Morris' book looks at latest bedding trends
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, October 18, 2006
Greenville, Texas — Personalized comfort is the next frontier in the mattress industry, according to a bedding veteran whose new book is titled "Sell More Beds Guaranteed!"
Gerry Morris, a manufacturer's sales representative based here, has long been interested in training retail salespeople, something he has done for more than 20 years. He turned his insights and observations into a self-published book, "Spring Training," which has been used in mattress sales training programs around the world.
Now he's back with a second book that offers his fresh take on the latest bedding trends, from specialty sleep to fire-resistant bedding. He also includes a variety of stories and columns that first appeared in Sleep Savvy magazine, and a story that appeared in Furniture/Today.
Morris even looks to the future, seeing adjustable beds playing a growing role.
"I believe the next frontier, that has already started, is toward more personalized comfort," he writes. "The growth of airbeds has proved that people are interested in finding their own comfort level.
"With individual comfort becoming more popular, I think there will be more advances made on adjustable beds to make them less cumbersome and maybe more affordable," he continues. "May-be someday beds will be custom designed and molded to peoples' shapes and sizes with more contoured surfaces rather than just flat."
That leads him to speculate, with tongue in cheek, on future bed designs: "Imagine a large powerful air hockey table in a chamber that would allow you to float as if weightless, like NASA uses to train astronauts."
Or: "What if you could make a bed out of huge electro magnet and then wear a suit with the opposite pole? Again, I like the idea of being suspended in space."
Morris also offers these serious thoughts on current issues in the industry:
On new fire-resistant standards: "I think the new fire standards are great for our industry, and especially great for the safety of our customers."
On how to sell FR bedding: "As far as selling fire safety, one must choose words carefully and not over-dramatize and scare customers."
On the impact of foam price hikes: "While no one knows for sure what will happen, I predict that this increase will not have as big an impact as some people think. Consumers are no strangers to products going up in price. In fact, they are conditioned to expect it."
On the appeal of leading specialty sleep lines: "The products are relatively simple with foam or air being the primary ingredients on simple box-like foundations. Consumers love that, along with the few choices.
"Unlike some innerspring lines, they don't have to choose between dozens of models or look at mini-spring units and layer samples. What you see is what you get."
His books can be purchased from his Web site at www.innerspring.net or by e-mailing gmorris@inner spring.net.
The books cost $12.95 each but can be purchased together for $23.
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