Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Furniture First Revamps Website for Mattress Line
April 5,
2017 by Larry Thomas in Mattresses, Product
The website remake coincided with the retail introduction of the updated Mattress 1st product lineup, which was unveiled to members of Furniture First at the January Las Vegas Market.
Mattress1st.com features all 24 beds in the line as well as a dealer locator and information about the group’s highly successful Mattress 1st retail stores, which allow members of the buying cooperative to co-brand bedding galleries within their stores or as free-standing sleep shops.
The approach allows Furniture First members to successfully compete with specialty stores by letting their customers know that they are “in the mattress business.” Dedicated advertising, display elements and floor layout support the Mattress 1st stores, but allow the retailer autonomy over which brands and models are sold in their stores, according to Furniture First officials.
“The Mattress 1st line works for our members because it complements the major brands they carry. It’s strong product with great margins, but it doesn’t take away from our members’ higher-end business,” said Kerry Diem, Furniture First’s director of sleep products and Mattress 1st Stores. “For the refreshed lineup we streamlined the models and focused on the top performers of the pervious line.”
Currently, there are 65 approved Mattress 1st galleries in 21 states. The program is on track to grow to 90 locations in 2017, Diem said.
Furniture First will display the Mattress 1st line up in its High Point showroom, IHFC G-770, at the April market.