Survey Reveals Men Have Different Mattress Needs

Furniture World Magazine

A survey of 5,000 male callers who sleep with a partner by 1800mattress.com call center in early May revealed that 38% were “unhappy to miserable” with their current sleeping arrangement –mainly pillows and mattresses chosen by their partner. More than 50% of those survey said they had little participation in the mattress buying decision. “My wife likes a firm mattress, but I prefer one of those new visco foam beds,” said one caller from Queens. Another caller from Manhattan said, “my girlfriend really worked hard on setting up our new place. I thought I could just live with this, but I can’t.” Mattress retailers have known for many years that women are the primary decisionmaker in the purchase of bedding. However, as more Americans are focusing on the quality of their sleep as part of their increase in overall health consciousness, many men are beginning to feel neglected in a bed not suitable to their needs. “Men and women have different needs in bed, particularly when one partner may have a health issue like back pain, or an allergic reaction to a type of bedding material,” said 1800mattress.com Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Retail John O’Connell. “This was not a mainstream problem 10 or 15 years ago, because there was little choice in the type or style of mattress available, anyway. So the male partner in bed just put up with a less than adequate night’s sleep in bed, not thinking he had options.” O’Connell said that even beyond health issues, the fact that men and woman are built differently suggests that support features in a mattress for a taller man probably wouldn’t be in the right spot on the bed for a shorter women. Likewise, a heavier man will need different support that his lighter partner. “Today, getting a good night’s sleep is a major health objective for most Americans. Having the right mattress and pillow combination is essential,” he added. This Father’s Day, 1800mattress.com’s 104 showrooms, call center and internet will focus on helping men, and their partners, make the right selection to assure both will get a comfortable and good restorative night’s sleep. Some tips men can follow: Make sure you are choosing a mattress that has good back support as well as your desired surface feel, or level of comfort. Remember that the higher the number of coils and the thicker the padding, the better the mattress quality. Pocketed-coil mattresses reduce motion deflection, so if one partner moves a lot throughout the night, the other will rest more comfortably with this type of product. Consider purchasing a dual-core mattress, which allows couples to tailor their mattresses to their individual comfort levels. If you and your spouse can’t agree on a mattress (you prefer soft while she prefers firm) this may be a good choice for you. Keep your height and weight in mind. If you are taller or heavier, pick a mattress that will have support features in the right parts of the bed for your body specifications. Consider your price range. Top quality costs may be higher, however, don’t let price rule your selection. Focus on the models that suit your needs. If you suffer from back pain, consider models with visco-elastic memory foam to reduce pressure points. The memory foam allows for your neck and spine to be aligned by responding to your body temperature and weight for optimal support. When you research mattress purchases, be sure to wear comfortable clothing and also use a pillow similar to one you use at home. Lying on the right pillow on the right mattress will make a tremendous difference in comfort. Test your new bed at home for several nights. Just like a pair of new shoes, mattresses take some “breaking in.” A reputable dealer will have a comfort exchange policy allowing you to try your bed at home for several weeks, or allow you to exchange it for another model. New technology makes finding the right comfort level for each person much easier today, than in the past. New components like memory foam, air or dual-core products where consumers can adjust comfort levels allow partners to find their right sleeping surface while still on the same mattress. “Many consumers aren’t aware they can buy a mattress that meets each partners requirement so they can both get a good night’s sleep,” O’Connell added. Founded in 1976, 1800mattress.com is the leading national multi-channel (internet, call center and showrooms) retailer of mattresses, box springs and bedding products. It features products by Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Tempurpedic, and King Koil among others from its 30 beds and mattress menu, including custom sizes, futons, and adjustable and organic beds. Its award winning customer service is well chronicled in thousands of media articles and books. The company was also the first mattress retailer to introduce a two-hour delivery window, and fast national and international delivery of its products. Its business-to-business sales division supplies schools, hospitals, hotels and other institutions. For more information, please visit www.1800mattress.com