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Arizona Has Been Good To Us

Bedmart's Secret Formula for Success

By Pat Dunham

"Arizona has been good to us," says Chet Goldberg, owner of Bedmart. "So it only makes sense that Bedmart has a deep commitment to Arizona and its communities." An Arizona native, Goldberg comes from a family who opened their first retail store in 1862.

In 1988, he opened the first Bedmart location and since then has watched the independent chain grow from a single store in Tucson to a statewide bedding retail powerhouse with 30 locations.

"We built our business by working hard to give every customer the best mattress buying experience they've ever had," says Goldberg. "We want our customers to see every type of mattress in one store so they can compare and find the mattress that gives them a great night's rest."

The CEO of Bedmart, Chuck Kill, agrees adding that local connections and strong customer service is what's helped the company prosper?even in a hard retail market. But he feels one additional element has fueled the company's growth?a strong emphasis on being a good neighbor. "It's more than just taking care of our customers," says Kill. "It's taking care of the cities and towns where we live."

Involvement with the local community grows each year. It's become an important part of the company culture. It is who they are. "We've been a proud sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for four years," says Kill, explaining that the company's involvement goes far beyond financial support. "Our employees are often right in the race, raising individual funds in addition to our contributions."

The company is also a proud supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Phoenix Children's Hospital. "We also get involved with many other charities at a grassroots level," says Kill. "We are especially proud of our efforts to help children through Casa de los Niños in Tucson and the Crisis Nursery in Phoenix."

As one of the original members of Local First Arizona, a coalition of Arizona businesses encouraging buyers to shop locally, Bedmart continues to emphasize the importance of supporting local businesses. "If you take $100 spent at a local business, $45 of that money stays and re-circulates locally," Kill explains. "When you buy at a national chain, only $13 remains in the local economy?we want to be proactive and cooperate with other Arizona companies to strengthen the economy for all of us who live and work in Arizona."

Kill and Goldberg agree?the Bedmart formula for success starts with every customer who comes through the door and then extends beyond their doors into the community. "We live here. We work here. We started here. Bedmart has grown here," says Kill. "It only makes sense to give back at every level to build a better future for all of us."

Pat Dunham works for Brandt Advertising in Tucson and enjoys freelance writing.