Specialty bedding stirs lots of action at Vegas market
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, August 22, 2005
Las Vegas — Latex, visco-elastic and other specialty beds were star performers at the summer furniture market here, and enjoyed a special focus at the Specialty Sleep Assn. Show and the Futon and Specialty Sleep Expo, both in the temporary tents next to the World Market Center.
Retailers shopped a dizzying array of product from all the big names in specialty sleep, and from a host of companies steadily gaining ground in the already crowded marketplace.
The SSA show was in an especially prominent location, just inside the entrance of the first tent. The new Innovative Brands Group, comprised of Nature's Rest, Chattam & Wells and Sleepinergy, greeted buyers who entered that tent.
"We were smoking" was the assessment of Steve Antinori, chairman of Consolidated Bedding, parent of IBG. "The reaction to these beds was phenomenal."
Visco leader Tempur-Pedic had retailers and competitors alike buzzing with its new sharply priced visco bed, but other producers also created buzz with new specialty lines.
"We had a lot of people in our space," said Mike Zippelli, president of Classic Sleep Products. "We saw more people than we've seen at any other market. We talked to many Top 100 retailers."
Beds with visco and latex did well for Classic, Zippelli said. The company's Dormia line of specialty beds continues to gain ground in the marketplace, he added.
Natura President Ralph Rossdeutscher was thrilled with the response he got in his company's permanent space in the WMC.
"We saw a lot of majors," he said. "This (market) opened up the West for us. Before this, there hasn't been a good show for us to show product in the West."
Futon leader Gold Bond, also showing in a permanent WMC space, also was thrilled with market response to its new lines, which included conventional beds.
"There was an excitement and buzz I haven't seen (before)," said President Bob Naboicheck. "This was the place to be."
Rod Whitney, president of Thurmo-Sleep, described his market as "phenomenal. We established four major new relationships."
The best-seller at Thurmo-Sleep was an $1,199 visco bed, Whitney said, and an airbed cushioned with latex also was well received.
Lady Americana, which had a booth in the SSA show, had a successful launch of its Casa Cristina Mattress Collection, said President Kerry Tramel. It also did well with a new Disney promotion it is launching this fall.
"We are ecstatic," Tramel said. "It wasn't just the quantity of buyers. It was also the quality of the buyers, and their willingness to make commitments."
The Specialty Sleep Assn. honored its producers and retailers of the year during the show. Boyd Specialty Sleep and Natura tied for the top producer award, while Ergo Customized Comfort of Irvine, Calif., and HOM Furniture of Coon Rapids, Minn., were named the top retailers.
