So here we are again, getting ready to go High Point Market. Things are a bit different this time around, but that’s OK. The show — and the market — must go on. We will all be much smarter about what is happening when we go through another market together.
Geopolitical issues are front and center for the world these days — and for our industry. As I write, there are reports that the Strait of Hormuz is now open. The Dow is soaring, and oil prices are down. Peace in the Iran conflict could be at hand. Or maybe not. It’s hard to say.
What is certain, in these tumultuous times, is that we are sailing in seas of uncertainty.
“The uncertainties are more severe than is typical,” said Therapedic Worldwide CEO Gerry Borreggine. “The war has ratcheted up the level of uncertainties.”
But he’s looking forward to showing retailers Therapedic’s three new product lines. “We are excited about market,” Borreggine said. “We have some good meetings set.”
Piper Sandler’s March Mattress Survey, which reflects the views of 15 retailers operating more than 600 stores, offers a good news-bad news take on where the industry stands at the moment.
On the good news side of the ledger, delivered mattress sales are up in the first quarter by a mean of 5.1%, with March producing the third straight month of sales gains this year, the survey found.
That follows an upbeat January Las Vegas Market that had the industry feeling good about growth prospects in 2026. Strong Presidents Day sales were encouraging as the industry passed an early retail test.
And the retailers surveyed by Piper Sandler, which closely follows the mattress industry, are optimistic about second-quarter performance. Retailers say they expect second-quarter sales to be up by a mean of 6.7%, an acceleration of first-quarter momentum.
“Should these estimates come to fruition,” Piper Sandler says in its report on March survey results, “this would mark the best performance since Q1 2022 and the 5th consecutive quarter of positive sales growth.”
But there was some bad news, too, with half of the retailers indicating that their second-half March results were weaker than for the first half of the month, and 36% saying the results were “much weaker.” That signals “a worsening consumer as the month progressed,” and that’s not a good thing.
Total delivered mattress sales in March were up by a mean of just 1.7%, compared to a mean jump of 8.5% in February, while delivered mattress sales were down by a median of 1.5% in March, compared to median growth of 8% in February. March units saw a 2% mean decline and a 5% median decline, following 2.7% mean growth and 2% median growth in February.
The bottom line is that March results were much weaker than February results, with some declines emerging in March.
You can make of that what you will. Yes, the industry has been making retail progress this year, with more gains expected. But it’s also true that the industry slipped back into negative territory on some key metrics in March.
What I do know for certain is that whatever the state of the world and the industry offer us this week, we all have a chance to look at new products, consider new ways of doing business (with new partners or with existing partners), renew friendships, compare notes, and find common ground in the exciting, always dynamic world of Mattressville.
I’m looking forward to another great market. See you soon.
