Hello and welcome to Massage Chair Relief LIVE. I’m Dr. Alan Weidner, and we appreciate you joining us today.
My guest today is John Cribbs, Executive VP of Cozzia USA. John, we welcome you to this forum. It’s good to have you.
John Cribbs: Thank you, happy to be here. I’ll say hello from Annapolis, Maryland. I figured a background showing Annapolis would be better than just a plain white wall behind me in my office.
Dr. Weidner: Absolutely. And I think people are going to be tuning in from all over. Looks like there’s a little issue with streaming to Facebook, but hopefully they’ll get that sorted. I’m sure people, especially those with military backgrounds, will appreciate the Annapolis setting. I’m in my home office, but I’ve got a picture of our Arizona showroom behind me, so it looks like I’m there.
Anyway, John, it’s great to have you here. We’ve been talking about getting you on, and I’m glad it finally worked out. Now, we don’t carry Cozzia chairs directly on our website or in our showroom, but we do carry Ogawa, JP Medics, and Brookstone, which are part of your group. Maybe you could share the history of Cozzia and how it ties into the parent company, since your connection is more direct than many other massage chair brands.
The Parent Company and Global Presence
John Cribbs: Sure. Let me give you a little background. Cozzia is a subsidiary of our parent company, Ogawa Smart Healthcare Technology Group, based in Xiamen, China. Originally the company was called Xiamen Comfort Science and Technology, but when the business expanded globally—into Southeast Asia, Australia, and Europe—they unified the brand under the Ogawa name. That change happened around 2019.
The company is just shy of a billion dollars in revenue. We’re the largest manufacturer of robotic massage chairs worldwide, and we also produce other electric massage appliances. We have over 10,000 employees and export to more than 60 countries—closer to 75 now. There are 15 global subsidiaries, and Cozzia is one of them.
We employ more than 800 engineers with an R&D fund of around $20 million. That’s what makes us unique—we’re really a technology company. We hold over 500 patents and can manufacture around 300,000 chairs annually. Beyond massage chairs, we also manufacture for big names like Honeywell, HoMedics, Brookstone, Jam Audio, and even do some work with Samsonite.
We also own Medisana in Germany, a medical device company that developed the first home healthcare robot. That technology has even made its way into hospital use. So, we’re much broader than just massage chairs.
Cozzia’s U.S. History
Dr. Weidner: That’s fascinating. When did Cozzia begin in the U.S.?
John Cribbs: Cozzia is wholly owned by Ogawa. Back in the late 1990s, I was with Berkline, a large U.S. upholstery manufacturer. We introduced a shiatsu massage chair using European-made mechanics. It was revolutionary for the furniture industry at the time.
As Berkline expanded in massage chairs, we contracted with Cozzia to build chairs under the Berkline name. When Berkline eventually went out of business in 2011, Mark Holmes (our current CEO) and Bob Bruns (our President) built a new business plan for Cozzia, using some of Berkline’s old retail network. That’s how Cozzia officially launched in the U.S.
We primarily sold into the furniture channel at first—brick and mortar furniture stores. Over time we expanded into multiple brands and categories.
Brand Portfolio
Cozzia manages several brands:
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Cozzia – sold exclusively through authorized brick-and-mortar retailers, not direct-to-consumer.
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Ogawa – sold both online and in stores.
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JP Medics – Japanese facility chairs, found in select retailers and events.
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Brookstone – licensed line of massage chairs.
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Svago – zero gravity recliners, one of our fastest-growing categories.
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Cozzia Custom Components – supplies parts for furniture and mattress industries.
Technology and Innovation
Dr. Weidner: I’ve noticed a lot of crossover technology between your brands. One example is the Chair Doctor feature.
John Cribbs: Exactly. The Chair Doctor is a biometric system we first introduced around 2017–2018. The chair pushes against six zones of your body while you hold a sensor. It measures galvanic skin response (changes in moisture and conductivity in your hand) and heart rate. Then it maps your back, identifies tension areas, and creates a custom massage.
The newest Duo chair is the first Chair Doctor model with dual mechanisms: a 4D mech in the back and a 3D mech in the seat. That’s a big leap forward compared to earlier split-track chairs, which usually had just 2D rollers in the seat. This means you can adjust intensity in both areas, even if you’re heavier or have sensitive spots.
Split Track vs. Quantum
Dr. Weidner: One viewer asked whether split-track (dual roller) designs are the future.
John Cribbs: Split tracks will definitely continue, but I think our new Quantum chair is a bigger step forward. It’s more of a revolution than an evolution. It has advanced software and hardware, with an impressive tablet-like remote. We previewed it at Las Vegas Market, and it’ll officially launch this fall.
Customer Experiences
Dr. Weidner: One thing I love about this business is hearing customer stories. People often realize their pain is gone after sitting in a chair—headaches, back pain, even sleep improvement.
John Cribbs: Absolutely. I’ve had people cry in the chair because it was the first time they felt no pain. A tennis pro once told me it was the first time her back was pain-free in years. These experiences make it rewarding and fun. Massage chairs aren’t just novelties—they’re real therapy.
Closing Thoughts
Dr. Weidner: John, this has been wonderful. You’ve got a wealth of knowledge from your decades in the industry, and I’ve learned a lot today. Congratulations on Cozzia being recognized as the #1 massage chair supplier by Furniture Today three years in a row.
John Cribbs: Thank you, Alan. We’re proud of our team. It’s been great being here, and I’d love to come back anytime.
Dr. Weidner: Thanks again, John. And thanks to everyone who tuned in. This will be posted on YouTube and Facebook later if you’d like to rewatch.