Hoping to retire their decades-old mattress, a couple in their 50s explores the nuances of today’s bedding options. Here’s what they found Knowledge is power in mattress retailing just like it is anywhere else, but there’s a fine line between educating shoppers and overwhelming them with information. For this issue’s Undercover, we sent a 50-something […]
A Secret Weapon
Secret shoppers can point out what your stores are doing well — and what they aren’t — in a way that other consumer satisfaction tools can’t Customer satisfaction surveys, testimonials, even repeat business and sales figures tell you a lot about what your business is doing well and some about what it’s not doing well. […]
High Point Market: Slow but Steady
Despite quiet bedding floors, two ends of the product spectrum — lower-priced boxed beds and higher-end luxurious mattress sets — stand out at the latest show Unlike last year, there were no tornadoes during the High Point Market, thankfully. Held April 6-10 in High Point, North Carolina, the springtime show had a few beautiful sunny […]
The Sound Sleepers and the Wide Awakers
New BSC research shows male retirees have the best sleep habits, while women — especially moms and students — struggle to get enough rest The Better Sleep Council, the consumer-education arm of the International Sleep Products Association, released its research findings from The State of America’s Sleep study, revealing that nearly six in 10 women […]
BSC Finds That Young Women, Especially Mothers and Students, Are Among the Worst Sleepers in America
The Better Sleep Council, the consumer education arm of the International Sleep Products Association, released its research findings from The State of America’s Sleep study revealing that nearly 6 in 10 women are poor sleepers, compared to 4 in 10 men. When adding school and children into the equation, the incidence of poor sleep increased […]
E-Commerce: Improve Your Product Pages
Start with better imagery and complete item descriptions, then go from there When it comes to online sales, think of your product pages as virtual retail sales associates: They need to be friendly and informative — and they need to ask for the sale. Here are some ideas to make sure the product pages on […]
New Adjustable Bases Offer Price Points and Features to Please Consumers
BY BETH ENGLISH Purposeful power bases play many roles in today’s bedroom—from utilitarian medical device to high-tech tool to elegant design statement. A lot of products claim to offer something for everyone. In the case of adjustable or power bases, it’s truer today than ever before. The adjustable base, which has been around for decades, began as a way […]
The power of pillows
BY BETH ENGLISH AND BARBARA T. NELLES Today’s feature-filled pillows are a must-have for consumers and retailers alike. Here are some of the latest offerings and strategies for fluffing up sales Never before have pillows had so much to offer consumers—and retailers. Pillow suppliers have been hard at work redesigning the simple bed pillow into […]
Craig’s Beds wins hearts in the Big Apple
Good listening, straight talk and a personal touch lead independent sleep shop to top New York City ranking BY BETH ENGLISH PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARTISAN IMAGE INC. As a New York City native, Craig Fruchtman understands the daily grind. Every morning, he leaves home and hops on the subway. His route takes him through Times Square […]
Sleepland at Furnitureland South
This High Point, North Carolina, store within a store has it all—including a private, quiet space for shoppers BY BETH ENGLISH PHOTOGRAPHY BY ARTISAN IMAGE INC. Visiting Sleepland isn’t necessarily straightforward. It involves coming in through the main doors of a massive furniture store—Furnitureland South—and cutting through the Starbucks on the left. Just as you […]
The Better Sleep Council: A sound message for sound sleep
For more than 35 years, the Better Sleep Council has moved the industry forward by helping you help your customers get a good night’s sleep. Today, it’s stronger and more committed than ever to promoting healthy sleep for healthy sales BY BETH ENGLISH Quick—name the three major components of a healthy life. Diet, exercise and […]