NEWS RELEASE
High Point, NC: At last month’s High Point Market, Furniture First featured a refreshed Mattress 1st / America’s Sleep Specialists private label line in their showroom. The mattresses were built to the specifications of the group’s Mattress Committee, who solicited bids from leading industry manufacturers. As a member-owned and member-run cooperative, retailers with a vested interest serve on the mattress committee and have specific, strategic reasons for setting their label’s assortment with premium features like split head eligible models, zoning, and top tier aesthetics and ingredients. The America’s Sleep Specialists line provides an alternate brand with the same construction and quality when member territories overlap.
The goal of the new line is to provide members with exclusive private label products that help drive traffic and provide high margins. The new line created buzz among the members who attended the market and was the topic of discussion during member-to-member networking. Overall, the line was well-received and noted for its impressive look and feel.
“When developing the new line, the committee received feedback from the membership and ran with it,” said Mack Kauffman, director of sleep products at Furniture First. “In today’s economic climate, our members need mattress products that are going to have a high sell-through while providing outstanding margins. This product helps them succeed with these two items while incorporating other benefits not often seen in a private label mattress line. Ultimately, the line is designed by members for members.”
“For more than three decades, Serta Simmons Bedding and Furniture First have shared a strong partnership built on trust, collaboration, and a commitment to the success of independent retailers. As we enter 2027, we are proud to celebrate 20 years as the exclusive manufacturer of Mattress 1st and America’s Sleep Specialist and to introduce the next generation of the Mattress 1st portfolio,” said Jim Moquin, Director, Sr. Buying Group (USA) at Serta Simmons Bedding. “The 2027 launch reflects our continued investment in Furniture First and its members, bringing together the strength of Serta Simmons Bedding, an exciting new product assortment, and a shared vision for growth. We consider it a privilege to partner with Furniture First, and we are excited to build on our history together as we begin the next chapter of Mattress 1st.”
The cooperative buying group held several events during Market to draw members to the showroom so that they could see and feel the beds for themselves. In addition to Furniture First’s semiannual opening Friday cocktail party and Sunday morning Best of Market Breakfast, they hosted a Friday morning breakfast and Sunday afternoon football cookout that gave members the opportunity to socialize while reviewing the line.
Furniture First is a national cooperative buying group for independent retailers. For 32 years Furniture First has served full-line independent retailers with sales over $2 million. Collectively, the group sells $3 billion at retail. For more information on Furniture First Membership, please visit www.JoinFurnitureFirst.com or call 800-411-3477.
