Dos Marcos

Brooklyn Bedding went viral before "going viral" was thing.   A one time Amazon ad turned into a 9 month phenomenon that made Brooklyn Bedding the household item to own.    On today's episode, Mark Quinn and Mark Kinsley sit down with Brooklyn Bedding CEO John Merwin and discuss the early days of his entry into the mattress industry. From his brother purchasing a Wonder Bread truck and selling items door to door to John being "strong armed" into purchasing mattress parts he didn't need in order to get the products he wanted, Merwin is the epitome of hard work and dedication. Loaded down with parts he didn't know what to do with, Merwin learned how to make his own mattresses and forged his way into the shippable mattress category. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Who are you putting in front of your customers?  Do you really know the person who represents your company?  On today's episode, Quinn and Kinsley discuss the person of the key account representatives. The one person who could earn you (or cost you) millions.  They address what a business may need in their rep and how that need may differ from what buyers want from the rep, and ultimately, how the rep can affect the downline in how the RSA can sell the product or service. Big Takeaway: The guys discuss the ultimate character qualities and expand on a job description necessity of the Key Account Rep: 1) Understanding:  Does your account representative understand exactly what the end user needs or are they just trying to peddle to anyone with a check book? 2) Humility: People want to make a genuine connection with their account representative. Those who are only talking to you in order to earn a quick buck are easy to spot and are the biggest turn off. 3) Research: Have your account represen

Picture this: a customer walks into your store needing a specific product. You don't have it, but the store down the road does.  What do you do? If you're Nordstrom, you tell your customer to go shop for a few minutes and when they return the product awaits them on the counter. Seems like a maneuver only a major retailer could pull off, right?  Wrong. In today's episode, Quinn and special co-host, Yo Adrienne, discuss customer service experiences that were over the top. In the Nordstrom example, we learn that the sales attendant, upon learning they were out of the product, goes down the street, purchases the bag at retail cost and then returns to have it available for his customer. Nordstrom didn't earn any profit off of the purchase, but arguably, they earned something bigger: customer loyalty.  Listen in as Quinn and Adrienne discuss small ways retailers can deliver exceptional service, that cost them and other businesses alike no money, but reap big rewards in customer experience.  ---

Have you seen Top Gun Maverick? It's the much anticipated, long awaited sequel to the 1980's Top Gun; only this go round, the movie has grossed over 1 billion (with a "B") dollars to date! As Quinn and Kinsley settled in to enjoy their popcorn, they took notes on how many of the lessons from the movie apply to independent retailers.  On today's episode, they discuss: Your enemy knows your playbook. Know it, toss it. Be the guide, build the team. Build the team with play (e.g. play beach volleyball). Fly the mission and show your team it can be done. Stop thinking. Plan, prepare, be the best… then stop thinking. When you get shot down it’s not over…if you have a team that loves each other. Listen in and let us know if you've seen the movie and if there are any nuggets of gold we missed! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

What do celebrities William Hung and Miko Hughes have in common?  They both played in the 2022 Vegas Market Celebrity Poker Tournament hosted by Ante4Autism.  The annual fundraiser, founded by Doug Krinsky in 2009, has raised over 1 million dollars to date. This year, celebrities and industry veterans alike played alongside one another to help raise almost $140,000. The winner, American Idol celebrity, William Hung (known for the infamous rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs!" song from Season 3) walked away the ultimate champion of the event. Other celebrities included Miko Hughes, Jose Conseco, Dennis Haskins, Erik Seidel, and more.  Ante4Autism exists to provide needed support and resources for individuals and families affected by autism. As of 2022, 1 in 44 individuals will be diagnosed with autism. The funds raised at this year's event went to five major charities, including the national charity, Autism Speaks.  Listen or watch now to get an in-depth review on all the players, the a

What do you do when your best friend, your business partner and podcast co-host gets a grown-up job at the largest mattress retailer? Celebrate him with a huge toast & roast in Vegas, baby! This week, Quinn and Kinsley recap Vegas market: who is winning, what is coming down the pipeline, and what can you expect for Fall 2022 and beyond. They also discuss key topics about how to help manufacturers to win at Markets (hint: they set up questions retailers are looking to answer how you can equip the retailer to get to yes on your merchandise), and what manufacturers can provide in terms of strategies for marketing and selling those products once they hit the sales floor. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

