High Point Market has not traditionally been as bedding-focused as Las Vegas Market, but this April, bedding exhibitors highlighted interesting products, programs and materials that aim to help retailers have a strong year despite uncertainty.
Three companies in particular stood out this market for the ways they are bringing new ideas to the industry. One is Kuka Home, which grand-opened its Sleep Division space this market and displayed its CloudPod system.
“There’s always been an emphasis on comfort, but what about the transition layer?” says Michael Carter, executive vice president of Kuka’s Sleep Division. “The CloudPod design functions like a bridge, absorbing and dispersing pressure through its channels to deliver targeted pressure relief. It also helps air flow vertically and horizontally through the mattress.”
The system has four levels which use different materials for the pods. Level 1 is a comfort layer offering 20% more pressure relief than standard foam. Level 2 has memory foam and comfort foam CloudPods that offer 30% more pressure relief than standard foam. It continues to go up to 40% at Level 3 with solely memory foam pods and 50% with Level 4 copper-infused memory foam pods.
Models are available in 11 inch, 13 inch and 15 inch at $599, $799 and $999, respectively.
Kuka also has partnered with influencer Becki Owens, a Southern California-based interior designer known for her coastal aesthetic. The partnership with Becki Owens Home offers a versatile selection of upholstery and mattresses.
“The Becki Owens line has an elevated look and uses organic materials like bio-based memory foam and organic cotton,” Carter says.
Speaking of partnerships, there was another unique pairing happening at Legends Furniture. The company has joined forces with Pillow Cube, a viral online mattress company that makes “The Perfect Pillow for Side Sleepers,” to create mattresses.
Legends is now the sole distributor of Pillow Cube to brick-and-mortar retailers, and Marty Melcher, vice president of bedding sales, says the line will help drive traffic to retailers.
“As manufacturers, we solve a need by helping retailers drive more traffic,” he says. “A brand like Pillow Cube has a substantial online presence and can drive people into physical retail stores. Our partnership is to put their side-sleeper beds on our GoodVibeSleep adjustable bases.”
The GoodVibeSleep base has audio-haptic technology embedded into the adjustable base. A subwoofer is built into the head and foot of each side of the base and offers a rhythmic massage — vibrations from sound that have relaxing effects and help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
“The two work together because they both offer something unique,” Melcher says. “The mattress brings customers in, and the three-minute demo for the base can keep the shopper on the bed for longer, which ultimately will make them enjoy the sleep system more,” Melcher says.
At AW Industries, Vice President of Sales Adrian Wertz explained that the company’s new Silentnight line is “going back to basics” with white-and-black ticking as opposed to the now popular black or gray.
“There’s so much color in mattresses now between blue, black and gray, so we wanted to go classic white and black and simplify the line,” Wertz says. “Each mattress is labeled either GTO or GTS for gel tech one-sided and gel tech two-sided, respectively.”
They also come with either the number 5, 7 or 10, which represents the amount of innersprings in each step-up option, and go from $599 to $1,499.
“Dealers are looking for real partners to create special products,” Wertz says. “When big S brands tell retailers what to do they fail — which is why we listen to them instead. We brought plush options back because that was a missing category our retailers told us about. Two-sided mattress are still a mainstay in our collections, and they offer more value. We have five- to seven-day turnaround times with no minimums and no delivery fees. We understand the conditions for retailers and we are here to offer unique products to help.”
