Conference to help retailers polish playbooks for success

Bedding retailers need good business plans these days if they want to find success. Retail has never been more challenging, what with a tough economy, finicky consumers and aggressive competition.
We're aiming to help retailers strengthen their key skill sets at our next Bedding Conference, set for May 4-6 at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle in Aventura, Fla. (just outside Fort Lauderdale). Our agenda is focused on bedding retailers.
"Polishing the Playbook: Skill Sets for Mattress Retail Success" is the theme of our sixth annual conference.
We've assembled a strong lineup of speakers from inside and outside the industry to help retailers polish their playbooks. Better sleep guru Dr. James Maas kicks things off by elaborating on the benefits of good sleep and noting the problems caused by poor sleep. His new book, "Sleep for Success," sums up his key teachings. We've been trying to bring Maas to one of our Bedding Conferences for years. Thanks to Paramount Sleep, which is now working with Maas, that hope will be realized.
Following Dr. Maas is Bob Lietz, president of television ad producer Advertising Concepts of America. He'll share some of the most effective bedding ads he has seen recently. This is a must-attend presentation for any bedding retailer. It is sponsored by Therapedic.
Next up is Delia Passi, an expert on how to connect with female consumers. That was our theme last year, and it remains such an important topic that we've asked Delia to share some skills that retailers can use to stay in sync with the female consumers who drive the bedding purchase. Headline sponsor Hickory Springs is the sponsor.
We know that retailers are paying more attention to social media, so we've asked Dan Schecter of Carpenter to talk about the well-received social media efforts he's helped mount.
Panel discussions are always an important element of our Bedding Conferences, and we've got some good ones this year. Three respected furniture retailers - R.C. Willey, Art Van Furniture and El Dorado Furniture - will talk about how they have found success in the mattress category. Furniture stores have been losing ground to bedding specialty stores; this panel should provide timely assistance to furniture stores everywhere.
Another popular panel with executives of the top bedding producers is also on tap. And bedding specialty retailers will have their session, too.
We wrap things up with Mattress Firm executive Craig McAndrews, who will review key themes we've addressed at the conference and will lead the audience in identifying strategies the industry should pursue this year.
It promises to be an informative conference. Heather Grant, our conference and events manager, will be happy to help you register for the conference. You can reach her at (336) 605-1061 or at hgrant@sandowmedia.com.
Click here for registration info.