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Bedding exhibitors, buyers give rave reviews

By David Perry -- Furniture Today, February 4, 2007

Las Vegas — The strongest bedding market ever assembled got rave reviews last week from bedding makers and retailers alike.

"This is the center of the bedding universe," said Roger Magowitz, president of retailer Mattress Discounters in Virginia Beach, Va. "I wasn't in a bedding showroom that wasn't mobbed. Everyone had smiles on their faces."

International Bedding President Neil Ellman admitted he was "overwhelmed" at the response his company received here. "We weren't been able to handle some of the traffic," he said. "We were slammed (with) Top 100 retailers and buying groups."

Serta President Bob Sherman said traffic in his company's main market showroom was "phenomenal," with the first day particularly busy. Specialty sleep beds in Serta's new Vera Wang line, cushioned with latex and memory foam, were extremely well received, he said.

Comfort Solutions had several hits at market, including its Natural Response latex line, which features a platinum and black color scheme. "Retailers told us this was the finest presentation of luxury specialty sleep they've seen," said President Dave Roberts, adding, "We had customers waiting for 45 minutes who had to come back."

Also pleased was Restonic. "We had more retail visitors in our first day than we had in all of the last market," said Steve Russo, a Restonic board member serving as interim president. "We are ecstatic."

Retailers were particularly "drawn" to Restonic's new magnet bed, Russo said, and a new mall kiosk concept "was really popular."

Another Top 15 producer, Englander, also was excited about traffic and business.

Brian Akchin, an Englander licensee, said, "By Monday morning we had had our best market ever in Las Vegas. This market has exploded as a bedding market."

Specialty sleep producer Dormia called this market the best it has seen in Las Vegas. "Major retailers came in," said CEO Mike Zippelli. "Our products were well received."

Bob Naboicheck, president of Gold Bond, said the market started with more people in his showroom than have ever visited the company in one day at any show. Gold Bond's introductions at price points below $1,000 went over well and gave retailers the ammunition they need to drive business in what remains a challenging retail climate, he said.

Clive Goldin, an executive with Protect-A-Bed, used two words to describe action in his showroom: "Bloody busy."

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