Eclipse International & BIA Appoint 2 Well-Known Industry Execs to Lead West Coast Operations

Sleep products manufacturer Bedding Industries of America (BIA), the largest licensee of Eclipse International, has appointed Michael Moore its director of sales, licensing and new business development, and Mike Mulligan its director of operations and manufacturing for the West Coast factory. Together, they will participate in the company’s growth out of its new facility in Rialto, California.

In his new role, Moore is responsible for sales management and new product development. Mulligan will oversee factory operations, personnel and all aspects of raw material management. Both will work closely with Stuart Carlitz, president and CEO of Eclipse International and BIA.

With nearly 70 years of experience in the mattress industry between them, both men have previously worked for leading brands in the industry and have strong contacts in the Southern California market.

“Michael and Mike are the dream team of sales and manufacturing leadership in Southern California. We are excited to have them on our team and provide invaluable counsel and support to current and prospective retailers in the region to help them grow and expand their businesses,” said Carlitz.

Prior to joining BIA, Moore held a leadership role in the launching of the luxury Chattam & Wells brand. He also served as national sales account manager at Kingsdown Inc. and was vice president of national sales for Spring Air.

“Eclipse International has assembled a portfolio of amazing brands, led by Bedding Industries of America, which gives us the ability to serve customers in every price and comfort category. I do not think there is another company that comes close to the diversity in options we can offer retailers. This key differentiator will make our Southern California business very competitive from the get-go,” said Moore.

Mulligan began his career in the mattress industry right out of high school when he accepted a position at a local, Southern California mattress manufacturer, which over the decades became known as Stress-O-Pedic. He began work on the factory floor 35 years ago, moved into raw material purchasing and then learned its business operations. He then had the opportunity to own the business until it was sold.

“As an operations guy, I am very excited about our new facility. The state-of-the-art equipment we will putting into this new location will make us the most modern mattress manufacturing facility on the west coast and raise the standards of quality and service to our retailers,” said Mulligan.

Bedding Industries of America West is set to open its new 80,000-square-foot manufacturing, showroom and distribution center in Rialto, California on April 1^st. The West Coast division will employ 120 when fully operational and serve retailers in California, Nevada, and parts of Arizona.

The multi-million dollar outfitting of the facility will include state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment from Leggett & Platt’s Global Systems Group to showcase the latest in manufacturing innovation and design for the industry. The plant will manufacture all the company’s brands.

About Eclipse International/BIA: North Brunswick, N.J.-based Eclipse International/BIA has been making mattresses since 1866. Known for its design innovation in creating advanced sleep products, the company has an extensive global licensing network that distributes mattresses under six brands – Eclipse, Eastman House, Millbrook Beds, Natural Dreams Pure Talalay, Embrace Pure Talalay, Velika and BIA. A well-established leader in the bedding industry, Eclipse designs products crafted with high-quality components, including latex, memory foam, gel and eco-friendly materials such as cotton & wool. The company holds several patents that deliver superb support throughout the product line. Today, the company has 79 licensees worldwide. For additional information, visit www.EclipseMattress.com.