Kenneth Larson

Kenneth Larson pioneered the dedicated sleep-store concept when he opened a Slumberland sleep store in 1967 at age 25. At the time, most consumers purchased mattresses at furniture or department stores, where selection was limited. Slumberland offered new larger queen- and king-sized mattresses bundled with pillows, headboards, sheet sets and more – all for one low price. He introduced and institutionalized a long-standing, 90-day comfort and price guarantee designed to help their customers achieve a healthier sleep experience. A strong advocate for brand power, Mr. Larson expanded his sleep products assortment to include multiple leading mattress firm names in order to provide quality, stylish sleep solutions at affordable prices.

Slumberland Furniture has grown from one store in Richfield, Minnesota, into a Top 100 omnichannel retailer with more than 120 stores across 12 Midwestern states. In 1975, long before it became customary in the home furnishings industry, Mr. Larson developed a franchising model to efficiently grow into smaller communities and to complement his base of easy-to-shop company-owned stores. Highly trained sleep experts have remained focused on helping customers choose mattresses based on their sleep habits and other needs. This friendly, personalized sales approach uniquely emphasizes consumer education and the value of a good night of sleep. Always data driven, Mr. Larson expanded by adding new product categories, starting with La-Z-Boy recliners, and later adding bedroom furniture and a curated selection of whole-home furniture and accessories to better serve its customers.

Good citizenship and generous stewardship have long been central to Mr. Larson’s mission. In 1991, he launched the 40 Winks Foundation, a nonprofit that provides beds for children in need and has donated more than 65,000 beds. In 2013, Mr. Larson and his wife, Barbara, founded God’s Ancient Library, which donates rare Torahs to seminaries and museums for education and research. He also has been active in numerous civic and faith-based organizations, giving back 10% of company profits to local communities.