Sleep Retailer eNews | December 12, 2019

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NEW PODCAST: Creating Sustainable Solutions For Unique Spaces

What Retailers Can Learn From The Hospitality Segment

Angela Owens, the official “Sleep Diva” at Suite Sleep, joins us to chat about her company’s distinct approach to the hospitality market. She talks with Chris Schriever about breaking the rules of the category, how to develop new products for specific demographics and why sustainability is the reason she gets out of bed in the morning. Her thoughtful insights go above and beyond just the world of hotels, offering valuable advice for both manufacturers and retailers looking to plan for the future.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Case Study: The Saatva Viewing Room

In the heart of a bustling Manhattan and right around the block from Bloomingdale’s, Saatva—a direct-to-consumer, online mattress brand—recently opened its first brick-and-mortar location. Strategically located next door to a Mattress Firm, the Saatva “Viewing Room” offers a stark contrast from the mattress shopping experience one might expect to find through its neighbor’s door. For retailers of all types and sizes, there is much to learn from the Saatva in-store experience as the brand takes its own unique approach to selling beds and fulfilling customer needs.

There are quite a few details that make the Saatva viewing room fresh. Taking care to differentiate itself from both the boxed bed DTC machine as well as the more traditional retail mattress, Saatva seeks to deliver a luxury experience in order to market quality mattresses at reasonable price-points. Void of cheap gimmicks, the showroom exudes style and class while also feeling warm and inviting. According to the brand’s CEO, Ron Rudzin, the viewing room is “an extension of our online presence, it’s another way to experience our commitment to delivering white-glove customer service and high-quality, premium products that don’t come in a box.”

So how has Saatva achieved such a nice balance in its space? First of all, the brand hired a designer to help curate the room—and that makes a huge difference. The Viewing Room “is a sensory experience that represents what Saatva stands for,” said designer Vicente Wolf. “When you enter, it’s about dreaming. As a self-guided space, it invites consumers to use the information stations to self-educate and make a purchase that permits them to sleep soundly.” Because it was plotted out by a designer, there’s a certain consistency to the feel of the space and many clever choices in the way that the beds are laid out on the floor.

The following are just a few key elements that contribute to the overall feel of the Viewing Room:

Lighting

In the space, there are absolutely no halogen or LED daylight bulbs (as far as we could tell). In fact, there is no harsh lighting at all. Instead, the showroom is bathed in a soft, warm glow that still allows consumers to see the beds well. Lit by a combination of recessed lighting and an underlit cloud-reminiscent shape in the center of the space, the lighting was designed to deliver a calm, soothing feel. Additionally, some of the individual bed vignettes include pleasing and softly glowing mushroom lamps situated on small side tables—creating a cozy and rest-inducing atmosphere.

Bed Configuration

With the exception of a few beds in the front of the room and against walls, the majority of the mattresses are showcased in the center of the room. This part of the space is carefully partitioned by a frosted divider, which seems to grow naturally out of the cloud shape in the ceiling at the viewing room’s core. This set-up creates a feeling of privacy that should make the process of laying on and feeling out the mattresses a little more comfortable for consumers.

Soft Surroundings

In addition to creating bedroom vignettes throughout the store and having the center partitioned section, the beds against the walls have a velvety curtain hanging behind them to help soften the feel and create a sense of calm.

Appealing Paint Color & Decor Styles

Using a palette of soft neutrals—including warm beiges, taupes, whites and greys—the showroom offers a universal appeal. It also seamlessly blends fairly modern and clean decorating styles with the more traditional and classic to appeal to a wider audience and create both a familiar space as well as an airy one.

Bringing Together The Digital & Analogue

When it comes to the experience of learning about the beds within the space, Saatva doesn’t stick to the status quo. Mimicking an online experience in-store, the self-guided nature of the set-up allows consumers the freedom and comfort of exploring on their own with assistance available when they want it. Furnished with iPad stands that offer access to the Saatva website, the Viewing Room encourages consumers to read about each bed and familiarize themselves with the online purchase process while associates standby to provide assistance as needed.

So many seemingly small choices come together in this space to deliver a much more enjoyable shopping experience. When thinking about small updates to your own shop set-up and in-store experience, some of the simplest changes can have the greatest impact. Simply refreshing the lighting or color palette can be just what the space needs to feel cozy and encourage your customers open up about what they want from their mattress and sleep environment.

Read more here.

Back Pain Keeping You Up At Night? Try These 4 Tips

Brought to you by The ReST Bed

Back pain is a very common problem among adults in the US. So common, in fact, that lower back pain in particular is the second most common reason people see the doctor. According to WebMD, up to 80% of people will struggle with back pain at some point in their lives. And while there are numerous potential causes of this issue, including everything from bad posture to more serious injury, back pain can often be exacerbated by poor sleep and often impacts a person’s ability to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. Like most physical ailments, back pain can be complicated. Sometimes you can feel good all day but suddenly suffer when it is time to sleep. In some cases, the wrong sleeping position could even be to blame.

We’ve rounded up some tips to try when attempting to alleviate back pain:

Switch Sleep Positions

Switching your sleep position can help minimize pressure on the neck, hips and lower back. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the best way for back pain sufferers to orient themselves while sleeping is to lie on their backs. The Foundation also recommends putting a pillow under your knees when you sleep on your back. If you just can’t quit the side sleeper position, putting a pillow between your knees can help with hip, pelvis and spinal alignment.

Avoid Sudden, Jerky Movements When Getting In & Out Of Bed

This might seem like common sense, but being gentle with your body anytime you’re experiencing pain can really help to minimize it. At the very least, this can help prevent the pain from getting worse.

Exercise

Flexibility and a strong core will help reduce back strain and spasms. Staying limber and using your body regularly can help keep pain at bay, while long periods of prolonged rest can actually have a negative impact on recovery. That said, if you are currently in physical therapy or recovering from surgery, follow the advice of the surgeon or physician you’re working with.

Get A New Mattress

Because mattresses wear out over time and often lose their springiness in the process, it might be time to consider a new one. When shopping, keep your age, weight, height and pain points in mind while you rest-test to find the right fit for you. While a less firm mattress might feel great on a first try, keep in mind that firmer mattresses tend to maintain their support longer. And, if you want to take your sleep experience up a notch, you might consider a smart bed like ReST. Its customizable support for head, shoulders, lumbar, hips and legs, along with automatic, real-time adjustments can help support a pain-free and healthier sleep.

While we hope these suggestions will come in handy, they should not be taken in place of a visit with a medical professional. If you are suffering from habitual back pain, it’s always best to consult with a doctor.

Learn more about why and how the ReST Bed can help alleviate back and neck pain.

And check out the original story from ReST here.