Exercise and Sleep

“Excuse me… can you please help!” I said weakly. The large man in the muscle shirt ran over to me and pulled the bar with a twenty-five pound weight on each side off my neck. I could breathe again, and the man said to me as he walked away, “May not be a bad idea to get a spotter.” Being the hot-headed teenager that I was, but not dumb enough to say anything, my anger brewed inside of me as I digested this man’s innocent words. Later that night, after a sorry excuse of a workout, I lied down on my mattress and the ache in my back throbbed.

Have you ever worked out real hard, and then lied down on the mattress to feel that ache in your back? I always assumed that was a good thing, but then I later found out from a trainer at Spectrum Fitness that the ache in your back is not a good thing because it generally means you are lifting too much weight. Still in my teenage years of invincibility, it was hard news to hear. However, today I am twice as old as I used to be and I now understand that exercise is extraordinarily vital to healthy sleep.

Obesity is often attributed to many sleep problems; one of the most common sleep ailment is sleep apnea. People who are diagnosed with sleep apnea repeatedly stop breathing while they sleep. This condition can be scary because a loss of oxygen to the brain can lead to serious conditions such as stroke, heart attack and congestive heart failure. Not to mention that sleep apnea deprives the human body from receiving sleep that helps the body recover. Now, I am not a physician, so if you think you suffer from sleep apnea, then please treat that condition first. Once you have that condition under control, then consider getting with your doctor on a weight loss program. Studies have shown that weight loss often improves, and sometimes even cures, sleep apnea.

If you’re interested in a gym, then check out Olinde’s Mattress Superstore at Southdown’s neighbor, Spectrum Fitness Southdowns. Plus, Olinde’s Mattress Superstore provides a 10% discount to all Spectrum members if you are in the market for a new mattress as well J Spectrum Fitness Southdowns is located at 4355 Perkins Rd. in Baton Rouge or you can call them at 225-923-3490 or check out their website at www.southdowns.spectrumfitness.com

- Andrew Olinde, Jr.

The Dreaded Guest Bed

Okay, so you finally got your husband to put down the TV remote and clean the room you refer to as the “junk room.” You had the garage sale, and now you have the guest bedroom for your in-laws to enjoy when they are in town. So, now what do you do about a guest mattress set? What is the right amount of money to spend? You really should not be worried about price. You should be worried more about quality.

At least a half dozen times a month I will get a customer in the store who is strictly looking for a guest mattress set. They always start with the same thing: “This is just a guest bed, so I don’t want to spend too much.” At Olinde’s Mattress Superstore we do not want to go against a customer’s wishes, therefore I always do what is called “bottom-up selling.” I go to cheapest mattress set that we have and I have the customer try it out. Then I try to get them to the sweet-spot for a guest mattress set – see attached video of the “sweet-spot:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRA9L7DKToM 

Here are three questions you need to ask yourself. One, if your in-laws or best friend came in to spend a long weekend at your home, then would you feel comfortable having them sleep on a poor quality mattress for three straight days? The answer should be no, because you will probably feel embarrassed if your best friend came down for breakfast on a Saturday morning holding their aching back. Two, at most, how often will a guest be on your guest bedroom mattress set a month? I have never had a customer say more than 10 times a month. Therefore, you can multiply the expected life of your guest mattress set by at least three times. And believe me, the salesperson should know how long a mattress set should last. Three, would you feel comfortable moving your current mattress set into the guest bedroom, and upgrading your own mattress? I have no answer for you on that one.

From a consulting point-of-view, I try to let my customers know that if question number three is out of the question, then you need a good quality mattress set that will not break the bank. At Olinde’s Mattress Superstore we have three great options: the Restonic “Gentilly II Gel Series,” the Sealy Posturepedic “Colonial Park,” or the Restonic “Bristol.” Each mattress set is not priced too high, is quality-made, and has a life-span of at least five years if it were slept on full-time; therefore, these guest mattress sets should last at least fifteen years.

