The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has approved a budget and recycling fee for mattress recycling. Fee collection will begin Dec. 30. The Mattress Recycling Council proposed the budget and fee to fund its California Mattress Recycling Program, which will be known to consumers as Bye Bye Mattress. MRC is a nonprofit organization […]
Connecticut Mattress Recycling Off To Strong Start
The first state mattress-recycling program took effect in Connecticut in May. Six months into the program, here are some of the results: Ninety towns and 65 other entities (retailers, nonprofits, boarding schools, a submarine base, etc.) have enrolled in the program. In the first five months, the Mattress Recycling Council has kept nearly 50,000 mattresses out […]
Spreading the mattress recycling word
The Mattress Recycling Council has been busy keeping mattresses out of landfills and spreading the word about what its staff does. Here’s an idea of what it has been up to: In Connecticut, the site of the first statewide mattress-recycling program, MRC has launched a series of public service announcements. In September, MRC provided a […]
September Mattress Sales See Strong Growth
Mattress sales climbed 8.7% in September, compared with the same month in 2014, according to the Bedding Barometer (paywall), a monthly report of U.S. mattress sales published by the International Sleep Products Association. The wholesale dollar value of those sales grew 13.6%, compared with September 2014, while the average unit selling price increased 4.5%. Total […]
Mattress Sales Increase in july
U.S. bedding sales again posted gains in July, according to the Bedding Barometer, a monthly report of mattress sales published by the International Sleep Products Association (paywall). Mattress and foundation sales grew 4.2% compared with the same month in 2014, the wholesale dollar value of those units rose 6% and the average unit selling price increased […]
Sleep is critical to brain function
Sleep and brain health Getting enough zzz’s is critical to keep your mind junk free and alert. Here’s why—and how you can help your customers rest well BY LISSA COFFEY Editor’s note: Savvy mattress retailers want to do everything they can to help their customers sleep better, including offering them sound advice and tips. Feel […]
California approves MRC mattress recycling budget and fee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2015 Media Contact: Amanda Wall Office: (571) 482-5431 Cell: (713) 829-7748 awall@mattressrecyclingcouncil.org CALRECYCLE APPROVES MATTRESS RECYCLING COUNCIL’S RECYCLING BUDGET & FEE MATTRESS RECYCLING FEE COLLECTION BEGINS DECEMBER 30, 2015 ALEXANDRIA, VA – Today, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) approved the budget and recycling fee that the […]
Back to school, back to sleep
How can children get sufficient rest to learn and grow? Better Sleep Council spokeswoman Lissa Coffey offers these suggestions for an A+ year Editor’s note: Savvy mattress retailers want to do everything they can to help their customers sleep better, including offering them sound advice and tips. Feel free to share this great guidance from […]
Mattress sales jump in June
Mattress sales advanced 8% in June compared with the same month in 2014, according to the Bedding Barometer, a monthly report of U.S. mattress sales published by the International Sleep Products Association. The wholesale dollar value of those units sprang up 12.2%, while the average unit selling price increased 3.9% compared with June of last […]
An education in sleep
Better Sleep Council spokeswoman Terry Cralle offers these back-to-school suggestions for an A+ year Editor’s note: Savvy mattress retailers want to do everything they can to help their customers sleep better, including offering them sound advice and tips. Feel free to share this great guidance from Better Sleep Council spokeswoman Terry Cralle with your shoppers (with […]
How does your customer service rate?
