The Sealy Posturepedic Elite Hybrid tops the brand’s latest lineup.
TSI’s Paula Higginbotham heralds the new 2025 line
By Gordon Hecht, YSN Contributor
Welcome to the first edition of “Money in the Mattress,” a new monthly series featuring the bedding industry’s top suppliers. We kick things off with Paula Higginbotham, national account manager at TempurSealy, who provided a look back, and ahead, at all things TSI.
Give us some background on TempurSealy.
Sealy was founded in 1881 in the town of Sealy, Texas, when Daniel Haynes, a cotton gin builder, filled a request for a cotton-filled mattress. Over the next 140 years Sealy has become a dominant brand in the U.S., Canada and worldwide.
Meanwhile, in the early 1970s, NASA engineers developed memory foam to relieve astronauts of the incredible G-forces experienced during lift-off. Tempur-Pedic International, through its Swedish partners, began experiments to perfect the NASA formula for consumer use. After nearly a decade and millions of dollars of research, the company introduced an improved version — the proprietary TEMPUR pressure-relieving material, and was awarded the “Certified Technology Seal” from NASA, verifying that the underlying product technology was derived from our country’s efforts and experiments in space.
Tempur-Pedic International acquired Sealy in 2013. We changed our name to Tempur Sealy International and are known in the industry as TSI. We are a publicly-traded corporation and our products are currently sold in over 80 countries under the TEMPUR, Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Sealy Posturepedic and Stearns & Foster brand names.

What new TSI products will we see at next week’s Las Vegas Winter Market and at AVB’s 2025 Summit in March?
The entire line of new 2025 Sealy Posturepedic will be featured at the shows. The launch will be the focus; retailers who haven’t already chosen their lineups can spend time looking at the product and figuring out what their floors will look like in 2025.
In addition to the Posturepedic product, we will have a selection of Stearns & Foster, Tempur-Pedic, Carrington Chase and Sherwood along with our adjustable bases. Tempur-Pedic pillows and accessories that help build tickets and margins will also be on display. We look forward to being able to talk about all our products with retailers at the upcoming shows.
How can TempurSealy help BrandSource members increase foot traffic, revenue and margins?
TSI continues to offer support to our retailers through our Retail Edge program. This exclusive program provides shopper-focused solutions that deliver a connected and personalized experience throughout the journey-to-purchase.
Retailers can choose from a variety of products in the TSI portfolio that drive high margin dollars as well as drive traffic, with national advertising for Sealy, Stearns & Foster and Tempur-Pedic.
For the third consecutive year, TSI will be increasing our national media investment, led by a significant increase in Sealy advertising.
What do you see as the hottest price points for 2025?
The $2,000-plus price points continue to thrive at retail. However, the biggest opportunity is below that.
The new 2025 Sealy Posturepedic is a strong lineup in those price points, with a bold new aesthetic as well as exclusive support technology in our all-new spring units. TSI will continue to invest in our brands and product innovations. Our marketing support will drive consumer consideration in these products.
What can BrandSource members do on their own to increase their mattress business?
Level up advertising investments with mid-funnel advertising tactics to pull through consumer demand. This will drive mattress shoppers to your store and will be key to increasing your mattress business.
Mid-funnel advertising content should connect back to TSI’s national advertising to remind shoppers why they need a new mattress and move them to the point-of-purchase faster.
Also use solution-based, co-branded advertising to pull through consumer demand and drive traffic to your stores and websites.
Be sure you activate national promotions on time. Take advantage of the assets that are provided and make sure pricing is correct online so that customers know you are having a sale. Pair your promotions or unique offer with solution messaging to capture attention during peak periods to close more sales.
How can our members “win the holiday” now that the buying cycle has gone back to the traditional ups and downs around major seasonal events?
Retailers who use co-branded assets and an omnichannel media mix outperform those who don’t take advantage. If you activate an omnichannel strategy during key holidays, you will see an increase in engagement.
It is essential to remain competitive in today’s environment. What that means is to fully activate the holidays. Make sure your homepage is updated with the promotional messaging, check that the sales prices are correct on the floor and online, and use co-branded assets in advertising.
What are some other keys to winning in bedding in 2025?
Go through your checklist to make sure you are ready to win in 2025. Are you properly merchandised for sleep-system selling? Are your RSAs [retail sales associates] trained on sleep-system selling best practices? Are you activating sleep system offers during promo events?
Make sure your plan includes advertising Sealy Posturepedic as well as updating product detail pages and digital assets with current creative. Be sure both your display and your RSAs are ready to sell, and optimize with POP for the floors. Review training and compensation for your RSAs.
Another important part of succeeding in 2025 is to focus on the premium mattress segment.
What advice would you give to an appliance dealer who is looking to add mattresses to their assortment?
We know that adding a new category to your business can be overwhelming, time consuming and frustrating.
TSI has developed the ideal solution for appliance retailers looking to find success in the bedding business. The Amplify program is a true turn-key gallery program that’s designed to both simplify and elevate the mattress shopping experience for your customers and your RSAs.
Our Amplify program offers a complete setup of a superior in-store shopping experience, giving you the essential competitive edge in your respective marketplaces. This program also offers customized advertising assets and a kickstart marketing program. It is designed to bring awareness and drive traffic to your new mattress gallery.
Most important, this program offers a necessary level of personalized support to expand into the bedding category and ensure continuous growth in bedding sales year after year.
For any current bedding retailers who are looking to take their business to the next level, the average increase you can expect is 30% when you convert to the Amplify program. It’s really the perfect solution for appliance retailers and any retailer who is looking for the simplest way for success in the bedding category.
What were the biggest changes in mattress products and marketing over the last five years?
There have been a lot of changes over the past five years. One is that customers are omni-channel now. They want to be able to purchase online and in-store. The customer is coming into stores educated and more prepared to shop. It is becoming more important to make sure that your message is omnichannel in order to meet the customer where they are.
TSI provides extensive co-branded advertising assets in your omnichannel plan that will move your business to top of the list.

How does TempurSealy give back to the communities where it maintains offices and factories?
TSI has an ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in the world. There are projects to create positive environmental and social impacts.
From a social aspect, since 2011 we have donated more than 240,000 mattresses to charities. TSI donates beds that benefit disaster relief organizations, veterans’ homes, military charities and homeless shelters.
In addition, since its inception in 2017, the Tempur Sealy Foundation has invested more than $5 million in high-impact healthcare, social service and educational organizations, providing support and relief to those in need. Its mission is to improve the lives of children and families.
Contact Paula at paula.higginbotham@tempursealy.com and be sure to visit TempurSealy at AVB’s 2025 Summit in March.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.