One-stop bedding store celebrates its opening today

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 17

One-stop bedding store celebrates its opening today

The First Floor, situated above the Waterbedroom on the corner of Colombo and Tuam Streets, opens today, June 1.

The First Floor, sonamed because it is on the first floor of the building, is a “total bedding store.” The concept of a store selling only beds and bedding is new to Christchurch, says the owner-operators, Belinda Fraser and Kevin Reid, who also own the Waterbedroom. “We sell waterbeds, which make up 20 per cent of the bedding market.

“By selling a comprehensive range of other types of beds, we can pass on our service to the rest

of the market,” they say. Mrs Fraser and Mr Reid pride themselves on the quality of their service, which draws on their extensive knowledge and experience in selling bedding. “We help the customer choose the bed which is right for them. Everyone has different needs. We match the bed to the customer. We find out what they need and give the correct advice. Our aim is not simply to sell a bed, it has to be. the correct bed.

“We spend one third of our lives in bed. Buying a bed is a major purchase in furnishing a home, so buying a bed is a major decision,” they say.

Buying a bed should be

a well thought out decision.

The first step in assisting the customer to buy a bed is to find out what kind of surface they like — medium, hard or soft. Most beds are made with the three options.

At the First Floor, customers have the unique opportunity to try out three different kinds of beds — innerspring, waterbeds and futons. With an innerspring mattress, the firmness is altered by the depth of the foam and the springing. With some models, it is possible for each side to have a different firmness. One partner may like a soft mattress, the other firm. Beds can be made to suit both.

Kevin Reid says beds are one. of the most under-rated products on the market, yet they are one of the most important. Beds are not perceived by the public as an exciting product to buy.

"It is amazing the discomfort people put up with. They do not realise how uncomfortable they are, and do not know how well they would sleep on a good surface or how good they would feel in the morning after a sound night’s sleep,” he says.

Most New Zealanders spend between 20 and 25 years sleeping on the same bed, but overseas, people change their beds every 10 to 15 years.