Hi lpearson72,
I took a look around your area and as you suspected there aren’t any factory direct manufacturers near you but there are a few local retailers that may have some better value depending on their level of knowledge and experience and most importantly on whether they have the ability and willingness to tell their customers the details of what is in their mattresses and understand how important this is. When you are unsure of the quality of a local retailer … I normally recommend that you call and “interview” them first along the lines of this article before you pay them a visit. This will give you a sense of what to expect if you go there to test their mattresses.
The online manufacturers I listed earlier will give you a good value reference point to compare with any local choices and if nothing else some local testing of different mattresses and materials can be helpful as a guideline for an online purchase.
I’ve listed the brands beside each retailer that I would include in your research (I looked at over 20 different retailers in Shreveport and Bossier City) that may have better quality/value … depending on the models they carry and of course on the local prices.
http://www.mattressplusla.com/ Shreveport, Monroe, LA. Sleep Design, Pure Latex Bliss
http://www.ivansmith.com/ Shreveport, Bossier City, Minden, Marshall, Mansfield, LA and others in the area. Restonic
http://www.shopsunfurniture.com/ Shreveport, LA. Englander
http://www.homezonefurniture.com/ Shreveport, LA. Restonic
http://www.dontmarkitup.com/ Bossier City, LA. Restonic
Phoenix