It seemed timely to us, with the current conditions in our job market and many people struggling to find work in what were once great manufacturing areas of the county, to write our story and speak to the “why’s” of what we do at My Green Mattress. Everyone is familiar with the trends in manufacturing over the last 20-30 years that have deployed many manufacturing and production jobs and businesses overseas. At My Green Mattress, we have not only extended a legacy of an outstanding local business in Illinois, but have helped suppliers nationwide by way of our purchasing practices and commitment to finding the finest organic and natural inputs, sourced almost entirely here in the US. The story begins with Tim Masters, founder of My Green Mattress.
Tim attended Township High School in La Grange, Illinois, and shortly after, took a mattress crafting apprenticeship under the tutelage of Mr. Brixie, owner of Quality Sleep Shop, a local mattress manufacturer that began business in 1969. Tim was honored to work with Mr. Brixie, who to him was a businessman of exemplary order; he was honest, and a true “stand-up guy,” in Tim’s own words. The art of making mattresses spoke to Tim from the beginning, he loved that he could create something tangible, be innovative and work with his hands. He also enjoyed fixing the machines in the shop and ensuring the entire manufacturing process ran smoothly.
After five years of honing his craft, Tim decided that he wanted to open a mattress factory of his own. When he approached Mr. Brixie with the idea, Mr. Brixie happily sold him Quality Sleep Shop, saying he could not continue the business without Tim. And so, Tim carried on the traditions in craftsmanship and an heirloom local business, maintaining local jobs and even created more. My Green Mattress employs 11 people, some who have been with the Company for 11 years.
Together, Tim and his workers carefully create each mattress by hand, each made to order. To make the perfect mattress, they maintain time honored techniques, taught to Tim by Mr. Brixie. As a full cut and sew factory, they hand quilt the fabrics with a multi-needle quilter. Cotton batting, natural latex and wool are all carefully layered over an individually wrapped innerspring coil system, covered, then closed by a tape edge machine. The quality of all materials and their craftsmanship are controlled from top to bottom of the mattress.
The result? The perfect mattress. Tim has taken great care in discerningly selecting all of his material inputs, and our customers can rest easy knowing that almost all of these materials were sourced right here in the US. Our steel components for the innerspring systems and box springs are from Hickory, North Carolina, our fabric also hails from the South, cotton from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and foam is sourced in Omaha, Nebraska. US based companies, large or small, depend on companies like My Green Mattress, to maintain and grow prosperity. Tim and his family are very proud to offer a product made with the finest US sourced organic and natural inputs, made in their hometown of La Grange, Illinois.
It has now been 25 years since Tim started making mattresses, and his dedication to creating the perfect mattress is still evident as he continues to work side by side with his employees every day, making mattresses and speaking to his customers to ensure they each receive the perfect bed.
At My Green Mattress, the product isn’t just a mattress that feels good, we truly produce good feelings. Moreover, to offer someone a perfect night’s sleep, well, what could be better than that?
