Here is a recent Everpillow Magazine Article found in Voyage Denver. You can read the direct link at Voyage Denver. We are grateful for the story about our company, founder and philosophy.
Meet Steve Van Diest of Everpillow by Infinitemoon in Aurora
Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Van Diest.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In my 20’s and 30’s, I worked in the non-profit sector coaching, training and developing college students to impact their local community and the world. Our experiences took us to live in Chile, Spain and Mexico City. We have four children (20, 18, 14, & 12) and we wanted to show them the world and how to help others.
I found in my late 30’s a passion to impact our culture from the for-profit side. I finished my masters in social and civic entrepreneurship in 2012, with a renewed sense of vision and mission to grow a business that will leave a positive impact on our community. I advised a mattress retail startup on how to have a social impact and how to infuse that into their DNA. Six months later with a friend, we opened up three stores and helped the franchise grow to 16 stores. This was my real business education that taught me so much more than grad school. Lots of wins and failures along the way. My marriage of 25 years, raising four kids, my faith in God, non-profit work, living abroad and in Colorado, my business experiences all have made me who I am today.
Five years ago out of frustration of the products we were buying and selling in our retail mattress stores, we (my wife and I, my partner and I) began to dream about what we could produce, specifically in the arena of pillows, that would impact our business, our community, and our customers. We launched a wholesale brand of all natural pillows that are fully customizable. A few years later after continued growth, we launched our direct to consumer brand, Everpillow by Infinitemoon. In both cases, we partner with a non-profit who hires former felons, addicts and homeless and gives them a job and life training to get a 2nd chance. All our pillows from cut, sew, stuff, package, and ship are produced by these wonderful people working hard to change their lives.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t always been smooth. We started with an initial investment from ourselves of $5,000. Shoestring budget, a new product that no one had seen before. We tested and R&D’d in our own stores and saw customers love them. We hired our teenage kids and worked nights and weekends. But over time we saw the growth and desire for such a great product.
A couple of years in, I bought out my business partner for full ownership and rights. We had to borrow from ourselves again and worked weekends and hustled a ton. We found the product was growing across the USA and we didn’t have a sales rep. That continues to be an issue for our wholesale brand.
Two years ago we knew we wanted to get our pillow to the masses so we infused some of our own money to create a whole new brand and packaging. 14 months ago, we launched Everpillow by Infinitemoon. Still tight on cash we hustled and continued to believe in our product, our cause and in those who were producing these amazing luxurious pillows. We currently are 100% owners and running a tight ship with high-quality control.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Everpillow by Infinitemoon – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
The Everpillow was designed with one thing in mind: YOU.
It might sound simple, but we decided to rethink the one-size-fits-all approach to sleep and create something that fits your body type, your sleep style, and your budget. All without compromising the quality of the material and the integrity of how the pillow is made. The result: The Everpillow.
It’s Ever-Customizable, Ever-Comfortable, and Everything you could want in a pillow. We did our research and sourced the best natural material that is hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and antimicrobial. Oh, and ridiculously comfortable. When your new Everpillow arrives, it will come with a drawstring bag to store your extra fill so you can customize the loft and shape to give you the perfect spinal alignment. Why not customize your pillow and say goodnight to kinked necks and morning aches & pains?
Everpillow. Made by us. Perfected by you.
We are most proud of the fact that every Everpillow from start to finish is made by someone who a short time ago was an addict, a felon or homeless. We are pillows with a purpose. Changing people’s comfort in their home and in our community.
In December of 2018, The Washington Post picked us as their #1 pillow and on March 11th, Oprah’s sleep Doctor, Michael J. Breus took our Everpillow on NBC’s Today Show and helped Hoda K get better sleep with Everpillow.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
The Denver Metro area…what’s not to love? We moved to Boulder in 1994 and outside of our few International stops, we have lived up and down the Front Range (Boulder, Superior, Greeley, Stapleton and now the Tech Center.) We have two children who attend the University of Colorado Boulder (one plays football and the other works for the football team). We have a high schooler and a middle schooler and two chocolate labs. The weather, views, the air, and the activities in Colorado meet all our needs. My wife and I are Indian Motorcycle riders and love getting lost in the foothills.
I guess that only brings us to what we don’t like. Since it is so amazing and the word got out, Colorado has a huge influx of people moving here and the traffic is reminding us we are becoming Los Angeles.