Most people don’t think a whole lot about mattresses. When it’s time to purchase a new one, some just buy the same model they’ve had for years, assuming what worked for them 10 years ago is what will work for them now. Others purchase a mattress that a friend recommended or one that had good reviews on Amazon.
Lowcountry native Charlie Taylor has a better idea for those in the market for a new mattress – stop by and see him or one of his associates at May River Mattress Co. in Bluffton. They will be happy to help you find the mattress that is right for you.
Charlie Taylor, owner of May River Mattress Co.
Taylor said mattresses are a subjective purchase. What works for one person might not work for another. And the mattress you loved 10 years ago might not be the best choice for you now.
The mattress business is constantly evolving and improving, Taylor said. Beds now are completely different than they were 10 to 15 years ago. Manufacturers are using newer technologies, such as pressure-relieving foams and cooling technologies.
When you visit some mattress stores, a salesperson will tell you to have a look around, lie down on some beds, and find what you like. At May River Mattress, they are able to narrow down the options and find you the best mattress by asking a few simple questions.
“We try to take an individualized approach,” Taylor said. “We really kind of drill down through a lot before we start jumping on a bunch of beds.”
A variety of factors play into which mattress is right for someone. Some people like a firm mattress. Others want to feel like they’re sleeping on a cloud. There are side sleepers, stomach sleepers and back sleepers, hot sleepers and cold sleepers, light sleepers and deep sleepers. Different mattresses might work better for one body type over another, and health issues also play into choosing the best fit.
May River Mattress carries about 40 different models of mattresses, all closely sourced, with a mix of top national brands and smaller manufacturers in North Carolina and Tennessee. Tempur-Pedic, Nectar, Beautyrest, Stearns and Foster, and Sealy are some of the big-name brands Taylor sells.
The store carries traditional coil mattresses, foam mattresses, and hybrids, from soft to firm and everything in between, at a wide variety of price points.
The store carries traditional coil mattresses, foam mattresses, and hybrids, from soft to firm and everything in between, at a wide variety of price points. The store also carries some bedroom furniture, including nightstands, platform beds, adjustable bases, bunk beds, sleeper sofas and Murphy bed cabinets.
May River Mattress guarantees the lowest price on all of its mattresses and is happy to deliver. Taylor has partnered with a local moving company to ensure delivery is an efficient and positive experience for customers.
Split king mattresses on adjustable frames are a popular choice for couples who have different needs and preferences. They’re also great for those who want to be able to sit up in bed or raise their feet up.
“There are lots of health benefits to adjustable frames … opening up breathing passageways, reducing snoring, reducing acid reflux,” Taylor said. “Elevating your feet takes a lot of pressure off your lower back and helps stimulate blood flow.”
Taylor likes to talk to his customers about sleep cycles and how the mattress they sleep on can impact their quality of life.
Rose and Stella test the inventory, making sure all mattresses are up to snuff.
“Not a lot of people think about what happens when you go to sleep,” Taylor said.
There are four sleep cycles we go through every night, Taylor explained. The first two cycles are very restless as we settle into sleep. Then we move into REM sleep, or deep sleep, where our bodies reset, rejuvenate cells and store long-term memory.
“If you’re not on the right type of mattress, you’ll find yourself stuck in those first couple stages of sleep, and you’ll wake up, feeling like you never got any sleep,” Taylor said.
He said many of his customers are side sleepers, and they often don’t realize that we have vulnerable pressure points on our shoulders and hips. If you’re on too firm a mattress, your back might not hurt because you have the proper lower back support, but you might spend all night rolling from one side to the other because of the added pressure on your shoulders and hips.
Taylor has heard from countless customers who say the mattresses they bought from him helped with their restless sleep or aches and pains.
“It makes me feel really good when we’re able to do that, which I think is a big reason that I ended up opening the store,” Taylor said. “It’s a very rewarding experience to be a part of that, to be able to help somebody improve their life.”
Taylor was born on Hilton Head Island, graduated from Hilton Head Island High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
After graduation, Taylor moved back to Hilton Head. His first serious job out of college was selling mattresses for a big national franchise. He went on to work at a national furniture chain for almost eight years before opening his own business in December 2022.
Taylor is a self-professed mattress snob, with only the best mattresses in every bedroom of his home. While he and his wife sleep on a Tempur-Pedic, Taylor reiterates that what works for one might not work for another. For fans of Tempur-Pedic, he has more than 10 different models on the floor.
Taylor and his wife, Carolyn, have two adorable daughters, 6-year-old Stella and 2-year-old Rose. Stella made her first sale in January while visiting her father at the shop. She didn’t know she had closed the deal until later that evening when her dad got home from work. She was thrilled to hear that the customers decided to purchase the mattress she had shown them.
The family dog, a sweet Bernedoodle named River, likes to go to work with Taylor on occasion and is happy to greet dog lovers who come into the store. Somehow, River seems to understand when people aren’t necessarily “dog people,” and he will observe from afar.
May River Mattress is located at 1060 Fording Island Rd, Suite B in Bluffton. Stop by any time between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or noon and 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (843) 836-2337 or visit mayrivermattress.com.
