Blog: FT Consensus Bedding Forecast less positive than ISPA forecasts
It’s a tale of two forecasts, one more pessimistic than the other. It’s also a comparison of apples and oranges. We’ll explain that in a moment. But first let’s start with the more pessimistic...
View ArticleBlog: Consumer Reports is wrong; better beds are better choice
“Sweet Dreams Are Made of These” was the headline on Consumer Reports’ recent examination of mattress shopping. But that report is really a nightmare for the bedding industry — and for consumers who...
View ArticleBlog: Bedding banner battles: Englander’s wolves warning, Therapedic’s CBD bed
A more muted bedding presentation greeted retailers who arrived at the World Market Center campus in Las Vegas last week. With major construction under way on the WMC campus, all but one of the banners...
View ArticleBlog: Delight in Casper’s losses misses growing DTC clout
Spirits were high in bedding showrooms across the World Market Center, for several reasons. One was the strong attendance in many showrooms and record attendance in some. Another was the buzz about...
View ArticleBlog: Las Vegas bedding showrooms set stage for retail presentations
The blockbuster bedding market in Las Vegas last month included more than just a broad array of exciting new mattresses, adjustable bed bases and sleep accessories. There were also dramatic new bedding...
View ArticleBlog: Want to spur big foot traffic? Try some of these fresh ideas
How do you get Bigfoot into your mattress store? Easy. Lure him in with a big bag of beef jerky. How do you generate big foot traffic in a mattress store? Now that’s a much tougher proposition, but Dos...
View ArticleBlog: Hunting for an elusive number: Casper’s mattress return rate
There are hundreds of numbers in Casper’s S-1 prospectus that tell the story of the company and document the rapid sales growth it has made since its founding in 2014. In the first few pages of the...
View ArticleBlog: FT Bedding Conference keynote will unleash Disney’s creativity
In a city that he changed forever, the spirit of Walt Disney will come alive at Furniture Today’s upcoming Bedding Conference. And that spirit will spark positive changes in the bedding industry this...
View ArticleBlog: Motion bases a vital segment, don’t deserve ‘free’ promotions
I know adjustable bed bases are a vital product category, one that smart retailers are using to boost their sales tickets. I think that is a growing category, but I’m confused by industry statistics...
View ArticleBlog: Beloved bookstore’s departure leaves brick-and-mortar lessons
I lost a hometown friend the other day. Over the years I spent so many happy hours with her, and then, in a cruel twist, she was gone. Farewell, Barnes & Noble. Over the years, High Point has lost...
View ArticleBlog: Responding to the coronavirus: Harry Roberts offers wise advice
In these extraordinary times, I admit that I’ve been struggling to figure out what I should say to the industry. “Stay calm, keep your distance, and wash your hands” is a good place to start. But what...
View ArticleBlog: Don’t panic, but do take sober look at various scenarios for business
“I need data,” one leading industry analyst was saying to me the other day. Without data he just didn’t know how to take stock of where the bedding industry was and what the future might hold for it....
View ArticleBlog: Not the time to write obituary for brick-and-mortar retail
The naysayers are at it again. Brick-and-mortar retailing is going away, they say. Welcome to the new online retail world. How many times have we heard this story? It’s still wrong. Brick-and-mortar...
View ArticleBlog: Retailers missing an opportunity by neglecting better sleep themes
By now we are all well aware that social distancing and frequent handwashing are keys to combating the COVID-19 crisis. But the importance of getting a good night’s sleep is an often overlooked issue....
View ArticleBlog: Is demand really being destroyed or is it stifled by economic woes?
Is pent-up demand the answer to demand destruction? That is our topic this week as our strange new bedding world continues to unfold. Brick-and-mortar stores are mostly closed, online stores are open...
View ArticleBlog: Books provide a nice break, offer lessons in leadership
It’s time for a break this week from the daily grind. So let’s talk about books. Here are a handful of the nonfiction books that I read recently, and some of the leadership lessons I learned from them....
View ArticleBlog: Mattress sales outlook a mix of positive, negative factors
There are several reasons why bedding sales should be good right now. Unfortunately, there also are several reasons why they should not be so good now. The problem is, these conflicting issues are...
View ArticleBlog: Deserted High Point Market interrupts industry’s rhythm
Traffic was light at the recent High Point Market. Extremely light. I saw only two familiar faces, both of them members of our video team. They were there to shoot some of our Bedding Insights videos,...
View ArticleBlog: TSI, Bedgear, Precision Textiles spark cleanliness conversations
It’s time to consider our “clean genes.” We’ve got to harness their power to drive the next chapter of mattress retailing. That next chapter is now taking shape. It includes visions of retail sales...
View ArticleBlog: Thompson sees cautionary tale in story of Hertz going bust
Tempur Sealy International CEO Scott Thompson got a reminder the other day about the fleeting nature of success in business. It came in the form of a story from Bloomberg titled: “O.J., Accounting...
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