Mattress retailers could be doing better—and could be doing worse When it comes to providing good customer service, mattress retailers are fair to middling, according to a new ranking from Consumer Reports magazine. In a rating of 22 types of stores, industries and services, mattress retailers stand solidly at No. 11, with a score of […]
BSC examines schooltime sleep routines
The Better Sleep Council conducted a survey that looked at the sleep routines of families with school-age children. Of 2,500 parents surveyed, 90% had children in grade school. Eighty-three percent of households were dual parent and among those, 40% of parents said they share responsibility for waking their children up for school. Parents said their children’s school start times have […]
Mattress retailers urged to attend Las Vegas seminar on complying with state mattress recycling laws
[sc:responsive-in-post] The Mattress Recycling Council, formed by mattress industry trade group the International Sleep Products Association, based in Alexandria, Virginia, will host a Las Vegas Market seminar, Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. (Building B, 16th floor), for retailers, manufacturers and other market attendees. The discussion will cover California, Connecticut and Rhode Island mattress-recycling laws and other […]
Americans’ love-hate relationship with sleep
Sleep—wasted time or welcome rest? New BSC sleep research sheds light on Americans’ love-hate relationship with slumber Sleep research conducted by the Better Sleep Council shows Americans are conflicted about sleep: A majority of people understand sleep is necessary to recharge, restore and refresh, but their feelings toward sleep are split. The survey, conducted in […]
Bedding Barometer: Mattress sales climb in April
[sc:responsive-in-post] Mattress and foundation sales rose 2.5% in April, compared with unit sales in the same month of 2014, according to the Bedding Barometer, a monthly statistical analysis of U.S. mattress sales published by the International Sleep Products Association. The wholesale dollar value of mattresses and foundations grew by 4.7% and the average unit selling […]
News release: Sleep, waste of time?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mary Helen Uusimaki 571-482-5436 mhuusimaki@sleepproducts.org Polly Ryder 216-533-2006 pryder@marcusthomasllc.com SLEEP – WASTE OF TIME OR WELCOME RESPITE? Better Sleep Council Research Shows Americans Are Torn on Feelings about Sleep ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – May 12, 2015 – Sleep research recently conducted by the Better Sleep Council (BSC) shows Americans are conflicted about sleep. […]
Save the date: Mattress Recycling Council information session at Las Vegas Market
[sc:responsive-in-post] The Mattress Recycling Council is hosting an information session about state recycling programs during summer Las Vegas Market. Where: World Market Center B-16 When: Tuesday, Aug. 4, 1 p.m. Attendees will learn about the Bye Bye Mattress program, the proposed fee and plans for California and Rhode Island, and get an update on the progress of Connecticut’s implementation. […]
Sleep news for May
Picking sides Survey of bedside practices: Where Americans lie down affects sleep quality, relationships Could something as simple as picking the right side of the bed actually make a difference in how people sleep? It may, according to a new Pick Your Side survey that looks at the bedside practices of Americans and their impact […]
A sleep plan for travel
As summer approaches, your customers’ thoughts turn to upcoming vacations. These strategies should help them rest soundly while away from home BY LISSA COFFEY Editor’s note: Savvy mattress retailers want to do everything they can to help their customers sleep better, including offering them sound advice and tips. Feel free to share this great guidance […]
Connecticut debuts nation’s first statewide mattress-recycling program
Plan requires those who produce, sell or renovate mattresses to collect a recycling fee on each mattress and box springs sold On May 1, Connecticut’s Mattress Stewardship Plan took effect, making it the first state in the nation to launch a statewide recycling program for used mattresses and box springs. The program is administered by […]
Building a sleep sanctuary
In honor of Better Sleep Month, Sleep Savvy examines how adding bedroom ambience to your showroom floor can boost shopper comfort and increase sales. We offer a suggestions to help your customers create a restful retreat at home, too BY JULIE A. PALM In the mattress industry, we talk a lot about “selling sleep.” It’s shorthand […]
2015-16 mattress forecast
International Sleep Products Association predicts continued gains in U.S. bedding sales, dollar values The U.S. mattress industry is expected to see continued gains in both the dollar value and number of units shipped in 2015 and 2016, according to the latest forecast from the International Sleep Products Association. The forecast, released in April, expects the […]
Bedding Barometer: Mattress sales, values spike in December
Unit sales of mattresses and foundations increased 15.1% in December, compared with bed sales in the same month of 2013, according to the Bedding Barometer, a monthly sales report published by mattress-industry trade group the International Sleep Products Association. The wholesale dollar value of mattresses and foundations sold in December grew 25.1%, compared with December 2013, and […]
News from the Better Sleep Council
BSC, Diabetes Influencers team up BSC spokeswomen, health educators to participate in podcast, Twitter chat party to promote Better Sleep Month To help promote its annual “May Is Better Sleep Month” campaign, the Better Sleep Council is partnering with Diabetes Influencers to raise awareness about the relationship between sleep and health. The BSC is the […]
The power of internal innovation
Keynote speaker tells ISPA Industry Conference attendees the keys to business success are in their own backyard Inspired by his business book of the same name, John Spence’s “Awesomely Simple” keynote at the International Sleep Products Association’s 2015 Industry Conference March 4-5 in St. Petersburg, Florida, offered this important takeaway—for business success, companies must focus […]
The sleep-allergy connection
With the beauty of spring comes the agony of allergies. These insights can help your customers minimize their symptoms for restful sleep BY LISSA COFFEY Editor’s note: Savvy mattress retailers want to do everything they can to help their customers sleep better, including offering them sound advice and and tips. Feel free to share this […]