If you are in the market for a guest bedroom mattress set, then feel free to come into Olinde’s Mattress Superstore’s two locations (4201 Perkins Rd. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana or 10218 Sullivan Rd. in Central, Louisiana), call me at 225-378-3003 or email me at andrew@olindes.com.   

It’s So Hot!

“People tell me that Tempur-Pedic mattresses sleeps hot.” I often hear this statement from customers who are shopping for a mattress at Olinde’s Mattress Superstore. My response to this statement is generally along the lines that in the past few years most companies have added new technology in certain lines of their mattresses to keep those mattresses cool. Tempur-Pedic’s line with the added technology is called the “Breeze” (see below for image of Tempur-Pedic's "Rhapsody Breeze"). Sealy Posturepedic’s line is called “OptiCool,” and Restonic’s line is called “Outlast.”



For the sake of this blog we will refer to this technology as Outlast, and the world’s greatest minds came up with this technology. Outlast was created and used in NASA’s space suits to regulate temperature for astronauts. Then, somehow, someone came up with the bright idea of making mattresses cooler.

Have you ever woken up in a puddle of sweat? It’s pretty unpleasant. So, the point of Outlast in a mattress is to prevent people from waking up in a puddle of sweat, or from kicking their covers off in the middle of the night, or from putting their thermostats on 64º. To make things even better, this Outlast technology is supposed to keep you cool for about seven hours each night.

If you want to intensify the coolness of your mattress even more, then here are a few additional suggestions. One, consider a latex mattress. Latex mattresses are heat neutral, so the mattress won’t warm up with your body heat nor will it be too cool in a cold room. Two, place a mattress protector on your mattress. Olinde’s Mattress Superstore sells a Dri-Tec mattress protector by Bedgear that is made with a material that actually wicks away moisture and it is a breathable material that will keep your mattress cool. The final suggestion would be to put low thread count sheets on your bed. I know it sounds funny, but the higher quality, higher thread count sheets have a tendency to act almost like a blanket that traps heat in the mattress.

If you would like more information, then please feel free to come into Olinde’s Mattress Superstore’s two locations (4201 Perkins Rd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana or 10218 Sullivan Rd., Central, Louisiana), call me at 225-378-3003 or email me at andrew@olindes.com.

- Andrew Olinde, Jr.     

Floor Model Sale... Gross or Great?

From time to time Olinde's Furniture or Olinde's Mattress Superstore has what is called a "Floor Model Sale." Basically, the customer gets a huge discount on a piece of furniture or a mattress that has been used on the showroom floor as a model; hence "floor model" sale. Now, for some reason or another, customers generally have a strong opinion about floor models.

I work as a salesman at Olinde's Mattress Superstore in Baton Rouge, and mattresses are a perfect example to explain why customers react in one of two ways: "Gross!" or "Great!"

"Gross!" For many customers the idea of sleeping on a floor model mattress is disgusting. By the time I decide to sell a floor model at Olinde's Mattress Superstore, at least one hundred customers have laid on the mattress. So, I understand. The customer does not want to sleep on a mattress every night that a multitude of strangers have tested. However, let me try to explain why it is not so gross.

"Great!" In my experience, the customer who buys Olinde's Mattress Superstore's floor models are price driven customers. Could it be that these customers don't mind a little dirt? No, I believe it is because price driven customers are looking for the absolute best possible deal. Floor model mattresses are the best possible deal because they are heavily discounted (sometimes as high as 50% off). Okay, so saving money does not explain why floor models are not gross. Here are three reasons why they are not gross:

1) Customers are supervised when they try out our mattresses. They are not taking off articles of clothing or shoes when they try our mattresses. Plus, every mattress comes equipped with a shoe guard to keep shoes from dirtying the mattress, and pillows come equipped with napkins to keep a customer's head off the floor model.

2) I am just as concerned as my customers about keeping our floor models clean. Cleanliness is important on our showroom. Plus, what customer in their right mind would buy a dirty-looking mattress? You got it, no one. 

3) Very few people sleep directly on their mattress. Every mattress should have a mattress protector/cover and a set of bed sheets. So, there should be two barriers between the person and the surface of the mattress. That explains why it feels nice to get into a bed with a fresh set of clean bed sheets.

