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

supporting companies

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

Agenda

May 12

  • 1:00pm — Golf Tournament – Aileron Golf Club @ SunSeeker Resort
  • 6:00pm – 8:00pm — Sunset Party – Tide’s Edge @ SunSeeker Resort

May 13 — Conference Day 1

  • 8:00 — Registration, Exhibits & Breakfast

  • 8:55 — Opening Remarks

  • 9:00 — What 10 Years of Sleep Shopping Data Reveals about Where the Industry is Headed

  • 9:30 — CEO Panel: Strategy in the Age of the Informed Customer

  • 10:15 — Networking, Meetings & Exhibits

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

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

  • 11:25 — Upsell Like a Pro: Turning Every Ticket into a Treasure

  • 1:20 — Moving Sleep: Solving the Supply Chain for Bulky, High-Expectation Products

  • 1:50 — Panel: Is Mattress Manufacturing Over-Engineered — or Not Engineered Enough?

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

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

  • 11:25 — Whatever Happened to Sustainability?

  • 1:20 — Smart Sleep Tech — Turning Data, Sensors & AI into Consumer Value

  • 1:50 — Panel: AI in the Sleep Business — From Demand Forecasting to Final Delivery

May 13 — Conference Day 1

  • 12:05 — Lunch, Meetings & Exhibits

  • 2:20 PM — Networking, Meetings, & Exhibits

  • 2:40 PM — Consumer Research

  • 3:10 PM The SleepNXT Workshops

  • 3:45 PM King Koil x Boys & Girls Club Activity

  • 4:05 — End of Day 1 Programming

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

  • 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM — Awards Dinner

  • NightCap Event

May 14 — Conference Day 2

  • 8:00 — Registration, Exhibits & Breakfast

  • 9:00 — The State of Sleep and Real Estate: The 18-month outlook. What Real Estate Trends tell us about Bedding Demand in 2026-2027

  • 9:30 — Cutting Through the Clutter: Messaging that Captures Consumer Attention

  • 10:15 — 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.

  • 10:45 — Furniture Today Team’s Closing Remarks

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.

Headline Sponsor

Premier Sponsor

Sponsors 

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

Georgia Wilcox

Category Manager for Mattress and Recliners, Slumberland Furniture

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.

Travel

We’re excited to host SleepNXT at Sunseeker Resort Florida Gulf Coast, Curio Collection by Hilton – a premier waterfront destination on Charlotte Harbor that matches the energy and innovation of our conference.

With sweeping water views and coastal-inspired design, Sunseeker offers a relaxing, elevated stay with beautifully appointed guest rooms and signature Sunsuites™. Between sessions, enjoy seven on-site restaurants, multiple bars and lounges, two outdoor pools (including a rooftop oasis), plus a full-service spa and wellness center and 24-hour fitness facility.

Whether you’re networking on property or exploring downtown Punta Gorda, Sunseeker sets the stage for an unforgettable SleepNXT experience.

Nearby Airports:Sunseeker Resort is convenient to several Florida airports, making travel easy for attendees flying in:

  • Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) – approx. 5.6 miles / ~15 minutes

Other Airport Options:

  • Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW – Fort Myers) – approx. 42 miles / ~50 minutes
  • Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) – approx. 57 miles / ~1 hour 10 minutes