Sleep Innovations drops Bassetti

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/18/2002 12:00:00 AM

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ —

After two years of representing and marketing the Bassetti line of bedding, Sleep Innovations announced last week it was parting ways with the Italian-based company and that it would market its own line of bed ensembles.

"We enjoyed our exclusive working arrangement with Bassetti, and we had success placing designs from the collections. However, we have decided to focus our assets in another location," said Michael Fux, president of Sleep Innovations. "We will help Bassetti make a smooth transition to another supplier, and we will honor all commitments we made to our customers until the transition is complete."

According to Dave Stewart, Sleep Innovations' executive vp, the decision to part ways was not a surprise to Bassetti and was done amicably.

"We had plenty of success with Bassetti," Stewart said. "We just decided to move in another direction," Stewart said.

The new line of bedroom ensembles to be marketed by Sleep Innovations will be labeled Sensus and is part of the company's new direction. In contrast to Bassetti's ensembles, which were known for their photo-realistic patterns, Sensus will try to build market share by utilizing different fabrics, embellishments and signature looks. Three different ensembles will be available for department and specialty stores with a shipping date in late summer/early fall. Price points were not yet set for the ensembles, which will be sourced with cut-and-sew work completed both in the United States and abroad.

"These are looks I haven't seen in the market, and that's what's going to make it different and successful for us," Stewart said. "It's different from what's out there already, and it's a signature look that's good for us.

To accommodate the new home textiles look, Sleep Innovations' showroom space at 261 Fifth Ave. has been remodeled.

"This is about creating a niche for ourselves in home textiles, same as we've done with foam," Stewart added.