Oaklawn Park: McIngvale doles out $7 million in free furniture

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, who has had two maiden special weight winners this meet at Oaklawn, has given away more than $7 million in furniture in a recent promotion tied to the Super Bowl.

McIngvale, whose Gallery Furniture in Houston is a past sponsor of a major Kentucky Derby prep at Turfway Park, told customers who purchased $6,000 or more in furniture during the promotion that they would receive a full rebate if the Seattle Seahawks won Sunday.

“I was fully prepared to be a 100 percent winner or a 100 percent loser,” McIngvale told Daily Racing Form. “We’ve done sports promotions many times in the past, trying to get younger customers out. The younger customers out there seem to be drawn to these promotions.”

McIngvale, who did not take out insurance, said he was genuinely happy to be able to treat his customers, and said the promotion actually helped lead to the biggest two weeks in the 32-year history of Gallery Furniture. He also said it raised awareness of the store.

“It was well worth the expense, not to mention the worldwide publicity,” he said, noting that about 1,000 families received free furniture.

McIngvale had done a promotion tied to the divisional playoffs, and when that went over so well, he decided to tie something to the Super Bowl.