From The Publisher
VISIT
SLEEPRETAILER.COM FOR MORE BEDDING NEWS AND
INDUSTRY UPDATES!
The beginning of 2018 has seen new product releases, a growing attentiveness to science backed solutions, an emphasis on creating an in-store “experience” and an increased focus on pure, safe and transparent manufacturing. While these trends continue to thrive, there’s little certainty about where the latter half of 2018 might take the industry. There were massive shifts and growing competition from the ecommerce market in 2017, but the last few months have seen a number of online brands partnering with retailers or opening brick-and-mortar locations of their own. While ecommerce competition has proven fierce, it’s also pushed brands to step up and think critically about what customers really want. This new perspective has brought exciting technologies and updated approaches into the fore.
T
his issue’s cover story features Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI), a manufacturer of luxurious, certified organic mattresses. In telling the brand’s story, we’ve had a chance to explore the past, present and future of organic bedding and its current position- ing in the market. As sleep products become wellness products, the company upholds the sought-after virtues of integrity, quality, trans- parency and safety. A strong partner to re- tailers, OMI is also a brand continually devel- oping new retail solutions, winning strategies and valuable products. OMI is not alone in supporting retailers with unique solutions. As the in-store ex- perience becomes ever more important, this issue’s Product Focus explores how manufacturers from iSense Sleep to Kings- down to BEDGEAR are developing tangible tools and resources to help RSA’s engage customers and facilitate more meaningful shopping experiences. These tools and re- sources cover everything from training and
educational tools to virtual reality kits to in- teractive pillow matching processes. Apart from experiential resources, man- ufacturers are also working hard to help retailers compete with ecommerce at the $1,000 price point through a variety of different strategies. Our Q&A features answers from manufacturing all-stars like the President of Gold Bond, EVP of Mar- keting at Serta and King Koil’s CEO, each with their own approach to supporting retail partners. This spring’s issue captures how the nature of marketing, selling and buying is shifting and how manufacturers are work- ing to support retailers through these excit- ing and sometimes challenging shifts. From post-sale service support, SXSW as a mar- keting platform, new cooling technologies to virtual reality kits and sleep diagnostic systems, the industry is evolving and it is, as always, fascinating to follow. —Christopher Schriever
facebook.com/sleepretailer @SleepRetailer 34 Sleep Retailer / Spring 2018
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38
