Herbie Murray
Sleep America was an American mattress store chain that was acquired by Mattress Firm in January 2015 for $12.5 million. The acquisition gave Mattress Firm 130 locations in Arizona. Mattress Firm was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Over the years, the company has expanded through various acquisitions and now operates over 3,500 stores across the United States. In 2017, Mattress Firm converted its Sleep Train and Sleepy's locations to the Mattress Firm name. With the Sleep America acquisition, it is unclear if the stores were rebranded or continued operating under the Sleep America name.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company | Sleep Country USA |
| New Name | Sleep Train |
| Year of Name Change | 2015 |
| Reason for Name Change | Merger/Acquisition |
| Parent Company | Mattress Firm |
| Year Acquired | 2015 |
| Acquisition Cost | $12.5 million |
| Additional Brands Acquired | Mattress King, BedMart, Sleep Train, Mattress Discounters, Got Sleep?, Bedding Experts, Sleep America, Mattress World |
| Current Status | Active |
| Current Parent Company | Somnigroup International Inc. |
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What You'll Learn
Donald Trump's use of nicknames
Donald Trump is known for his prolific use of nicknames for his political allies and enemies. Trump's use of nicknames has been a central part of his political brand since before he entered the White House in 2016. He often employs nicknames at rallies and in interviews, repeating them relentlessly to strengthen their association through repetition. This strategy is known as the illusory truth effect, where repeated information is accepted as fact, regardless of its truthfulness.
Trump has branded many of his political rivals with demeaning nicknames. He referred to Joe Biden as "Sleepy Joe", Jeb Bush as "Low Energy Jeb", Ted Cruz as "Lyin' Ted", Mitch McConnell as "Broken Old Crow", Adam Schiff as "Pencil Neck", and Mike Bloomberg as "Mini Mike". Trump also called Hillary Clinton "Crooked Hillary", "Crazy", and later "Beautiful" Hillary. He has intentionally mispronounced the name of Vice President Kamala Harris, referring to her as "Laffin' Kamala", "Lyin' Kamala", and "Kamabla". Trump has also used nicknames for other public figures, including "Wacky Jacky" and "Tampon Tim".
Trump's use of nicknames is not limited to his political opponents but extends to his allies as well. He has employed a strategy of othering to distance himself from his rivals. For example, during his 2016 campaign, he emphasised Barack Obama's middle name, Hussein, to link him to the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Trump has also mispronounced the name of Vice President Kamala Harris and intentionally altered the name of Nikki Haley during the 2024 Republican primaries, calling her "Nimbra", a corruption of her Punjabi name, Nimarata.
Trump's use of nicknames has been widely recognised as a tactic to diminish and demean his political opponents. By refusing to use their actual names, Trump seeks to deny them recognition as peers and equals. This strategy contrasts with Biden's approach, who refers to Trump as "my predecessor", "a former Republican president", or "the former guy", avoiding direct acknowledgment of Trump by name.
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Joe Biden's avoidance of using Trump's name
During his 2024 State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden mentioned his presumptive challenger, Donald Trump, 15 times without using his name once. Instead, Biden referred to him as "my predecessor" 13 times, as well as a "former Republican president" and a "former American president."
Biden's avoidance of using Trump's name has been interpreted in several ways. Some believe it is a deliberate attack on Trump's ego, refusing to give him the attention he craves and taking away his recognition as a peer or equal. This strategy is also used to avoid headlines taking quotes out of context and to deprive Trump of the positive associations created by the mere exposure effect.
Another interpretation is that Biden is attempting to take the high ground and avoid personal attacks, instead focusing on policy and track records. By not mentioning Trump's name, Biden may be trying to downplay his importance and suggest that the name doesn't matter.
Biden's defenders also point out that Trump himself is known for mixing up names, such as confusing Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama with Joe Biden, and Angela Merkel with her predecessor, Helmut Kohl. They argue that name confusion is not necessarily a sign of cognitive decline and that both politicians have made similar blunders.
In contrast, Trump is known for using nicknames and derogatory terms for his political opponents, such as "Sleepy Joe" for Biden, "Low Energy Jeb" for Jeb Bush, and "Lyin' Ted" for Ted Cruz. Trump employs these nicknames repeatedly to exploit the illusory truth effect, where repeated information is accepted as fact regardless of its truthfulness.
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The illusory truth effect
The effect can be observed even in individuals who initially know the correct answer but are persuaded to believe otherwise through the repetition of falsehoods. This occurs because repetition increases processing fluency, and people learn to associate fluency with truthfulness. The illusory truth effect has been linked to hindsight bias, where the recollection of confidence is skewed after the truth or falsity of a statement has been received.
