Speaker Recap for November 4, 2013

You could almost hear the train whistle blowing in the distance as our club was graced with the presence of Sleep Train Mattress Co. founder Dale Carlsen this past Monday!  Sleep Train was founded by Mr. Carlsen in 1985, shortly after graduating from California State University at Sacramento (Go Hornets!). He opened the first Sleep Train store on Folsom Boulevard in Sacramento.  He picked the name because he loved trains, and thought it would be a memorable brand, similar to the Victoria Station Restaurants he visited as a child.   

His company has gradually grown in size and stature since its humble beginnings. Within eight months, he added a second store in Citrus Heights, California.  In 2002, Sleep Train announced plans to purchase 54 of Mattress Discounters' stores in California, which would more than double Sleep Train's size.  At present, Sleep Train has about 300 store locations in California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Idaho under the brand names Sleep Train, Mattress Discounters, Got Sleep and Sleep Country USA.

For over 20 years, Sleep Train's company philosophy has included a commitment to give back to the community. In 2008, Sleep Train created its Sleep Train Foster Kids program to join forces with specific and targeted foster charity organizations and the community to help California’s more than 60,000 foster children.  Sleep Train’s Foster Kids Program has successfully delivered hundreds of thousands of items and thousands of dollars in cash to these organizations.

The company also hosts its annual Sleep Train Charity Golf Classic. The private event brings together industry professionals for one day to raise money for a variety of nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to at-risk youth. In 2012, the event raised a record breaking $600,000, which puts total donations at over $2 million since the event began six years ago. In addition, Sleep Train has supported Junior Achievement of Sacramento for more than a decade, and Boys & Girls Clubs.  Sleep Train employees are encouraged to volunteer for fundraising events sponsored by local charities -- they each are credited two work days off a year to donate their time towards the cause of their choice. 

In 2011, Mr. Carlsen was one of 25 executives who pledged financial support to keep the Kings in Sacramento.  The company utilized its sponsorship to further promote and capture support for its Foster Kids Program, organizing drives called “Donation Days” at the games to collect important material items for foster children.  In October, 2012, it purchased the naming rights for the Sleep Train Arena (formerly Power Balance Pavilion).  Mr. Carlsen does not currently believe his company will purchase the naming rights to the planned downtown arena, since the Kings owners are hoping to lure a larger company for that purpose.