International Sleep Products Association (ISPA)

Patagonia helped turn circularity into a business advantage. What can the mattress industry learn from that success?

At the ISPA Sustainability Conference in September, Nellie Cohen of Baleen Advisory Services will share lessons from the textile industry and discuss how manufacturers can use sustainability initiatives to strengthen their brands, build customer trust and create long-term value.

From product returns to end-of-life management, many of the challenges facing the apparel and mattress industries are surprisingly similar. This session will offer practical insights on making sustainability efforts more meaningful for both businesses and consumers.

Register before Aug. 7 to lock in early-bird rates 👉 ISPASustainability.com

So much good stuff in the June issue of BedTimes magazine. Fabric trends, mattress recycling legislation, new and notable bedding from High Point Market, and a great Q&A with Jimmy Fleming from Hickory Springs. If you're in the sleep industry, this one is worth your time 👇

Consumers have more choices than ever when shopping for a mattress, which means product performance still matters, but it's no longer the whole story.

The June issue of BedTimes looks at how sleep products companies are translating product benefits into something more meaningful for consumers: trust, credibility and a clear brand promise. It's a timely look at how branding, partnerships and consumer expectations continue to evolve, and why the companies that stand out aren't always those with the most features. They're the ones that give consumers confidence in what they're buying.

Also in this issue: ticking trends, model law developments and other issues shaping the business of sleep.

Read the latest issue: https://www.read.ygsleaf.com/bedtimes/bedtimes_june_2026/cover.html

𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐀’𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬, 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥

The job market still looks healthy on the surface. Hiring is steady, unemployment remains low, and most consumers are still working. However, household budgets are coming under increasing pressure.

Wage growth, as measured by average hourly earnings, is running at roughly 3.4% year over year, while inflation has picked up in recent months. As a result, many households are seeing less improvement in their spending power than they did over the past few years. At the same time, higher costs for everyday essentials such as food, housing, gasoline, insurance, and other household expenses are taking up a larger share of the household budget, leaving less room for discretionary purchases.

For the mattress industry, this trend aligns closely with what retailers are already seeing. Consumers remain employed and active in the marketplace, but they are becoming increasingly selective about larger discretionary purchases. According to Colliers' March 2026 retail traffic analysis, furniture store visits were down 5.8% year over year, while traffic to discount and dollar stores increased 8.5%, reflecting a continued focus on value and affordability.

Importantly, this is not a pullback from the market, but rather a change in behavior. Retailers across categories continue to report that consumers are still shopping, but they are taking longer to make decisions, comparing more options, and looking more closely at price, promotions, and financing before committing.

For mattresses, this shift often shows up as delayed replacement timing, consumers stretching their existing mattresses longer, increased comparison shopping both online and in-store, and greater sensitivity to pricing and promotions.

The bottom line: Even with a solid labor market, consumers are feeling more financially constrained. That is making demand for mattresses more need-driven.

In this environment, success will depend on meeting consumers where they are—clearly communicating value, maintaining strong promotional strategies, and providing financing options that make purchases more manageable at the point of sale.

What if performance and sustainability don't have to be a tradeoff anymore?

That's the question Jim Turner, CEO of SABA North America, is helping answer. At the ISPA Sustainability Conference in September, he will talk about how advances in adhesive technology are changing what's possible for mattress manufacturers, from better recyclability to stronger circularity goals, without sacrificing product performance.

If you care about where mattress design is headed, this one's worth your time.

Learn more and register at ISPASustainability.com

A positive development for mattress recycling in New York.

Recent amendments to A.1209B address key concerns raised by ISPA and include a financing mechanism that would support a sustainable and transparent statewide mattress recycling program.

These changes represent the value of industry engagement and collaboration, helping create a framework that supports recycling while providing a level playing field for mattress manufacturers.

Thank you to our members for their advocacy efforts and to Assemblywoman Paulin for her work on these important amendments.

ISPA and MRC look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders to help bring a successful mattress recycling program to New York.

The future of sustainability isn't being built by one company or one organization.

It's being shaped through collaboration across the entire mattress industry.

The 2026 ISPA Sustainability Conference brings together experts from around the globe to discuss stewardship, circularity, innovation and the evolving role of sustainability in our industry.

Learn about this year's speakers, take a look at the agenda and join us September 23-24 in Charlotte 👉 ISPASustainability.com