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ISPA Expo highlights: Culp, Ergomotion, FXI, awards

David Perry, Executive editor -- Furniture Today, March 15, 2010

Highlights from the big Expo hosted earlier this month by the International Sleep Products Assn.:

Driving to Charlotte through a driving snowstorm. Hey, with the exception of this winter, we usually don't get much snow in North Carolina. The steady, swirling snow that greeted me as I drove down I-85 was fun to look at and didn't cause any problems on the road. That's the perfect storm, in my book.

Shopping at Anthropologie … er, the Culp Home Fashions booth. The mattress fabrics producer scored with an open booth design that featured recycled elements, including a furniture cart and cool fabric racks. The emphasis was on natural looks, and it included cardboard-barreled pens. The nice display was done by Culp design director Tara Leonard.

Seeing the great marketing at FXI. The foam maker does a great job of presenting its new foams, showing them in mattress form and presenting succinct summaries of them in its marketing materials.

Enjoying the So Ergo base at Ergomotion. This adjustable bed base was hooked up to four sound “hearts,” which pumped music into the base. The sound waves give you a massage as they roll through the bed. Very cool.

Appreciating Mike Wittenstein's insights. The “customer experience” architect shared the results of his secret shopping of mattress stores. Why is it, he wondered, that the best mattresses come in by the truckload? And why do so many mattress retailers talk only about their prices? Good questions, Mike. Wish we had the answers.

Admiring Don Wright's performances. Anyone who dresses up as Elvis must be taken seriously. Don, chief marketing officer of Wright of Thomasville and ISPA chairman, delivered a strong performance as lead singer for the Insomniaczzz, the industry band that rocked the house at the welcome reception. And, wearing his ISPA hat, he made a strong case for the value of the association in an industry beset by the winds of regulation.

Saluting excellence in the bedding industry. The presentation of ISPA awards is always an Expo highlight. Ray Malkiewicz and Sandy Van Dyke were honored this year. Both have spent years serving ISPA and the industry.

Feeling a new sense of hope for business prospects. Business picked up in recent weeks, producers told me. And that helped fuel optimism at the show. Yes, better days are ahead. Will this uptick last? We don't know, but it felt good to share a sense of hope that we remain on track for a comeback this year.

Enjoying the Expo. ISPA does a nice job on this show. The latest edition was well executed. Good work, ISPA.

Opinion columns are available online at www.furnituretoday.com.

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