Dos Marcos

If we asked you the top three things consumers want out of their retailer, what would your answer be? We're betting engagement, trust and advocacy aren't what immediately came to mind, but they should be.  In this episode, we're joined by Jesse Kostuhoski, Vice President of Retail Development for the Furniture and Appliance Mart in Stephens Point, Wisconsin. He is a 25 year + industry veteran, including spending more than 15 years in retail stores and almost a decade with Serta. Based on his unique perspective, it is clear he has a pulse on the consumer and what their core needs are. We also chat hiring and the current issues with finding good help. Lack of help is a pervasive problem that is currently affecting every industry and we discuss how hiring an employee goes beyond their skillset, but must also include a discussion on goals and dreams--both for the employee and you as their employer. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Understanding the heart of your consumer seems like an easy task, yet, truly connecting with the hearts and minds of your customers can be a mental game. Right now people in all walks and seasons of life are exhausted. They are frustrated by the ongoing pandemic and the constant political barrages associated therewith. People are aching for a sense of normalcy and anxious by the thought that "normal" may never really return. So how do we, as an industry, fit in and meet people right where they are? How do we turn the necessary task of shopping for a mattress or picking out a piece of furniture into an experience of comfort and joy this season? In this episode, we discuss the state of the consumer and how investing in the emotional connection can do good for the soul and for the bottom line. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Is cryptocurrency the money of the future?  Not likely. However, just because it isn't set to take over the as the official dinero of financial transactions doesn't mean you shouldn't pay attention to its influence. For those unaware, cryptocurrency, also known as bitcoin, is a digital currency--used my blockchain technology-- that can be used to pay for online goods and services. And now, in some parts of the country, it may be available for use to pay for mattresses at your local furniture store. Listen in as we visit with the superhero of sleep, Andrew Schlesser, and discuss how he sees crypto being used well and poorly in the industry. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

They're two of the most visible mattress brands in the bedding business, but their approaches are different. In this episode, the guys from GoodBed.com joined Dos Marcos to talk about how Casper and Purple are approaching the market.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Put yourself in front of the judges on the hit ABC show, Shark Tank. Mr. Wonderful, also known as Kevin O'Leary, offers you the million dollar investment you are asking for if you can answer the following question: "What is the #1 skill needed to be successful in mattress sales?"  Do you know the answer? If you don't, listen in and learn how his perspective changed over the last year and how this skill may be easily learned, but it can take a lifetime to master.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Purpose. Training. Fun. Those are the secret ingredients that make the Miskelly's culture so successful. In this episode, we recap Quinn's visit to Miskelly's Furniture--discussing how they rolled out the red carpet for his arrival and then discussing how our name ended up in lights. We also overview the secret ingredients to their culture and how you can implement them little by little and create a lasting impact for both your employees and your customers.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Happy Labor Day to our fellow mattress mates! Today, we rounded up several of our favorite Audio Stories recorded over on our parent company, The FAM. Do you know what an Audio Story is? Audio Stories are the first of its kind. Over at The FAM we say that you can listen you every story because reading is optional. Every written piece of content has an audio component for you to listen in. Don't like reading? We've got you covered. Find us wherever you get your podcasts. Prefer to read? No problem! All articles are available and viewable from any electronic device.  Listen in on some of our favorite Audio Stories  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

It has been a whirlwind between Primetime by Nationwide Marketing Group and Vegas Market; and those are just the two we chose to attend. Simultaneous to Vegas Market, several buying group shows were also held and with the combination of the pandemic slowing down foot traffic and the uptick in trends of consumers buying more and more online without ever test driving furniture and appliances in store, it made us question: are market shows becoming a thing of the past? In this episode, we recap our travels, discuss takeaways from Vegas Market, assess how the rise in the Delta varient may have played a role in attendance and, best of all, discuss our exclusive consumer research from over 2000 participants and how you can get the information. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

The industry is changing and in many ways for the better; for many, the changes are a welcome relief. In other ways, new challenges have arisen. The most predominant challenge is the shopping habits and patterns of the consumer and their view of purchasing major investment pieces--like mattresses--online. In this episode, we are sharing insights on consumer data and our exclusive research. We are weighing in on: What channels people are purchasing mattresses from; What percentage of people no longer feel the need to test their mattress before buying; What price points people are comfortable buying online. We explore all of this and future research to be revealed. If you want first dibs on the information, make sure you're subscribed over at The FAM (or just click that hyperlink) or text us your name and email to 843-627-2672! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