It's not easy being on the forefront of cunning innovation and change, but Leggett and Platt are doing it with confidence and skill. On today's episode, David Eidson, Vice President of GSG North America Sales and Paul Block, President of Sales GSG, of Leggett and Platt join Quinn and Kinsley to discuss the new XT9 machine and how L&P is navigating a glue-less world. They also touch on automation and how it impacts quality control measures, trends in machinery and (everyone's favorite topic) the labor market. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

What happens when an upscale cookware and kitchen accessories company acquires a visual transformation and technology company? If you're Outward Inc., you become one of the premier visual storytelling companies for retailers across the globe. Outward Inc., started in the typical Silicon Valley-esque fashion before being acquired by Williams-Sonoma and added into their portfolio of brands. On today's episode, the Co-Founder and Vice President of Development Gaurav Sethi, and Leah Kirkland, Senior Director of Sales, join Quinn and Kinsley to discuss the story and platform behind the innovation Outward brings to the marketing industry. They discuss the Aperture Platform — what it is, how it works and how it is different than other technology on the market; inconsistencies in digital marketing; how Outward interacts with major brands; and how they are empowering brands to control their marketing destiny and achieve their dreams. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/matt

Trent Ranburger is no longer the President and CEO of Trent Bedding. The rumors are true. Trent Ranburger, the founder of Trent Bedding, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is stepping down from the business he built. And in doing so, he's showing the industry that you can still be a part of your business without working in your business. In today's episode, Trent discusses the factors that led to his decision to transfer the reigns of the business he built from the ground up, how his initial plans changed and what's next on the horizon for him. He also imparts some golden nuggets of wisdom that only blood, sweat and entrepreneurial tears can produce. If you missed the episode filmed in Orlando, where Trent discussed the battle with cancer his girlfriend has endured and the impact that it has had on his family, check it out here. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Do you prefer boxed wine or boxed beds? No, it's not a trick question because we hear both are making a comeback.  On today's episode, Quinn and Kinsley are chatting industry disruptor: Bed in a Box, or more informally, mattresses in a box. King size behemoths compressed to postage size boxes and shipped to eager consumers. They discuss: - the benefits,  - the economics,  - how other major players are responding - how far compression technology can go, and  - are shippable mattresses the future? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Would you rather be laid off with severance or receive a reduced work schedule and a reduction in pay? Most would likely choose the reduced work and pay, but is that always the smartest decision? On today's episode, Kinsley and Quinn dissect the recent restructure (aka: headcount reduction) of Nectar and compare it to the Sequoia Capital strategy: in the face of downward trends, react hard and fast and plan to recoupe slowly. Is the Sequoia approach better for long term growth or does it signal the inevitable for which there is no return?  Plus, what does the future hold for Nectar?  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Are Mark and Mark breaking up? No, but Mark Kinsley is co-hosting a new show and Mark Quinn isn't his trusty sidekick. In this episode, the guys chat the launch of the new FAM Marketing Show. It's a snackable, 15-minute-or-less podcast designed to give retailers and brands marketing tips and tricks they can enact right away. They discuss the concept of the show, introduce a few co-hosts that have already been on the show (some familiar faces and some new friends of the industry) and talk about what it means to give small business owners ideas that won't break the bank, but can show ROI. Curious for more? Check out the FAM Marketing Show here. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Today on the Dos Marcos Show, we chat with Justin Trombo, President of BedTech Midwest, about his journey from being an RSA to becoming the founder of a premier adjustable base company. We chat about the struggles of entrepreneurship, how Justin and his consulting company are helping others build strategies and visions for their business, and how BedTech works with their partners to help retailers achieve profits on commodity items. "The hardest thing to do in any business is add value to a commodity [item]...so how do you add value to an adjustable base? You sell it as a part of a sleep system." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Picture this scenario: you're a successful furniture and mattress retailer with a thriving staff and you're well known in your community. Life is good. Then you get the infamous diagnosis you weren't expecting. Cancer. Maybe it's you, your spouse, or your child. What do you do when real life interrupts your business? Today, we sat down with Trent Ranburger, owner of Trent Bedding in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at the Furniture Today Bedding Conference to talk through this exact situation. We discuss how your worldview shifts and how you're forced to rely on the staff you built and hope you have invested in them well. We discuss how day-to-day activities change and in the days after how your focus as a business owner changes. "People don't connect with us in the good times, they connect with us in times of adversity and challenges and when times are toughest for us. ...We can't lose sight of that." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Inflation. It's now a household word. Whereas, pre-2020, few people knew or understood the ramifications of "supply chains." Now, it is a common response to every backlog in every industry worldwide. Add in increased gas prices, energy prices, grocery bills and now, formula shortages, and people are understanding just how much quickly rising inflation can impact their day to day lives as well.  In today's episode we discuss how to tackle inflation, while increasing your overall ticket price. We applaud the Dominos pizza tactic of re-thinking how to reward your customers in an inflationary environment, we talk about the need to over communicate the how and the why of inflation on present day purchases and we drop a foot traffic driver that's sure to turn some heads (think: the inflation negation sale). Also, our heartfelt condolences to the family of Harry Cornell on his passing. He was a veteran of our industry and helped to shape and make it what it is today and we're forever grateful.  --- Se

