Unpacking the mattress sellers

Great article in the NewYorker about the humble mattress and the various disruptors that have tried to upend the market. Some tidbits:

• Waterbeds peaked in the mid-eighties capturing 12-15% of the market
• The innerspring mattress is the most old-fashioned type and is the most popular. (It was invented in Berlin in 1871)
• Mattresses have a mark up of 40-50%!
• In 2010, less than 1% of mattress purchases were online; in 2018 it was 45%.
• Five companies do 60-70% of the manufacturing (Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Serta, Simmons and Sleep Number)

The article is really well written, super funny and should be a must read for anyone curious about the world.