The BedBuzz

As Mattress Firm celebrates its 40th Anniversary , We welcome one of the company's most influential leaders, Chief Merchandising Officer Philip Busker , for the first of a special two-part conversation. Philip joined Mattress Firm in 1989 as a salesperson and quickly became one of the company's top performers. From there, he helped launch and grow franchise operations in Austin, San Anto...

As we approach the 40th Anniversary of Mattress Firm, this week's episode of The BedBuzz is a special re-release of Harry Roberts Tells His Story , originally recorded on the Dos Marcos Podcast . It's one of the best conversations ever recorded about how Mattress Firm got its start and the people who built it. Harry shares the incredible journey of three young friends from South Dakota w...

Steve is the bestselling author of Circle Selling , S.M.I.L.E. , and his newest Amazon bestseller, Managing to S.M.I.L.E. In this episode, Steve joins us for a powerful conversation about leadership, self-management, personal growth, and helping others reach their full potential. You'll learn why great leaders don't control people...they empower them. Steve shares practical lessons from...

Our guest is Jody Putnam, Chief Retail Officer of Mattress Firm and one of the best leaders in the business. Jody shares his incredible journey from delivering beds and working operations to leading retail sales for the largest mattress retailer in the world. This episode is packed with real talk about leadership, sales, urgency, creating customer trust, and what separates top performers from the...

Our guest is Todd Youngblood—an inventor, entrepreneur, and true mattress industry pioneer whose uncle actually invented the waterbed! Todd shares his incredible journey from developing airbeds with built-in pumps, to creating products sold at Walmart and Target, to building Chilipad and now launching Geli Sleep. A few highlights from the episode: • How solving one simple problem turned into a $30...

This episode features TJ Hathorne and Jesse Abreu from Tempur-Pedic, and it’s loaded with practical on the floor insights.  If you’re selling on the retail floor right now, especially with Memorial Day around the corner, this is one you don’t want to miss. A few highlights: • Simple ways to create urgency without pressure and stay “in the pocket” longer with customers • Powerful Tempur-Pedic selli...

This episode is all about creating urgency and helping our guests make great decisions today so they can start sleeping better tonight. A few highlights from the show:  Great salespeople create urgency because they believe they are helping, not pushing   It starts with an enthusiastic greeting and a strong first impression   Use the sale event. If they don’t hear it and feel it, it doesn’t exist ...

This week we sit down with a true legend of our industry — Bob Hellyer . Bob is a fourth-generation mattress guy who literally grew up in a factory and went on to help shape some of the biggest brands and ideas in our business. This episode is packed with stories, insights, and a few all-time “golden nuggets.” A few highlights from the episode:  From a Chicago mattress factory in the 1800s to toda...

We’re excited to share a great conversation with Annie Rodenbeck , Field Sales Manager at Purple and a longtime friend of the mattress industry. Annie’s story starts out selling mattresses on the retail floor and has grown into a leadership career helping others succeed. Along the way, she shares some great insights and a few memorable stories. A few highlights from the episode: Annie’s journey fr...

Our guest is Brandon Bain, Co-Founder & CEO of Bedhead  (and yes… he started on the sales floor at Mattress Firm). What you’ll hear in this episode: From Fish Camp to Founder: Brandon shares how he entered Mattress Firm through the first corporate sales internship program (back in 1998) and what that experience taught him about the entire business — not just the sales floor. The “Trusted Advis...

We’re joined by Katy & Greg Law from Sweet Dreams Furniture & Mattress — two incredible entrepreneurs who’ve built a Dream Team culture that customers (and competitors) can feel the second they walk in the door. A few highlights you’ll love: 💍🏁 Katy & Greg’s “triple-crazy” start: graduated, got married, moved, and opened Sweet Dreams in 2002 🎯 Culture that wins: how they built clear...

A brand-new episode of The BedBuzz is live and we’re having a blast talking about the books that built us : the ones that shaped the way we lead, sell, think, and live. A few highlights from the show: “Read 10 pages a day.” Simple challenge, big impact — especially during downtime in the store. Sam Walton’s Made in America — merchandising obsession, humility, and the power of “Satisfaction Guarant...

 Our guest is Steve Hockett, one of Harry’s closest lifelong friends and now literally family. Steve also brings a powerhouse business story. He spent 30 plus years with Great Clips, starting as a franchisee and eventually becoming CEO, including leading the brand through the chaos of COVID. A few highlights you’ll hear in this episode: • From franchisee to CEO and the perseverance it took to get...

