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Bedding imports generate buzz

By David Perry -- Furniture Today, April 20, 2008

High Point — Fresh products from bedding importers generated a buzz here.

The importers created excitement at both ends of the price spectrum, some showing sharply priced lines and others introducing new high-end beds. In both cases, the companies said their offerings will help retailers freshen their sales floors and give business a much-needed boost.

Chinese importer Stylution USA introduced its first leather mattress. The tufted panel on the top of the mattress is framed with top-grain leather. The leather, accented with white trim, covers the rest of the sleep set.

"This is the first time I've seen a leather mattress," said Ed Scott, president of Stylution USA. "We wanted to create something visually appealing in the sea of white on mattress floors. This bed is different. And we are getting a very nice response to it."

The bed, featuring encased coils and latex, will retail at about $1,599.

Spanish bedding producers Garme and Spaldin both had high-end offerings here.

Garme introduced its new Joya Sleep Systems line to the U.S. market. The specialty sleep bedding includes three models in the Bob Timberlake Signature Series.

"We wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't different and it wasn't exciting," said artist and designer Timberlake, who attended a reception in his honor in the Joya space. "We are excited about this line."

The Bob Timberlake beds, all cushioned with visco-elastic foam, top out at about $3,500.

Spaldin had a number of eco-friendly beds in its line, including a new Emerald bed with Hypersoft, a soy-based foam with metallic accents in the ticking. The bed retails at $2,999. Spaldin also offered a foam "stamp" technology in its Vitario sleep set with customizable comfort.

The eco-friendly beds help cut down on oil consumption, officials say. "We save at least two barrels of oil for one ton of mattresses," said Oscar Valdemoros, Spaldin's managing director. "It is a beginning."

Italian bedding producer Magniflex stepped below $1,000 retail for the first time with its new Riposo and Buongiorno collections, both starting at $999, a price designed to expand the market for the company's products.

But Magniflex also is tackling the ultra-luxury market with its new Platinum bed, fashioned from platinum fibers. It retails at $75,000 in queen and is "the most luxurious mattress in the world," according to the company.

Magniflex also showed its 22-karat gold mattress, retailing at $25,000 in queen, and a silver-accented mattress at $4,000.

Spirit Sleep, the U.S. marketing and sales arm of China-based Zinus, made its debut in High Point's Bedding Center. The company, based in Asheville, N.C., offers specialty sleep and innerspring beds, with memory foam sets starting at $499 and latex sleep sets starting at $1,099.

"We've had a great reaction," said Chuck Fisher, who works in the sales and marketing department at Spirit Sleep. "When you have a better product at a lower price, retailers like that."

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