By Gordon Hecht and Denny Bradford
It’s easy to say that EVERY Customer is a Bedding Customer. The fact is that 85% of the customers who are walking into furniture stores today are in need of a new Sleep Set. Their current bed is too worn, too soiled, too hand me down, and it lacks comfort and support.
Customers who are shopping for Bedroom Sets are obvious candidates for a new sleep set. What about your Living Room and Dining Room customers? 85% of them need new beds too! And no Store has a law against selling a sofa, love seat, and a mattress!
Chances are good that your next recliner customer is in immediate need of a new sleep set. Ask them what kinds of things they like to do in their recliner and they will tell you “Watch TV, have a snack and a beverage, and…take a nap”.
Customers who nap during the day may be suffering from sleep deprivation. Some will even tell you that when they can’t sleep in their bed, they move to their recliner. This is your cue to invite them into your sleep solutions area, also known as the bedding gallery.
Next week… How to Get Customers into the Bedding Gallery.
This series is written by Gordon Hecht and Denny Bradford, Ashley Sleep Directors of Sales. To comment or ask a question on any of the bedding tips in this series, contact Gordon Hecht at ghecht@ashleyfurniture.com.
Gordon Hecht is a 35+ year veteran of the Furniture Business, starting as a delivery helper in Las Vegas, NV. He has served as a Regional Manager and Director of Training for a large Midwestern chain. Currently with Ashley Sleep division of Ashley Furniture Industries, Gordon travels the East, Midwest, and Canada training retail sales teams on selling bedding and works with store owners to maximize sales. Gordon resides in Columbus, OH with his wife, and has one adult son.
Denny Bradford started in the bedding business as a store manager for a Texas based waterbed dealer. His 18 years of sales and management experience includes directing a seven-store bedding chain and serving as Bedding Director for a Dallas based retailer. Denny covers the Western US and Canada for Ashley Sleep. He resides outside of Dallas, TX with his wife and son.