Gorgeous Florida weather, and a timely, dynamic program focused on new opportunities welcomed the 200-plus mattress manufacturers, suppliers and retailers at the 2011 ISPA Industry Conference and Exhibition March 16-18 in St. Petersburg, FL.
Keynote speaker Dr. Roch Parayre kicked off the educational sessions by exploring the “Blue Ocean” concept. Parayre encouraged attendees to stop competing in “blood red waters” where companies battle each other with “me-too” product launches and fierce price and service competition, and instead to explore uncontested “blue oceans” of new opportunities—where innovative, market-changing products or new business models generate profits and success.
“If you were a new player entering the marketing, would you constitute your business the way it exists today?” Parayre, a fellow at the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School, asked the audience. “If you wouldn’t enter the market the way you’re currently playing, why are you playing that way?”
Other speakers and panels picked up on the idea of using new strategies reshape businesses, offering ideas for redesigning the customer experience, tapping the power of social and digital media, and redefining the manufacturer-retailer partnership.
Attendees also got important updates on the mattress industry’s advances on the sustainability front and ISPA’s government relations efforts at both the federal and state level.
When attendees weren’t busy learning from the presenters, they took time to network during the two fun-filled evening parties and the always-popular golf tournament. No industry gathering would be complete without an entertaining performance by the Insomniaczzz. Attendees were invited to jam out with the industry band during the intimate “Insomniaczz Unplugged.”
The new ISPA Women’s Network held its first cocktail reception at the conference as well, where several dynamic women in the industry met and mingled.
Established in 1915, the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the growth, profitability and stature of the mattress industry. As the industry’s trade organization, ISPA represents over 600 mattress manufacturers and suppliers throughout the world.
ISPA provides a wide range of services that benefit its membership. These include exclusive industry surveys and statistics, advocacy support, educational offerings, the industry’s ISPA EXPO trade show, safety research through its Sleep Products Safety Council, consumer research and education through its Better Sleep Council, BedTimes and Sleep Savvy publications, the ISPAEarth™ Industry Sustainability Initiative, and more.
To learn more, visit www.sleepproducts.org or contact info@sleepproducts.org.