A mattress is arguably one of the most important purchases anyone will ever make. With an expected lifespan of eight years, it is vital customers select the correct mattress that fulfils their specific needs. This is why anyone serious about ensuring comfort and longevity in a mattress shops at one of Galway’s leading bed specialists, Better Bedding, which, for three decades, has been synonymous with quality and excellence in relation to beds, ensuring that the people of Galway always enjoy the benefits of a quality night’s sleep.
Reputation, service, and price have been key to Better Bedding’s success
Reputation, service, and price have been key factors in the success of Better Bedding during its long tenure in Galway.
Established in 1990 at Castle Street (now the location of Edward Square ), when that area underwent development, the business took the bold decision to relocate to the Sean Mulvoy Road, where it has remained since 1997. The business took the decision to relocate when the area was being developed into its current state.
With a fine reputation already firmly established there was little need to change the overall direction of the business and great emphasis was placed on continuing to develop good relations with customers by ensuring that high standards of customer service were maintained.
Neil Kilmartin says; “Better Bedding has a superb reputation and the reason for its popularity is down to a couple of things: the service for one thing. Upon entering the shop customers are greeted by friendly and attentive members of the Better Bedding sales team, and this exceptional service continues until the moment your product arrives at your front door. If we say we will be out to you on a Friday then there is no messing about, we will be there. It is a prompt and efficient delivery service. Then there’s the price. Our products are competitively priced and our delivery is free of charge for all customers.”
“The commitment of the staff to the business and to the customers has been excellent. Some staff members have been here for more than 10 years, so lots of customers ring asking for a specific member of staff by name; they have that familiarity with the shop and the sales staff.
"It is all about traditional customer service. We know a lot of customers by name and they know us. This helps us create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for people to shop in.
“We do not try to hide the fact that we are a specialist bed shop. We can provide different beds and bases, beds that cater to the specific needs of the customer, such as height, back problems, etc. As a specialist bed retailer, we are committed to ensuring that every product you buy is tailored to your specific needs,” says Kilmartin, who explains that the success of the business after all these years has been maintaining the balancing act of service, price, and the quality of the product, as well as the wonderful people of Galway.
“We've been in business almost 30 years now. Galway is a great town to do business in. Many of the people here recognise the importance of supporting local businesses. There are two great colleges here, a fantastic tourism sector, and a host of different industries. With all three combined together, there’s business to be done 52 weeks of the year.”
Investing in the customer experience
Those driving past on the Sean Mulvoy Road will probably notice Better Bedding's eye-catching new purple signage. And the impressive exterior to the store is complemented by wonderful interior refurbishment which was completed in mid 2019. For Kilmartin, the revamp of the showroom was needed to enhance the customers' shopping experience at Better Bedding.
"The decision to update the showroom was done to enhance the customer experience. We are Galway's premier bedding store and we believed for customer comfort that a revamping of the showroom was necessary. We have more space making it easier for customers to browse one of the 20 beds on display, the many different bed frames, and our selections of bed sheets, mattress protectors, as well as the new area for our blinds. We are delighted with what we have here today and have received a lot of positive feedback from our customers."
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One aspect of the evolving industry that has changed significantly in recent years is the number of people shopping online. Although the ease and convenience of purchasing a mattress having never left your sofa may seem like a tempting prospect for some, this is something that Kilmartin strongly discourages.
“Buying online is extremely convenient for customers. However, buying online means that customers are receiving mattresses that they have never tested or seen. The team at Better Bedding always advise customers to lie on any prospective mattress for at least 15 minutes before they consider purchasing it. You will have a mattress for an average of seven to eight years, so testing it is extremely important."
'An investment in your health'
The ability to get adequate amounts of undisturbed sleep will have both an instant and long-term effect on your wellbeing. One of the biggest problems affecting this ability is the old, uncomfortable, or damaged mattresses many of us are sleeping on. Allergies, weight gain, and even snoring can be attributed to a lack of sleep caused by an unfit mattress. Even decision making can be affected by a bad mattress because the less comfortable you are on your mattress while you try to sleep, the greater the chance that sleep is disturbed throughout the night. A lack of good, undisturbed, sleep adversely affects the part of your brain that controls speed and accuracy leading to poor decisions. Kilmartin believes purchasing a new mattress is "an investment in your health".
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He says; “There is plenty of evidence highlighting the importance and impact that sleep has on our health. Obviously people know that there are negative effects to bad night's sleep to the next day's decision making, but may not know that a bad's night sleep can lead to weight gain because when you are tired, you think you are hungrier, which makes you start to crave high-fat and high-calorie foods. So when you decide to purchase a new mattress, you are not only investing in a mattress, you are purchasing a good night’s sleep.”
One of the longest stockists of trustworthy Respa beds in Galway
Better Bedding is one of the longest stockists of Respa products in Galway.
Well known for its top quality mattresses, Respa is an Irish company based in Oldcastle, Co Meath. In the showroom, Better Bedding also stocks a range of beds by UK manufacturer Dunlopillo. Another Oldcastle company that features heavily in the Better Bedding showroom is Troscán, an Irish company that specialises in bedroom furniture. “Stocking products by Irish companies is very important for customers these days. With the right price, people will always buy Irish. Buying from Irish companies grants us a greater degree of flexibility when it comes to buying certain products. Their quality is excellent, and their delivery is seamless.” says Mr Kilmartin, who adds that Better Bedding is also extremely flexible when it comes to the specific needs of its customers.
Once the customer has decided on what mattress to buy, Better Bedding has all the necessary accessories to make a stylish statement in any bedroom. “Our beds are the focal point in our bedrooms, so when people come to us at Better Bedding they obviously want a mattress that will provide them with a good night’s sleep, but they also desire something that will be visually impressive. Anything you could possibly need for your bedroom is available here, from specialist bed linen, extra deep fitted sheets, mattress protectors, quilts, throws, quality Foxford pillows and duvets, timber/metal/bay window poles, and Swish rails; it’s all here. There are also matching bases and headboards that come in over 30 different colours, so there’s always a great deal of choice for the customer.”
As well as stocking a variety of bed sizes, specialist beds are also available, which is particularly handy when sourcing a bed to fit an awkwardly sized room, or to suit back problems, etc, there is also a selection of zip and link beds and trundle beds (perfect for having a spare bed that can be folded away easily and neatly ) and a large selection of ready-made curtains in various types of materials and colours; many of which adorn the showroom.
So, if you are looking for the perfect bed from a company you can trust, visit Better Bedding on the Sean Mulvoy Road. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am to 5pm, and closed on Sunday.
For more information contact 091 756766 or email [email protected], alternatively you can log on to www.BetterBedding.ie.
