The SAMINA Company History
SAMINA Founder
The renowned sleep psychologist and health expert, Prof. Dr. Günther W. Amann-Jennson is also the author of bestselling books including “Healthy Sleep and Sleep for Youth, Fitness, and Success” and the on-line magazine, “Simply Healthy Sleep” (both in his native German language).
Dr. Amann-Jennson has contributed to sleep research by developing innovative healthy sleep products for residential and hotel use that are effective, eco-friendly and, for many, life-changing. His work has been acknowledged by his peers including numerous awards and honorary doctorates for his contributions.
The SAMINA Story
For 13 years, Prof. Dr. Günther W. Amann-Jennson ran a private psychology practice in Feldkirch, a small village in western Austria. He observed a clear pattern: his patients with psychological problems also tended to have poor sleep, and he believed this was a key indicator of their overall well-being. But was poor sleep a cause or an effect?
To find out, Dr. Amann-Jennson decided to focus on improving his patients’ sleep for therapeutic purposes. He developed an integrated “sleep-healthy concept” which led to the creation of his first sleep system prototype. Confident in his solution, he pitched the prototype to well-known mattress companies. While he received praise for the concept, no one was willing to partner with him.
After multiple rejections, Dr. Amann-Jennson took matters into his own hands. In 1988, he founded SAMINA.
A Family Business is Born
From there, everything went quickly. Improving and optimizing the prototype, selection of natural materials, refining the production process, registering European and international patents and SAMINA as an international trademark. It was revolutionary that the mattress was no longer the most important part of the bed; the SAMINA slats for back support became the emphasis. The layered design was based on the human body and the company’s first slogan was “No more back pain.”
As a new business, there were plenty of obstacles and Dr. Amann-Jennson said, “Everything is difficult until it becomes easy.” This phrase is familiar even to those who know him today. Funding was a big obstacle as many dreamers and entrepreneurs know well. The solution came from his wife, Elisabeth, who gave up her retirement savings and career as a primary school teacher to join him as the first production manager, a vocation to which she has devoted her life continuing to ensure each and every hand-crafted piece is made with love.
Although the adult children worked for many years in the business, today only Phillip Amann and his wife, Sabrina, are at the helm of the family business. Their inspired vision is modernizing the company with recovery centers in key store locations throughout Europe.
Milestones of Success
- 2010 Senses Vision Award, for hotel concept “Wellness in Sleep – Power Sleeping Rooms®”
- 2012 Senses Vision Award, for hotel concept “Wellness in Sleep – Power Sleeping Rooms®”
- 2013 Best Family Business in Vorarlberg
- 2014 Hotel & Design Award in “Sleeping” category
- 2019 150 international sales partners and 50 upscale hotels offering SAMINA Power Sleeping Rooms®
- 2022 Dr. Amann-Jennson retires from CEO position promoting his eldest son, Phillip Amann.
HEALTHY SLEEP CONCIERGE
Our healthy sleep concierge service is available Monday – Saturday, 9am – 6pm PST.
Our aim is to reply to you within 24 hours.
Phone: Toll-free in US and Canada 1-877-494-1091
