Sit 'n Sleep

Sit 'n Sleep is an American mattress retailer headquartered in Gardena, California. The company operates a regional chain of stores concentrated in Southern California and, according to the cited Wikipedia reference, had 36 locations as of 2024. It is described as one of the largest independent mattress retailers in the United States, although it remains a privately held business rather than a publicly traded national chain. The business began in 1980 when Phil Miller and his son Larry Miller opened a store in Culver City. The original operation was called Rivera Convertible Sofas and was built around the emerging popularity of futons and convertible furniture. The Millers had encountered futons during a 1971 trip to Tokyo and subsequently sought a California manufacturer. The futon trend initially provided a rationale for the business, but demand weakened and the store struggled during its early period. The company later shifted toward a broader mattress-retailing model. Advertising became central to the brand's recovery and identity. In 1982, a suggestion from a radio-station manager led the company to purchase inexpensive radio spots. The advertisements helped revive customer interest, and later campaigns on television and The Howard Stern Show contributed to a substantial increase in the company's profits during the early 1990s. Larry Miller became the public face of the retailer. The advertising frequently used his energetic delivery, the fictional accountant Irwin, and recurring price-beat claims. The slogan promising to beat an advertised mattress price or make the mattress free became particularly associated with the brand, as did the response “You're killing me, Larry!” Family ownership eventually produced a strategic disagreement. Larry Miller wanted to broaden the stores' product range, while Phil Miller opposed that expansion. Larry bought out the company in 1996, after which the business continued under his leadership and expanded its mattress-retailing presence. The company later experienced pressure during the late-2000s downturn in the mattress industry. The cited reference reports that revenue declined from $99 million in 2006 to $79 million in 2008, illustrating the sensitivity of the business to reduced consumer demand. Sit 'n Sleep's assortment centers on mattresses, with related sleep products such as adjustable beds, bed frames, and bedding. Its retail proposition combines a physical-store shopping experience with broad product selection, price-oriented advertising, and a recognizable local personality. The company has also used supplier and community partnerships for charitable activity. In 2015, it partnered with Tempur-Pedic during Fire Prevention Week to donate more than 250 mattresses to Southern California fire departments; a previous effort in 2013 reportedly donated 140 mattresses. As of the supplied reference material, Sit 'n Sleep remains an active regional retailer with its stores located in Southern California.

Sit 'n Sleep traces its origins to the Miller family's involvement with convertible furniture in Southern California. Larry Miller grew up in West Los Angeles and worked in a variety of jobs before helping his father, Phil, at a convertible-bed store in Culver City. During a 1971 trip to Tokyo, the two encountered futons and became interested in bringing the concept to California. They sought a manufacturer in the state and eventually opened their own store in Culver City in 1980. The first store was originally named Rivera Convertible Sofas. Its launch coincided with the growing popularity of futons and convertible furniture, but the trend did not remain strong enough to guarantee sustained growth. The business struggled after the initial opportunity faded. In 1982, a friend of Phil Miller who managed a radio station suggested buying advertising spots at a low price. The resulting radio campaign helped bring customers back and established advertising as a central part of the company's operating model. The retailer's profile grew significantly in the early 1990s. It advertised on television and on The Howard Stern Show, and the increased exposure was associated with a doubling of profits. Larry Miller increasingly became the recognizable spokesperson for the business. The commercials used a distinctive, high-energy style and recurring characters and phrases, including the fictional accountant Irwin and the promise to beat any advertised mattress price or make the mattress free. The response “You're killing me, Larry!” also became associated with the advertising. These campaigns helped distinguish Sit 'n Sleep from less personality-driven mattress retailers. The company's direction later became a matter of disagreement between the two founders. Larry Miller wanted to expand the range of products sold in the stores, while Phil Miller preferred a narrower approach. Larry ultimately bought out the company in 1996. Under the subsequent ownership structure, the business developed as a mattress-focused retailer with a wider assortment that included related sleep products. The broader mattress market created difficulties in the late 2000s. A sharp reduction in industry sales affected Sit 'n Sleep, and the cited reference reports a decline in revenue from $99 million in 2006 to $79 million in 2008. The figures illustrate the company's exposure to cyclical consumer spending and changes in demand for mattresses and bedroom furnishings. Sit 'n Sleep also developed a charitable presence through donations to fire departments. The company reported a donation of 140 mattresses in 2013 and later partnered with Tempur-Pedic during Fire Prevention Week in 2015 to donate more than 250 mattresses to Southern California fire departments. The company's advertising claims later attracted legal scrutiny. In 2017, a class action complaint alleged that the mattress-free promise was deceptive because other retailers did not sell identical products for direct comparison. The complaint also alleged that the mattresses were approximately 9 percent smaller than an industry standard. The supplied sources do not establish the final disposition of that litigation. As of 2024, the reference material describes Sit 'n Sleep as an active independent retailer with 36 locations, all in Southern California. Its business remains centered on mattress stores, supported by sales of adjustable beds, bed frames, bedding, and other sleep-related products.

• 2024

  Regional network reported at 36 locations

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  The cited reference described the active retailer as operating 36 locations, all in Southern California.

• 2017

  Advertising claim challenged in court

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  A class action lawsuit challenged the company's promise to make a mattress free if it could not beat another advertised price.

