Pent-up demand coming? Insiders are not so sure

January 8, 2013

David Perry Executive editorIt is lurking out there in the minds of consumers, nagging at them, whispering of blissful sleep. It is just waiting for the right circumstances to be unleashed.
Or maybe not.
We are talking about three words that, if true, could provide salvation for the mattress industry: Pent-up demand.
A look back at the comments of more than two dozen bedding producers who shared their bedding outlooks for 2013, published in our Dec. 17 issue, reveals that a number of those producers believe pent-up demand will work in the industry's favor this year.
A quick look at industry statistics would seem to support their optimism.
According to the International Sleep Products Assn., unit shipments peaked at 43.7 million in 2005. In 2011, unit shipments were 34.9 million. That's a hefty 20% decline.
What happened to those consumers? They had to postpone their mattress purchases because of tough economic times.
The thought is that consumers couldn't buy the new bed they need because of financial difficulties. But an improving economy this year should unleash a wave of pent-up mattress purchases, some bedding producers are predicting. Sounds good, doesn't it?
But a deeper look at those ISPA figures raises doubts in the minds of some senior bedding execs.
They note that 2005 was a very long time ago. The world has changed tremendously since then. Consumer electronics are a much more vital part of our lives now, to cite just one change. Buying patterns have changed.
I have to admit I find this view compelling. The consumer world today is vastly different than it was in 2005. Does a consumer really wait for seven years, or five years or even three years to buy a mattress? Other buying priorities have pushed ahead of mattresses.
Yes, mattresses wear out. But our big problem is that they wear out gradually and no pop-up timer tells consumers it's time to buy a new bed. For a variety of reasons, consumers have shifted their buying priorities in the last several years. And as an industry, we aren't making a strong enough case for consumers to replace their old mattresses.
Having said all that, I do see 2013 shaping up as a strong year for our industry, and I think 2014 could be even stronger. Our economy is on an upward curve. That will help us more than the vagaries of pent-up demand, in my view.

Posted by David Perry on January 8, 2013 | Comments (5)

Industries: Bedding , Bedding (Themed)

February 24, 2013

In response to: Pent-up demand coming? Insiders are not so sure
Nethe commented:

I was curious about if you ever cserideond changing the layout of your website? Its well written; I really like what youve got to state. But maybe you can add a little more in the way of written content so people could connect with it better. You have got an awful lot of wording for only having one or two graphics. Maybe you can space it out better?[]

February 21, 2013

In response to: Pent-up demand coming? Insiders are not so sure
Jenny commented:

i need to know what they eat? Ferrets are carnivores. They eat meat. You can buy nlairtiontluy complete kibble, but if you want the healthiest, least stinky ferret, they should be fed raw meat with bones. cat food is NOT for ferrets. some kitten foods will work, but you may end up with a malnourished ferret.what kind of bedding they should have? ferrets are not rodents and don't need bedding. If you want to make the floors softer for them, just throw and old fleece blanket in their cage and they'll crawl through it. ferrets don't sleep in bedding, they sleep in hammocks.what they drink? ferrets drink waterdo they need an enclosure? for their own protection they need a cage. one ferret needs a cage MINIMUM 2ft x 3 ft x 3ft. they should get out the play 4 hours a day.and any other general things i should know about them as i may be getting one thank you-The thing I didn't know about ferrets is that they **** 7-10 times a day and their poo smells horrible. if you get a ferret, you have to clean the poo at least twice a day and their will be a lot of it.-They are thieves! They love to steal things and take it back to their secret hiding place. They will take food, your keys, cellphone, your socks, everything.-They are social, so you should get it in groups of at least 2.-Ferrets are vicious hunters who were made to hunt and kill rabbits. if you have hamsters, mice or rabbits in your house they will figure out how to get in their cage and they will KILL these animals.-If you get a ferret, you will have to spend $100 for every vet visit.-Ferrets are prone to illness like insolemia, adrenal disease, cancer and intestinal blockages. If you get a ferret, you should ALWAYS have a $500 vet bill savings because these animals get sick fast.

January 9, 2013

In response to: Pent-up demand coming? Insiders are not so sure
Dave Perry commented:

Lisa: Good to hear from you. No, I'm not doing my bedding talk this market. But I will be in Las Vegas, of course. Look forward to seeing you there.

January 9, 2013

In response to: Pent-up demand coming? Insiders are not so sure
Colette S. commented:

Hey, I think that pop-up timer is a good idea! There's the next million dollar idea - who will be the first to implement it?

January 9, 2013

In response to: Pent-up demand coming? Insiders are not so sure
Lisa S. commented:

Dave, are you doing a "state of the bedding union" at market? I missed the memo last year. Trying to plan ahead.

I hope it will be a good bedding year!