Sleepnxt Conference

Sleepnxt Conference SleepNXT is the premiere event for innovation in the sleep industry.

We unite retailers, manufacturers, and service providers in one dynamic space to exchange ideas, test products, and build what’s next for sleep.

Looking back at an unforgettable night from 🏆At our Awards Dinner, we honored the 2026 Retail Giant Award winners and ...
05/26/2026

Looking back at an unforgettable night from 🏆

At our Awards Dinner, we honored the 2026 Retail Giant Award winners and Retail Sales Award recipients—recognizing the companies and individuals driving excellence across the bedding industry.

Congratulations to our 2026 Retail Giant Award honorees:
🏆 Mathis Home
🏆 Mattress Express

We also recognized six outstanding Retail Sales Award winners whose expertise, empathy, and professionalism help shape the customer experience every day:

🏆 Kelsey Brown, Furnitureland South
🏆Bryan Winder, Boulevard Home
🏆Rebecca Kovalski, Mueller Furniture
🏆 Madison Sanders, Wichita Furniture & Mattress
🏆 Leigh Thompson, FWDG
🏆Charles Tassin, Mattress Direct

“In a category like sleep, where comfort is personal and trust is everything, our RSAs are often the difference makers.” — Sheila Long O’Mara

If SleepNXT showed us anything, it’s that this industry thrives when leaders come together to share ideas, build relationships, and push the business forward. That momentum continues at the 2026 Furniture Today Leadership Conference — and registration is now open: https://bit.pulse.ly/sfbxwtmoba

“Memorable rather than just informative.”That’s how Matt Rayburn of CDS Logistics described after a week of meaningful...
05/21/2026

“Memorable rather than just informative.”

That’s how Matt Rayburn of CDS Logistics described after a week of meaningful conversations, industry insights, impactful networking, and unforgettable experiences alongside leaders across the sleep industry.

Swipe through to see what they had to say about this year’s event.

From thought-provoking panels and candid discussions to waterfront networking, sunset receptions, and giving back to the community, SleepNXT was designed to bring the industry together in a way that goes beyond the sessions.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this year. Registration for the 2026 Furniture Today Leadership Conference is now open: https://bit.pulse.ly/xdmelho9qz

05/20/2026

Looking back at one of the standout moments from 🚲

This past week, more than 75 sleep products industry executives came together for our Bike Building Event brought to you by headline sponsor King Koil -USA, building and donating 32 custom bicycles for children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County.

Retailers, manufacturers, and industry leaders stepped away from the sessions to give back to the local community—working side-by-side to assemble bikes, gift bags, and safety helmets for each child.

It was one of those moments that captured what Furniture Today SleepNXT is really about: connection, collaboration, and showing up for others.

Huge thanks to King Koil, the Boys & Girls Club, and every attendee who helped make it happen. Revisit some of our favorite moments from : https://sleepnxtconference.com/2026-gallery/

A category-defining career was recognized this week at Furniture Today SleepNXT 2026 in front of the peers and partners ...
05/15/2026

A category-defining career was recognized this week at Furniture Today SleepNXT 2026 in front of the peers and partners who have worked alongside him for decades.

We were proud to honor Jeff Bergman, Chairman of Purecare, with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.

During a moving presentation, his son Sean Bergman reflected on his father’s 40+ year career spanning Sleep Quarters, Spring Air, E.S. Kluft, and PureCare — where Jeff helped transform the company into a global brand built on relationships, trust, and innovation.

“He also understands something that is easy to say...but hard to live. ‘Your word is everything.’” — Sean Bergman

Jeff closed the evening by thanking the mentors, teammates, colleagues, and peers who shaped his journey, noting that some of life’s greatest lessons come through collaboration.

The takeaway: lasting impact in this industry is built through trust, relationships, and the people you bring along with you.

Congratulations and cheers to you, Jeff! More coming soon!

We're not over the Furniture Today SleepNXT Golf Tournament yet.Before the sessions took over at SleepNXT, a lucky group...
05/14/2026

We're not over the Furniture Today SleepNXT Golf Tournament yet.

Before the sessions took over at SleepNXT, a lucky group hit the green at Aileron Golf Club for an afternoon of networking, competition, and conversations that carried into the rest of the week.

A moment for the tournament winners:
• Al Dambrauskas of Casper
• Chad Fischer of BrandSource
• Chealen Martin of DreamFit Home
• KJ Holsey of Casper

Additional honorable mentions:
• Lou Paige of Englander Mattress Official — Men’s Closest to the Hole #16
• Brian Smith of Progressive Leasing — Men’s Long Drive Hole #9
• Laura Brewick of FXI — Women’s Long Drive Hole #18

From the golf course to the session rooms, the conversations at haven’t slowed down.

Four retail leaders. One major question: What do consumers actually want in 2026?At Furniture Today , Neil Zimmer (Gard...
05/14/2026

Four retail leaders. One major question: What do consumers actually want in 2026?

At Furniture Today , Neil Zimmer (Gardner White Furniture), Shana Rocheleau (BEDGEAR ), LeeJean Williams (Steinhafels), and Wright Turner (Turner's Furniture) took the stage for Sleep Disrupted: What Consumers Want in 2026 — and delivered a powerful reality check for sleep retailers.

Their message?

Today’s consumer is fatigued, overwhelmed, and more skeptical than ever. Winning means simplifying the journey, building trust, and becoming a true sleep destination—not just another retailer chasing discounts.

