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Don't hesitate to register for Bedding Conference

David Perry, Executive Editor -- Furniture Today, February 17, 2008

Two exciting keynote speakers. Top mattress retailers. Top retail consultants. The industry's largest producers.

Those are some of the key ingredients that will be making up the menu of educational sessions during the third Furniture/Today Bedding Conference, set for May 14–16 at the Ritz-Carlton golf resort in Naples, Fla. Once again our friends at the Home Furnishings Independents Assn. are co-sponsoring the conference with us.

Registration for the conference is now open at www.furnituretoday.com. And that means you need to act now if you want to assure yourself of a seat. In case you forgot, last year's conference was a sellout. We welcomed about 230 retailers, producers and suppliers to the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, but we had a waiting list of two dozen we were forced to turn away.

Yes, this year we've got larger meeting rooms, but we wouldn't be surprised if we sell out again. This event has momentum. It provides a unique opportunity for retailers, producers and suppliers to meet and discuss issues of common interest. That, we think, is one of the reasons for our success.

We aren't resting on our laurels. This year we offer two great keynote speakers. Green living guru Danny Seo, one of the hottest figures in the green movement these days, will deliver the retail keynote on May 15. I'm sure you've heard all the talk about green products in the mattress industry. Seo, who now has a latex bedding line offered by Simmons, will put the green movement in perspective, as only he can. His keynote address is sponsored by Simmons.

On May 16 the keynote speaker is Thom Winninger, a top business strategist who is a best-selling author and a much-in-demand business speaker. He will talk about how leaders find success by focusing on the consumer.

Retailers Barrie Brown of Mattress Giant and Pete Bils of Select Comfort will talk about how they sell better sleep. Bedding consultants Jon Parks and Kurt Ling will share key strategies for driving business. And once again the industry's top producers will share the stage and answer your questions.

We know this will be a tough year for the mattress industry. To make it easier for retailers to attend, we have lowered our retail registration rate from $500 to $395. I like to say that the conference will pay for itself if you pick up just one fresh idea for your business. With this lineup of speakers, you should pick up more than one hot new idea.

I'll see you in Naples on May 14. Don't be shut out this year. Register now!

Contact David Perry at dperry@reedbusiness.com

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