Insights from Bedding Industry Veterans at The Sleep Center
When it comes to getting a better night’s sleep, we knew we needed to sit down with the experts. So, we contacted Thane Taylor and Steve Branham, co-owners of The Sleep Center, Pensacola, Florida. Combined, they have over 50 years of experience in the bedding industry. Their Mattress Superstore is the oldest and largest on the Gulf Coast. Thane and Steve started off talking about trends that have cooled over the last 10 years, such as futons and daybeds. Both were wildly popular 10 years ago. Cabinet Beds have become the popular choice for small spaces, as well as multi-purpose and guest bedrooms.
They noted that Hybrid Mattresses are one of the most significant advancements. “A lot of the first-gen memory foam mattresses left consumers with body impression issues, causing a wide range of back and neck problems,” Taylor said. He explained how the new, hybrid sleep systems eliminate this problem by combining the stability of a traditional coil system with a layer of pressure-relieving memory foam for comfort: “Really, it’s the best of both worlds, said Branham.”
Aside from mattresses, Taylor and Branham also revealed benefits related to adjustable bed bases. “Not just at The Sleep Center, but, industry-wide, the market for power bases has gone wild in the last few years,” they said, noting a 100% increase in adjustable base sales in the last 5 years alone. “People really like the customizable elevation, massage, lumbar and pillow support features, and being able to raise the head and foot of your bed supports a perfect night’s sleep.”
According to professionals, mattresses utilizing cooling materials, comparable to Gore-Tex, are another noteworthy enhancement. Cooling technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. “We’re in one of the warmest parts of the country,” Branham said, “and all our clients want good, quality sleep, and, on the Gulf Coast, that requires a cool sleeping environment.
A final craze that they are seeing slow down are bed-in-a-box mattresses. “We get a lot of buyers that have purchased one of the bed-in-the-box fads,” Taylor said. “High-pressure sales tactics, combined with misinformation, and lower quality materials have led to customers not getting long-term satisfaction, and that’s unacceptable when it comes to quality of sleep.” With many buyers regretting picking the wrong thing online and most times being stuck with real, physical issues – for years. “The Sleep Center guarantees complete customer satisfaction, so offering high-quality products is a core value of their business!
“We take great pride in customer happiness,” Branham said, explaining how buyers have a sleep trial period – ranging from 60-120 nights, depending on the brand – to ensure their new bed is perfect for their sleep needs. “Our biggest customer response always comes from that Sleep EZ Guarantee.”
In addition to working with regular customers, The Sleep Center supports condo owners and other rental groups. “We’re very condo-friendly,” Taylor said of their dealings with condos all over the Gulf Coast, noting special discounts, white-glove delivery services, and other incentives for condo owners and associations. “We keep most beds in stock, allowing us next-day delivery options,” Taylor said. “That’s a life-saver when guests are arriving the next afternoon, or a unit needs a bed replaced immediately.”
The Sleep Center has a showroom with over seventy-five models from top brands, such as Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Sealy, Beautyrest, and Serta. They also cover a large part of the Gulf Coast and beyond. Taylor and Branham have seen many trends come and go over the years. What hasn’t changed, the owners agreed, is “The Sleep Center’s commitment to improving client comfort, quality of life and a good night’s sleep.”
