Blog: Furnitureland South unveils Sleepland, a place of discovery

Striking desert skies welcome shoppers to the revamped Sleepland at Furnitureland South in Jamestown, N.C.

The retailer, which calls itself the World’s Largest Furniture Store, with more than 1.3 million square feet of showroom space, recently unveiled its new bedding department, an 11,000-square- foot home for about 100 mattresses. And what an impressive home it is.

While many bedding departments sport a spa-like feel, the Furnitureland South merchandising team aimed to evoke a more energetic spirit, one that would encourage a sense of discovery and enlightenment. Yes, there are cool things to see, the retailer is saying. So please keep shopping.

The dramatic color scheme immediately grabbed my attention. Becky Greene, the executive director of merchandising, said her team was inspired by the desert sky: “a little bit moody, a little bit passionate and always exciting and interesting.”

The colors aim to turn the brain on, rather than to turn it off, which is what spa settings generally do, Greene said. The dark colors also help the light-colored mattresses stand out.

Sleepland’s clever floor treatments encourage shoppers to move throughout the expansive department, which offers long sight lines and an open feel. There are many paths of discovery here.

I love the Sleep and Health display, which makes four powerful points: Good sleep makes you smarter, it makes you more productive, it takes the weight off, and it makes you happier. Each of those points is backed up with facts and figures.

A good mattress is not a commodity; it’s a health product. Smart retailers are winning by emphasizing the health benefits that good mattresses and good sleep provide.

Sleepland is an impressive achievement. Kudos to the FLS team for their great work.