Sleep news for March
Shifting to daylight saving time Five tips from the Better Sleep Council for springing forward On Sunday, March 8, most Americans will move an hour from the morning to the evening, adding an extra 60 minutes of sunlight to the end of the day—and wreaking havoc on their sleep habits. To help ease the transition, […]
Mattress sales climb in January
The Bedding Barometer, a monthly statistical analysis of U.S. mattress sales (paywall) published by the International Sleep Products Association, shows that mattress sales climbed a healthy 7.8% in January, as compared with January 2014. ISPA says the wholesale dollar value of mattresses and foundations sold in the U.S. in January grew 12%. The average unit selling […]
U.S. mattress sales see modest increase in November
Unit sales of mattresses and foundations in the United States increased by 0.5% in November 2014, compared with unit sales in the same month of 2013, according to the International Sleep Products Association’s Bedding Barometer (paywall). The wholesale dollar value of those units also grew 2.5%, compared with November 2013, and the average unit selling price […]
March mattress-recycling updates
Connecticut approves recycling plan Mattress Recycling Council program to begin May 1 The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has approved the Connecticut Mattress Stewardship Plan developed by the Mattress Recycling Council, a nonprofit organization created by the mattress industry to develop and manage mandated statewide mattress-recycling programs. The approval Dec. 31 makes Connecticut […]
The ‘sweet sleep’ diet
To slumber well, avoid some foods and increase your intake of others. Keep the list handy for evening eating BY LISSA COFFEY Editor’s note: Savvy mattress retailers want to do everything they can to help their customers sleep better, including offering them sound advice and tips. Feel free to share this great guidance from Better […]
2015 Retail forecast
Retailers should enjoy a gradually improving economy in 2015. Rising employment, a healthier housing market and a willingness by larger corporations to invest in infrastructure should add some needed oomph to consumer shopping and make cash registers ring louder and longer BY PHILLIP M. PERRY Blue skies and cool breezes—that’s the economic forecast as the […]
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 […]
Connecticut statewide mattress-recycling plan approved
BedTimes magazine reported today that the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has approved the Connecticut Mattress Stewardship Plan developed by the Mattress Recycling Council. The plan goes into effect May 1. MRC is a non-profit created by the mattress-industry trade group, the International Sleep Products Association, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Connecticut is the first state to […]
Sleep news round-up
Nightmares, demystified What’s the difference between a nightmare and a bad dream and what can you do about them? Antonio Zadra, a professor of psychology at Université de Montréal and director of the school’s Dream Laboratory, answered a few questions about nightmares in the October issue of Real Simple. O What exactly qualifies as a nightmare? […]
U.S. mattress sales rise 5.8% in October
Unit sales of mattresses and foundations increased by 5.8% in October, compared with unit sales in the same month of 2013, according to the International Sleep Products Association’s Bedding Barometer. The wholesale dollar value of those units grew 9.3%, compared with October 2013, and the average unit selling price increased 3.3%. Year-to-date unit sales and […]
Generation Z—coming to a store near you
A recent national survey from Boston’s Northeastern University reveals that members of Generation Z—those born in the mid-1990s or later—are highly self-directed, demonstrated by a strong desire to work for themselves, study entrepreneurship and design their own programs of study in college. According to the survey, 63% of the respondents—all between the ages of 16 and […]
Hiring for the long haul
Smart hiring managers use a variety of methods to find employees who will stick around. Tom Gimbel, founder of LaSalle Network, a nationally recognized staffing firm based in Chicago, shares these strategies at Fastcompany.com: 1. Always be interviewing. The right time to be interviewing is before you are in need of a new employee, Gimbel […]
MRC staff grows with two hires
The Mattress Recycling Council has hired a program coordinator and a marketing and communications coordinator. Mark Patti has been named MRC’s Southern California program coordinator. He will work with municipalities, retailers and other generators of mattresses, as well as transporters and recyclers, as the MRC develops and implements its mattress-recycling program in the state. “We […]
Poll: Millennials less invested in recycling
Conventional wisdom that Millennials are more eco-conscious than their parents and grandparents may not be accurate—at least when it comes to recycling, according to a Harris Poll conducted in November for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. The online survey found that younger adults (ages 18 to 34) are significantly less likely to always recycle—just […]
Gov. Brown signs bill to tweak California mattress law
California Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed a bill that adds specificity and assurances that preserve regulatory oversight to mattress-recycling legislation that was originally signed in 2013. The International Sleep Products Association supported the changes to the law, which were introduced through legislation in August and signed by Brown in September. The Mattress Recycling Council, a […]
Three lessons from the Apple Store
Some furniture stores are segregating or creating entirely different sleep shops solely focused on sleep. Many specialty-sleep stores use multimedia to educate consumers while they are in store. Other retailers help prequalify a shopper’s desired comfort/firmness by having her try preselected mattresses in different firmness levels to further reduce confusion and streamline her shopping experience. […]
ISPA expects gains in bedding unit shipments, wholesale values in next two years
The U.S. mattress industry is projected to enjoy healthy increases in both units shipped and the value of those shipments for the next two years, according to a new forecast from the International Sleep Products Association. The forecast, released in October, projects that the number of mattresses and foundations shipped will rise by 2% and the […]