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Bedding session sells out but we'll share highlights

David Perry, Executive Editor -- Furniture Today, April 8, 2007

First, the bad news: If you haven't yet registered for Furniture/Today's Bedding Conference next week, you're out of luck. We are sold out.

Now for the good news: We will share highlights of the conference with readers. Our May 7 issue will carry an overview of the key points that emerge, and you'll also find some highlights online.

While we probably shouldn't be surprised with the strong response our Bedding Conferences have received, we were caught off guard by how quickly this year's event filled up. We were sold out a full month before the conference. That's put us in the unenviable position of telling several industry friends that there's no room at the inn.

We have a long and growing waiting list for those wanting to attend. If we get last-minute cancellations, we'll accommodate those on the waiting list, in the order their registrations were received.

We apologize to those of you who are in limbo. We'll do the best we can.

For those of you who are registered for the conference, here are a couple of last-minute reminders for you:

What to wear: Dress will be business casual for all of the educational sessions. We recommend a coat and tie for the gentlemen for our awards dinner Thursday evening. (Ladies will know what to wear for that event without our guidance.) Since we're meeting in Texas, cowboy boots and hats always will be appropriate.
What to bring: An open mind. This will be particularly important for our session on the new mattress flammability standard. I know some of you already have decided the new standard is a negative for the industry. Well, you'll hear a respected marketer who says the standard actually presents an opportunity to sell more bedding. That would be good for all of us.
How to get the most out of the conference: Take advantage of the opportunities. Our sponsors include most of the major producers and several key suppliers. During our three-day program, you'll have a great chance to network with the leaders of those companies. Retailers can strengthen existing relationships and explore new ones.

Also, we'll have time at the end of each session for questions. Last year, the audience posed some tough questions for panelists and speakers. We encourage your candid questions this year.

Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to make this year's conference a success. Your friends at Furniture/Today and the Home Furnishings International Assn., our co-sponsor, look forward to meeting each of you next week when we gather at the Gaylord Texan.

Contact David Perry at dperry@reedbusiness.com

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