Top 6 trends impacting the mattress industry in 2013

These 2013 trends and happenings made an impact on the sleep products industry. Do you agree? What would you add to this far from complete list?

1) Recovery

The “slow but steady” economic recovery continued in 2013, with U.S. mattress sales showing overall modest gains as compared with 2012 levels.

 

Stacks of mattresses for recycling2) Recycling

The states of Connecticut, Rhode Island and California broke new ground by passing used mattress recycling legislation to keep old beds from clogging landfills–or landing in the hands of unscrupulous renovators. And the International Sleep Products Association worked closely with legislators every step of the way, and continues its work in states considering similar legislation.

 

3) ‘Climate change’

FoamCraft contour-cut foam layers

Airflow above all Photo courtesy of FoamCraft

This year, as consumers’ interest in full-foam and hybrid mattresses continued to climb, the mattress industry’s obsession with temperature regulation entered a new “phase.” Many mattress component makers–most notably, foam producers–offered new technologies to mechanically help improve airflow through the bed. But, in addition to new cuts, contours and coring, there has been a big push in the use of phase change material. Foams and gels with microencapsulated PCM, are widely available. PCM technology is based on centuries-old thermodynamics research into the nature of latent heat.

 

4) Mobile explosion

The New York Times “Bits” blog reported that U.S. mobile Internet traffic doubled in 2013–thanks to faster cellular connections and larger smartphone screens. That means more people are interacting with your company on the “small screen”–and more consumers are “showrooming” while out mattress shopping. Are you serving up “responsive” content that is compatible with every screen?

At BedTimes, mobile visits climbed steeply this year:

BedTimes visitors by device Nov 2012

November 2012

BedTimes visitors by device Nov 2013

November 2013

 

5) Fusion

Tempur-Pedic logoSealy logoIn the first quarter of 2013, specialty sleep superstar Tempur-Pedic completed its acquisition of rival Sealy, becoming Tempur Sealy.

At Serta Simmons Holdings–formed in 2012–operations and company leadership were consolidated. In addition to other management changes, industry veteran Bob Sherman departed Serta and former Simmons CEO Gary Fazio was named CEO of the holding company.
sleep 158673271

6) ‘Thoughtful’ sleep research

Some of the most compelling sleep research of 2013 focused on the impact of sleep on brain function. Adequate sleep is believed to scrub the brain clean, while poor sleep in old age hampers memory and inadequate sleep can worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Related Posts

2013 mattress industry report available

The 2013 Mattress Industry Report of Sales and Trends is available...

ISPA Releases 2018 Mattress Industry Trends Report

As part of the International Sleep Products Association’s effort...

ISPA Releases 2014 Mattress Industry Report of Sales and Trends

The 2014 Mattress Industry Report of Sales and Trends...