The 19-store Mattress King deal, gives iMS 150 stores in six states. Headquartered in Winfield, W.Va., iMS operates as Mattress Warehouse, Sleep Outfitters and Mattresses Unlimited in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and now Alabama.

Mattress King is based in Huntsville, Ala., and also operates stores in the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa markets. Owners Wayne and Kay Koswoski opened their first Mattress King in Huntsville in April 1989. The company grew to 19 stores despite losing two stores to tornadoes that swept through the state on April 26, 2011.

The Koswoskis, who plan to retire, said it took a long time to find the right company to sell to. “We have been blessed to see our company grow during trying times in our industry,” said owner Wayne Koswoski. “When other companies were closing stores, we were opening more. Kay and I are excited about retiring…almost as excited as we are for our employees. This acquisition will allow them all some wonderful opportunities and career paths greater than what we could have provided on our own.”

Son, Joseph Koswoski will continue the Koswoski legacy joining iMS as a corporate level executive.

“This is a win-win. It’s a wonderful opportunity for my parents as well as me and the other Mattress King employees,” said Joseph Koswoski. “Partnering with iMS allows us to take this company to a whole new level. I’m more excited than ever to see where this takes us.”

IMS stores carry a wide selection of the latest innerspring and memory foam mattress sets by Sealy, Simmons, Stearns & Foster and Tempur-Pedic, as well as adjustable bases by Tempur-Pedic and Ergo Motion, Protect-A-Bed mattress protectors, Dream Fit sheets, and memory foam pillows by Tempur-Pedic and others.

Mattress King carries the same mattress brands, plus Englander.

It was unclear at press time whether Mattress King would change its name.

Contact: Karen Keck, Chief Marketing Officer

Complete article can be found here

Four business leaders who demonstrate what the state’s future can be have been named to the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame.

Stuart M. Robbins, Kimberly Brown Knopf, Fred T. Tattersall and Douglass R. Van Scoy will be inducted into the Hall on Thursday (Nov. 3) at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown. The 6:30 p.m. ceremony, with a reception immediately following, is open to the public.

“This celebration is a tribute to those who have demonstrated accomplishments in the world of business, have strong ties to the state of West Virginia, and provide models for entrepreneurs and businesspeople of the future,” said Jose Sartarelli, Milan Puskar Dean of the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, which sponsors the event.

“This year’s inductees are especially emblematic of the entrepreneurial spirit in West Virginia, which is so critically vital to our state’s future,” Sartarelli said. “They have worked hard and provided leadership that not only led to their accomplishments, but has also built a positive business benefit to the state.”

The Hall of Fame was established in 2001 by the College of Business and Economics to publicly recognize extraordinary business leaders and to establish a record of their achievement. Those inducted into the Hall of Fame must have established a record of distinction in their field and industry in the categories of national/international businesses, state-based enterprises or entrepreneurial and family businesses. They must also have connections to West Virginia, either by birth, residence, education or business presence. Forty-six individuals have previously been inducted.

Additional sponsors are: United Bank; Chesapeake Energy; Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.; and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

Kimberly Brown Knopf
Kimberly Brown Knopf is the founder, president and chief executive officer of Innovative Mattress Solutions, a Winfield, W.Va.-based mattress retailer doing business as Mattress Warehouse and Sleep Outfitters. The company has more than 100 stores in four states: West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

A native of Louisville, Ky., and a 1982 graduate of the University of Kentucky, she opened her first store in South Charleston, W.Va., in 1983. As a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman, she has won several awards for professional achievements. She and her husband, Ken, have two daughters and live in Charleston, W.Va.

Knopf is a leader in the Young Presidents Organization and has been an officer in the Putnam County Rotary and on the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce board of directors. She also serves on the Charleston Area Alliance board of directors and the West Virginia Economic Development Authority board of directors.

Knopf is a board of governors member of Withit, a professional organization for women in the home furnishings industry. She supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the YWCA, the Heart Association, Extreme Home Makeover, the Alzheimer’s Association and Community Youth Sports.

Mattresses Unlimited has seven stores and a warehouse in the Louisville, Ky. market and nine stores and a warehouse in Nashville.

IMS, which does business as Sleep Outfitters in the Louisville market, currently has 14 stores there. The Mattresses Unlimited acquisition will boost that number to 21. The nine Nashville stores will be Sleep Outfitters’ first appearance in Tennessee.

“We are very pleased to expand our company’s presence in the Louisville market, my hometown,” said Knopf, “and the opportunity to enter the Nashville market is particularly exciting.”

The deal gives iMS a total of 120 stores in five states. The privately held company does business as Sleep Outfitters and Mattress Warehouse in West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and now Tennessee. Knopf opened her first store in South Charleston, W.Va. in 1983.

iMS stores carry a wide selection of the latest innerspring and memory foam mattress sets by Sealy, Simmons, Stearns & Foster and Tempur-Pedic, as well as adjustable bases by Tempur-Pedic and Ergo Motion, Protect-A-Bed mattress protectors, Dream Fit sheets, and memory foam pillows by Tempur-Pedic and others.

iMS is headquartered in Winfield.

Prior to joining iMS, Kyger was with Mattress Giant for 18 years. His most recent position was Regional Sales Manager of the Northeast and Midwest. Before that, he was with Mattress Discounters for 10 years in the Washington, D.C. area.

Prior to iMS, Keck held various senior positions at Lexmark International, Inc. while launching content strategies as well as the LexmarkRewards.com program.  She also held the program manager position for implementing eCommerce in a direct model.

Earlier in her career she was part of the dynamic marketing team at Target Corporation in several positions including management.  Keck lead numerous buzz-worthy campaigns for a variety of new brands and customer-focused programs such as Choxie, GoInternational, ClubWedd and Baby.  In 2003 and 2005 there were vertical fashion shows in Chicago and New York City that were live video streams via the Web; an effort lead with Yahoo! and Target’s own IT department.  She also played key roles to launch several firsts for Target Corporation such as the ‘transfer your prescription online’ program as well as the ‘order online and pick up in the store’ program for SuperTarget’s deli department.

“There is considerable potential for Sleep Outfitters and Mattress Warehouse to stand out in an over-saturated market,” says Keck.  “Today’s shoppers are savvy, thanks to technology, and they want to know they are getting a high-quality product at a great value in a way that’s convenient for them.  We’re gearing up to deliver just that.”

Both Kyger and Keck report to Kim Knopf, president and CEO of iMS who is an industry veteran in the sleep category for nearly 3 decades.

“We are excited that Steve and Karen are on board to lead some of our next stages of advancement,” said Knopf.  “Steve brings a breadth of knowledge while Karen brings innovative marketing and eCommerce experience.  They will help us achieve the growth we’re looking for as we expand our business into new markets and platforms.”