Mattress shopping can be stressful. To give you the real answers to some of mattress shopping’s toughest questions, we interviewed one of our trained sleep specialists, Dan Murphy, who brings 15 years of expertise to the WG&R Sleep Shop.

Mattress shopping can feel like the wild west if you aren’t sure what you want or need to get the best night’s sleep. Whether you’re test-resting in a mattress store or browsing online options, it always helps to have an expert by your side to ensure you choose the right mattress.

Keep reading for the complete interview with our sleep specialist, or use these quick links to get answers to your most pressing questions. Here’s to sleeping better!

Q1: How do I know it’s time for a new mattress? 

Q2: What is the biggest misconception people have when coming in to shop for a mattress?

Q3: Which questions should people consider ahead of time that will help guide their sales associate in the right direction toward finding the perfect mattress for them?

Q4: What is the benefit of working with a sleep specialist vs. buying online?

Q5: Mattress shopping can be intimidating for some people. How does the WG&R Sleep Shop experience make it easy?

Q6: Which mattress brand/line are you most excited about right now?

Q7: Anything else you would like people to know?

QUESTION: How do I know it’s time for a new mattress?

Dan: For most, our mattress isn’t something we give much daily focus to. But, at some point we begin to notice we’re not as well rested after rising from it as we once were. We may notice more stiffness and brain fog, giving us a less energetic start to our day. Typically, this is due to elevated movement during the sleep period from the body’s attempt to manage ‘gradually increased discomfort from pressure’ to our joints and back. This means the pressure relief materials and spinal support system of the mattress are failing, ultimately presenting as fitful ‘tossing and turning.’ This movement results in our obtaining a lower number of REM [rapid eye movement] cycles, which are critical to restore and maintain optimum function to each organ of our body.

QUESTION: What is the biggest misconception people have when coming in to shop for a mattress?

Dan: In my experience it is the notion that “firmer is better.” I get it, a person with a sore back wants relief and we’ve been conditioned to think this way. However, if a firm mattress is the ticket to slumber bliss, why don’t we simply manufacture mattresses from concrete? ANSWER: Because the human body doesn’t come in the shape of a two-by-four—we have contours and a shoulder complex, which if not properly fitted to the sleep surface, will inevitably result in increased pain or mobility issues. Some people have been instructed by their physician to get a firm mattress, when the doctor should be advising the patient to find a mattress that provides excellent spinal alignment with absence of pressure to the joints. These two elements are the recipe for optimal deep REM sleep which enhances our quality of life immeasurably.

QUESTION: Which questions should people consider ahead of time that will help guide their sales associate in the right direction toward finding the perfect mattress for them?

Dan: Well, for people who’ve had a negative experience, the thought of buying a new mattress can be stressful. So, they should ask themselves a few different questions:

‘Can I be open minded and willing to share my fears and apprehension with a person who is dedicated to do their level best to make me comfortable?‘ The more you communicate, the better the outcome.

‘Am I willing to spend an hour or more with a consultant to gain the knowledge of which materials best work for the personal requirements of my body?’ Please don’t come in thinking you’re going to be ‘in and out’ in ten minutes. A mattress is a health enhancement product, and the more thought you put into your selection; the better outcome you’ll receive.

‘Am I ready to ‘truly focus’ on finding the most beneficial solution to my ongoing discomfort?’ Be prepared to be present and learn; we truly want to help you.

‘I’m so confused ‘where do I begin?‘ The simple response is WG&R. We sell far more mattresses than our competition because of selection, price, and expertise to fit you to the right one.

QUESTION: What is the benefit of working with a WG&R sleep specialist vs. buying online?

