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Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, Feb 13, 2011

Hardman attends furniture market

Lynn Hardman, owner/ operator of Southern Waterbeds & Futons, attended the winter Las Vegas Market held this January at the World Market Center in Las Vegas.

Hardman is a longtime member of The Specialty Sleep Association and has owned and operated his business in Athens for 36 years.

Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, Nov 7, 2010

Waterbed, futon shop passes 35-year mark

Southern Waterbeds & Futons owner/operator Lynn Hardman recently marked the 35th anniversary of his retail business.

Hardman started the business in 1975 in a booth at the former Athens Flea Market, where the Classic Center now stands. The original booth sold a variety of products including parts and accessories for waterbeds. That venture grew and expanded to become Athens' first waterbed store and now the oldest waterbed store in the state.

The business was moved to a strip center on Atlanta Highway near Georgia Square Mall when the mall opened in 1981. The store moved again in 1987 to its present location across from the mall when Hardman had the opportunity to purchase that property. Futons were then added to the product mix and incorporated into the business name.

Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday,  April 4, 2010

Business Whirl: Hardman attends collegiate trade show

Lynn Hardman recently attended the Campus Market Expo 2010 trade show held March 13-15 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The trade show was geared toward collegiate retailing industry professionals from all across the country.

Hardman has owned the local specialty sleep shop Southern Waterbeds & Futons for 35 years. The shop has a speciality niche in University of Georgia room decor, and the business recently added a new Web page titled UGA Home Decor at www.southernwaterbeds.com.

Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Business Whirl: Hardman attends major furniture show

Southern Waterbeds & Futons Inc. owner Lynn Hardman recently attended the winter furniture market at the World Market Center in Las Vegas.  The event caters to all aspects of the furniture industry, and this year it had a special focus on bedding. Also, the Specialty Sleep Association showroom featured a product mix of bedding, showing a wider variety of sleep systems mainly for specialty sleep retailers. Hardman also attended a WMC presentation providing an overview of essential Web marketing techniques.

Hardman is the president of Southern Waterbeds & Futons and has owned and operated the business in Athens for 35 years. He is an original member of The Specialty Sleep Association.

Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, April 26, 2009

BUSINESS WHIRL

Hardman attends furnishing conclave

Lynn Hardman, owner/operator of Southern Waterbeds & Futons, recently attended the World Market Center Las Vegas, an international home furnishings showcase that has grown to feature more than 5 million square feet of state-of-the-art showrooms and exhibits.

The Specialty Sleep Association, the successor organization for the waterbed industry, introduced its first-ever permanent showroom in the new building C of the World Market Center.

Hardman visited individual manufacturer showrooms and attended six seminars devoted to Web site development and marketing. Just prior to the market, Hardman hired local firm AthensGuy.com to host and further develop Southern Waterbeds’ current Web site, southernwaterbeds.com. Hardman is celebrating 34 years in business this year.

Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, March 23, 2008

BUSINESS WHIRL

Hardman attends furniture trade show

Athens businessman Lynn Hardman recently attended the Winter 2008 Furniture Market held recently at the World Market Center in Las Vegas.

Hardman is the founder and president of Southern Waterbeds & Futons Inc., which opened in 1975.

Attending this major furniture market annually has helped Hardman diversify his original waterbed store by adding different specialty mattresses and updating the furniture selections.

Hardman is a long-standing member of the Specialty Sleep Association and is celebrating 33 years of business in Athens.

Lynn Hardman of Southern Waterbeds and Futons visits the Specialty Sleep Association booth at the Las Vegas Market in January, 2008. He has been a member of this valuable organization since its beginning in 1995.

Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, February 25, 2007

BUSINESS WHIRL

Hardman attends Las Vegas trade show

Lynn Hardman, founder and president of Southern Waterbeds & Futons Inc., attended the winter 2007 Las Vegas Market at the World Market Center.

Attending the show has helped Hardman expand his original waterbed store into a specialty sleep shop with more diversified sleep surface selections. Hardman is a member of the Specialty Sleep Association, Futon Association International and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. Southern Waterbeds & Futons Inc. is celebrating 32 years in business.

Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, August 28, 2005

BUSINESS WHIRL

Hardman attends Las Vegas meeting

Athens businessman Lynn Hardman attended the recent grand opening of the World Market Center in Las Vegas.

The World Market Center, a home furnishings showroom complex, encompasses 1.3 million square feet of permanent showrooms, nearly 400,000 square feet of temporary pavilions known as the World Pavilions and a Design Center dedicated to all facets of home furnishing.

The World Pavilions included space leased to the Specialty Sleep Association and the Futon Association International and their members for display of specialty bedding and futon products.

Hardman is the founder and president of Southern Waterbeds & Futons Inc., which is celebrating 30 years in business this year.

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