by HIGH POINT — Shifman Mattresses took a journey back to the 19th century when the company decided to introduce a luxury bedding line this year celebrating its founding in 1893.
That journey included a detailed look at the life and times of that era, known as the Second Industrial Revolution, a period of dramatic changes in the country.
The result was three mattresses that not only exemplify the commitment to luxury that has characterized the Shifman story for 132 years, but that also sport names true to that distant past. Names, you could say, that are bodacious in their reach.
The three 1893 mattresses are called Champagne Weather, Afternoonified and Bodaciousness, and each of those unusual names tells a unique story from the past. Those three new mattresses, successfully launched at the January Las Vegas Market, make their High Point debut this week.
Mark Quinn, Shifman’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, credits the company’s product designer, Andi Jones, with the clever wordsmithing.
“When we decided to create a collection of products using the year we were founded, Andi went to work doing some research,” Quinn said. “She explored the fashion of the time, looked at what was going on in the world of innovation (Cracker Jacks and the Zipper were invented, just to name a couple of things), and explored music and unique language being used back in those days. We then looked for ways to use these data points to inspire not just the fashion of the bed but also the naming convention.”
The first 1893 mattress, retailing at $14,649 for a queen set, is called Champagne Weather. That phrase emerged in smart society in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century. It was used to describe weather that was good enough to enjoy outdoors and was often associated with sunny days and clear skies.
Afternoonified, the name of the second 1893 mattress, retailing at $15,649 for a queen set, was a Victorian slang term, now largely obsolete, meaning smart, refined or sophisticated. It was often used to describe someone or something that was well dressed or presentable.
The idea was that something was “afternoonified enough” to be suitable for a refined, leisurely afternoon activity, such as taking tea or attending a social gathering, Jones found.
The top 1893 mattress, retailing at $16,649 for a queen set, is called Bodaciousness. “We made this one up for fun from the root word ‘bodacious,’” Quinn noted.
In her research, Jones discovered that “bodacious” is thought to be a blend of “bold” and “audacious,” or possibly a variant of the British dialect term “boldacious” or “bowldacious.”
The earliest known use of the adjective “bodacious” dates to the 1840s. It was most commonly used in the American South before a recent surge in popularity made it more commonly used throughout the country, Jones learned.
Each 1893 mattress contains more than 3,000 individually wrapped coils, including advanced micro-coils. The mattresses are handcrafted with natural, U.S.-grown cotton and wool, and also feature horsehair, New Zealand wool and mohair. They are backed with 20-year non-prorated warranties.
Shifman also took a thoughtful approach to the names for another recent introduction, its Timeless Collection.
“We asked consumers about things that are timeless and endearing to them,” Jones said. “In the luxury segment, particularly, emotion drives purchasing decisions, so we thought we could inspire our consumers with great-looking luxury beds that deserve unforgettable names.”
The 10 Timeless mattresses, retailing from $2,000 to $8,000 in queen, are called Good Read, Mountain Air, Sunday Morning, Scenic Route, Snow Day, Keep Sake, Blush, Our Song, Slow Dance and Ever After.
“We want our customers to enjoy the Mountain Air, take the Scenic Route in their lives and to sleep happily Ever After when they purchase a Shifman mattress,” Quinn said.
The Timeless line is also being shown at the High Point Market.
