THEY'RE NO SLOUCHES

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May 14, 2009

Young inventors add comfort to dorm rooms

By Suzanne Laurent

LONDONDERRY — When Tyler Price and Andrew Goetting were roommates during their freshman year at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., their fellow dorm dwellers enjoyed stopping by their room.

"We just had a cool room to hang out in," Price, 23, said.

"People were always sitting on our beds and it wasn't all that comfortable."

That was five years ago, and the roommates have graduated, but an idea tossed around that freshman year has come to fruition.

Price, a 2004 graduate and class president of Londonderry High School, and Goetting invented the SlouchBack, now designed and manufactured by ATG Ventures LLC, a company based in Point Pleasant, N.J.

With the flip of a switch, the SlouchBack turns a dorm bed into a comfortable couch, much like an air mattress inflates.

"We made semi-finalist in a Rhode Island State Business Competition," Price said.

"Andy (Goetting) wouldn't let go of the idea after graduation."

Goetting majored in business management and Price in journalism.

"Our initial investment of 100 SlouchBacks was paid for out of pocket," he said.

In March, Price and Goetting went directly to the students at six colleges — Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Skidmore College, Colby-Sawyer College and Roger Williams — to market the product and get feedback.

"We found random participants and let them test the product for two months, fill out surveys and keep the product for free," Price said.

"They gave us good feedback, like adding cup holders and other design ideas."

The SlouchBack relies on the comfort of the bed as a seat and the stability of the wall as the support for the backrest. There are arm rests on each end. It can be inflated and deflated in 30 seconds and is made of strong PVC material with a washable micro-suede cover in a choice of seven colors.

"It can be used for children's rooms too, like when moms want to read to kids on their beds," Price added.

Price, who now resides in Boston, said the product has "huge potential" for the crowded dorm room. They are going to pitch it to colleges during move-in days in September and Price said the president of their alma mater, Roy Nirschel, is speaking to some colleges on their behalf.

A third partner, Jeff Seibert, has created a Web site, www.slouchback.com/ and consumers can order the product at a pre-season price of $99.