Ausbeds Founder’s Story
Hi, I’m Karl, owner of Ausbeds.
This website, the mattresses, and our online presence may seem straightforward, but to me, they represent over a decade of hard-won wisdom. Every feature, every design choice stems from years of overcoming challenges and learning from mistakes.
I’ve always had a problem-solving mind. I tend to obsess about problems. At Ausbeds, I’ve stumbled upon a big problem—and it’s systemic in this industry.
I now understand why the mattress problem exists: it’s because it’s a really hard problem. To truly solve it, the marketing had to change, the sales script had to change, the retail experience had to change, the supply chain had to change, the distribution had to change.
Oh yeah, I nearly forgot—the entire mattress had to change. So I did all that. It took a bit longer than I expected, but I think I’ve finally solved it.
The following is a brief overview of this journey.
1996-2006: Early Career and Discovery
I was a chef from 17 to 27. When I was 22, I took a break to work in my father’s furniture store for a few months. That’s when I first noticed problems in the mattress section. One day, my father said, “Mattresses are like sausages, son; nobody knows what’s in them.” I remember thinking, “I’m sure somebody knows.”
2006-2011: Starting the Business
One day, a friend came to me with 17 brand new mattresses from a closing factory. I sold them from my living room on Gumtree. After scrapping around on Gumtree and eBay for years, I founded Ausbeds, choosing the name because I wanted something people would trust. I believed selling mattresses required integrity. I felt the name “Ausbeds” had integrity.
2011-2014: Learning and Struggles
I struggled for years but observed and listened to customers’ issues. I frequently read themattressunderground.com, the only source of truth in the industry. In 2014, I started selling mattresses by body weight (really badly). Returns became a big problem—between 10-15%. I never said no to returns because I wanted to do right by people, but it was draining the business’s cash. Something had to change.
2017: The Turning Point
In 2017, I cut open a mattress and questioned why certain layers were there. The factory couldn’t explain—they did it “because everyone else does.” I realized I needed to make my own mattresses and do what’s right, not just follow others. I sold my house, bought machinery, and began making my own mattresses. I’m still “all in.”
2020 Onwards: “Mise en Place”
Reflecting on my culinary experience, I applied the concept of “mise en place”—everything in its place—to Ausbeds. I prepared different springs, foams, and comfort layers to address various sleep issues. With everything ready, solving problems became much easier.
2024: Ausbeds Today
We feel we are helping people and enjoy assisting each person using the Ausbeds system. Many appreciate being able to change components, telling us we’ve changed their lives for the better. It’s this attention to detail that truly makes a difference.
Looking Ahead
What drives Ausbeds as of 2024 is my idea that anybody in Australia should have access to the Ausbeds system. It might take me another 10 years, but I’m committed to changing more lives for the better.
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