This is the second installment of Bedding News Now’s inaugural look at the best mattress retailers across the country. This report profiles bedding standouts in the Midwest.
We developed these reports by inviting industry submissions, combing through the latest installment of the Home News Now 125 Furniture and Bedding Retailers, and then identifying other mattress retailers known for their commitment to the category. After reviewing our candidates with several bedding manufacturers, suppliers and consultants, we arrived at our selections for the five Best In Bedding retailers in each region.
We excluded national mattress retailers like Mattress Firm, which have a strong presence in many regions in the country. We also excluded direct-to-consumer retailers, a growing force in the mattress category. Future reports will examine those other types of retailers. Our focus now is local and regional mattress stars.
The retailers we are saluting are not listed by volume. Our goal is not to simply recognize mattress revenues, although many of these retailers are generating high mattress volumes, but to celebrate depth of commitment to the mattress category in all sizes of bedding operations, from single-store giants to chains with hundreds of stores. Our selections spotlight brick-and-mortar powerhouses who stand tall in the regions they first began serving years ago — and who continue to embody excellence in mattress retailing today.
We asked leaders from the mattress manufacturing sector and industry consultants to comment on each of our notable mattress retailers.
Slumberland, based in Oakdale, Minnesota, operates showrooms in 12 Midwestern states, including 38 throughout Minnesota. Of its 118 stores, 69 are franchised and 49 are corporately owned. It carries top brands such as Ashley, La-Z-Boy, Stearns & Foster, Sealy, Purple, Nectar and Tempur-Pedic.
Why they stand out: “Slumberland’s success starts with the merchandising team, which is phenomenal,” says Bob Hellyer, an industry veteran and consultant. “The attention to detail is impressive. The team focuses on how the floor looks and on how the retail sales associates execute. Slumberland does extremely well with its Tempur Sealy-focused bedding program and also counts Purple and Nectar among key vendors. The Slumberland brand, founded by Ken Larson Sr. and now under Kenny Larson’s leadership, continues to play a big role in the communities in which the company does business.”
HOM Furniture, based in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, serves customers in the upper Midwestern states of Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, under the brand names HOM Furniture, Dock 86 and Gabberts Design Studio & Fine Furniture, as well as online.
Why they stand out: “HOM Furniture is a great family-owned business,” says David Binke, CEO of King Koil. “They serve their marketplaces extremely well. HOM is aggressive in promoting bedding, and its bedding is very nicely displayed.”
Gardner White Furniture, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, is a furniture and mattress retailer operating in Michigan with 18 Gardner White showrooms. The retailer recently opened a new brand concept in downtown Detroit, GW Home, featuring a curated selection of furniture, home decor, art, accessories and gifts. Premium brands such as Tempur-Pedic, Aireloom, Kingsdown and Michigan-made Serta products will be featured as well as locally sourced furnishings. The three-story, 15,000-square-foot location marks Gardner White’s first downtown Detroit store since the early 1980s.
Why they stand out: “Gardner White has become the leading mattress retailer in Michigan,” says Jim Nation, vice president of national sales at South Bay International. “They offer the leading values under $999 with premium brands like Serta, King Koil and Sealy. Gardner White is also the leading destination for the best mattress brands, including Tempur-Pedic, Aireloom, Beautyrest Black, Stearns & Foster, Sealy, Serta, iComfort, King Koil, Therapedic, Bedgear and Molecule. In addition, the retailer has the largest selection of those brands. Gardner White also offers a strong assortment of adjustable bases, pillows and protectors. And they have a go-to guide to help customers with their selection process.”
Big Sandy Superstore, based in Franklin Furnace, Ohio, sells furniture, bedding, appliances and electronics across Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan and Missouri, including an outlet center in Ashland, Ohio. The retailer’s bedding vendors include Tempur Sealy, Simmons, Serta, Purple, Aireloom, Brooklyn Bedding, Avocado and Casper. New stores in 2025 will be in Plainfield, Indiana, in the Indianapolis area; Hamilton, Ohio; and Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Why they stand out: “With over 30 locations, Big Sandy is an employee-owned full-line furniture and appliance store with over 70 years of experience,” says Erik Brandt, senior vice president of Western region sales at Serta Simmons Bedding. “Their showrooms provide an excellent customer experience to help consumers make the right mattress decision.”
Original Mattress Factory, based in Cleveland, manufactures its own brand of mattresses and box springs. Factories are local, servicing anywhere from five to 15 showrooms. Currently, OMF operates 12 factories, averaging about 35,000 square feet, in nine states along the East Coast from Florida up to Virginia, as well as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Minnesota. In 2024, it opened a showroom in Sarasota, Florida, its second location in the area, and closed stores in Bloomington, Minnesota, and Norfolk, Virginia.
Why they stand out: “‘Direct from the factory’ is a strong handle because it implies savings and for a large segment of consumers that is a primary driver,” says Mark Quinn, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Shifman Mattresses. “More importantly, OMF brought it to life the right way. They do a terrific job of educating their consumers on how they measure up to other brands, and they invest in strong marketing to bring people in.”
Help us celebrate mattress retail excellence: Bedding News Now will be joining with Andmore and sponsors Bread Financial and Serta Simmons Bedding to host a bedding event at the Las Vegas Market at 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 28, at World View on the 16th floor of Building B on the World Market Center campus. We will be honoring top mattress retailers at that event, which is open to the public. Cocktails and appetizers will be served following a 20-minute salute to our Best In Bedding retailers.
