WinkBeds Founder Dan Adler Talks About the coolControl Mattress

Winkbeds has been manufacturing and marketing hand built, hybrid mattresses since early 2015. That’s not a long time for most industries but in the world of online bedding, a good portion of the major players have emerged in the last few years. We'd like to share our interview with Dan Adler, WinkBeds founder. He graciously discussed his company, the new coolControl mattress and his passion for the bedding industry.

The Rise of Online Mattress Sales

Online mattresss sales have exploded in recent years. What has transpired over that period that has caused the emergence of companies like yours?

“People were looking for an alternative to traditional retail stores. I felt the market really just seemed right. Casper and Tuft & Needle had recently entered the scene and were already having an impact. They were pioneers of the online market. I thought there would be room for a few more. To be honest, I have really been surprised at how many companies have emerged and been so successful.”

Other than the business climate being right, was there a personal motivation or special interest that prompted you to pursue this field?

“I originally started out as an attorney but never wanted to be just another cog in the machine.” I wanted to step out and create something new. Health related topics have always interested me. As an athlete at Penn State, I sustained injuries that made it difficult to sleep. As a result, I've tried many different mattresses over the years and have an appreciation for how a good sleep affects your health.”

WinkBeds Commitment to Quality

A lot of new online mattress companies have chosen to follow the path of inexpensive foam beds. You obviously saw an opening to market a higher quality product. Considering how successful some of those other companies have been, was it a difficult decision to make not to follow in their footsteps?

“No, from the beginning it was never my intention to be just another bed in the box company. It was our goal to produce a hand built quality hybrid bed at a great price."

Made in the United States

How many manufacturing facilities does Winkbeds currently have and where are they located?

“We produce all our mattresses at one single facility; just outside of Madison WI. Our central location makes distribution much easier.”

​WinkBeds coolControl

WinkBeds recently took a bold step by indroducing the coolControl system.  What was your inspiration behind its development?

“One of the most common complaints about mattresses is sleeping too hot or too cold. We saw an opportunity to address this and did a lot of research. We looked outside of our market to the automobile industry. Car seats have been heated or cooled for years. We recruited to a company called GenTherm to produce our system. Basically, the bed is cooled or heated with a system of 4 fans than that permits conditioned air to flow through to the surface of the bed; allowing for a climate controlled sleep environment."

Can you set a temperature or do you need to make adjustments throughout the night?

“There are actually 5 different settings for warmth and 5 different settings for cooling. Essentially, this creates ten different comfort presets. You can even set the timer in advance of your sleep time so the bed is ready when you are.”

Since 2007, fire retardant standards have changed dramatically, how difficult a process was it to attain certification for the coolControl system?

“It was really very easy. I think we only had to resubmit our design once and were approved rather quickly. There are already regulations in place for this type of product and coolControl easily passed all safety tests."

What type of warranty exists on the base and who should customers call if an issue arises?

“That question gets asked a lot. CoolControol has a 10 year non prorated warranty that is handled through GenTherm.”

I know the coolControl mattress is still brand new but how has it been received so far?

"We introduced coolControl on February 1st and so far, so good! Initial reviews have been very positive as well."

Plans for 2017

WinkBeds first few years have been very sucsessful. You have already made an aggressive move this year with the introduction of coolControl. So what else is new for 2017?

“We are always looking to develop new product innovations. Although there is no specific time table, there is already much more in the works for 2017.”

​We want to thank Dan Adler for taking the time to speak with us.  One can easily sence his genuine disire to make WinkBeds the best value on the market. Early sucsess has not made the company complacent.  The recent introduction of the coolControl mattress, promises to bolster that trend for years to come. If the first few years are any indication, WinkBeds future looks very bright indeed!