What's your marketing budget for the year? Thousands? Tens or hundreds of thousands? Perhaps even millions? What if Nectar could double your foot traffic? Would you convert some of your ad spend dollars to them on the assurance of higher sales? Many would say yes, but how would it work? In this episode, we're chatting the Nectar strategy on investing in brands and relationship development and how retailers are benefitting from the marketing shake-up. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

What does the Englander mattress line expansion, mask mandates and summer market all have in common? For one, they are all happening in Las Vegas at the summer market, August 22nd-26th. We chat three big topics on this episode, starting with the 14 new mattresses Englander is adding to their line-up that will be available and on display in-person at the Vegas Market in showroom C-1596. We also discuss everyone's favorite varient and how summer events, such as Nationwide's Primetime and Vegas Market, are going to be affected. Plus, listen in to the story where Quinn coins the term "puke and rally" and applies it to everyday life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Do you get a good night's sleep? Would you know it if you didn't?  Recently, Mattress Firm hit the road with its newest "unjunk your sleep" campaign, designed to target consumers and fit them with them with their perfect mattress. This week, we're dissecting the campaign, discussing its intent, questioning what inhibits consumers from finding a mattress that best suits their personal needs, and identifying thoughts from those outside the industry.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

What happens when you are young, newly married and get laid off the day before Thanksgiving? If you’re Ron Gonzales, you create a five store furniture and mattress franchise known as Christian’s Mattress Xpress. It wasn’t easy and success most certainly didn’t come overnight, but little by little—beginning with wholesale liquidated furniture and then turning to unfinished wood furniture, Ron built a business that caught the attention of heavy hitters, one of whom was Dale Carlsen of Sleep Train. Listen or watch as we discuss the infancy of developing a business, how to create strategy, and learning from the best on training and development. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Do you ever wish you could crawl into the minds of your customer to find out exactly what they're thinking? Of course you do! Who in retail doesn't? Today, we're bringing you a teaser into the exclusive research conducted by Dos Marcos and The FAM about the consumer shopping journey--what customers are thinking, what they want, how they want to spend their money and much, much more. Listen in and text us your questions to 843-627-2672! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Can you tell the difference between a real photograph and one that has been digitally created? From augmented reality to virtual reality versus actual reality, everything is becoming so lifelike it's hard to decipher between what is real and what is art. For Preet Singh, founder of Live Furnish, he's using updated technology to bring state-of-the-art backgrounds to life for retailers and manufacturers. Live Furnish is a photography automation platform that provides realistic backgrounds for retailers and manufacturers to place their products on and use as marketing assets without the hassle of actually staging the product. Join us as we chat through how this company is changing the marketing game and helping partners on both ends reach better results! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

Winners win by how they handle the transitions. Whether it is a sporting event, business or life circumstance, how you handle the transition determines everything about the outcome. On this episode, we chat with Xsensor COO Bruce Malkinson about winning during the transitions. Winning isn't just luck and chance; it requires strategy, planning and persistence and the right tools can equip you in each area.  Listen in as we chat about his wins and losses and how Xsensor is helping change the game. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

He's the current President and CEO of Scribe Media, a multimillion dollar company, but he was successful long before his current role. To meet Jevon McCormick today, you'd never know about his dire beginnings. Jevon is the son of a pimp and an orphan who was his father's prostitute. He's been in and out of the juvenile justice system and experienced just about every horrible thing you can imagine--from abuse as a child to losing millions of dollars in the stock market. Nevertheless, he persisted. Check out today's episode and discover how life circumstances are all just a matter of perspective. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

He's a sought after mattress celebrity, but we managed to get a few moments with the infamous Dr. V, otherwise known as Alan Vonder Haar of Miskelly Furniture. Dr. V is the current Director of Bedding and we chat all things strategy--from identifying areas of opportunity for sales associates even during their best sale months to making trainings into a rewards program people actually want to attend--even on their day off!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

What do milking cows, Sleep Train and accountability have in common? Hernani Alves. In this episode, we chat with the former President of Sleep Train and current CEO of Balanced IQ Leadership, Hernani Alves and discuss the difference between managers and leaders and how being held accountable by others is a form of love.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message

We're chatting baseball, marketing and....vaccinations? Yes. The big question on today's episode is whether or not you should consider using vaccinations as a part of your marketing strategy. Will it help or hurt? What do your employees think and feel? Each side has strong feelings and in a retail environment, it can be hard to navigate. Listen in as we discuss those who have implemented vaccinations into their marketing strategies and how vaccinations are also changing the workforce landscape.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mattresspodcast/message