Standout Takeaways:

• Neil Zimmer: Focus on what customers actually want—not what the industry keeps pushing
• Shana Rocheleau: Stop relying on discounting alone and “find the customer before the discount”
• LeeJean Williams: Reduce buyer fatigue by simplifying value: comfort, durability, and price
• Wright Turner Strong RSA training and process are essential to helping shoppers understand real options and real-life benefits

Quotes That Defined the Session:

“Comfort, will it last, price. If the customer can say yes to all three things, we win.” — LeeJean Williams

“Establish yourself as a sleep destination in your market.” — Wright Turner

Bottom Line:

This panel wasn’t about selling harder—it was about selling smarter. The future belongs to retailers who create clarity, consistency, and confidence.

👏 Big props to this powerhouse panel for delivering one of the day’s most practical conversations.

“If we don’t figure out AI, we will be left in the dust.” — Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor That was yesterday's tone-sett...
05/14/2026

“If we don’t figure out AI, we will be left in the dust.” — Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor

That was yesterday's tone-setting message that opened — and it landed.

Bob’s session, AI Tools to Grow Your Game, made one thing clear: independent retailers no longer need massive budgets or big tech teams to compete smarter.

Biggest Takeaways:

AI is a competitive equalizer for independents

Stop focusing on prompts — focus on the business problem you need solved

Specificity matters more than ever as retail shifts from SEO to Agentic Search Optimization (AOS)

AI can improve hiring, sales coaching, marketing, customer experience, and operational efficiency

Practical Wins Retailers Can Use Now:

• Grade your website, ads, and job listings
• Use AI role play to improve RSA closing ratios
• Turn competitor weaknesses into proactive messaging
• Capture lost sales insights faster

Bottom line: AI isn’t just for content creation — it’s a practical tool to help retailers work smarter, sell better, and move faster.

Bob challenged attendees to leave with at least two actionable takeaways — and delivered plenty more than that.

Retailer reaction:
“AI can help us coach our RSA’s, have better conversations, and improve closing ratios.” — Mike Wipfler, Mueller Furniture

Strong opening message from Bob: AI isn’t optional anymore — it’s operational.

05/13/2026

Building more than just connections today at 2026 🚲

Attendees teamed up with headline sponsor to build bikes for children from the & Girls Club of Charlotte County — and the turnout, teamwork, and dedication on display said it all.

Retailers, manufacturers, and industry leaders came together this afternoon to give back to the local community, assembling bikes side-by-side and showing what collaboration in this industry really looks like.

The takeaway: this industry shows up for more than just the sessions. It shows up for people, partnerships, and giving back.

Huge thanks to , the of Charlotte County, and every attendee who pitched in to make it happen.

Coming up next: the Cocktail Party sponsored by 🍸 and Awards Dinner. What was your favorite moment of the day?

This morning at Furniture Today SleepNXT2026, retailers and industry experts took the stage and tackled some of the bigg...
05/13/2026

This morning at Furniture Today SleepNXT2026, retailers and industry experts took the stage and tackled some of the biggest conversations shaping the future of sleep retail — from AI and labor challenges to buyer fatigue, upselling, and sustainability.

Morning sessions featured insights from speakers:
• Bob Phibbs of The Retail Doctor, Mariam Farach of El Dorado Furniture, Dr. Theresa Brough of Home Furniture Plus Bedding, Megan Barlow of NFM, Neil Zimmer of Gardner White Furniture, LeeJean Williams of Steinhafels, Shana Rocheleau of BEDGEAR, Wright Turner of Turner's Furniture, Michael Wipfler of Mueller Furniture , Ethan Stover of NFM, Scott Kerby of Purple, Ian Hays of Magniflex, Tyler Howells of Cozy Earth, Brian Baxter of Avocado Green Brands, Alison Keane of International Sleep Products Association and Mattress Recycling Council

One thing became clear across every session this morning: today’s customer is more informed, more value-conscious, and looking for more than just a transaction. From AI and employee culture to wellness and sustainability, the conversations repeatedly came back to trust, experience, education, and helping customers feel confident in their decisions.

There is still so much of SleepNXT to go! More sessions, more retailer insights, more networking, and more conversations shaping the future of sleep are still ahead at .

Stay tuned 👀

And just like that — Furniture Today SleepNXT 2026 is officially underway.Liz Irwin of BridgeTower Media , Donna Bischof...
05/13/2026

And just like that — Furniture Today SleepNXT 2026 is officially underway.

Liz Irwin of BridgeTower Media , Donna Bischoff and Sheila Long O’Mara Furniture Today welcomed the group and the energy in the room already says it all: excitement, momentum, and anticipation for what’s ahead over the next few days.

As Sheila shared during opening remarks, SleepNXT is bringing together leaders from across retail, manufacturing, and innovation to tackle the biggest trends, technologies, and strategies shaping the future of sleep.

Here’s what’s to come today at SleepNXT:
• Sessions on AI, labor playbooks, consumer strategy, upselling, sustainability, and more
• More retailers than ever taking the stage today, including leaders from Bill Papettas of Mattress Warehouse, Mariam Farach of El Dorado Furniture, Megan Barlow of NFM
• Cocktail Party sponsored by Sierra Sleep by Ashley, Awards Dinner, and Bike Build sponsored by King Koil -USA

The takeaway: this isn’t last year’s bedding conference. SleepNXT is built for retailers who refuse to be reactive — and they’re showing up in record numbers to prove it.

It’s session time… stay tuned!

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