The FAM Podcast with Mark Kinsley

In part one with Andrew Gross, we talked to the bedding veteran about the best business book you've never read. It's called New Lanchester Strategy. Gross introduced us to a framework for how to think about market competition. In part two, Andrew discusses how to apply the principles of warfare to gain market share. How do you operate if you're the dominant market player? Well, it's different than...

Andrew Gross is a battled tested bedding veteran who held an EVP position at SSB and was a board member and SVP of marketing for Serta. During his time at Serta, the brand moved from #3 to #1 while doubling EBITDA. He and his team introduced iComfort gel-memory foam, widely considered the most successful new product in category history and ultimately a profitable $500MM+ franchise. When Andrew tol...

What consumers want.  The famous movie from the 90's What Women Want provides inside insights into the mind of women...and it's the same super power retailers wish to possess.  In this throwback episode from 2021, Mark Kinsley and Mark Quinn interview, Jesse Kostuhoski, Vice President of Retail Development for the Furniture and Appliance Mark in Stephens Point, Wisconsin. He is a 25+ year industry...

Blast from the past! In today's episode, we travel back to May of 2020 and relive the advice from Jon Spoelstra.  _____ Sumo wrestler doing a Michael Jordan dunk. That’s the cover of Jon Spoelstra’s book: Marketing Outrageously REDUX.    Dos Marcos have both read the book, used its insights, and had it on their shelves for years.  It was an honor having on the show the former General Manager of th...

Posturepedic for $29.99?! How can that be?  The start of the Sealy Wars is the topic of conversation in this Dos Marcos episode. Bob Hellyer, former EVP at Serta Simmons Bedding, rejoins Quinn and Kinsley to discuss the start of the infamous "Sealy Wars." He's discussing how it started, what went down, and who won. Plus, they discuss the man behind the battle: Ernie Wiluger, and other legends of t...

Artificial intelligence is getting a facelift and it's becoming very real.  ChatGPT it's the next big thing you can't miss.  On today's episode, Kinsley and Quinn host Mike Magnuson, founder and CEO of GoodBed.com and co-host of the galaxy's second greatest mattress podcast, Mike it Up alongside Jeff Cassidy.  So what is ChatGPT? In short, ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI that...

Why reinvent the wheel?  In today's episode, Quinn and Adrienne analyze some of the best and worst superbowl ads from the weekend's big game and discuss how these ads could be made over to fit the industry.  How so? Consider the classic, "is it real or is it acting" Pepsi commercial featuring Steve Martin or Ben Stiller . In the ad(s), the actors play off of the idea that sometimes they love the p...

They say you learn more from your mistakes than your successes.  In the case of Christina Dyer, this has proven true.  We're back for the second part of our special two-part episode.  Do you remember the vision you had when you started your job or founded your company? Do you remember the many mistakes you made? In this episode, Dyer recalls the start of Noble Adventures, the pitfalls it fell into...

"The true test of leadership development are the stakeholders and the people that are impacted by the leader." How do you measure your effectiveness as a leader? Can you quantify it? Can you pinpoint upward growth? On today's Dos Marcos Show, Kinsley and Quinn host Christina Dyer, an Executive Coach, author of the book Savvy Leadership Strategies for Women , and the Founder and President of Noble...

The mattress industry is a family business!   On today's Dos Marcos episode, Kinsley and Quinn, welcome the legendary Bob Hellyer, former Executive Vice President of Serta-Simmons Bedding, to pay tribute to the late Walter Corky Hellyer, his father.    Together, they discuss growing up in the industry, how his father's legacy shaped Hellyer's work ethic, the "Sealy war" and how that changed the in...

Strategies to create billion dollar customer experiences can happen in any industry. Picking up where last week left off, Quinn and Kinsley continue their interview with CxFormula Founder, Jason Friedman. If you missed part one, check it out here . It's an episode you (and your customers) can't afford to miss!

Disneyland isn't the only place capable of making magical memories for its customers. On today's episode, Kinsley and Quinn host Jason Friedman, CEO of CXFormula. Jason has a legendary track record helping brands of all shapes and sizes have unprecedented success with their customer experience. In this episode, they discuss Jason's background and how his love of theater and stagecraft  translated...

