Ground was broken Monday on the site where Forever Beds will be made by the end of the year. It’s on East Street near the Aylor Street intersection.  Owners, with the shovels, are Della and Brian Croft and Josh and Brandie Wilson. At left are company employees who are currently making the company’s beds in Joplin. City, chamber and Houk Construction officials are on the right.

Mattress manufacturer breaks ground on East Street

Production will move from Joplin to Webb City when new building is finished

Before the end of the year, Croft Mattress’ line of beds will be manufactured in Webb City.

Groundbreaking for the 30,000-square-foot building on East Street took place Monday morning.

Croft Mattress is currently manufacturing a variety of bed styles in a building on South Range Line Road in Joplin. 

It sells them in its own stores, including the Croft Mattress store at 17th Street and Range Line, and to other sellers near and far. (Croft Mattress stores were initially named Joplimo Mattress).

After the first year of production in Webb City, the number of employees involved in the manufacturing process is expected to grow from 20 to 50.

In front of the manufacturing facility will be a store front with a limited selection of 10 mattresses on display.

It’s no coincidence that Croft Bedding was launched so close to Leggett & Platt, the homegrown company based in Carthage that’s been making bed springs for nearly 140 years.

Company founders Brian and Della Croft both worked at Leggett & Platt.

“We’re not in competition” with Leggett & Platt, said Brian Croft. “We’re their closest-proximity customer.”

Forever Beds, sold exclusively in Croft Mattress stores, come with a lifetime warranty. They’re handcrafted by nesting pocketed coils in a honeycomb pattern.

The company manufacturers other beds with inner springs, as well as beds made of latex and memory foam.

Prices start at $999.

Croft also manufacturers the Luna & Sol (moon and sun) beds, which sell for under $999.

Brian Croft said the company sells beds wholesale to small- and medium-size stores, for many of which the pandemic was devastating, particularly because of a wholesale supply shortage.

The Crofts’ business partners are Josh and Brandie Wilson. Ben Worthington, also formerly with Leggett & Platt, is vice president of production.

The building contractor is Hauk Construction.