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Seeds of future success planted firmly in past

David Perry -- Furniture Today, March 26, 2006

Welcome to our "Back to the Future" bedding supplement. We are looking back — and jumping ahead — at the same time.

We make a bow to past achievements with our cover subjects — all six of them — in this unique issue. You met them as you flipped through the pages to arrive at my spot on this page.

I believe this is the first time in our almost 30-year history that we've had more than one editorial cover on an issue. I know it is the first time that we've had seven consecutive cover pages. The reason is simple: Our concept here is so big that it requires seven covers.

We are honoring six Retail Bedding Giants. Some of them are giants in the sales they generate as a company or the sales they generate per store. Some are giants in how well they represent the bedding industry, in the integrity they embody and the service they deliver. Some are giants in their lifetime of commitment to bedding, and in the way they give back to the communities they serve.

We want to shine a bright light on each of these special retailers. Hence the six individual cover shots following the cover that kicks off the issue.

While we salute these six retailers for what they have accomplished, they may well point the way to a better future for the industry. Every retailer can improve his operations by borrowing a lesson or two from these award winners.

Elsewhere in this issue, you will find a fascinating journey into the past with our features on vintage bedding ads. We owe a tremendous debt of thanks to Samuel Chase for sharing his collection of old bedding ads with us. You will meet Chase in one of the stories in this fun package. And you will chuckle knowingly as you see how many of the same ideas that drive our business today were used a century ago to drive bedding sales in those days. Good ideas, it seems, enjoy a long shelf life in the bedding arena.

Speaking of history, we also look back at Spring Air's first 80 years, using some of Chase's ads to help bring that producer's story to life.

And you'll find some other interesting bedding features tucked into this supplement.

Issues like this, which are solely devoted to our favorite category, are a special treat for us to share with our readers. We hope you enjoy your reflections on bedding's rich history. May our past successes always inspire us to do even more to help provide great sleep to our consumers.

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