How does escaping a hurricane spark a sleep industry revolution? Discover the wild journey behind Canada’s fastest-growing mattress brand!
When Jon Piett fled a hurricane in Turks & Caicos, he had no idea it’d launch him into the heart of Canada’s mattress industry. In this episode, Jon reveals how starting over led him from a cold garage—crafting weighted blankets—to founding Lotus Sleep Products and opening six Modern Mattress stores across Saskatchewan.
If you’ve ever wondered how to compete with mattress giants or how to build a guest-first culture that drives real sales, you’ll love Jon’s story. He shares the surprising decision to ditch big brands in favor of private-label products, the “micro-moments” that transformed his team’s mindset, and how obsessing over every little customer detail (even lighting and opening the door) became Modern Mattress’s secret sauce.
Industry experts said his strategy was “crazy.” Sales and conversions say otherwise. Learn how Jon’s team involved staff in product design, fostered culture through hundreds of small rituals, and flipped the mattress industry playbook upside down—proving that action (not permission) is the real difference-maker.
Stay tuned for Jon’s best advice for entrepreneurs, how Lotus is eyeing global expansion, and a behind-the-scenes look at what’s next for the Canadian sleep scene.
Timestamps:
- 00:45 – The hurricane escape that changed Jon’s life
- 05:26 – Why Jon pestered his way into the mattress industry
- 12:36 – The garage story: From homemade weighted blankets to the first Lotus mattress
- 18:14 – The “180-degree” shift that made Modern Mattress unique
- 19:22 – How staff-driven product design changed everything
- 22:52 – Why dropping big brands actually boosted sales
- 24:48 – The real work: Building culture and team mindset (and why most fail)
- 26:08 – Tiny habits, huge impact: The door-opening ritual explained
- 29:46 – What’s next: Global expansion and tech innovation
- 32:39 – Jon’s #1 advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
Connect with The FAM Podcast:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-fam-mattress/
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forallthingsmattress
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forallthingsmattress/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefamnews
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wvSqPZaxehCSmwRpByLi4
🍎 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fam-podcast-with-mark-kinsley/id1452601818
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