Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
JOIN APRO
JOIN APRO

3Z Brands Expands AZ Manufacturing Capacity

Exterior of 3Z Brands’ headquarters in Glendale, Arizona, featuring the modern Brooklyn Bedding-branded building at sunset.
3Z Brands’ headquarters building in Glendale, Arizona.

APRO member 3Z Brands dba Southerland Sleep recently completed a huge manufacturing expansion at the company’s main facility in Glendale, Arizona. The completion of the additional 280,000 square feet brings 3Z Brands’ headquarters to almost 966,000 sq. ft. total of mattress-manufacturing space.

“We’re especially proud of this expansion of our Dream Factory,” said John Merwin, 3Z Brands Chief Executive Officer. “This new space strengthens our ability to scale foam production while maintaining the craftsmanship, innovation, and quality our customers and retail partners expect.”

The expansion adds significant capacity for the Glendale facility’s foam curing and storage, along with the company’s new molded pillow operation. It also continues 3Z Brands’ history of growing its workforce, creating hundreds of local jobs and investing in advanced technology.

“Our Dream Factory expansion reinforces our long-term commitment to Arizona, investing in the people, facilities, and capabilities that support our business,” Merwin said. “Additionally, it’s enabled our Phoenix-area operation to reach a record production of 3,195 beds within a single day.”

Room to Grow with RTO

In addition to its Glendale and Phoenix, Arizona, manufacturing facilities, 3Z Brands also has factories in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Nashville, Tennessee. Greater capacity gives the company greater flexibility to support its rent-to-own (RTO) partners and their continued growth.

“As our customers’ needs evolve, this investment strengthens our ability to scale alongside them,” said Merwin. “It’s exciting to see the continued investment in the people and infrastructure behind our business. Manufacturing is a complex operation, and having the right space and resources makes a positive difference in how we work together to deliver our excellent products.”

Huge yellow blocks of solid foam are stacked within an industrial setting; a man operates a forklift in the background.
3Z Brands’ expansion at its Glendale, Arizona, manufacturing facility substantially adds to its foam curing and storage capacity.
3Z Brands’ Glendale, Arizona, facility interior, featuring industrial equipment, conveyor systems, and mattress-manufacturing materials.
The Glendale, Arizona, manufacturing expansion enabled 3Z Brands to set a new companywide production record of 3,195 mattresses in a day.
Panoramic view of the interior of 3Z Brands’ Glendale, Arizona, mattress-manufacturing facility, featuring extensive production lines, conveyor systems, and stacks of mattress materials across a factory floor.
A bird’s-eye view of 3Z Brands’ impressive Dream Factory.

About 3Z Brands dba Southerland Sleep

3Z Brands dba Southerland Sleep is a bedding manufacturer specializing in mattresses and adjustable beds. With roots dating back to 1893, the company manufactures a variety of American-made sleep products, including innerspring, memory foam, and hybrid mattresses, designed to provide comfort, support, and value to consumers. Southerland Sleep has been an APRO member since 2022.

Upcoming Events

View Calendar


Mike Lewis

Central Properties dba Premier Rental-Purchase

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.