The Curious Story Of Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale is a successful businessman and owner of Gallery Furniture in Houston, Texas. McIngvale is famous for his unique marketing strategy of offering customers refunds on their purchases if the Houston Astros baseball team wins a certain game or event.

McIngvale began his career in the furniture business in the early 1980s, and by 1987, he had opened his first Gallery Furniture store. Over the years, he built a reputation for his focus on customer service and quality products. However, he also became known for his creative marketing strategies, such as his guarantee to customers that they would receive their furniture within three hours of their purchase.

In 2017, McIngvale began using his love of sports and his willingness to take risks to gain even more attention for his business. He started making high-stakes bets on local sports teams, particularly the Houston Astros. For example, during the 2017 World Series, he offered a refund on purchases of $3,000 or more if the Astros won the championship. The Astros ended up winning, and McIngvale had to pay out millions of dollars in refunds.

However, McIngvale saw this as an opportunity rather than a loss. He realized that the publicity generated by the bet was worth far more than the cost of the refunds. Customers who received refunds were likely to become loyal Gallery Furniture customers, and the attention generated by the bet helped to boost the store’s sales and reputation.

McIngvale continued to make similar bets on local sports teams, including the Astros and the Houston Texans football team. He offered refunds on purchases of $3,000 or more if the team won a certain game or event. McIngvale also used social media to promote the bets and generate buzz around his store.

In addition to his sports-related bets, McIngvale has also used his business to give back to his community. He has donated furniture to local charities, supported local schools, and helped to fund disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Harvey.

His willingness to take risks and his commitment to the community have made him a beloved figure in Houston and beyond.