New store owner Shirley Saunders was impressed with the revitalized appearance of King St
Things are moving fast for Cozy Mattress and Bed store President Shirley Saunders. After spending over 30 years in the retail business selling furniture and mattress, last April she took a big step forward and purchased the store where she worked in Newcastle. On September 6th she will open a second location in Millbrook and in October she plans to launch her flagship store in Uxbridge.
These three locations share a common theme- they still have that small town feel and they are underserved in the retail department. Saunders is looking to change that.
The new store will offer a wide range of brand name mattresses produced primarily in the GTA, so orders will be filled within a few days. The only imported mattress is a new Scandinavian product that comes rolled tightly to allow easy transportation so it can go up steep and winding stairs that prevent access to traditional beds.
One of the most significant parts of her business is custom mattresses, which are produced within a week. There are many reasons customers look for custom sized mattresses. Some of these items are produced for campers and RV applications, but others are used for antique or handmade beds where the dimensions are not the standard size.
Part of Saunders’ competitive strategy is to keep her costs low so her product remains affordable. Customers can expect to pay between $500 to $700 for a quality Queen size mattress and box spring set. To achieve this, she hires only one full-time staff for each store. This provides a steady, full-time income to her staff who can easily work all of the business hours which are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5pm.
In addition to mattresses, the store will also feature beds, frames, pillows, bed linens and bedroom accessories- in short, everything you need in a bedroom. Drop in and check out this new member of our business community. KG
