by NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Leading mattress manufacturer, Bedding Industries of America (BIA), has acquired a majority interest in Chicago-based Illinois Sleep Products, Inc. (ISP), one of the leading independent mattress producers in the region. ISP’s current management team, in addition to its over 100 employees will continue in their positions with the company, which will be rebranded BIA Midwest.
Edward Ciolkosz and his wife, Susan, formed ISP in 1986. Ed will remain an active partner in the business and will continue to oversee day-to-day operations of its 240,000-square-foot showroom, office, manufacturing and distribution complex. Other senior executives continuing in their current roles include Ed and Sue’s family members: Nancy Ciolkosz, Cindy Ciolkosz-Davis and Zachary Davis. ISP has been a licensee of BIA brands for nearly seven years.
“We have targeted the Midwest as an important area of growth for our brands. Ed is an outstanding manager who I’ve known for decades and I’m very excited to welcome him and his family into our company. We look forward to offering their customers all the support and capabilities that we have to offer,” said BIA president and CEO Stuart Carlitz. “I thank Ed and Sue for building an amazing business and look forward to beginning this new and exciting chapter for all of our combined employees, customers and suppliers.”
“I have had the pleasure of developing a relationship with Stuart and his team over the length of my career, and the decision for us to join together was an important one for our customers and employees. They are the right people to continue the legacy my family has built,” said Ed Ciolkosz. “From the start of the acquisition, our two families, each deeply rooted in the mattress industry, have come together to make the transition swift and smooth. I look forward to working alongside their team.”
For BIA, the transaction adds significant capacity to its group of owned and licensed factories, which further solidifies the company’s leadership role in the worldwide sleep products sector. BIA will be expanding ISP’s well-regarded, certified organic brand, Harvest Green Mattress as well as continuing to produce the Englander brand for the Midwest. The Chicago plant will be expanding its production of BIA’s existing collections, including Eclipse, Eastman House, Hemingway, Natural Dreams and Velika.
The Ciolkosz’s began selling mattresses in 1978, and then started producing them in their basement and garage. Having the unique ability to manufacture their own products, the operation quickly grew to 16 storefronts and became known as one of Chicago’s largest bedding retail stores. ISP was formed in 1986 by the couple as they continued to expand their manufacturing capabilities and purchased their Englander license in 2005. ISP now has a specialty sewing shop, multiple roll pack operations and pocketed coil manufacturing. This next transition will allow Sue to retire and spend more time with their grandkids, while her daughters and the rest of the company gain more opportunities with BIA.
