Summary
While recapping High Point Market, Mark and Mike share the most important leadership lesson, reveal the shocking number of units in the “blind retail” channel, and give their take on the infamously polarizing mattress brand tier list.
Key Take-Aways
High Point Market is gaining attention in the mattress category. While it hasn’t replaced Las Vegas as the industry’s main market, interest is growing in the luxury bedding space and overall, more mattress companies are presenting at the event.
A leader’s title is most valuable when it helps others feel important. After a difficult retailer meeting, the silver lining message was that, in contrast, the best senior leaders use their status to make others feel seen and valued.
Blind retail is a growing channel where shoppers may have little access to product testing or expert guidance. It’s often a race to the bottom that favors low-cost products and leaves consumers without the information they need to make confident choices.
The mattress industry might have the most misinformation in product reviews and public discourse. This point is bolstered by the recent “Ultimate Mattress Tier List” on the Mattress Industry Network Facebook Channel. The credibility of this list is highly questionable and rife with opportunity to mislead shoppers.
A brand creates accountability only when there is something lasting to protect. Sellers can easily reappear under new names after product failures, showing how disposable brands have become and the lengths they will go to to evade reputational consequences.
Show Notes
Shout-outs (in no particular order): High Point Market, Brandon Bain (Bedhead), Four Hands, Bill Hammer (Shifman), Peter Bolton
References: The Mattress Brand Tier List (Mattress Industry Network - Facebook), Asymmetrical war in bedding (Article by Brian Carroll), Blind Retail channel (Article by Dave Perry)
Click here to check out the Imagine.io Mattress Builder mentioned in this episode!