Mattress store with environmental focus opens in York

Harry Mahler has always been passionate about the environment and seeking eco-friendly solutions to existing problems.

In 2004, he spent four years in the lighting industry in North Carolina, which inspired him to found My Eco Lamp, which offered eco-friendly lighting solutions for businesses.

“My goal was to educate the public on the benefits of recycling ‘spent’ fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries and other mercury containing materials,” he said.

When Mahler decided it was time to return to his native Pennsylvania, he and his family settled in York, where he continued in the business of eco-friendly consulting.

“My wife, Sarah, and I met at Lancaster Bible College and always enjoyed the York area and decided that it was where we wanted to serve the community,” said Mahler, whose goal was to bring an environmentally conscious business to the York area.

Mahler began researching mattress recycling and when he did, he uncovered some startling statistics, including the fact that 20 million mattresses are put out for disposal annually.

“Can you imagine the impact that has on landfills?” he said. After reaching out to national mattress-recycling companies, he learned that some states, like Tennessee, for instance, provide work for prisoners by having them break down the components of the mattress for recycling.

“Pennsylvania doesn’t require mattress recycling; the counties we’re surrounded by prefer them to go to the landfill, or the incinerator,” he said.

A local solution

Mahler decided that one to help make a difference in his neck of the woods was to open a retail store dedicated to selling eco-friendly mattresses. On July 6, No Badger Mattress hosted a community day to celebrate its opening at 3931 E. Market St. in Springettsbury Township.

In keeping with the eco-friendly theme, customers who buy new mattresses at No Badger can turn in their used mattresses, which are later broken down into separate components for recycling.

“We work with a company in New Jersey called Creative Recycling and they do the physical breakdown of the mattresses. Foam goes for carpet padding, the steel goes to a steel mill, the wood can be repurposed and cotton ticking can be recycled for textiles,” said Mahler.

The store, at 1,200 square feet, is deliberately small to keep customers from feeling overwhelmed, according to Mahler, who seeks to set his store apart by creating a ‘no-haggle atmosphere.’

“We consider us a gimmick-free zone,” said Mahler. Mattresses at “No Badger” can be purchased for as low as $79 for a twin and as high as $898 for a luxury queen set.

One of the main manufacturers Mahler uses is Richmond, Virginia-based Symbol Mattress, which has been in business for 58 years and is one of the largest privately owned mattress companies in the U.S., with six factories, including one in Reading.

“They have an eco-friendlier mattress when it comes to the harsh chemicals that are traditionally used by manufacturers for fire-retardant purposes. It’s also important for us to work with local businesses,” said Mahler, who keeps about 10 models on hand. “They are made to order, which we really like,” he said.

John Elliott, sales manager for No Badger, said the company is able to keep costs down due to its low advertising budget. “The savings can then be passed on to the consumer,” he said.

Mahler also allows customers to make arrangements for old-fashioned, one-on-one appointments.

“We don’t want them to feel rushed. The other night we had a lady from Harrisburg who was only available on a Sunday night and even though we aren’t usually open on Sunday nights, we met with her and she purchased a mattress,” said Mahler.

Mahler, who has five children ranging in age from 6 to 16, said he understands the predicament families face when trying to keep costs down and he hopes he can take some of the stress out of the process of purchasing a mattress while adhering to a strict budget.

“We like to say that we are planting seeds for a better tomorrow as we set out to help our community,” he said.