New introductions, market premieres and elevated sleep experiences marked the fall show.
While the bedding scene at High Point Market has been fairly sleepy over the past few years, 2024 saw an uptick in mattress manufacturers opening or sharing showrooms. Diamond Mattress returned for its second market, while Customatic Technologies, South Bay International, Literie Laurier and Sleep on Green all made their High Point debuts at the market Oct. 26-30.
Many of those BedTimes spoke with said that market traffic was “light and slow,” although market mainstays such as Ashley Furniture, Bedding Industries of America, Paramount Sleep Co. and Shifman Mattress Co., among others, began greeting customers as early as Tuesday and Wednesday before the market’s official opening on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Exhibitors thought some visitors came early to avoid the crowds, which failed to materialize even after the market officially opened. Adrian Wertz, vice president of sales for AW Industries said that business at the market was “worse than 2008 … worse than 2001.”
There wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm for a turnaround in the industry anytime soon, either. Brad Rogers, senior vice president of Ashley Bedding, summed up the prevailing opinion of many producers, saying 2025 looked “tough … especially the first six months.” Others predicted that the slowdown would continue at least through the first quarter of 2025, citing uncertainty about the presidential election, interest rates, international conflicts and labor disputes as reasons why consumers are reluctant to release the iron grip on their purse strings.
Trends emerging from the show represented a range of stark contrasts, from the old to the new, from the innovative to the traditional, from promotional lines priced to move to luxury collections appealing to those wanting the very best.
Cutting-edge features like vibration when paired with sound and sonic massage from Legends Home’s GoodVibes Sleep/Pillow Cube collaboration, AW Industries’ Highclere adjustable base and Customatic’s DreamTemp Opus were juxtaposed against old-world craftsmanship, such as tufting, hand stitching, eight-way hand tying and all-natural materials from Shifman and Paramount — all vying to capture consumer interest in today’s bedding marketplace.
Ashley came to market with aggressively priced promotional lines, while producers such as Sleep on Green, Literie Laurier and Shifman leaned heavily into catering to the high-end, ultra-luxury market.
Two-sided mattresses also saw a strong comeback in featured lines from Paramount and BIA. Steve Karns, vice president of sales and business development for BIA, expressed excitement about the return of two-sided mattresses, which he believes are gaining traction among dealers due to their durability and the value of offering two beds in one.
Other companies focused on helping retailers increase tickets, build traffic and keep consumers in the sales funnel with accessory-driven sleep ensembles such as Mlily USA’s new bedding essentials line.
Read on to see highlights of the show.
Bedding Industries of America Unveils the YourComfort Chill 2
Continuing with its successful five-bed program, Bedding Industries of America introduced its latest iteration — YourComfort Chill 2. The Fab Five strategy allows consumers to try the same mattress in five comfort levels. The progression from mattress to mattress helps customers choose which feels best without different constructions or differing price points. The two-sided YourComfort Chill 2 line includes gel memory foam, pocketed coils and phase-change material. Retailers who carry the line get a free analysis of their website and social media efforts. “This is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my career,” said Steve Karns, vice president of sales and business development for the North Brunswick, New Jersey-based mattress manufacturer and licensing group. Suggested retail ranges from $999 to $1,299.
Literie Laurier’s Luxurious and Customizable Mattresses
Literie Laurier’s four-model Harlequin line is not your average collection. A look inside these handmade mattresses would reveal high-end materials, such as wool, cashmere, silk and horsehair — and adjustable technology. The adjustability is built into the mattress — no motion base required. The line starts at $5,429 and tops out at $13,629. “The mattress molds to you,” said Francois Saint-Pierre, vice president of sales and product development for the Montreal-based manufacturer.
GoodVibeSleep and Pillow Cube: A Harmonious Sleep Solution
GoodVibeSleep, the adjustable base and mattress brand from Phoenix-based Legends Home, debuted the Ultimate Comfort Combo, a collaboration with Pillow Cube, a direct-to-consumer pillow and mattress maker based in Lindon, Utah. The GoodVibeSleep adjustable bed base incorporates haptic feedback technology, personalized playlists and sonic massage designed to improve health, wellness and sleep quality ($1,499). The base is topped by Pillow Cube, Side Cube or Ice Cube pillows and a Pillow Cube side-sleeper mattress made in the USA by Legends Home ($1,799). “What you’re used to seeing and hearing, you now experience,” said Marty Melcher senior vice president of sales for Legends Home. “Whether it’s from an entertainment angle or a gamer angle, the bigger play is health and wellness. Helping people get a lot of sleep is always going to be our goal.”
AW Industries Introduces Enhanced Adjustable Bases
AW Industries, headquartered in Landover, Maryland, returned to High Point with four revamped adjustable bases created by Phoenix-based Flexx Motion. Starting at $599 and topping out at $1,499, the bases each come with a wireless remote, have zero clearance and are about 20 pounds lighter than their predecessors. The starting model, the Silent Night 200, comes with head-up and foot-up capabilities. The step-up SN300 adds massage, underbed lighting in eight colors, and anti-snore and TV presets. The SN500 includes all those features, as well as recessed lumbar support. At the top of the line, the Highclere 800, includes Bluetooth speakers and an acoustic vibration system. Pictured, from left, are Adrian Wertz of AW Industries and Paul Smith of Flexx Motion.
