2nd F/T Bedding Conference will delve into critical issues
David Perry -- Furniture Today, February 22, 2007
HIGH POINT — Bedding retailers will find plenty of useful ideas for improving their businesses at Furniture/Today’s second Bedding Conference, set for April 18-20 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, just outside Dallas.
"Furniture|Today’s first Bedding Conference, held last March, was a landmark event, bringing more than 200 bedding retailers, producers and suppliers together for three days of education and networking," said David Perry, Furniture/Today’s bedding editor. "The strong response confirmed our belief that the bedding industry deserves a conference solely devoted to its issues, opportunities and challenges."
The conference again is co-sponsored by the Home Furnishings International Assn.
The event will tackle such key issues as bedding warranties, mattress flammability, Chinese bedding, the latest consumer research, and winning strategies for retail sales associates. Top bedding retailers will be honored at a gala awards dinner.
Inspirational speaker Larry Wilson, sponsored by Simmons, kicks off the conference. He is a best-selling author who founded Wilson Learning Corp., a training and research organization, and Pecos River Learning, a change management and leadership development organization. His newest venture is the Wilson Collaborative, a new business model for leaders.
Also speaking is Craig McAndrews, co-founder of the Innovative Retail Group, which supports mattress retailers and manufacturers in efforts to deliver an exceptional consumer experience. He has 15 years experience in the bedding industry, at wholesale and at retail as an owner-operator of a chain of specialty stores.
Kim Knopf, owner of retailer Mattress Warehouse, Winfield, W.Va., will present the retail keynote address.
The conference also will include panel discussions featuring top producers and retailers. Topics include Chinese imports, mattress warranties and the future of the specialty sleep category.
Mark Quinn, executive vice president, bedding group, at Leggett & Platt, will offer a challenge to the industry, Perry said.
"Competition between bedding producers and retailers is a driving force in the business today, but the real challenge facing the bedding industry is to capture discretionary dollars going to other industries," Perry said. "Mark Quinn will put this challenge into a context for action."
Consulting firm Lilly Management Group will give an update on bedding flammability. Industry consultant Don Hofmann will explain how the new federal FR standard offers an opportunity to sell more beds.
Another session will focus on the latest insights on bedding consumers gleaned from research conducted by Furniture|Today.
A "hot topics" panel with bedding producers was a top-rated session at the first conference and will be repeated at the second.
To register, click here or call special events manager Meg Goldsby at (336) 605-1066.
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