As athletes spotlight their performances on the world’s biggest stages, Gardner White is betting that better sleep - and smarter furniture - will drive everyday performance at home.
“Performance matters. We did the math. There are 800,000 Detroiters sleeping on our mattresses right now,” CEO Rachel Stewart said during an appearance on Live in the D. “That’s a lot. You need results, and those are the results.”
Stewart said the retailer’s core lesson is simple: personalization wins. “Not one mattress fits everyone. And if a company tells you that, just turn the other way,” she said. “We have over 100 different mattresses in every single showroom, which is double what you’ll find anywhere else.”
Instead of relying on gadgets to map pressure points, Gardner White emphasizes trained experts who match sleepers to technologies and materials based on real-life habits. “What you really want someone to understand is the technology that’s going to suit you. How do you sleep - on your back, your side, your stomach? Do you sleep hot? Do you sleep cold?”
She likened the process to finding the right denim. “I always want to equate it to jeans. What woman would think one pair of jeans is going to look good on everyone? No one.”
Beyond mattresses, Stewart highlighted a sectional sofa upholstered in performance fabric that resists stains and wear. “This is, as far as I’m concerned, one of the best innovations in furniture,” she said. “You spill red wine, it’s going to bead up, you’re going to wipe it off.” The piece features Crypton fabric from a local company and is a Jonathan Louis design made in California - a collaboration Stewart called “really forward-thinking.”
To watch the segment, click on the video above. To find the nearest store location, visit Gardner-White.com.