New York's Bed Bug Problems Fuel Protect-A-Bed Sales

NEW YORK- Protect-A-Bed has seen explosive sales growth during 2008, in part because of the New York City bed bug epidemic. Thus far in 2008, more than 65 percent of the company’s consumer-based internet sales are coming from the New York City metro area, as residents battle infestations at home.

As of June 2008, more than 8,800 bed bug complaints were received and nearly 2,800 violations issued by the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. However, because this department only handles complaints from one subsection of the city’s residents and many bed bug infestations likely go unreported, the true number of infestations is likely significantly higher, according to the New York vs. Bed Bugs Web site. New York vs. Bed Bugs is an advocacy organization focused on brining a comprehensive bed bug control plan to New York City.

“With the growing problem of bed bugs in the New York City area, we’re finding many New Yorkers are looking for bed bug prevention products,” said Protect-A-Bed’s Chicago-based CEO James Bell. “Many are seeking our products on an expedited basis because they’re already experiencing a bed bug problem."

In addition to selling mattress and box spring encasements to consumers, most of the New York City area’s pest control management companies utilize Protect-A-Bed encasements as a tool to help salvage previous infested mattress and to prevent further mattress infestations. Also, hotels in New York and across the country are utilizing mattress encasements in their more frequent battles against bed bugs.

All together, consumer-based encasement sales, pest control industry sales and hotel sales have led Protect-A-Bed to 120 percent sales growth year over year.

“Whether an area has 1000 residents or 20 million, it’s at risk for a bed bug infestation,” Bell said. “It’s important to be proactive to limit your risk. We’re happy that people are beginning to understand that bed bugs are real and pose a serious threat to their homes and businesses.”

For additional information on Protect-A-Bed encasement products, visit www.protectabed.com.