Get down with tent sale
As temperatures dip at night, it's time to pull out the down comforter. It's also time for United Feather & Down to hold its tent sale in Des Plaines.
The longtime manufacturer and marketer of luxury bedding is slashing the prices of pillows and comforters by 50 to 80 percent. The biannual factory outlet sale runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 2, 3, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the company's headquarters at 414 E. Golf Road.
"It's a true factory outlet sale with our overruns and overstocks," said Brandon Palmer, co-president of the family operated company.
Palmer's family started the business more than 200 years ago in a tiny village near Krakow, Poland. At that time, it served as a mill working with farmers to produce down. As the demand for feather and down bedding emerged in the United States, the company expanded and became more involved in the processing end. United Feather & Down has operated in the Chicago area for about 70 years, moving to Elk Grove Village in 1991 and then to Des Plaines about 10 years ago.
Brandon, 47, and his brother, Stephen, are the seventh generation to run the private company. Their father, Mark, continues to serve as chairman.
The company has grown to one of the largest feather and down processors in the United States, Brandon said. The company mainly services mid-to upper end retailers. The company produces a great number of private labels for retailers including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Bloomingdale's, Costco, L.L. Bean, Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma Home.
A great deal of the manufacturing and processing is done in Des Plaines at a facility adjacent to the corporate offices. Additional sales, distribution and manufacturing facilities are located in Canada, Mexico, Japan and China.
Over the years, United Feather & Down has developed long-lasting relationships with farmers in various feather-producing regions of the world.
Employing about 250 people, the business uses goose and ducks for its pillows, comforters, blankets, mattress pads, feather beds and other products.
Brandon and his brother have early memories of helping out at the family feather factory when it was in Chicago. "I remember packing up the dried feathers and stuffing them into bags," Brandon said. He recalls that this particular feather had to be dried on the floor and then packaged.
He added that things are done differently now than when he was a boy having fun in the feather factory. "Everything is now automated and computerized," he said.
"I always had an interest in the business," Brandon said. He enjoys the many aspects of the company - from working with the small farmer to the large corporations and trading internationally.
In an effort to continue expanding, in the 1990s, the company saw an increased consumer demand for higher quality polyester filling materials or down alternatives. The company launched Freshness Assured, a polyester micro fiber brand for home bedding products. It also patented Lyocell Down, a blend of eco-ward winning lyocell fibers and down as a natural fill. The later innovations in this area include MicroMax X-Static and Proneem.
For more information, check out ufandd.com.
Now open: The Place for Estates by Key Estate Sales is opening Thursday, Oct. 2, at 1N279 Lafox Road in Geneva.
The shop will host a once a month sale on the first weekend of every month, showcasing consigned items from Chicago area estates including fine and household furniture, decor, jewelry, collectibles and antiques.
The hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more, check out keyestatesales.com.
Party in Palatine: The Palatine Plaza Fall Fun Fest takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.
The shopping center at Hicks and Northwest Highway is offering trick or treating, games, ice cream cones, face painting, popcorn and special coupons.
Children are encouraged to wear costumes at the event that also features an open gym with obstacle course and other activities. The party takes place rain or shine as everything is under cover.
About a dozen businesses are participating including Ace Hardware, Dollar Tree, Monica's Deli, Sherwin Williams, Sparrow's Nest, Subway and Sumo Japanese Steak House.
• Kim Mikus' column appears Tuesday through Friday. She welcomes comments at kmikus@dailyherld.com.