Sleep support: bedding retailers plan ad blitz in '96.

Mattress retailers are planning a marketing strategy for 1996 that includes more advertising and new brands and products. The economic factors that have kept the home furnishings industry at a very slow rate of growth have increased the level of competition among bedding manufacturers and retailers. Sealy will spend more than the $40 million it budgeted for TV ads in 1995, Serta spent $15 million and Simmons $10 million in 1995.

NEW York--Mattress retailers say they will mount more aggressive advertising campaigns and promotion schedules to lure customers to their stores in 1996,