Bed Blog

Sleep With Me

It's not an open invitation and I'm not talking about the romantic movie staring Meg Tilly.  It's the proposal you made to your bride when you promised to "cherish and honor her all the days of your life."  Let's face it, the romance isn't what it used to be and you can't blaim her when you still have her sleeping on that old worn out mattress you drug into your marriage from only God knows where.  Isn't it time you freshened up your bedroom and your relationship with a brand new mattress from The Bed Store?

Invite your bride on a mattress shopping date.  That's right, a "mattress shopping date."  Just like taking her out for a fine dinner and choosing the right resturaunt, you'll need to choose the right place to shop for your new mattress.  Look no further than The Bed Store.  For eighteen years The Bed Store has been East Tennessee's favorite mattress shopping experience and now it's your time to experience it for yourself.  You'll notice the difference the first time you walk through our doors.  Each of our eight area showrooms are designed to be easy to navigate and you'll have the assistance of the best trained mattress specialist in all of East Tennessee; all the world for that matter.  Each Bed Store professional is personally selected and trained by me and I am a hopeless romantic, trained by my bride.  You'll see the best selection of top quality mattresses at the guaranteed lowest prices.  We even offer a full one year Sleep Trust guarantee.  We'll get it right so you can keep that promise you made to "love and cherish." 

And for an exotic mattress shopping experience, check out LeSleep by The Bed Store located in the Pinnacle Shoppes at Turkey Creek.  This is the first "sleep spa" in America and Eric will take you on a guided tour to a better night's sleep like you've never seen.

Put the romance back in your bedroom on a brand new mattress from The Bed Store and start enjoying life like it was meant to be. Viva LeSleep!

Night Nibblers: Midnight Buffet in Bed

Are you up to a midnight feast in bed?  What if your were the feast?  It's happening everynight, all over the country.  BED BUGS are back and they are dying to "eat you." Bed bugs bite and suck blood from humans. Bed bugs are most active at night and bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. The face, neck, hands, and arms are common sites for bed bug bites. The bite itself is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur. If scratched, the bite areas can become infected. A peculiarity of bed bug bites is the tendency to find several bites lined up in a row. Infectious disease specialists refer to this as the "breakfast, lunch, and dinner" sign signifying the sequential feeding that occurs from site to site.

Protect yourself.  Start out with a fresh new mattress from The Bed Store and start using a "mattress protector" from the very start.  Wash your mattress protector right along with your sheets.  I recommend that you get two protectors so that you can put a fresh one on while you are laundering the other.  Not only will this protect you from bed bugs, but also from the allergyns associated with dust mites.  Mattress protectors insure your hygene while at the same offer protection for your mattress warranties by keeping your mattress free of spills and bodily fluids.  No mattress should be without a mattress protector.

Isn't it time for a brand new "bed bug" free sleeping experience?  Get into one of The Bed Store's eight Knoxville areal locations today and start sleeping better tonight.

Go to http://www.medicinenet.com/bed_bugs/article.htm for a better education on bedbugs.article.htm

Size Does Matter

Don't get the wrong idea, I'm talking about mattresses here.  A poor quality kingsized mattress could prove to be more comfortable and accomodating than a top quality full sized mattress.  That's right.  The difference the extra 24" in "stretch room" makes can change the way you sleep through the night.

The mattress industry has made a concerted effort to slowly phase out the double, regular, or full sized mattress over the past 30 years.  Back in the day the full sized mattress was all the rage for two consenting adults.  What were we thinking?  A full sized mattress is the exact width of two crib mattresses side by side.  Who came up with that formula?  

Don't think that a king sized mattress does away with intimacy either.  You can always meet in the middle or invite each other to "your" side of the mattress.  Now I am not advocating a poor quality king size mattress for your next mattress purchase.  I'm just saying when it's time for your new mattress, which it probably is, then consider upsizing to a king if your bedroom allows, or to a queen if not.  Of course you need to select a feel and firmness that is "just right" for you.  The right mattress can make all the difference in the world in the way you sleep and wake up the next day.  

So, treat your queen to a king and deal yourself a winning hand. Check out the sleep experts at The Bed Store by coming into one of our eight East Tennessee locations today and start sleeping better tonight.

Sleeping With Celebrities

We hear or see an advertisement for a particular sleep product being endorsed by some celebrity or noted organization and we are influenced to try that product for ourselves the next time we are in the market for a new mattress.  What's that all about?  Why are we so easily influenced by others that claim to "be in the know?"

It seems to me, unless we were actually sleeping with them, that we would want to chose our own mattress.  What if we chose a mattress that we thought was "just right" for us and called our favorite celeb or organization and recommended it to them.  Do you think they would rush right out and purchase one for themselves? Would they trust us to pick there mattress for them?

