An improving forecast for the bedding industry is in the cards. Tarot cards, that is. 

I know you die-hard realists out there may not put any stock in such things, but don’t be too quick to dismiss the possibility the cards might offer us some valuable information. 

You got any better insights? I didn’t think so. 

I met Madame Gayle in Serta’s showroom during the recent Las Vegas Market. She and a colleague were doing Tarot card readings for retailers visiting the space. Serta officials insisted that I get a reading. I did, and it was right on. 

Gayle consulted the five cards that I picked and declared that I was a creative person. Dead on, Gayle. Then she said that my market wee...Read More

A few weeks ago I asked Charlie Eitel, chairman and CEO of Simmons, what he thought of an association report stating the specialty sleep category suffered a slight unit decline last year. He expressed confidence in association statistics, but admitted: “I have a hard time understanding that (reported decline).” 

I’m with him on that one. I admit I’m puzzled by that statistic, contained in the 2006 Mattress Industry report recently issued by the International Sleep Products Assn. ISPA said specialty sleep mattress units declined 0.2% last year. 

Coming on the heels of a reported 24.5% jump in specialty sleep mattress units the year before, the decline for 2006 is shocking. What’s more, specialty sleep&rsqu...Read More