Sleep Innovations Drafts Dan Marino

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/27/2004 12:00:00 AM

West Long Branch, N.J. —

Add NFL legend Dan Marino to the list of people getting ready for the New York Home Textiles Market this fall.

The former Miami Dolphins quarterback has signed with Sleep Innovations to produce a line of co-branded memory-foam mattresses, pillows, mattress toppers, a travel pillow and slippers. The line will debut at Sleep Innovation's New York showroom during the market in early October, and Marino will be on hand for three days to boost the marketing effort.

“When I do something, I always try to commit to it and work hard for it,” said Marino, whose current projects include co-hosting HBO's “Inside the NFL” and serving as a commentator on CBS's “The NFL Today.”

Sleep Innovations will position the Marino line at the top level of its product range, with the mattress pegged as the flagship item in the collection, according to David Fuchs, senior vice president, sales. Once the line takes off, the company may expand into comfort cushions, stadium seats and automotive seat cushions, he added.

“As far as we know,” Fuchs said, “this is the first time any athlete has done a soft home product. The domestics customer is usually a woman, but Dan gives us crossover because every man between 18 and 80 is turning on Sunday morning football.”

Although Marino may be a rookie when it comes to pitching soft home, he said he has been sleeping on a memory-foam mattress and using memory-foam pillows for more than four years. He said he's committed to doing whatever it takes to promote the new line, including store appearances.

“We could have a contest: Come sack Dan Marino on his mattress,” he said, laughing.