Each year mattress companies pay orgainzations like Good Housekeeping, and celebs like Paul Harvey or some super athelete hundreds of thousands of dollars to indorse their particular sleep system and to influence your next purchase.  The truth is, many of these organizations and celebs don't even sleep on the products they endorse.  My question, then why do we?

The Bed Store's stand has always been to take each individual through their very own personal "sleep equation evaluation" and find out what mattress products were designed to handle those needs and desires.  We vigoriously shop the mattress markets constantly throughout the year updating our line up to make sure that we offer the very best products within our customers preferred price ranges.  We train our sales staff in the proper techniques to discover who our shoppers are and what best meets there own personal needs for years to come.  Once we get it right, we offer a full one year customer satisfaction guarantee.  The result, The Bed Store has over 70,000 satisfied customers and is East Tennessee's number one mattress dealer for over 18 years.

Don't let someone else pick your new just right mattress for you.  Let The Bed Store make you your own celebrity and start sleeping better tonight. You'll wake up feeling totally relaxed, refreshed, and ready for the new day.

"Too hard, too soft, just right" A Goldilock's Story

Being a mattress blog, you might think my title, "too hard, too soft, just right" deals with the feel of the new mattress you are shopping for.  Not this time.  It actually refers to the shopping process itself.  At The Bed Store, we are constantly searching for not only the right products at the best prices, but also for the very best way to present these products to our customers. 

Our research reveals that the number one complaint from mattress shopping customers is that it is too confusing and that they DO NOT trust the salespeople.  In fact, mattress salespeople are compared with "used car" salespeople.  This grives me, but it is a truth that I must live with and try to remedy as I hire and train our sales staff.  One axiom we live by is "never, ever lie to, steal from, or cheat" our customers.  In fact, "the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is the underlying spirit of our business.  So, this should pretty much take care of everything, right?  Nope, not so fast.

Because I put a harness on our salespeople and don't allow them to "pressure" our customers into a "buying decision" they can come across "too soft," therby not assisting you complete the sale, once they have actually helped your find your "just right" mattress.  Because you are so afraid of making the wrong decision, you simply decide to wait and think some more and once you do, the confusing process begins all over again and you search endlessly until some, perhaps ill intentioned, salesperson from one of our competitors and thereby end up with perhaps the wrong mattress and spending more than they needed or less than they should have to get the right mattress.

So, do I "tweak" their training and increase their tendency to "close the sale" once they get anywhere close to something you like?  That would be the easy answer, and they could "make good money doing it."  But then the tendency might be for them to become "too hard" in their saleing process, thinking more about "getting the deal" than helpin YOU find the very best mattress and the best price for your particular needs. 

My answer, NO COMPROMISE!  The Bed Store will continue to work this out, but we will NEVER compromise YOU, our valued customer.  We will diligently work on finding the "just right" solution so that when you are in the market for your new mattress, you can shop The Bed Store with absolute confidence and assurance that you will be treated as we would want to be treated when we shopped for any new product that we wanted.  You are worth the effort and besides, we want to sleep good at night too.

Too hard, too soft, just right!

Being a mattress blog, you might think my title, "too hard, too soft, just right" deals with the feel of the new mattress you are shopping for.  Not this time.  It actually refers to the shopping process itself.  At The Bed Store, we are constantly searching for not only the right products at the best prices, but also for the very best way to present these products to our customers. 

Our research reveals that the number one complaint from mattress shopping customers is that it is too confusing and that they DO NOT trust the salespeople.  In fact, mattress salespeople are compared with "used car" salespeople.  This grives me, but it is a truth that I must live with and try to remedy as I hire and train our sales staff.  One axiom we live by is "never, ever lie to, steal from, or cheat" our customers.  In fact, "the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is the underlying spirit of our business.  So, this should pretty much take care of everything, right?  Nope, not so fast.

Because I put a harness on our salespeople and don't allow them to "pressure" our customers into a "buying decision" they can come across "too soft," therby not assisting you complete the sale, once they have actually helped your find your "just right" mattress.  Because you are so afraid of making the wrong decision, you simply decide to wait and think some more and once you do, the confusing process begins all over again and you search endlessly until some, perhaps ill intentioned, salesperson from one of our competitors and thereby end up with perhaps the wrong mattress and spending more than they needed or less than they should have to get the right mattress.

So, do I "tweak" their training and increase their tendency to "close the sale" once they get anywhere close to something you like?  That would be the easy answer, and they could "make good money doing it."  But then the tendency might be for them to become "too hard" in their saleing process, thinking more about "getting the deal" than helpin YOU find the very best mattress and the best price for your particular needs. 

My answer, NO COMPROMISE!  The Bed Store will continue to work this out, but we will NEVER compromise YOU, our valued customer.  We will diligently work on finding the "just right" solution so that when you are in the market for your new mattress, you can shop The Bed Store with absolute confidence and assurance that you will be treated as we would want to be treated when we shopped for any new product that we wanted.  You are worth the effort and besides, we want to sleep good at night too.

