upfront

Wake-Up Call

Dealing with cultural burnout, consumers are looking to create peaceful spaces

New York-based color services and forecasting company FS. As a design lover, finding out what the next big thing — or things — will be is akin to the holidays and one of my favorite times of the year.

During the call, FS showcased colors that will soon be popular in everything from fashion to furnishings. One range of colors, in particular, stood out to me. Titled Briny Hues, the palette included rich colors meant to capture tones like olives in martinis or the crushed velvet of a purple banquette.

So, what do plush seating and cocktails have to do with sleep? Well, according to Hallie Spradlin, director of visionary at FS: “Briny Hues evokes a sense of sacred savoring, encourag ing us to relish fleeting moments.” FS, which selects colors based on overarching consumer sentiments and current events, predicts that, this year, people are looking to luxuriate however they can. Because bedrooms are spaces to recharge, this could be a positive sign for the industry. Similar to the pandemic, when customers were renovating their homes, it could mean shoppers will once again turn their attention inside.

MUTED ELEGANCE The Briny Hues palette includes many rich colors.

In addition to the FS forecast, leading paint and home decor companies announced their 2025 picks for color of the year. (Take a look on page 24.) Whereas last year was awash in bright blues, this year’s colors are dominated by purples and other saturated hues like brownish reds and deep blues as customers seek to create sanctuaries where they can decompress.

One retailer that’s helping shoppers create restful spaces is Sleep Shop by Custom Home Furniture Galleries in Wilmington, North Carolina. We visited the family-owned business for our latest Retail Road Trip, which starts on page 17. The store-within-a-store concept is run by bedding veteran John Rainey, who closes more than $1 million annually in sales. Luckily for our readers, he was willing to share some of his best sales advice — check out his tips on page 21.

Want more? In contributing writer Julie A. Palm’s latest Tip Sheet (page 36) she shares some leadership lessons for retail bedding managers from a surprising source.

Although this issue is full of retail wisdom, I want to remind our readers that this is just one source. Between issues, visit SleepSavvyMagazine.com for daily news stories and subscribe to our biweekly Shop Talk newsletter for strategies.

No matter where you consume your Sleep Savvy content — happy reading.

Kathryn Greene Senior Editor