The Bedding Industry is Always Evolving. So Are We.

A Premier Event of

furniture-today

05.12.26

  • May 12–14, 2026
  • Sunseeker Resort | Charlotte Harbor, FL

What is SleepNXT?

SleepNXT is the premiere event for innovation in the sleep industry. We unite retailers, manufacturers, and service providers in one dynamic space to exchange ground-breaking ideas, demo next-gen products, and shape the future of retail.

  • Exchange ground-breaking ideas
  • Test next-gen products
  • Shape the future of retail

Who Attends?

SleepNXT attracts leaders from across the bedding, mattress, and home furnishings ecosystem—including traditional and hybrid retailers, ecommerce brands, and major big-box stores.

The Decision Makers

C-suite executives, VPs, and Directors overseeing merchandising, sales, sourcing, and engineering.

The Innovators

Product innovation leads and R&D specialists looking for the next breakthrough.

OPERATE & GROW
MERCHANDISE & INNOVATE

What to Expect

Practical strategies, industry connections, and data-driven insights you can’t get anywhere else.

Retailer-Led Content

Sessions rooted in real challenges: marketing, staffing, product innovation, and CX.

Tactics for Tomorrow

Practical strategies, tools, and scripts designed to boost conversions immediately.

Ecosystem Connection

A rare environment where manufacturers and retailers actually solve shared challenges.

Data-Driven Answers

Guidance to refine assortments and margins powered by Furniture Today intelligence.

20+ Sessions

Actionable insights covering retail strategy, consumer shifts, and emerging tech trends.

25+ Speakers

Hear directly from C-suite leaders and disruptors shaping the future of sleep retail.

2 Content Tracks

Targeted learning paths designed specifically for Merchandising and Operations leaders.

Innovation Zone Exhibits

Experience next-gen materials and smart-sleep technology before it hits the market.

Interactive Workshops

Roll up your sleeves in collaborative sessions to solve real-world retail challenges.

Dedicated Meetings

Private networking blocks designed to foster meaningful partnerships.

Honor an RSA at SleepNxt

The Retail Sales Awards (RSAs) at SleepNXT celebrate the retail sales associates who raise the bar in mattress and sleep accessory selling—through product knowledge, customer care, and consistently strong performance on the sales floor.

Each year, Furniture Today recognizes five outstanding associates, with nominees evaluated against peers in comparably sized retail organizations and across all retail channels (home furnishings, specialty sleep, department stores, and more).

Ready to nominate a retail rock star?

Speakers

Bill Papettas

CEO, Mattress Warehouse

Session: From Mattress to Ecosystem: Building a Sleep Brand Consumers Trust

Scott Kerby

Chief Owned Retail Officer, Purple

Session: Upsell Like a Pro: Turning Every Ticket into a Treasure

Ethan Stover

Chief Retail Officer, NFM

Session: Upsell Like a Pro: Turning Every Ticket into a Treasure

Alison Keane

President, International Sleep Products Association and Mattress Recycling Council

Session: Whatever Happened to Sustainability?

Agenda

May 12

  • 12:30pm — Golf Tournament – Aileron Golf Club @ SunSeeker Resort
  • 5:00pm – 7:00pm — Sunset Party – Tide’s Edge @ SunSeeker Resort

May 13 — Conference Day 1

  • 8:00 — Registration, Exhibits & Breakfast

  • 8:55 — Opening Remarks

  • 9:00 — Opening Keynote: “The AI Awakening — How Technology is Rewriting the Rules of Selling Sleep”

  • 9:30 — Keynote Panel: From Mattress to Ecosystem: Building a Sleep Brand Consumers Trust

  • 10:15 — Networking, Meetings & Exhibits

TRACK 1 — Operate & Grow (People • Process • Profit)

  • 10:45 — Hire / Fire / Inspire: The New Labor Playbook

  • 11:05 — Panel: Moving Sleep: Solving the Supply Chain for Bulky, High-Expectation Products

  • 11:45 — Upsell Like a Pro: Turning Every Ticket into a Treasure

  • 1:20 — After the Sale: The Forgotten Profit Center

  • 1:40 — Panel: Is Mattress Manufacturing Over-Engineered — or Not Engineered Enough?

