Waterbeds could resurface as new bedroom trend

Описание: (25 Sep 2018) LEADIN:
A status symbol in the 70s and 80s, waterbeds still elicit a wink, wink, nudge, nudge whenever they come up in conversation.
Now two pioneers of the industry in the United States are hoping to generate a new wave of popularity for the babyboomer furniture concept.
STORYLINE:
Waterbeds stir up memories of a sexy sleep concept from decades ago whenever they come up in conversation.
But soon they may become 'must-have' furniture once again.
Waterbed enthusiast Michael Dart thinks his new bed has made him a trendsetter.
"When I tell people that I got this now, they all have great memories of them.  So, when I went in there now I'm on the cutting edge in today's world with a waterbed you know from way back, so everybody's like really? You got a waterbed? And I said yeah.  And they say they're really good? And I'm like yeah, they're better than they ever were.  So, I'm some kind of pop culture hero with the guys at work and stuff and with my friends."
Two pioneers of the industry in the United States are hoping to generate a new wave of popularity for the old furniture concept by using newer technology.
Inventor Charles Hall and City Furniture CEO Keith Koenig are promoting the new Afloat mattress.
"I knew we could take the great concepts of past and build on them and make the new waterbeds so much better,"  says Koenig in the City Furniture showroom in Tamarac, Florida.
A a sign promises Afloat mattresses are "not your parents' waterbed".
The new mattresses range in price from about $2,000 to $3,300.
The promoters are replacing product names such as The Pleasure Pit and Pleasure Island for the sober-sounding Firm and Pure models. But those that prefer to sleep on a hard mattress might disagree that the beds are firm.
"Baby boomers like me are coming in and buying and say I wish I had my waterbed now, I wish I could get my waterbed back," adds Koenig. "Young millennials are coming in, shopping and saying, "this makes sense, tell me more"."
Koenig, whose furniture store chain started as Waterbed City in 1971, has joined forces with Hall and former waterbed manufacturer Michael Geraghty to form Tamarac-based Hall Flotation and produce the Afloat waterbeds.

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