The Wickline Bedding Company based in San Diego, CA, and one of the top independent bedding companies in the US, recently partnered with Avon Cosmetics to develop the "Sleep Around the World" breast cancer fundraising campaign. Through the Avon Foundation, Sleep Around the World’s primary goal is to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, care and research worldwide.

Founded in 1949, Wickline Bedding Company is a family-owned, independent bedding manufacturer with a distribution center in Sacramento, California. Wickline Bedding is actively pursuing manufacturing relationships around the world who would be interested in joining Avon and Sleep Therapy, the company’s flagship brand. Through its Sleep Therapy merchandising, Wickline Bedding supports charities such as The Clara Barton Center, which funds research for juvenile diabetes, and the U.S. military. The Avon Collection will feature three models: Faith, Hope and Promise, ranging in price from $799 to $1199.

By partnering with Avon, Wickline Bedding aligns itself with a strong partner in "cause marketing", well-known for its involvement in breast cancer awareness initiatives. Companies such as Dell Computers, Delta Airlines, Sony and Ford are all involved with similar efforts. Their identification as "pink" companies has set the tone throughout their respective industries.

Wickline Bedding Company president Mike Malkiewicz hopes to spur the mattress industry to follow suit. "Breast cancer doesn’t affect just American women; it affects all women, of all nationalities. I’d like to see bedding manufacturers, as an industry, step forward and do our part worldwide. After all, part of healing is a good night’s sleep."

Wickline Bedding has experienced steady growth over the past fifty years expanding to serve 11 western states and some shipments into Texas as well. Just as company founder Roy Wickline intended, the highly successful independent manufacturer remains a family-owned company owned and managed by the Malkiewicz family. In 1978 Ray Malkiewicz, the former Vice President of Simmons Mattress Company and onetime Chairman of the International Sleep Products Association bought Wickline. Today Ray and his full family: three sons, his daughter and in-laws run both the San Diego area market and Sacramento area market factories serving the western half of the United States.

Over the years this independent company has introduced and perfected such revolutionary concepts as the "No-Turn" mattress, the Sleep Therapy line and recently the Magnetic Therapy for pain relief.

Wickline Bedding has emerged as one of the more visible and active independent bedding manufacturers. Wickline, among others, will be featured in a cover story on Independent Bedding Manufacturers in the U.S. in the spring issue of BEDROOM Magazine!