  • 2:20 — Workshops — “The Sleep Sessions”

    • Operational Excellence: Streamline fulfillment, delivery, and returns.

TRACK 2 — Merchandise & Innovate (Assortment • Experience • Margin)

  • 10:45 — Sleep Disrupted: What Consumers Want in 2026

  • 11:05 — Panel: Smart Sleep Tech — Turning Data, Sensors & AI into Consumer Value

  • 11:45 — Whatever Happened to Sustainability?

  • 1:20 — From Bedrooms to Boardrooms: The B2B Boom

  • 1:40 — Panel: AI in the Sleep Business — From Demand Forecasting to Final Delivery

  • 2:20 — Workshops — “The Sleep Sessions”

    • Social Selling Bootcamp: Build your influencer and video toolkit.

    • SleepAI: Test AI tools that personalize customer journeys.

May 13 — Conference Day 1

  • 12:05 — Lunch, Meetings & Exhibits

  • 3:05 — SleepNXT and WITHIT Panel: Breaking the Glass Ceiling in the Bedding Industry — Women Leading Change

  • 4:05 — End of Day 1 Programming

  • 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM — Cocktail Party (Sponsored by Ashley Furniture)

  • Awards Dinner

May 14 — Conference Day 2

  • 8:00 — Registration, Exhibits & Breakfast

  • 9:00 — Fireside Chat: “The State of Sleep”
    An economist and a leading retailer decode consumer spending, housing, and retail demand for the next 18 months.

  • 9:30 — Marketing That Works (and What Doesn’t)
    A crash course in campaigns that actually move mattresses—from influencer collaborations to geo-targeted ads and local events.
    You’ll leave with: A ready-to-run content and ad checklist.

  • 10:00 — Networking, Meetings & Exhibits

  • 10:30 — Closing Keynote: “The Frictionless Future”
    A look ahead at how the business of sleep will evolve—from predictive logistics to AI-driven comfort personalization—and what it means for every link in the supply chain.

Sponsorship

Amplify Your Impact at SleepNXT.

SleepNXT offers a comprehensive suite of sponsorship opportunities designed to help your brand connect with industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in the sleep ecosystem. Whether you’re aiming for broad visibility or targeted engagement, we have options to align with your goals.
From high-visibility branding opportunities like lanyards, swag bags, and conference signage, to immersive experiential activations on the show floor, SleepNXT gives sponsors the platform to shine.

Key ways to get involved include:

Golf Tournament Sponsorships

Tee up with top industry partners at our SleepNXT golf outing, complete with branded holes, player gifts, and premium networking opportunities on the course.

Conference Lanyards & Badges

Make a lasting impression with logoed lanyards seen on every attendee throughout the event.

Educational Workshops & Breakout Sessions

Lead or support interactive workshops where attendees gain actionable insights and hands-on learning.

Panel Sessions

Feature your executives or thought leaders in high-profile panels on stage, positioning your brand as a category authority.

Keynote Sponsorships

Be the exclusive sponsor for our marquee keynote presentations, with featured introductions and premium placement.

Fun Receptions & Networking Events

Elevate our signature socials, happy hours, and evening receptions with your brand as the host — ideal for relaxed, memorable engagement.

Custom Experiential Zones

Create branded lounges, demo areas, or rest & recharge spaces where attendees can connect with your team in meaningful ways.

Digital & Onsite Advertising

From event apps and email blasts to signage and session sponsorships, amplify your message across all attendee touchpoints.

Exclusive Giveaways & Swag

Delight attendees with curated branded items that keep your company top of mind long after SleepNXT ends.

