Slumberland

Slumberland Furniture entered the market in 1967, founded by Ken Larson, with its first store in Richfield, Minnesota. Some historical accounts identify 1968 as the founding year. The business began as a mattress specialty shop and grew into a full line furniture retailer with a strong Midwestern presence and national expansion plans. Its headquarters is in Oakdale, Minnesota, USA 55128. Slumberland remains family owned and privately held, with Ken Larson’s son, Kenny Larson, serving as CEO and President in the Furniture and Home Furnishing industry. As of January 2024, the company reported 122 US locations, including 70 open franchises and 52 corporate locations. Other sources cite over 120, 119, 115, 113, and 127 units. The home furnishings market benefits from housing activity and renovation demand. PeerSense provides independent research for buyers considering this capital intensive franchise sector.

Slumberland operates in the furniture retail industry, supported by home purchases, renovations, and consumer spending on comfort and home design. December 2025 data shows $1,583,984 in e commerce revenue from 1,365 transactions, with an average order value between $1,150 and $1,175. The conversion rate was 0.00-0.50%, and Furniture & Homeware represented 100% of online sales for that year. Slumberland also benefits from its regional distribution network and quick ship products. Expansion opportunities are tied to new housing, population growth in mid sized cities with median household incomes above $60,000, and stores located in retail corridors near residential developments. The category can offer more stability than sectors driven mainly by changing consumer tastes, although furniture retail remains fragmented and competitive.

The estimated total initial investment for a Slumberland franchise is $829,500 to $3,215,000, depending on store size, location, and leasehold improvements. A separate source using 2020 FDD data reported $545,500 to $1,994,000. Inventory generally requires $300,000 to $650,000. The initial franchise fee is reported at $45,000, with a more recent range of $45,000 to $55,000 and older FDD ranges of $30,000 to $50,000. Typical financial qualifications include liquid cash of $100,000 to $500,000 and net worth of $300,000 to $2,000,000. Other reported costs include $1,000 to $6,000 for wages, travel, and living expenses during training; $9,000 to $150,000 for three months of building lease; $100,000 to $1,500,000 for leasehold improvements; $150,000 to $400,000 for furniture, fixtures, and equipment; $50,000 to $85,000 for technology and hardware; $20,000 to $60,000 for signs; and $4,500 to $9,000 for three months of delivery vehicle leases. The estimated cash need for the first three months of operation is $150,000 to $300,000. Continuing fees include a royalty of 3% of gross sales and an advertising royalty of up to 2%. The Loan Activity Score is 51, rated Moderate.

A Slumberland store generally operates from a professionally designed showroom measuring 12,000 to 45,000 square feet. The format uses color, design treatments, and spot lighting to present furniture and mattresses. Franchisees participate in a regional distribution network that supports quick ship products and customer delivery. The e commerce channel also plays a role in the overall sales model. Each unit typically needs at least 10 employees across sales, customer service, and possible local delivery work. Initial training includes 200 hours of on the job instruction and 26 hours of classroom instruction. Corporate support includes operational guidance, marketing assistance through the advertising royalty fund, preferred vendor relationships, and continuing training at franchised locations and the corporate office in Oakdale, Minnesota, USA 55128. Exclusive territories are not explicitly stated. The expansion strategy instead emphasizes regional densification and national growth, particularly in mid sized cities with targeted demographic and economic characteristics. The model is intended for dedicated owner operators, while its infrastructure can also support multi unit development. Slumberland presents its operating system and vendor relationships as tools for reducing startup risk.

Buyers therefore need to assess potential results using public revenue figures, industry benchmarks, and other available indicators. Company wide revenue is reported as $260 million and US$262.95 million, with an overall revenue footprint of $500 million. Actual results will depend on local demand, labor costs, lease rates, and control of operating expenses. The Loan Activity Score of 51, rated Moderate, reflects the size of the investment and the brand’s reported operating framework.

Slumberland reported 122 US locations as of January 2024, including 70 open franchises and 52 corporate locations. Earlier records showed 69 franchised locations in the 2020 FDD and 74 franchises in 2018. The company opened a Peoria, Illinois location on May 1, 2021. Its Bloomington store was on the market as of December 3, 2024, as part of a planned move, and a new store was scheduled to occupy two vacant storefronts at a St. Louis County shopping center as of July 29, 2024. The brand was founded in 1967 and offers furniture for living rooms, casual dining areas, and master bedrooms under the positioning of style without value and value without style. Slumberland is one of the nation’s top sellers of La Z Boy upholstery and the Midwest’s largest seller of Sealy and Simmons mattresses. Its regional distribution network supports quick ship products. Ken Larson was inducted into the 2024 Minnesota Business Hall of Fame and received Furniture Today’s 2025 Bedding Retail Lifetime Achievement Award. Slumberland ranked #30 on Furniture Today’s Retailer Rankings in 2024 and appears in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. The company also sells sustainable and eco friendly products and holds the annual Homes for the Holidays event, which donates beds.

A prospective Slumberland franchisee needs the capital and management ability for a substantial retail operation. Required financial qualifications generally include liquid cash of $100,000 to $500,000 and net worth of $300,000 to $2,000,000, alongside the estimated investment of $829,500 to $3,215,000. Specific industry experience is not expressly required, but some positions may involve long hours and every weekend. A customer first approach, hands on management, and retail leadership experience may be useful. The system targets mid sized cities with growing populations, median household incomes above $60,000, and retail corridors near residential developments. New stores also benefit from access to major thoroughfares and nearby complementary home goods retailers. Minnesota is the core market within the Upper Midwest, followed by Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Slumberland is expanding across 12 states: IA, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, SD, WI, and WY. It also operates in California, Florida, and Massachusetts and is exploring Alaska and Delaware. Franchisees must manage inventory, staff at least 10 employees per unit, provide customer service, and address local competition and supply chain dependencies. Training consists of 200 hours of on the job instruction and 26 hours of classroom instruction. Slumberland’s history dates to 1967, its overall revenue footprint is reported at $500 million, and its franchise system continues to expand across 12 states.