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10 Stateline News Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Verlo Mattress Factory Store celebrates 50 years of good sleep BY SARAH ZELLER STAFF WRITER JANESVILLE — As a child growing up in Whitewater, Kathy Peardon remembers hearing about Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, whose headquarters were located in her hometown. That experience was a preview of coming attractions. In 1991, Kathy and her husband Steve purchased the company’s Janesville franchise, which they’ve run ever since. The Peardons also own the Waukesha Verlo store, making the couple one of the company’s longest-running franchise owners. “The biggest thing is having the confidence that we have a quality product,” Kathy Peardon said. Now based in Fort Atkinson, Verlo is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Though much has changed since 1958, the fact that Verlo mattresses are handmade has not. “We can make (a mattress) specifically for the consumer, and adjust the feel and the firmness to their liking,” said Ray Westman, who owns Verlo stores in Lake Geneva, as well as McHenry and Crystal Lake, Ill. “Whatever price they feel comfortable with, we can build the best bed for them right at our factory,” Westman said. The aprons the salespeople wear aren’t just for show. “We’re actually the ones building the product,” he said. “When you walk into a Verlo showroom, you’re talking to someone who’s probably built the mattress.” Modern technology has allowed Verlo to upgrade its offerings throughout the years. “Within the last few years we have certainly brought new technology to our traditional quality,” said Verlo Vice President Keith Mackey. Some of the newest features include airbeds, memory foam and new coil technology for comfort and durability. While computer technology and the Internet have helped the company track its sales and communicate with franchisees, things still are done the old-fashioned way. “We still build (mattresses) one at a time, by hand, in the back,” Mackey said. Verlo’s move to Fort Atkinson last year added a historic flair to the company’s corporate headquarters. Its offices are housed on one level of the Creamery Building, a historic site built in the early 1920s. A Verlo retail store is located at street level. The Fort Atkinson business community welcomed the company with open arms. “It’s a great company, and they have VFW, VOLUNTEERS LEND A HAND LYNN VOLLBRECHT/STAFF From the left, volunteers Bob Hooverson, Fred Ganser, Pat Boyce and Jim Schumacher, all of Clinton, work on assembling bleachers in Clinton’s Heldt-Paulson soccer park last Saturday. The bleachers were purchased with $2,000 donated by the disbanded Clinton Auxiliary and several more thousand dollars raised by the Clinton Memorial VFW through donations from area businesses. SARAH ZELLER/STAFF Sales consultant Jason Mueller completes a mattress at Verlo’s Janesville store. The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. already made a positive impact on our community in so many ways,” said Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Dianne Hrobsky. “We are especially delighted with their retail presence in our downtown.” Building a successful company over a half-century didn’t come without bumps in the road. Traversing slow economic times, such as those the nation currently is experiencing, is a challenge. However, Mackey notes that his company’s lack of a middle man bodes well. “One of our biggest challenges is getting the word out about Verlo’s value,” he said. Maintaining quality and competitive pricing ensures the company will survive, said Kim Fink, sales manager at the company’s Fort Atkinson, Watertown and Delafield retail locations. “We’ll ride through it,” he said. The mattress-maker can take comfort in the fact that people always need sleep — and therefore, beds. The company’s products have become more popular as more attention is paid to the health benefits of a good night’s sleep. Health officials say beds shouldn’t be the same for everyone. “Everybody’s different — what works for one doesn’t work for someone else,” said John Schoenenberger, a chiropractor at Family Chiropractic Clinic in Janesville. Schoenenberger said he often asks patients to consider whether their mattress could be adding to back problems. A mattress that needs to be replaced can cause lower back pain and other problems, he said. “You can treat them, but they don’t get any better if the mattress is a problem,” said Schoenenberger, adding that the best mattress is the one that feels the best. Milton resident Shawn Wenzel, who bought his first Verlo mattress at the Janesville store last fall, has enjoyed his purchase. “I had heard about Verlo, and I was all for trying it out,” he said. He’s glad he did. “We’ve been real happy with it,” he added. Verlo officials see their next big challenge as luring more potential franchise owners. “Franchisees are the basis of our success for the past 50 years,” Mackey said. Though the majority of Verlo locations are in Illinois and Wisconsin, stores also can be found from Florida to Colorado. Mackey said the company would like to increase its national presence. “We’d like to draw in even more people and introduce them to our industry and our model,” he said. MAN WALKING CROSS COUNTRY MEETS AREA VETS BY MARGARET DOWNING FOR THE STATELINE NEWS At left, Californian Armand Young, left, shakes the hands of Korean War veteran Howard Ballard, center, and World War II veteran Bob Persinger at the Arthur W. Anderson Peace Park in Loves Park, in May. Young is in the midst of walk that started from his San Diego home in April 2007 and will end this fall at Ground Zero in New York. The walk is intended, in part, to show solidarity with American troops and veterans. Below, Young displays a flag with patches from fire departments and veterans groups he’s met along his journey.