Floor model mattresses are a great way to save money, while getting the exact same mattress at a discounted price. Yes, there may be minimal wear and tear, but the condition of the mattress is still outstanding. Furthermore, if the floor model mattress was not in sell-able condition, then Olinde's Mattress Superstore would not sell it as a floor model.

If you are interested in any floor model sales at Olinde's Mattress Superstore or Olinde's Furniture, then please feel free to come into our locations, call me at 225-378-3003, or email me at andrew@olindes.com.

- Andrew J. Olinde, Jr.    

“You Can Finance with No Interest?”

A married couple came into Olinde's Mattress Superstore the other day and were shopping for a new mattress. They were both tired (literally) of sleeping on the same old mattress they had when they first got married twelve years ago. They both had good jobs, but they had three little girls all under the age of ten. And as many people know it is quite expensive to have children, but it is especially expensive with three daughters.

This couple had saved for months in order to get that new mattress they needed for better quality sleep. When they came into Olinde’s Mattress Superstore they fell in love with the Tempur-Pedic “Cloud Supreme Breeze” (see picture below). The couple was disappointed when I gave them the price. It was out of their range, so I showed them some other options. However, both of their eyes kept looking back at the “Cloud Supreme Breeze.”    

Then the husband (the spender) turned to the wife (the accountant) and said, “Sweetheart, I really want the Tempur-Pedic.” The wife declined her husband’s plea because the price was more than they had agreed on to spend. I informed the couple that Olinde’s Mattress Superstore has 24 months no interested financing. I waited for a moment as the wife slowly turned towards me, and I did not know whether to stay where I was or run. Her face was emotionless. Then she smiled and said, “You can finance with no interest?”

So, let’s do the math. The Tempur-Pedic queen size mattress set was $3,199, and that amount was out of their price range until I suggested 24 months no interest financing. Remember, this is interest free financing over a 24 month period. Therefore, when you spread the total amount over 24 monthly payments, the couple’s payment was only $133.30 per month. That amount was well within the wife’s monthly budget.

SNEAK PEEK ON THIS SATURDAY'S (4/19/14) V.I.P SALE: Olinde’s Furniture, Olinde’s Mattress Superstore and Ashley Furniture HomeStore will be having a V.I.P. sale this Saturday only which will include 20% Off and 24 months no interest financing. Shhh… J

- Andrew Olinde, Jr.  

Don’t Forget the Bedding Accessories

As the sales manager at Olinde’s Mattress Superstore I always try to tell customers they are not just buying a mattress, they are buying a sleep system. Sleep affects daily things in people’s life, from the mood you are in to your body’s ability to heal itself. So you are not “just buying a mattress,” you are buying a sleep system that can improve your quality of life.

Here’s the breakdown of the sleep system. The mattress is always included. That’s the easy part. The hard part is thinking about the other four variables: 1) Power base 2) Box spring 3) Mattress protector 4) Pillow. Let’s begin. A power base takes the place of a box spring, and it works well for customers who snore or have acid reflux. It also works great for customers who like to watch or read in bed (see picture below). How much does it cost? Remember that by not purchasing the actual box spring, you save an average of about $150. Then, you take into account that we have adjustable bases that start out at $799.

The box spring is the most common variable purchase for a sleep system. The box spring gives support and comfort to the mattress, and the box spring is almost always included in the mattress set price. The next variable is the very important mattress protector. Why is it important? Because every mattress has a warranty, and any type of stain on a mattress will void the warranty. A mattress protector will protect the mattress from stains and the potential of the warranty being voided. Olinde’s has queen size mattress protectors that start out at $89. Finally, the fourth variable is the pillow. 25% of your comfort during sleep is based upon the pillow.  Olinde’s Mattress Superstore has 19 different pillow options for our customers. Each pillow has a specific design that fits the need of a wide range of different comfort needs, from a pillow designed for someone who sleeps on their side to a pillow designed to sleep one degrees cooler at night (see picture below). We have pillows that start out at $59.

