Why We’re Much Safer Shopping Online Than We Think

The pandemic fast-tracked many of us into buying even more homeware and furniture online. But is this trend here to stay, or have we already returned to our favourite retail parks and high streets for all our interior design needs? And just how confident do we feel purchasing big-ticket items like mattresses online?

Furniture Village, one of the UK’s biggest furniture retailers, might have the answer. They looked at how many times people in the UK searched for ‘buying mattresses online’ in the last three years and discovered that after an initial spike during the pandemic, the trend is now reversing.

When stores and showrooms closed during the lockdown, it wasn’t possible to test out different mattresses in person, so many people changed their behaviour and headed online. Unsurprisingly, searches for ‘buying a mattress online’ increased by a huge 42% from 2019 to 2020.

However, this surge in online ordering stopped as soon as furniture stores reopened, with searches decreasing by 14% in just 12 months.

But this was somewhat expected according to Iain Marsh, Product Manager for Beds: “Many aspects of buying a mattress are a little trickier when you’re shopping online, especially if you want to compare mattresses side by side or get expert advice from sales consultants. We’ve found that many customers want to come in-store to take advantage of our wide choice of mattresses and the knowledge of our sleep experts before they purchase on our website.”

Furniture Village has over 50 stores all around the UK, and its Store Finder Tool makes it easy to pop in and test out its huge range of mattresses in person. Like Furniture Village, many furniture retailers nowadays have a split presence with physical and online stores. This dual approach allows customers to shop online with much less trepidation. On top of this, consumer regulations protect people shopping online if they regret their purchase for whatever reason.

“We’ve introduced lots of new features to our website to make online mattress shopping easier than ever before. Filters allow you to shop mattresses by size, type, comfort rating, brand and price range, while our Mattress Finder Tool personalises the shopping experience so you can find the best mattress for you in just a few clicks. Plus, thanks to our Live Chat and Online Sales Team, customers can speak to a real human and access expert mattress advice from the comfort of their own home,” Iain Marsh explains.

Buying a mattress online can save time and money (after all, there’s no need to jump in the car and drive all the way to the store and back). But how do we make sure we choose the right mattress so we don’t regret the purchase later on? Luckily, the best tips are also quite easy to follow:

• Set your budget from the start, and don’t forget to include other essentials like mattress protectors and toppers. Use the price filters that exist on most online shops to narrow in on your top mattress choices.

• Do your research. Read about the pros and cons of various options before committing to a brand or a mattress type.

• Buy from trusted retailers and check their ‘Contact us’ page for ways to get in touch with a mattress advisor.

• Try out various mattresses in-store. It will give you peace of mind and make your decision much easier.

• Check the delivery timelines offered on the online shop.

• View the payment options available. Do you want to pay upfront or in instalments?

• Ask questions. Don’t hesitate to use their online chat service or to call their sales team to ask for more information.

• Double-check your information before finalising the purchase, especially your address!

In the end, whether you prefer to buy your mattress in-store or love the convenience of online shopping, each option comes with perks. But if safety is on your mind, following the tips above will help make online purchases as trustworthy as the traditional store visit.

Furniture Village has put together a quick guide on how to buy a mattress online with more handy tips here: https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/mattress-buying-guide-considerations.html.

You can also explore all the new interior design styles for 2022 on the Home of Inspiration hub: https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk/the-home-of-inspiration

ENDS

For more information:

Paige Aldred

tmwi, acting on behalf of Furniture Village: https://www.furniturevillage.co.uk

outreach@tmwi.co.uk

01789 404180

Note to editors:

Furniture Village is one of Britain's largest independent furniture retailers with 54 stores nationwide. Since 1989, it has remained a strong family business, offering high-quality, beautifully designed furniture at a great price.

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