwood Bedding Joins The Tempur+Sealy Family.
TEMPUR SEALY INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: TPX, “Company” or “Tempur Sealy”)
Tempur Sealy International announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority ownership interest in a newly formed limited liability company which will contain at closing substantially all of the assets of Sherwood Acquisition Holdings, LLC (“Sherwood Bedding”), a leading manufacturer in the U.S. private label/original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) bedding market. Sherwood Bedding operates four manufacturing facilities and is a top 10 U.S. bedding producer. Tempur Sealy’s expected stake in Sherwood Bedding will mark the Company’s entrance into the private label category, creating a complete suite of product offerings ranging from Sherwood Bedding’s non-branded private label products to the Company’s well-known branded products, including Tempur-Pedic®, Sealy®, and Stearns & Foster®.
Sherwood Bedding Co-President Neil Ellman commented: “With Tempur Sealy being the dominant player in the U.S. bedding industry, we believe we have the perfect partner to acquire market share in the private label sector. The complementary knowledge and market-fit of the companies as well as the ability to improve upon our low-cost structure delivers a unique opportunity and provides us with a sustainable competitive advantage.”
1954
1967
1980's
1991
2000's
2010's
2020
THE FIRST
GENERATION
THE SECOND
GENERATION
THE THIRD
GENERATION
INTRODUCING
SHERWOOD BEDDING
2000's
2010