Are you dying a slow death by being caught in the muddy middle? The middle. It's the space between no one walking in and foot traffic so fast, your door never has time to lock. On today's episode, we're chatting being consistent (with a special shoutout to Nick Quinn for giving us the best example of how hard work and consistency pays off), measuring your value add and how to communicate effectively. When we teach people to value sleep, they value their sleep space and accessories more and we want to make sure your hard efforts reflect in your bottom line. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Are you prepared for the summer slump? You know the one we are talking about. The one where summer sales slow to a glacial pace because everyone is spending money on vacations, summer activities, and not on their home or their sleep. In this episode, we are tackling the slump head on, and challenging you to do things you have never done before. We're pulling ideas out of the Amazon bestseller Come Back to Bed (authored by yours truly) and discussing why the summer slumps happen and problems in our industry that perpetuate this cycle (hint: if our products and services are not adding value in people's lives, they won't view sleep as a priority). We are shaking up summer 2022, and making it the year of new adventures and new experiences for our customers! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Do you know how to tap into the buying power of the bride? If you don't, this is the season to learn. It has been said that 2022 will see more weddings than have been held in a single year since 1984! Why? Covid19. Weddings have been on hold for the past two years and bank accounts have been stacking up. Now with an endemic in site, people are making good on their long-overdue weddings and the mattress industry should get in on the action. The average wedding hosts around 200 guests. If furniture and mattress retailers could get 1 person from each wedding to make a mattress purchase for the bride and groom, it would total over $1 billion in revenue. This begs the question: how should you position a mattress at the top of a registry list? 1) Wedding Expos. Get in on the action. Be in the place where the people are. Along with DJs, wedding bakers, and florists, book a spot at your local wedding expo and set up a mattress on display. 2) Market To Parents. Parents are likely the largest gift-givers at a

Does the interior of your home affect your health? For better or for worse? Today on the Dos Marcos show, we are joined by Mike Peterson, President of Visionary Design Marketing and Linda Kafka, Co-Founder of Livable Environment, who are the founders behind the Science in Design summit happening in ten locations across the United States starting on April 21st, 2022.  In this episode we're discussing how our industry is the curators and creators of "aesthetic experiences" and how the interior of our home has scientifically been proven to affect our overall wellness. We cover: How nature affects are overall well being;  Physical health benefits of good interior design and how interior designers play a vital role; a scientific partnership study conducted by Google and John Hopkins University; and  Biophilia and Neuroaesthetics. Want to attend the Science in Design Summit closest to you? Check out the exclusive seminar tour dates and locations here.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anc

Today's episode of the Dos Marcos Podcast is a special one highlighting the service of Mark Quinn in the mattress industry. The now-former Vice President of Sherwood Bedding has been hired as the new Vice President of Merchandising for Mattress Firm. In this episode, we discuss Quinn's history in the industry, pay homage to his achievements, and talk about the transition from private brands to a national brand. We also head-on address the elephant in the room of going in-house to a major player in the industry. What does this mean for this show, The FAM, and the international support generated by the galaxy's greatest mattress podcasters? Simply, The FAM is getting a whole lot bigger, and the depth of knowledge we all gain by having a friend on the inside is even deeper. Join us for this very special episode and help us congratulate Quinn on his new role and wish him success in this endeavor! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message