Mayo Furniture Returns to Its Roots with a New Mattress Line
Texarkana, Texas-based Mayo Furniture reached back to its roots at this market. The third-generation furniture manufacturer, which started producing mattresses and furniture in 1965, moved away from the bedding category in the 1980s. Now it’s back. Its five-bed Core collection includes Nature Core mattresses made with latex and Memory Core mattresses, which contain memory foam. Brothers (from left) Ben, Steve and Patrick Mayo, who own and manage the company, perch on the top-of-the-line 16-inch Nature Core Lux ultra plush. Retailing from $3,300 to $3,500, it features 6 inches of latex. The 14-inch Nature Core plush and firm models contain 4 inches of latex and retail from $2,200 to $2,400. Two 12-inch Memory Core models fill out the line. “The product stands and speaks for itself,” said Doug Guffey, vice president of sales.
Customatic Technologies Makes its High Point Market Debut
Customatic Technologies, headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, made its High Point Market debut at 120 S. Main St. The space featured DreamTemp Opus, a mattress and base set that offers personalized heating and cooling at the foot and torso, as well as a VibraSense sound environment with a white noise, Zen mode setting. Suggested retail for the set is $4,000.
Paramount Sleep Co. Unveils the Reimagined HD Super Duty Line
Paramount Sleep Co. refreshed its performance-driven HD Super Duty series with new two-sided HD Signature and Classic mattresses featuring blue recycled cotton from the denim industry ($1,699-$2,499). “The HD Super Duty tagline is ‘A solid night’s sleep,’” said Steve Maddox, director of sales. “It’s for people who need a higher level of support and want to buy something that has traditional longevity and construction — and that speaks to that consumer, too.” The Norfolk, Virginia-based company also introduced its redesigned Paramount collection ($1,999-$4,999), which features Virginia-sourced cotton and a cooling cover quilted with silk-wool cashmere or 100% New Zealand wool. A premium quilted topper doubles the feel options of the seven-bed line ($699). Additionally, Paramount showcased its exclusive Hypnos Wool series ($5,000-$12,000), made to the exacting standards of the 120-year-old family-owned British bedding company.
South Bay International Makes its High Point Market Debut
South Bay International premiered its first High Point showroom at this fall’s market. Executive sales representative Michael Godwin said what brought the Rancho Cucamonga, California-based, wellness-oriented mattress manufacturer to High Point was the chance to “bridge the gap” between the bedding and furniture markets. “Why wouldn’t you?” Godwin said. “There’s a lot of furniture stores that carry bases and beds, so we wanted to get out there in front of them. Why limit yourself?” For its High Point debut, South Bay showed its modular Infinity Lounger ($2,200), which can transform from a chaise or sectional to a convenient bed, its Active Line of mattresses designed for recovery and active lifestyles, an accessibility lift base, and its portable Simple base, which can turn any mattress into an adjustable bed.
Sleep On Green Introduces Luxurious, Natural Mattresses
Miami-based Sleep On Green was another High Point Market newcomer. Produced in Italy, the company’s high-end Dolce Vita mattress contains three layers of Talalay latex in different comforts, as well as layers of cotton, wool and coconut fiber shaped by its own technology. A Tencel and cashmere cover can be unzipped so that the components can be rearranged to fit comfort preferences on either side of the bed. Retailing for $13,200, the mattress is made from natural materials. “It comes from the earth and will go back to the earth,” said Grazia Bizzotto, founder of Sleep On Green.
Ashley Furniture Offers Aggressive Pricing and Product Innovations
Ashley Furniture brought a variety of market specials to High Point, with prices ranging from $499 to $999. The Arcadia, Wisconsin-based company showcased mattresses from its “bigger better” Sierra Sleep promotional line, including an 8-, 10- and 12-inch hybrid with three inches of memory foam and pocket coils ($299-$399) and its upgraded Peak 12-inch memory foam mattresses with “new stronger promotional pricing” ($349-$499). “We had the market specials that dealers are interested in,” said Brad Rogers, senior vice president of Ashley Bedding. Rogers also shared that dealer reaction to Ashley’s acquisition of the Nectar line “has been great,” integrating existing customers and adding new ones and has been “very well-received at retail.”
Shifman Mattress Co. Unveils the Reimagined Masters Collection
Shifman Mattress Co. transformed its High Point showroom into an art gallery, complete with an art installation in the showroom’s elevator. The Newark, New Jersey-based luxury mattress manufacturer introduced its reimagined Masters collection, featuring eight models inspired by legendary artists — Cezanne, Chagall, Matisse, Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Renoir, and the newest addition, the Monet ($5,500-$9,500). All models in the line are adjustable base-friendly and made from natural materials such as cotton, mohair, New Zealand wool, natural latex and horsehair, with eight-way hand-tied boxsprings, double-offset steel coils and steel innersprings that minimize motion transfer.
Mlily USA Introduces a Comprehensive Sleep Essentials Collection
Mlily USA debuted its first sleep essentials collection. The line includes a polyester down alternative pillow ($139) and an ethically sourced, Downpass-certified pillow ($199). Mlily’s wrinkle- and stain-resistant microfiber sheet sets come in three colors ($99). The collection also includes the Eco Soft duvet insert, with 80% polyester/ 20% soybean soft-fiber filling ($149) and the Super Cooling duvet insert made with Sorona polyester and lyocell Clima fiber ($199). An ultra-soft microfiber down alternative comforter in gray and white with a polyester down alternative inner core ($139) rounds out the line. “You can build a bed with this line,” said Joella Adair, Mlily retail marketing strategist for the Knoxville, Tennessee-based bedding manufacturer. “We’re hoping this will help retailers increase their ticket price.”
Read our latest feature: 2025 Economic Recovery and Growth: A Brighter Outlook.
