Jane Kitchen, editor in chief
This month’s Las Vegas Market wrap-up report may well be one of our biggest ever, but deservedly so. With more new bedding introductions than we have room for in our pages, this winter’s market was positively buzzing, and the mood was almost unanimously upbeat.
But what was remarkable to me was the level of innovation on display, from beds that utilize the latest technology to designs that take the mattress to a new level of sophistication.
While this was my first Las Vegas Market covering bedding, I’m no stranger to furniture markets and trade shows in general, and I have to say, this was one of the most upbeat and inspiring shows I’ve been to for some time.
Part of it was visual; first of all, what’s all this talk about ‘white rectangles’? What I saw this market was anything but white—pops of lilac, bursts of orange, bold black-and-white patterns, cool shades of blue. For the visually inspired consumer—and there are quite a few of them out there, especially on the female side—there is more differentiation going on today than ever before.
Part of it was the excitement about phase-change material, and its ubiquity throughout the bedding industry.
Part of it was seeing an increase in “natural” and “organic” bedding, and thinking about the consumers who are helping to fuel that movement and bring it more and more into the mainstream.
Part of it was the excitement that comes from new technology, and as we detail in our market report, the convergence of sleep and technology has never been greater.
ISPA EXPO–“This is where we celebrate the mattress industry and all its ‘parts’–all the things that help make it such a dynamic industry.”
All of these “parts” put together—plus the chance to meet and greet so many industry friends—made for an upbeat, bustling show.
It’s an exciting time in our industry, and one that’s full of changes. Which is one of many reasons why I’m excited about ISPA EXPO this month—with the largest number of exhibitors in the event’s history set to descend on New Orleans, it promises to be an amazing week.
Because it’s the exhibitors at EXPO who really make up the “parts” of our industry—the textiles that help mattresses pop with color or pattern, the phase-change gels or the natural latex, the adjustable bed mechanisms. Here’s where we get to see the exciting new developments that will change the products of tomorrow, and that will make for even more lively markets in the future.
But here, also, is where we get a chance to come together as an industry—just us—to do business, yes, but also to network, to socialize, to dance and sing along with the Insomniaczzz, and to learn. Because coming together as a whole is important. This is where we celebrate the bedding industry, and all its “parts”—all the things that help make this such a dynamic industry.
I’ll see you all in New Orleans.
