CASE HISTORY

THE APPROACH

Three Foolproof Strategies

A 20+ year working history with Sit ‘n Sleep has helped Wingman hone in on the key ingredients for successfully selling a considered purchase. We found there are three foolproof marketing strategies that ensure considered purchase advertisers compete successfully in any market conditions.

1: BUILD CREDIBILITY

In 1991, the Los Angeles broadcast world was in a frenzy because New York City shock jock Howard Stern was bringing his controversial show to 97.1 FM. Stern was dogged by bad press for his raunchy radio show, but for advertisers he was a sought-after pitchman. His warts-and-all on-air honesty earned him untouchable credibility with his loyal audience and he had enormous success lending it to fledgling brands.

Stern hit the L.A. airwaves and immediately became the number one morning show with the prized male 18 – 49 demographic. The radio show was the perfect vehicle for building Sit ‘n Sleep’s credibility. In live reads, Stern urged his loyal listeners to go to Sit ‘n Sleep and pay a visit to his buddy, CEO Larry Miller. Immediately, Sit ‘n Sleep’s sales went through the roof.

3: EDUCATE THE CONSUMER

Change the Conversation

The great recession did major damage to the United States housing market. As an industry closely tied to the housing market, the mattress business was in serious trouble. By 2007, Sit ‘n Sleep had reached $100 million in annual sales. But the great recession hit hard. By 2008, Sit ‘n Sleep fell to just $79 million in annual sales. Once people’s property values fell, they stopped using their homes like ATMs and the mattress business suffered. The common retail philosophy was to ‘just have another sale’ but when people don’t have any money or can’t get credit, another sale won’t help.

Miller decided, “We have to change the way we talk to people.”

Changing Sit ‘n Sleep’s message required some intense research. It was one study that changed the conversation completely. “The average mattress will double its weight in ten years as a result of being filled with dust mites and their detritus.” – The Wall Street Journal article revealed.
According to the study highlighted in the article, a mattress can double in weight after eight years due to the accumulation of dead skin cells, body oils, sweat, and dust mites. Miller wanted to change the way Sit ‘n Sleep talked to people and wound up changing the entire conversation.

Replace Every 8

Educate the consumer

Research showed that a lot of people knew their quality of sleep is linked to their health, success and overall well-being, but they didn’t instinctively connect that to a mattress. They were open to the suggestion but they hadn’t made that connection for themselves. They needed to be told.

This new educational campaign raised the river of the Southern California mattress market, but Wingman then needed to redirect the waters to Sit ‘n Sleep. Consumers needed to be reminded that Sit ‘n Sleep is the mattress expert. They had long-standing employees, and a bed match system to find the perfect mattress for your body type. People knew that a mattress was a huge health decision and they needed to feel comfortable making the right one.

Where previously a mattress was something that consumers had little interest in investigating, now they wanted to know everything. To further the educational messaging, Sit ‘n Sleep aired subsequent broadcast and digital media campaigns informing the public about how sleeping on an old mattress can cause weight gain, sleeping-pill abuse, and trigger allergic reactions.

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