Beducation.  It's more than a noun or a descriptor; it's a mattress method and you need to study it.  In this episode, Dos Marcos host the Beducator, Jeff Scheuer, owner of Mattress-to-Go in Shelby Township, Michigan. They discuss Jeff's infamous (and the most famous FAM article ever written), How to Discuss Price Increases with Customers, and the different types of customers Jeff regularly encoun...

Public speaking still tops the list of things human's fear the most.  Also on the list? Dying. Venomous snakes and heights.  Not to fear because Brett Thornton is here to help you change that (or at least alleviate) fear in less than one hour.  Don't believe us? On today's episode, Brett Thornton , Vice President of Retail and VX at Avocado Green brands discusses his new book, " How to Be a Better...

Back for more of the good stuff! We're recapping the best of 2022 from July to November in this episode. We reconnect with Outward Inc., John Merwin and his vertical juggernaut, discuss the notion of sleep experts and discounting versus financing strategies. It's all on today's final recap for Dos Marcos in 2022. 

From Culp Inc. to Nectar, from inflation to employee training, Dos Marcos discussed it all in 2022. In this very special two-part episode, Quinn and Kinsley highlight moments from some of the most popular episodes of 2022. We celebrated Culp's 50th anniversary in January, the great resignation with TSI's Drew Millard in February, how the retail landscape is changing in March, common financing mist...

Pulling the belt buckle tighter on marketing heading into a recession is the worst idea.    In fact, it could be the final nail in your coffin if your business is already on the struggle bus.    In this episode, Quinn and Kinsley discuss retail behavior during an economic downturn both on the part of the consumer and the retailer.  According to Quinn, if everyone else has slowed down and their voi...

Leggett and Platt is saving you and the consumer money by getting rid of the waste.  What part is this you may ask?   In this episode, Kinsley and Quinn are joined by Leggett and Platt's Cody Messner, Vice President of Sales, and Jason Jewett, Vice President of Product Development to discuss:    Innovation and client expectations;   How clear client communication is critical in strategic develop...

"It's not about what  is next, it's about who  it's with." On today's episode, we get an exclusive interview with Mark Quinn and his departure from the mattress retail giant, Mattress Firm. It's an episode filled with heartfelt moments, private insights and wisdom from Quinn as he explains: The reason behind his leaving (don't give into the rumor mill, hear it from the man himself); His fantastic...

Snacking at nighttime is a common habit that you can help. Millions of people every night indulge in a nighttime snack session and most often the snacks are in the less-than-healthy category of foods. In today's episode, Nightfood Founder and CEO, Sean Folkson, joins Kinsley and Quinn to discuss Nightfood - the nighttime snack that actually aids in the sleeping journey and is delicious. Dos Topics...

Asking your parents or siblings for $2,000 around the dinner table is generally a quick way to start an argument.  For Alex Kirkwood, Founder and CEO of the Kirkwood Collection, it kick started his family's investment portfolio in boutique, luxury accomdations and he's never looked back.  In today's episode, Mark Kinsley solo interviews the hotelier investor about: his background,  how he selects...

Deep discounts or finance offers with interest?  Which appeals more to consumers? Inflation is at the highest rate it has been in more than 40 years and consumers are feeling more than a pinch in their pockets. Surprising to some, including Quinn, when it comes to shoppers, consumers are more likely to purchase based on the financing options available more than the deep discounts one advertises. ...

Bashar Wali is a self-proclaimed hotel nerd with major FOMO. This fear of missing out has created a habit — one that’s turned into an unofficial world record: he doesn’t stay in a hotel for more than one night. If he’s in New York City for four nights, he’ll stay at a different property every single night. As a hotelier and road warrior, Bashar has a unique perspective on the sleep environment and...

Have you heard of sleep scursions? If not, they're exactly what they sound like: an excursion dedicated to sleep. Does it sound made up? Well, it isn't and boutique hotels are taking notice. In this episode, Mark Kinsley and Mark Quinn discuss research related to boutique hotels: why people choose them over national chains, how important location is to their destination, and the most important, th...

Are we entitled to call ourselves sleep experts? Do we know what that entails and if so, are we living up to it? On today's episode, Kinsley and Quinn discuss an idea from Dream Camp in conjunction with exclusive FAM data on what contributes to a good night's sleep. They dig deep into why people may not trust an RSA when it comes to which mattress will give them the best night's sleep and how we s...