 



I tell you these things because when you sit down to estimate how much you want to spend on a mattress, please consider the whole sleep system, not just a mattress. Take into consideration the four variables that go into a sleep system in your estimation. But more importantly, always remember that we spend 8 hours a day on a mattress, so make sure that sleep time is spent receiving quality sleep that can improve your life.    



The Best Kept Secret in Bedroom Furniture

Do you want a more comfortable mattress? Are you looking to replace that scratched up headboard? Before you make that purchase, consider the best kept secret in bedroom furniture; the platform bed. Why is it the best kept secret? A platform bed allows the customer to save on the mattress set, while purchasing a beautiful new bed.

Here’s the explanation: mattresses are almost always priced as a set, and the set consists of the mattress and the box spring. Both the mattress and the box spring have a separate price. For example, the queen size Stearns & Foster “Tuscan Summer Villa” box spring retails at $308. A platform bed does not need a box spring; however, it almost always needs a board to go over the slats that line the bed (see image below for clarity). This queen size board retails at $79.

In this particular scenario, the customer would save $229 if they chose a platform bed, rather than a traditional bed that requires the box spring. Olinde’s Furniture has many platform beds, and they start out as low as $499. Therefore, by choosing the platform bed, the customer is getting the best value for his or her dollar and a beautiful new look as well (see image below of Legacy Classic’s “Heritage Court” platform bed).

 

 

- Andrew Olinde, Jr.

 

 

 

 

How Long Should a Quality Mattress Last?

Working at Olinde’s Mattress Superstore, I get many different questions from customers. From the old man who asked why don’t manufacturers make flip mattresses anymore to the middle aged woman who asked which mattress is the coldest? Each question is valid, and like my second grade teacher always said, “There is never a stupid question.” 

 

Many customers look at a mattress as an investment. Therefore, a common question I get is how long do mattresses last. The life span of a mattresses depends on two variables:

1) The type of material in the mattress. The hierarchy of material that goes into a mattress starts at the top with latex, then comes memory foam and then comes polyurethane foam/coils. A quality latex mattress should last fifteen years. A quality memory foam mattress should last ten years. And the combination of a quality polyurethane foam/coils mattress should last seven years.

2) How you treat your mattress. If you let your kids jump on the bed and you and your wife use your mattress to slide down the stairs, then take a few years off the above estimated numbers. However, if you use a mattress protector and the mattress is used primarily as a sleep system, then you can add a couple of years to the above estimated numbers.

If you have any questions about which mattress is right for you or you are in the market for a new mattress, then please feel free to come into Olinde’s Mattress Superstore or Olinde’s Furniture (4 locations), or call me at 225-378-3003 or email me at andrew@olindes.com.

- Andrew Olinde, Jr.   

Hello Viewers!

My original entrance into the family business was not on a good one. It was the first week of summer after 8^th grade and my mother had enough of me acting up around the neighborhood. She stuck her finger three inches from my face and yelled, “Andrew Johnson Olinde Junior, it’s time for you to grow up!” The next thing I know she was on the telephone with my stern grandfather, J.B. Olinde. The next day I was cleaning out the old advertising closet on the second floor of Olinde’s Furniture & Appliances.

For the next nine summers I spent my time working in the warehouse, the credit department, and the accounting department. From time to time I would get pulled away from my work in order to do an odd job around the showroom floor under the supervision of the store manager, David Olinde. I learned a lot over those nine summers, and I even met my future wife, Mary Shortess Olinde, the summer after sophomore year of college. After graduation my grandfather and uncle, Thomas Olinde, made a wise decision that I still appreciate to this day; they rejected my plea to start my career at the family business.

Therefore, I went out and saw what it is like in the “real world.” I did not necessarily like it, so I went back to school and got a Masters of Business Administration. Afterwards, I worked five years in the health insurance business. Finally, one day as I was plugging away at a group quote for a large employer in Vidalia, Louisiana, my Uncle Tommy called and asked me if I wanted to work for the family business. I was ecstatic! Life has matured and humbled me, and I am going to make the best of my new career as store manager of Olinde’s Mattress Superstore.

- Andrew Olinde, Jr.