Higher Learning Greater Rewards The Leader in Adult Education ADULT DEGREES Established in 1881, Concordia University specializes in offering a quality education with affordable adult accelerated degree programs at convenient locations. DEGREE PROGRAMS • Business Management • General Studies • Health Care Management • Human Resource Management PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Convenient Center location • Classes meet once per week for 4 hours • Classes are 4 to 6 weeks in length • Earn your degree in as little as 2 years • Management of Criminal Justice • Theology • Master of Business Administration (10 concentrations) • Credit for experiential learning • Transfer credits accepted • Book loan program for undergrad degrees • Saturday classes available For more information call the Beloit Center at 608-361-1830 or (toll free) 866-216-0253 Visit our website at : www.cuw.edu/beloit First Class Cosmetology School New Cosmetology Classes Starting June 23 rd , 2008 Offering programs in Skin Care & Nails Part time or Full time Flexible scheduling New: Easy Finance Options Student loans available with a deferred payment option S P E C I A L O F F E R Tuesday or Thursday Only $15 All services are with supervised students 1First Class Cosmetology School 322 State St., Beloit, WI 53511 608-362-5216 School Affiliate Apply on-line! Visit us at www.firstclasscosmetologyschool.com 00 FACIALS $25 00 MANI/PED Expires 7/31/08 Coupon must be presented 69821 75969 69664 FREE SEMINAR Five Keys to Financial Security Learn about: June 5. Credit* June 12. Budgeting June 19. Homeownership June 26. Banking Principles July 3. Building Wealth Thursdays 10:00 am–12:00 156 St. Lawrence Ave. Beloit, WI 53511 608-362-9051 * F i r s t 1 0 e n r o l l e d F R E E C r e d i t R e p o r t Call to Enroll Sponsored by Alliant Energy Beloit Housing Authority Blackhawk Bank and Neighborhood Housing Services of Beloit 72143 Heating & Air Conditioning, <strong>Inc</strong>. “The Original Since 1964” • Servicing most makes & models SPRING A/C REBATES Limited Time Offer TOLL FREE 877-389-2465 OR Only premier dealer 815-389-2465 in 50 miles www.flemingheating.com 71349 Stateline News Wednesday, May 28, 2008 11 POKER RUN TO BENEFIT CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS LYNN VOLLBRECHT/STAFF From the left, Dave Brazee, Dads & Lads Barbershop owner Pat James and Gary Harder, of the South Beloit Lions, stand outside Dads & Lads Barbershop in South Beloit with Brazee’s motorcycle. The South Beloit Lions will be taking over Christmas for Kids this year, which Brazee and James have organized, James for the last 32 years. The event gives gifts to needy children in the area on Christmas. A poker run and pig roast Saturday will raise funds for the event. Participants can register for the poker run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Jak’s, on South Park Avenue in South Beloit. The dinner will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the South Belot American Legion. For advance tickets call (815) 389-1224 or (815) 519-4942. Don’t forget to ask about Auto & Home Rates! When it comes to motorcycle insurance we leave our competitor’s rates in the dust! Hit the road with All Risk Insurance this season! Call today and we’ll shop our multiple companies to find you the lowest rates available anywhere. Call any one of our girls at (608) 743-2145 for all your insurance needs!!!! 70719 Research at Beloit College funded by Roscoe resident BELOIT — Four Beloit College students and faculty members have been awarded grants to conduct research this summer under the college’s Sanger Summer Research Fellows Program. The program is an initiative that enables Beloit College students to collaborate with faculty mentors on original research projects. After eight weeks of intensive research, participants write papers and make presentations about the projects in a symposium. Projects that will be supported by the 2008 Sanger Summer Research Fellows Program include: A study of Turtle Creek by stream ecologist and geologist Carol Mankiewicz, a professor of biology and geology, who will work with sophomore Aria Walsh-Felz of Madison; an analysis of the recovery of three New Orleans neighborhoods in the wake of Hurricane Katrina by Emily Chamlee-Wright, a professor of economics and management, and junior Andrew Serwadda of Kampala, Uganda; mathematical research by Beloit College senior Nathaniel Brown of Pleasantville, N.Y. who will help Assistant Professor of Mathematics Ben Newton on a translation of an ancient Chinese text by senior Catrina Siu of Chicago, who will translate a ninth century document known as the Wu Nengzi, supervised by John Rapp, a professor of political science. The competitive program is underwritten by James and Marjorie Sanger, of Roscoe. James Sanger serves as the chair of the college’s board. Crossword Puzzle Answers for the Sunday May 25 puzzle W H A C K J O B S T W I T H A G U E O P E C O A T H O R A T E H E R A W I L E P R E P O N D E R A N T L Y R E V T A L C R E S R O S A B I L G E S A X I S L O K I B E A M Y K E E P Y O U R S H I R T O N E A G R E K O L A K O T O S T E A M S N E V E R E D Y E T I O R E P R O G N O S T I C A T E D A I N U K L A N S U D O R S P I N E E L S E D E M A S E T S S T E T R E N E W #63154
Page 1 and 2: MAY 28, 2008 BELOIT Business women
Page 3 and 4: Option 1 Back By Popular Demand We
Page 5 and 6: AROUND TOWN Following are upcoming
Page 7 and 8: Call for Great Spring Savings! Prof
Page 9: Safe sitter program, June 5, 9 a.m.
Page 13 and 14: INSTI-GATORS JAM SESSION MONDAYS 8
Page 15 and 16: RICK WEST/STAFF Susie Gaffey, cente
Page 17 and 18: ELKHORN LOOK 404 WEST CENTRALIA ST,
Page 19 and 20: BRICK, BLOCK, AND STONE WORK ALL 73
Page 21 and 22: ALL NEW HOME PLANS Call today for a
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