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David Perry

HP offers opportunity to dance with new partners

Given the critical mass of bedding majors in Las Vegas, does the upcoming High Point market have anything to offer in the mattress arena? The answer is a definite “yes.”

I’m looking forward to the April market for a couple of reasons. In general, I’m eager to see what new steps High Point will take to improve the market experience. And in bedding, this market should give me a chance to spend more time with bedding makers who might not have gotten so much attention in the past.

That’s the flip side of some of the bedding changes in High Point. True, Tempur-Pedic, perhaps the industry’s hottest bedding company, won’t be here. And Kingsdown has exited the downtown market district, but promises to retain “a presence” at market.

But, unlike in Las Vegas, where all the bedding majors had big doings in January, my dance card for High Point won’t be full of big guys. I’ll be dancing with a different crowd, and it’s nice to try some different partners.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Therapedic President Gerry Borreggine is humming a similar tune. A few months ago, it didn’t look like he would be showing at this market, where a licensee had a space on the outskirts of the market but didn’t plan to return. Gerry was able to work out a showing with Standard, a fellow Kathy Ireland brand partner, which shows in the International Home Furnishings Center.

And that could put him in the catbird seat, so to speak. If some bedding majors are gone, Borreggine told me, that leaves him with a greater opportunity to be important to those retailers who are looking for bedding in High Point.

This market, five of bedding’s Top 10 producers will be on the scene: Sealy will show at its big Archdale complex, Simmons will be at the Grandover Resort, Therapedic, as noted, will be in the IHFC, Englander will show in Plaza Suites, and Kingsdown will be at the Koury Center in Greensboro.

So you’ll be able to find some big names, and a significant number of up-and-coming producers. I’m betting I will find a producer or two just entering this market, with exciting bedding products and big plans. It will be fun to learn about them.

I agree with Gerry that it’s a mistake to say the High Point market is unimportant for bedding. It may not be the national introductory market, a distinction Las Vegas already has captured, but buyers can find a number of interesting bedding lines in High Point.

If you’ve got something exciting planned in the mattress arena for the upcoming High Point market, give me a call. I look forward to seeing you.