Ironically, Restwell owes its success to the closure of Newfoundland's Railway back in the late 1980s. When the Railway shut down, consumers and businesses alike worried about skyrocketing freight costs for bulky items like furniture.

Robert Tetford, owner of R. Tetford and Son, a well-established furniture store in Harbour Grace, saw an opportunity to keep costs in check for mattress buyers. He decided to start manufacturing them locally.

Feasability studies proved that Mr. Tetford was on the right track. Using his own savings and with help from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Mr. Tetford opened Restwell's plant and in 1991, sold his first Newfoundland-made mattress set.

Today Robert Tetford Jr. manages Restwell Mattresses while his father sells Restwell products from the family's furniture stores in Harbour Grace and Carbonear.