Wilmington-based manufacturer of white noise sleep products Marpac LLC announced Tuesday the acquisition of Yogabed, a direct-to-customer mattress company.
Marpac purchased Yogabed for an undisclosed amount, according to a company news release. Yogabed's products and accessories line will add to Marpac’s current line of a half-dozen sound machines, expanding the company's sleep product offerings, officials said in the release.
The opportunity to expand its sleep line with Yogabed came in early 2017, Steve Cummings, director of communications for Marpac, said Tuesday. Over the course of last year, the company went through its due diligence process, finalizing the acquisition in late December.
Marpac, a firm founded in 1962, manufactures its sleep machine products at its Wilmington facility off Capital Drive. Yogabed customer service and manufacturing will continue to be located at its facility in Indiana, Cummings said.
“Marpac and Yogabed enjoy tremendous product and company ratings because of shared values in quality, customer service and people-first cultures,” Jimmy Sloan, who is co-owner of Marpac along with Gordon Wallace, said in the release. “Adding Yogabed mattresses and accessories to our sleep product portfolio will help us achieve our exponential growth plans.”
The company has sold more than 4.5 million Marpac sound machines since 1962. Its sound machine lineup includes the Marpac Dohm Classic, the Marpac Dohm Elite and portable sound machines, the Marpac Hushh and Marpac Rohm.
In early 2018, officials said Marpac will fully launch an expanded “Tools for Sleep” product mix, the release said.
And with Yogabed, Marpac aims to expand its consumer base, Cummings said. The acquisition “marks our transition from a manufacturing company – that’s still our DNA – but we are moving into becoming a sleep brand,” he said.
"We are very very interested in bundling our products and creating opportunities for consumers to bundle purchase," Cummings said. "We are definitely looking at ways the two products can enhance people's sleep together."
Marpac's sound machines can be found online and at national retail stores, as well as with international retailers in more than a dozen countries.
Marpac Yogabed mattresses and bedding accessories are currently sold at Yogabed.com. The line of Yogabed products, however, will be sold in the United States, Cummings said.
"As we look down the road we hope to expand our [bedding] products internationally ... but bedding products and the model for 'bed in a box' is a little different as far as expanding into other markets," Cummings said.
Marpac is committed to a seamless transition for Marpac Yogabed customers, including an unchanged customer service team, officials said in the release. Yogabed warranties, return policies, deals and 101-night trial periods will remain in place.
The company has no plans to change the manufacturing stream for Yogabed, but through the acquisition, growth may come in the future for both markets, Cummings said.
“While we have no definitive plans to announce, based on our goals of exponential growth, we certainly hope to grow in Wilmington and in the location where Yogabed is manufactured,” he added.
Marpac currently has more than 50 employees at its Wilmington facility. The purchase of Yogabed brings that employment base to more than 60 people company-wide. The company also has sales offices in Raleigh.
"The cultures of the two companies are very similar. And they put people first and the customer service focus is very high,” Cummings said of the acquisition. “We also appreciate the American-made ethos of both companies. It was quite a natural fit. So, we are very excited."