Season 4 is officially underway! In this episode we kick off the season by looking back at the best moments and top golden nuggets from the past year, with plenty of laughs along the way. 😄 A few highlights from the episode: • Consistency wins. Doing the program every time beats trying to reinvent it.  • Want a pay raise? Go back and listen to the episodes on adjustable bases and closing. 💰 • Co...

We're proud to release our 60th show all-time and the final episode of 2025 ! 🥳 Our guest is Missy Friel, Director of Retail Learning , who’s been with Mattress Firm for 16+ years . Missy starting on the sales floor and now helping shape how thousands of Sleep Experts learn, grow, and win. A few highlights you’ll love: Missy’s big belief: Learning is a journey, not a destination 🛤️ The secre...

Our guest is Tera Starr , one of Mattress Firm’s all-time superstars who: Started on the sales floor and climbed all the way to Regional VP of Sales and VP of Learning & Development 🚀 Shares how role play, clear goals, and “make a friend, make a sale” became the backbone of her success Talks about being the first female RVP , leading huge regions, and now shaping the next generation as a prof...

In this episode we sit down with Than Hancock, Chief Sales Officer at Podium, to talk about: Why sleep is a leadership strategy and not a luxury 😴 How “speed is empathy” and why the fastest response usually wins the sale Why texting gets 209% higher response rates than phone, email, or Facebook How Podium’s AI can be like the best employee you ever hired for under $3/hour How to become your custo...

We’re joined by Terry & Sam Utt of Sleep USA , a father–son duo building a winning, values-driven brand across TN, NC, and GA. Short, punchy, and full of takeaways you can use today. ☕️💥 Episode Highlights Think Like an Owner : The mindset shift that changed everything for Sam (it can work for you too)...and how it powers five straight years of record sales . 📈 Culture First : Over-communic...

We sit down with industry powerhouse Mark Kinsley (Sleep Summit, The FAM, former Englander CEO) for a fast, fun, insight-packed episode. 🚀 Episode highlights: Origin story: From radio DJ to TV anchor to mattress industry change-maker “Hybrid” moment: How the term reshaped consumer language and drove real market share wins Leadership mantra: Be kind. Be honorable. Be bold. Retail gold: Ask more qu...

 This week’s guest is Cody Crimmins , Mattress Firm's Eastern ND area manager, whose journey from small-town North Dakota to Rookie of the Year is a master class in grit, growth, and heart. From “accidentally” selling his first mattress to leading one of our strongest markets, Cody reminds us that people are always more important than the product we sell. ❤️ Highlights Eastern ND wins & w...

 This week’s show is packed with golden nuggets to help you win with every guest who walks through the door. ✨ Highlights from this episode: A big shout-out to Jared Hardy in Minot, ND 👏 – honored with the Eagle Award from the Chamber of Commerce for outstanding customer service. Jared reminded us it’s never just about selling—it’s about listening, caring, and treating people the right way. A de...

Darin Lewin joins us to share how he went from Hartford, South Dakota to co-building Mattress Firm’s largest franchise. His story is packed with lessons in sales, leadership, and the courage to bet on yourself. Episode highlights: ⚡ “Transfer of enthusiasm” — the #1 sales advantage. ☎️ Phone still wins: Sell the appointment with energy and clarity. 🧭 Follow the steps: Skip the steps, skip the sa...

We’re thrilled to welcome back TJ Hathorne from Tempur-Sealy — aka the Closer Extraordinaire — to break down what it really takes to close the sale and help more guests say YES . Here are a few highlights: 🧠 The #1 reason most salespeople don’t close (and how to fix it) 💬 Magic language like: “Is this the bed you can see yourself sleeping on?” 🔑 The art of the trial close and how to get the lit...

This week we sit down with a true Mattress Firm OG — Scott “Scooter” Davis — who’s about to celebrate 34 incredible years with the company this July 5th!  From his early days delivering beds in a little red Mazda pickup to now leading store execution across 2,200+ stores, Scooter shares his inspiring journey filled with hustle, humility, and heart ❤️. In this episode: How Scooter earned his nickna...

 We sit down with the legendary Dan McGuire — a guy who’s done it all: 🛏️ Helped take Mattress Firm coast to coast 🎣 Hunted, fished, and sold beds like a beast 🗽 Ran mattress stores in Manhattan 🔥 Rolled out two-hour delivery 🙏 And shared his powerful story of sobriety and service From selling with Jack Smith to navigating the streets of NYC to becoming one of the most respected real estate mi...