• 2015

  Fire Prevention Week partnership

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  Sit 'n Sleep and Tempur-Pedic donated more than 250 mattresses to Southern California fire departments.

• 2013

  Fire-department mattress donation

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  The company donated 140 mattresses to Southern California fire departments.

• 1996

  Larry Miller buys out the company

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  After a disagreement over whether to broaden the product range, Larry Miller bought the business from his father, Phil Miller.

• 1990

  Television and national radio exposure expands the brand

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  During the early 1990s, advertising on television and The Howard Stern Show helped the company achieve a major increase in visibility and reportedly doubled its profits.

• 1982

  Radio advertising becomes a growth tool

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  The company began placing radio advertisements after a suggestion from a radio-station manager. The campaign helped revive the struggling business.

• 1980

  First store opens in Culver City

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  Phil and Larry Miller opened the first store under the name Rivera Convertible Sofas, initially focusing on futons and convertible furniture.

• 1971

  The Millers encounter futons in Tokyo

  [1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  Phil and Larry Miller traveled to Tokyo, where they saw futons and became interested in having them manufactured in California.

A regional, independent mattress retailer positioned around broad in-store selection, competitive pricing, and memorable personality-driven advertising.

• Sleep products · 1980

  Mattresses

  Mattresses are the retailer's core offering and the foundation of its store identity. Sit 'n Sleep's sales model is built around helping customers compare and purchase mattresses in physical retail locations, supported by price-oriented promotions and advertising. The supplied sources do not provide a complete brand-by-brand catalog or identify specific proprietary mattress models.

• Bedroom furniture and sleep equipment

  Adjustable beds

  Adjustable beds are a flagship adjacent offering within the retailer's broader sleep assortment. They extend the business beyond conventional mattresses by providing motorized or position-adjustable sleep platforms. The supplied references identify adjustable beds as a major offering but do not specify particular manufacturers, models, or technical features.

• Bedroom furniture

  Bed frames

  Bed frames complement the mattress purchase and form part of the retailer's bedroom-furnishing assortment. They provide the structural base for mattresses and may be sold alongside other sleep products. Detailed model, material, and brand information is not provided in the cited reference material.

• Bedding

  Bedding and sleep accessories

  The retailer also sells bedding and related sleep accessories. These products broaden the purchase beyond the mattress itself and support a more complete bedroom-shopping proposition. The supplied sources do not enumerate the specific accessory categories or product brands.

• 2017

  Challenge to the mattress-free advertising promise

  A class action lawsuit alleged that Sit 'n Sleep's claim that it would beat any advertised price or make the mattress free was misleading because competing retailers did not necessarily sell identical products. The complaint also alleged that the mattresses were 9 percent smaller than an industry standard. The supplied sources do not state the final outcome.

  Source

Read more

• 2015Fire Prevention Week mattress donation

  Southern California

  Sit 'n Sleep partnered with Tempur-Pedic to donate more than 250 mattresses to Southern California fire departments during Fire Prevention Week.

  Outcome. The activity supported fire departments and extended the retailer's community and philanthropic presence.

  Source
• 1990The Howard Stern Show and television advertising

  United States

  The company expanded its media presence through television advertising and placements on The Howard Stern Show. Larry Miller's personality and recurring advertising language became central to the brand.

  Outcome. The cited reference associates the campaign period with a doubling of profits and a major increase in brand recognition.

  Source
• 1982Early radio advertising

  Southern California

  Sit 'n Sleep began purchasing low-cost radio spots after a radio-station manager recommended the approach. The advertisements helped revive the business after the decline of the initial futon trend.

  Outcome. Business began to recover, and advertising became a defining part of the brand's commercial strategy.

  Source

• 2015

  Partner with Tempur-Pedic for fire-department donationsOther

  Background

  The company had previously supported Southern California fire departments through mattress donations.

  Action taken

  Sit 'n Sleep partnered with Tempur-Pedic during Fire Prevention Week to donate more than 250 mattresses.

  Aftermath

  The partnership reinforced the retailer's community-oriented activities.

  Source

• 1996

  Larry Miller buys out Phil MillerStrategy

  Background

  The founders disagreed about whether the stores should expand their product range.

  Action taken

  Larry Miller bought out the company and continued the business under his ownership.

  Aftermath

  The company continued as an independent mattress retailer with a broader sleep-product proposition.

  Source

• 1980

  Launch a futon and convertible-furniture storeStrategy

  Background

  The Millers pursued the futon opportunity they had identified after traveling to Tokyo and seeking California manufacturing.

  Action taken

  They opened a Culver City store under the name Rivera Convertible Sofas.

  Aftermath

  The futon trend later weakened, prompting the business to rely more heavily on advertising and eventually develop into a broader mattress retailer.

  Source

• 2015

  Sit 'n Sleep and Tempur-Pedic donated mattresses to Southern California fire departments[1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  As part of Fire Prevention Week, Sit 'n Sleep partnered with Tempur-Pedic to donate more than 250 mattresses to fire departments in Southern California.

• 2013

  Sit 'n Sleep previously donated mattresses to Southern California fire departments[1]Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The company had previously donated 140 mattresses to Southern California fire departments, according to the cited company history.

1. 1Sit 'n Sleepen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sit 'n Sleep official websitesitnsleep.com