High Point sets Bedding Center
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, March 19, 2007
High Point — The spring High Point Market will feature The Bedding Center, a group of mattress and sleep accessory producers that will show together in the Suites at Market Square.
Showroom operator Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. is launching the new venue, on the top floor of the Suites. MMPI officials say bedding is an important category that deserves a focused presentation, and hope to provide one-stop shopping for bedding buyers.
Therapedic, a Top 10 producer and a strong supporter of the High Point Market, headlines the list of exhibitors already signed for the center. Other companies that have committed are Corsicana, Carolina Mattress Guild, Springwall, Comfor-Pedic, DreamFit, Glideaway, Protect-A-Bed, Natural as Sleep and Tyler Retail Systems.
More exhibitors will be announced soon, said Tom Mitchell, MMPI senior vice president..
"Ninety percent of the Top 100 furniture stores attend the High Point Market, and that segment accounts for 30% of sales for bedding manufacturers," he said. "It became very clear to us that we needed to help buyers shop for this category while in High Point."
The Bedding Center has about 20,000 square feet of display space. Mitchell said it could double in size in the next year.
Producers committed to the center praised High Point officials for focusing on their category.
"We believe in the strength of markets and we think High Point still has the power to draw dealers to it, and to us," said Gerry Borreggine, president of Therapedic.
"This is positive action," said Neal Grigg, president of Carolina Mattress Guild, which has a showroom in its factory on Business 85 in Thomasville. The company will keep its factory showroom open and will use The Bedding Center to generate new business leads, he said.
He said it's "pretty smart" to group the bedding companies together.
MMPI will promote the center with signs, banners and a marketing program that will include calls to top bedding and furniture retailers.
