Despite widespread narratives about physical retail decline in recent years, data suggests traditional stores are holding their ground and, in some segments, thriving.
A Forbes analysis highlights that brick-and-mortar retail sales are growing faster than overall inflation, and new store openings have outpaced closures in recent quarters. The report cites data showing more than 1,200 new store openings compared with about 733 closures, indicating that many retailers still see value in investing in physical locations to meet customers where they shop. The piece suggests that retail success increasingly depends on how well stores engage shoppers through experience, convenience, and multichannel service options rather than simply existing as the place where the actual purchase happens.
For mattress retailers, this trend reinforces the continued relevance of in-store presence even as online buying remains popular. Specialty bedding stores can differentiate through personalized service, product demos, sleep education, and complementary offerings that create reasons for customers to visit showrooms. With evidence that physical retail is not only retaining relevance but expanding in certain cases, mattress retailers can feel encouraged to refine their own store strategies—from local marketing to integrated digital experiences.
Source: Forbes