Sleep Better Thanks to Vegas

I'm just back in from the Furniture Market in Las Vegas.  I was checking out everything "NEW" in sleep products.  This is my chance to see what's availble now that may be better than what I already have selected as "the best of the best."  It's also a chance to see what's on the horizon.  This was a great market and there are many exciting new things.

Here's what's new for The Bed Store.  We ordered, and will be offering the hottest new line of Latex products on the market.  Can't mention the name yet as my competitors read this too.  They'll have to do their own work since they don't pay me to do it. This new concept is an idea that will catch on and deliver one of the best night's sleep you have ever had, and at a great price compared to the competitive models.  Simple design, incredible performance. See it very soon at one of The Bed Store's eight area locations. (Knoxville, TN.)

As always, you'll get The Bed Store service along with the lowest prices, guaranteed!  Just check out our testimonial page at bedstore.com to see what our customers are saying.

Remember, nothing does more good for you than a great night's sleep.  Let The Bed Store help you find your just right mattress and start sleeping better tonight.

Choose One: Better Mattress or Better Price

Over my 35 plus years in the mattress business I have wondered which is more important to a customer if they could only choose one: a better mattress or a better price?  I would venture to say that the spoken answer to this question may be different than the actual answer at time of purchase.

Most mattress companies advertise "mattress sales" where prices are up to 75% Off in order to attract traffic into their locations.  This seems to indicate that a better price is more important to creating traffic.  Once inside the dealers brick and mortar or virtual showroom the question of what is the "best deal" you have is asked; not that anybody actually believes the salesperson.  But what of the actual mattress itself.  Even if it really were 50% OFF, would it be the "right mattress" for you.  If not, what's the point of getting a new mattress at all?

Let me recommend that you first find out what is the right mattress for your specific need.  This is best done by finding a dealer you trust or that someone you know recommends.  Then give them a chance to prove they are knowledgable and caring enough to actually help you discover the mattresses best suited to your needs.  Then, and only then, inquire as to the best price available to you.  This way you get both the better mattress and the better price which equals better sleep and a better YOU.

Consumers to blaim for mattress shopping confusion?

I just returned from the International Sleep Products Association annual convention in Bonita Springs, Florida.  The state of the mattress industry was being discussed and the primary focus was on where we go from here.  Some very good speakers from outside the industry discussed where "consumerism" is headed and how the mattress industry needs to deal with it.  It seems the new cultural goal will be to achieve "joy."  The new consumer wants joy and is seeking products and companies that best represent their ability to get it.  So, the consumer should respond well to advertising messages that portray the joy of owning a new mattress or dealing with a particular mattress company.

Research shows that customers prefer one thing, but might actually vote differently once they are in the market. So the delima is, does the customer mean what they say.  There is evidence from exit poles, versus actual votes that there may be a disconnect.  A consumer actually registers their vote with their dollars.  

 Point in hand.  Mattress shopper complain about too much confusion when shopping for a new mattress (no joy) as well as lack of belief in all the "sales" hype (no joy).  Yet, mattress retailers that clean up the clutter and shy away from the unrealistic 70% OFF hype while making the shopping experience more joyful and trustworthy are not rewarded for their efforts. Even though their prices actually may be less than the phoney 70% off sales offer, the consumer believes unless more choices and more dollars off are offered, they are paying too much and being offer enough options.  So my question is; how much is the customer to blaim for the disconnect in the mattress shopping experience?  Better yet, how are we best able to reach this "confussed consumer."

 Do any of us say what we mean and mean what we say anymore?  Did we ever?

Leaving work behind.

I'm off to Charleston for a one week anniversary celebration and I'm going to leave work behind with one exception.  As soon as I get to our penthouse suite at the Vendoo Inn, I'm going to peel back the bedspread and sheets and check out the mattress.  It's what I do everywhere I travel.  Can't help myself.  It's in my blood.  First I see who made the mattress and then I see if I like it or not after a full night's sleep on it.  Guess what?  I'd do the same thing if I came to your house.  It let's me know if my host has their priorities right or not.

 

Nothing says "I care" like the mattress people choose for us to sleep on.  The fact is, not too many people really care enough and so you don't hear too much bragging about what a wonderful mattress I slept on at such and such a place.  However, when you do run across that rare find, you tell everyone about it.  I am hoping that is the way it goes this week as my bride and I celebrate 18 years of wedded bliss in the always romantic charm of Charleston.  I'll keep you posted.

 

By the way, what can your guest expect when they come to your house for a "sleep over?"  More importantly, how do you treat yourself each night when it comes to the mattress you have chosen to sleep on?  Invite me over and I'll give you my opinion about how much you care.  Happy dreams!