Our sponsorship packages allow you to blend brand visibility, thought leadership, and direct engagement in ways that fit your strategy. Join us at SleepNXT to elevate your presence, build lasting relationships, and drive measurable impact in the sleep innovation community.

Sponsors 

supporting companies

Advisory Board

Jerry Thomas

Director of Stores, Boulevard Home

Mary Domito

Founder & Owner, Taos Lifestyle

Michael Wipfler

Director of Sales, Mueller Furniture and Mattress

RJ Williams

Co-Owner, Jacksonville Bedding Mattresses & More

Join Us at the Sunset Party

Join us at the opening night reception in sunset style at the SunSeeker Resort’s top event space, situated right on the water and west facing for picturesque sunsets.

Innovation Zone Exhibits

The Innovation Zone will feature exhibits from the industry’s most cutting-edge companies.

  • Retail & Consumer Experience
  • Bedding, Materials & Manufacturing
  • AI & Tech

Introducing the Innovation Zone — a new way to experience sleep retail. Experience exhibits from the industry’s most cutting-edge companies in three major areas: Retail & Consumer Experience, Bedding, Materials & Manufacturing, and AI & Tech.

This is not just an opportunity to showcase your products, but also to receive recognition

Each Innovation Zone exhibit will be visited by a panel of judges made up of retailers and advisory board members. Using a scoring sheet, judges will select one winner in each of the three categories.

Winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner, and each will be invited on stage for a brief acceptance speech.

Swing Into SleepNXT

Level up your game at Aileron Golf Club. French for “little wing,” Aileron takes its name from the trailing edges of an aircraft wing, which help stabilize and steer during flight — and just as ailerons guide a plane, this world-class course will guide your golf game to new heights. Home to lush greens, year-round sun, and distinctive course design, this golf experience is the perfect way to kick off your SleepNXT event experience with attendees for optimal networking and fun.

Workshops

Hands-On, Interactive Workshops That Drive Real Results
SleepNXT’s interactive workshops are designed to move beyond theory and into real-world application. These highly engaging, small-group sessions give attendees the opportunity to roll up their sleeves, ask questions, and walk away with practical strategies they can implement immediately.

Our workshops focus on three critical pillars shaping the future of sleep and retail:

AI & Technology

Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming everything from demand forecasting and personalization to customer engagement, inventory planning, and operational efficiency. These sessions demystify AI and focus on real use cases, tools, and next steps.

Operations & Supply Chain

Dive into strategies for optimizing logistics, improving margins, increasing speed to market, and navigating today’s complex supply-chain environment with confidence and resilience.

Merchandising & Retail Strategy

Learn how to build smarter assortments, tell better product stories, optimize floor sets, and align merchandising decisions with evolving consumer expectations.

Led by industry experts and practitioners, these workshops encourage open discussion, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving. Whether you’re a retailer, manufacturer, supplier, or service provider, SleepNXT’s workshops are built to deliver actionable insights, meaningful dialogue, and tangible takeaways — making them one of the most valuable experiences of the conference.

Venue

We’re thrilled to host SleepNXT at the spectacular SunSeeker Resort Florida Gulf Coast, Curio Collection by Hilton, a premier waterfront resort destination that perfectly complements the energy and innovation of our conference.

Set on scenic Charlotte Harbor with breathtaking water views and luxurious coastal-inspired design, the SunSeeker Resort delivers a blend of relaxation, style, and world-class amenities that make every stay memorable. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be immersed in comfort — with beautifully appointed guest rooms and signature Sunsuites™, premium bedding, and thoughtful touches throughout.
After a day of sessions, unwind with a choice of seven on-site restaurants, multiple bars and lounges, two outdoor pools (including a rooftop oasis), and a full-service spa and wellness center. Stay active in the 24-hour fitness facility, enjoy waterfront strolls, or simply soak in spectacular sunsets over the harbor.
Whether you’re attending sessions, meeting with peers, or exploring downtown Punta Gorda, SunSeeker sets the stage for a truly exceptional SleepNXT experience.