Dan: I’ve had the experience of sorting out the unfortunate mistakes, made by many people who’ve taken it upon themselves to purchase a “sleep solution” online. We should remember: ‘marketing hype is designed to prod you to make a buying action.’ Sure, sometimes it works out, however, I seem to see a lot of folks who’ve lost sleep from an online mattress purchase. Most of us prefer a tactile experience as part of a tangible information gathering process. When buying online, you can spend a considerable amount of money on a new mattress based upon what boils down to a guess.  In fact, you have no idea whether you’ll receive adequate spinal alignment and pressure relief as you’re making an emotional decision based upon marketing, rather than from the standpoint of an informed selection from testing mattresses in person. Also, just as important: where are the materials manufactured? WG&R only carries American manufactured mattresses, whose foam materials undergo strict safety analysis via CertiPUR-US^®. With online companies, you often have no way of knowing if what you’re laying your body on is safe for you.

WG&R provides knowledgeable consultants trained to find the best source of mattress comfort for you. We take the quality of your sleep seriously and take pride in what we do for our customers. For generations, WG&R has been serving the families of Northeast Wisconsin. The public doesn’t allow you to stick around that long unless you’ve consistently proven yourself worthy of their trust.

QUESTION: Mattress shopping can be intimidating for some people. How does the WG&R Sleep Shop experience make it easy?

Dan: Yes, people periodically come to the Sleep Shop with a look on their face suggesting ‘I would rather undergo a tooth extraction without nitrous than pick out a new mattress.’ Oftentimes, this is based on a history of failed attempts to find comfort from a mattress they shouldn’t have purchased or a mattress failure, causing anxiety about the next one. Recurrently, people give the mattress purchase ‘short shrift’ when deciding to finally replace it – because they hold onto misinformation. At WG&R Sleep Shop, we ask pertinent questions regarding your history to establish a baseline before proceeding. Then we listen to you, so that we can best guide you toward a mattress with the best history for erasing the issues from which you suffer. Be it back pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, neck or jaw discomfort. Odds are we have a product to bring you significant relief. Based upon the information you provide, we may have you test a mattress with an adjustable base; which is proven to diminish pressure to joints. Remember: pressure on a body desiring rest is antithetical to receiving deep Arcadian sleep. In the final analysis, you are conscious of what you’re feeling when testing the beds, so our process is less about us selling you a mattress and more about you trusting your body to make the buying decision. Meaning, take the new education you receive and apply it toward making a life enhancing selection. This is all about YOU.

QUESTION: Which mattress brand/line are you most excited about right now?

Dan: Tough question. WG&R Sleep Shops carry lines that our market research indicates is held in high esteem with the public throughout the United States. So, basically, the public tell us what we should be offering and, of course, we listen. The Simmons Beautyrest Black series is the royalty of the hybrid mattress, from the company who invented the ‘hybrid category.’ We have the best foam mattress in the industry with Tempur-Pedic. Tempur-Pedic is consistently at or near the top in customer satisfaction and has received accolades from J.D. Power for highest rating of ALL consumer products sold within the United States. I find that quite outstanding. We offer the Purple bed, a fabulous pressure relieving material unlike any other feel in our extensive repertoire, it’s truly unique. Of course, we offer a strong selection in Sealy, perhaps the most trusted name in mattresses. And I can’t forget Nectar, a foam, bed in a box offering that a segment of our customers enjoys. Last, but never least, is the excellent line of beds made at our own state-of-the-art facility in Two Rivers. WG&R has a rich, proud history of mattress design and manufacturing, with materials found at companies within the great state of Wisconsin. Yes, we have a stellar line-up in mattresses, but it’s difficult to focus on one in particular.

QUESTION: Anything else you would like people to know?

Dan: I guess the main takeaway I would hope for is the quality of your sleep has a direct impact on your overall health. We owe it to ourselves and loved ones to take the subject of mattress shopping seriously. You have to come in and do the ‘hard work of laying down.’ Alright, so you’ve come to WG&R Sleep Shop and have become educated and feel confident you’ve made an informed decision regarding the best sleep system for your unique circumstances. Your delivery date has been set and anticipation sets in. Don’t be surprised that after our delivery team has set up your new mattress and you’ve placed new sheets and pillows on it, you could end up too excited to sleep.

Be sure to visit any of our WG&R Sleep Shop locations to meet with a sleep specialist who will work with you to find the perfect mattress for your sleep needs.

Read our ultimate mattress shopping guide here.