In terms of the name "Sleep America," it appears that this was a company with 130 locations in Arizona that was acquired by Mattress Firm in January 2015 for $12.5 million. Mattress Firm subsequently converted its Sleep Train and Sleepy's locations to the Mattress Firm name in 2017. Therefore, it is likely that Sleep America no longer exists as a separate entity, having been rebranded under the Mattress Firm name.
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Othering
The concept of "othering" is a pervasive social and cultural phenomenon that involves creating and reinforcing distinctions between different groups, often based on racial, ethnic, or cultural differences. In the context of sleep, "othering" can manifest in various ways, reflecting societal attitudes and beliefs that shape sleep habits and experiences across diverse populations.
One example of "othering" in the context of sleep is the variation in sleep patterns and habits across different cultural and geographical groups. Studies have shown that children from Europe, North America, and Australasia tend to have earlier bedtimes, wake up earlier, and enjoy longer nocturnal sleep durations compared to their counterparts in Asia and the Middle East. These differences can be influenced by a range of factors, including cultural values, beliefs, and practices that shape bedtime routines, sleep environments, and sleep-related behaviors. For instance, the presence of extended family or communal sleeping arrangements in some cultures may impact sleep patterns differently from more individualized sleep habits prevalent in other societies.
Additionally, "othering" can be observed in the disparities in sleep quality and disturbances among different racial and ethnic groups. Research has indicated that U.S. immigrants, particularly those from Asian backgrounds, exhibit substantial heterogeneities in sleep duration and quality. These variations may be influenced by factors such as length of residence, acculturation processes, and the unique challenges faced by immigrant groups, such as adapting to new environments, stress, and cultural differences.
Furthermore, "othering" can also be evident in the marketing and branding strategies of sleep product companies. For instance, the mattress retailer Mattress Firm has expanded its reach across the United States through acquisitions and rebranding. In 2015, Mattress Firm acquired Sleep America for $12.5 million, adding to its growing portfolio of stores. The acquisition of Sleep America, a company with a strong regional presence, allowed Mattress Firm to solidify its position in the mattress retail market and cater to a diverse customer base with varying sleep needs and preferences.
The Sleep America acquisition is a testament to the dynamic nature of the sleep product industry and the ongoing quest to meet the diverse sleep needs of individuals across the country. As companies strive to offer innovative solutions and personalized experiences, they contribute to a culture that values sleep as a pivotal aspect of overall health and well-being. By embracing diversity and inclusion in their business strategies, sleep product companies play a pivotal role in promoting equitable access to quality sleep, ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds can thrive and reach their full potential.
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Derogatory nicknames in politics
The use of derogatory nicknames in politics is a well-known tactic, often employed to diminish or demean political opponents. One of the most famous users of this strategy is former US President Donald Trump, who has branded many of his political rivals with nicknames. Trump's targets have included Jeb Bush ("Low Energy Jeb"), Ted Cruz ("Lyin' Ted"), Mitch McConnell ("Broken Old Crow"), Adam Schiff ("Pencil Neck"), Joe Biden ("Sleepy Joe"), Mike Bloomberg ("Mini Mike"), Hillary Clinton ("Crooked Hillary"), Kamala Harris ("Laffin' Kamala", "Lyin' Kamala", "Kamabla"), and Nikki Haley ("Nimbra"). Trump's use of nicknames aims to exploit the illusory truth effect, where repeated information is accepted as fact, regardless of its truthfulness.
On the other hand, Biden avoids using Trump's name, referring to him as "my predecessor", "the former guy", or "a former American president". This strategy avoids recognising Trump as a peer or equal.
Beyond the Trump-Biden dynamic, derogatory nicknames are prevalent in American politics. For instance, "Republicrat" is used to describe centrist or ideologically ambiguous members of both major parties. "Liberal" or "Democrat" is often coupled with insults like "elitist", "idiot", or "wacko", while "conservative" or "Republican" is associated with terms like "misogynist", "extremist", or "blowhard".
The use of derogatory nicknames in politics is not unique to the United States. In other countries, pejorative portmanteaus are used to refer to multiple political parties, such as "Lib-Lab-Con" in the United Kingdom, "Lib-NDP-Con" in Canada, "Lib-Lab-Nat" in Australia, and "POPiS" in Poland.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleep America was acquired by Mattress Firm in January 2015 for $12.5 million.
Mattress Firm is an American mattress store chain founded on July 4, 1986, and headquartered in Houston, Texas.
The acquisition of Sleep America gave Mattress Firm 130 locations in Arizona.
Yes, Mattress Firm has acquired several other companies, including Mattress King, BedMart, Sleep Train, Sleepy's, and Bedding Experts.
Yes, Mattress Firm has been acquired by Steinhoff and, most recently, by Tempur Sealy, which changed its name to Somnigroup International Inc.
