Magniflex launches drop-ship bedding program

Offering five-day delivery to contiguous 48 states

David Perry -- Furniture Today, June 22, 2009

NEW YORK — Italian specialty bedding producer Magniflex has launched a drop-ship program to service its growing dealer network in the United States.

The producer is offering a guaranteed five-day delivery time to anywhere in the contiguous 48 states and a flat-fee shipping cost of $45 for a queen mattress.

Magniflex will use an automated order fulfillment system at the company's Carteret, N.J., warehouse. The company uses delivery services and ground forwarders instead of its own trucks, thus reducing its carbon footprint, officials said.

The company's vacuum-compressed mattresses and pillows arrive hygienically sealed and compact enough to be carried into apartment walk-ups, helping consumers avoid home delivery fees, Magniflex said.

Ten models retailing from $999 to $4,499 are available for drop ship.

"After real estate, inventory is the largest cost to a retailer," said Marco Magni, global sales director for Magniflex. "This program takes a significant step in helping retailers who in this economy are particularly pressed financially. With a small investment they can add a few floor models or work directly from their Web sites, and when orders are placed we can have product delivered to customers' doorsteps within a week."

One of the first retailers to use the new program is 1800mattress.com. It offers two entry-level models, Riposo and Buonguorno, retailing at $999 and $1,399.

Magniflex is offering the new drop-ship program in addition to continuing the traditional sale of its products through bedding retailers

Magni said the new program is right for the times. "It not only offers savings to both retailers and consumers," he said, "but is also in line with our philosophy to continuously implement green, greater efficiencies company-wide."

Magniflex recently opened a showroom in New York and has a national dealer network in the United States.