Machines stand silent at J-R Mattress
by Marlo Benning
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| The quilter at J-R now sits silently since the factory closed in October. |
Thirty years ago a mattress business was started by Jeff Dague and his father, Roy, in the city of Bertha.
This family venture, named J-R Mattress after Jeff and Roy's initials, has been up and running until this past October when a new federal regulation caused the business to shut down its operations.
A new law requires mattress manufacturers to add a fire barrier to both mattresses and boxsprings. This regulation had already been in effect in California, but was made a federal law as of July 1 of this year.
This fire barrier is added to slow down the burning process of the products, but adding this also increases the cost to produce them.
"It increased our cost to where we were no longer competitive," Jeff said.
The larger manufacturers didn't raise their prices, but Jeff said that since they are a smaller operation they had no choice but to raise theirs.
"You've got to make your percentage or you're not going to make it," Jeff said.
He had known about this regulation before it took effect and had considered closing the factory at that time, but was encouraged by his employees to try and make a go of it.
"I kind of saw the writing on the wall-That it wasn't going to make us competitive."
After 30 years in this business, Jeff said, "I'm okay with it," when asked how he felt about closing.
He said that he already misses being around those that he worked with each day, which included his two sisters. A total of five people worked at the business, including Jeff.
Sister Deb Finck who has been at the factory for about 28 years said that it was nice to be able to work with family members and she is sad to see it close.
"When you do something for that long, you don't know any different," Deb said.
"We could all kind of see it coming. Over the years we could see the decline. It probably doesn't make it any easier. It becomes part of your life," she said.
As the former employees search for new employment opportunities, Jeff continues to deal with loose ends. The building is for sale as well as the equipment and inventory. Jeff said that it has been hard to come back and deal with what is left.
"It would have been best to just walk out the door," he said.
After he clears out the building, he too will be in search of a new job.
marlo@inhnews.com