Share this on

Toppers can lift sales tickets

David Perry -- Furniture Today, November 18, 2011

HIGH POINT - Mattress toppers, cushioned with comfy foam, were top-of-mind in a growing number of High Point Market bedding showrooms.
     The toppers help consumers add comfort to their sleep sets, producers say, and, importantly, they also help hardpressed retailers add dollars to their sales tickets.
     In fact, the toppers often sell at higher prices than promotionally priced sleep sets.Richard Fleck of Paramount Sleep sits on a gel-cushioned mattress covered with a gel-cushioned topper.
     Top 10 producer International Bedding entered the topper category here with two latex models, in firm or plush feels. The toppers, featuring two or three inches of Talalay latex foam, retail at $399 and $499.
     Mark Wozniak, IB's vice president of marketing, says the toppers provide "yet another means to drive business" in a challenging retail climate.
     Paramount Sleep added a topper program, offering models in one-inch, two-inch and three-inch versions, all with gel cushioning.
     Paramount's chief marketing officer, Richard Fleck, said sleep accessories can contribute significant revenues to bedding retailers. "Retailers can generate 20% of their revenues with ancillary products," he said.
     Pure LatexBliss expanded its already strong topper program with toppers made of Talalay latex that utilize the company's new Active Gel technology, featuring hightech phase change material that helps consumers sleep cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
     Carolina Mattress Guild's new Flex NLT topper offers three inches of natural latex and retails at $499.
     "We feel the topper category is important to be able to offer our retail partners another option to provide a better night's sleep to the consumer," said Kathy Grigg, vice president of CMG. "We've chosen to use latex as the premium specialty foam in our topper for its breathability as well as supportive features."
     Consumers can put toppers to a variety of uses, Grigg added.
     "Toppers can be used to enhance an existing mattress in a home or as an add-on feature at retail to enhance the sleep experience," she said. "Either way, they give the retailer another opportunity to offer value to their customers."

Share this on

Gel beds popular at Tier Two producers

Feb 6, 2012

Also by this author

Also by David Perry

Featured Company

Surya

For more than 30 years, the name Surya has been synonymous with high quality, innovation and luxury. Our Fall 2009 collections are no exception. Our designers have masterfully created some of the most cutting edge and versatile pieces to date. Encompassing... more