Online retailers witnessed a surge during the pandemic in mattress sales because people were apprehensive about visiting physical stores COVID-19 brought the world to a halt and encased us in a bubble. All one needs when cooped up indoors, dealing with home duties, meeting work deadlines, and twiddling thumbs is some comfort. That was the time when people were concerned about the comfort of their mattresses. Nothing was the same since COVID 19 including the bedding industry. The WFH arrangement became the new industry standard, and it had a significant impact.
The Inter-relationship between WFH and the bedding industry
Roughly about 60–70 percent of the workforce started working from home, and in no time, the bedroom was no longer just a place to sleep in, but it also became a place to work out of. Snacking while working in the confines of your room is no longer uncommon. Moreover, in pre-Covid times, the room was limited to being a set-up for 2 people, but since then, even small groups of people have been found spending time in rooms. Hence, people began using mattresses for a longer duration of time, which resulted in their wear and tear.
Online retailers witnessed a surge in mattress sales because people were apprehensive about visiting physical stores. There has been a marked increase of 8-10 percent for online retailers. Ordering a mattress in the comfort of your house became a much more preferred option, and this inevitably led to ordering air conditioners as well, which were also delivered to the doorstep
The increased demand for mattresses was supported by technological advancements which further made purchasing a mattress a hassle-free experience. The introduction of a box in a bed made delivering beds on any floor in any corner possible without a hitch, especially in metro cities.
The COVID-19 updates we hear on the news, read in the paper, and from our near and dear ones have made all of us more health-conscious than before. And beds are designed taking into consideration all the health-related factors.
Innovations in the bedding industry since Covid 19.
by the street side vendors who offered traditional, cotton and handmade mattresses. But that’s not the case anymore there’s been a sudden shift now because users are understanding the importance and the quality of the modern machine-made mattress. The International players in the market are gaining prominence and with that, there are newer additions in the bedding industry.
One such innovation that emerged from this was the ‘Smart Mattress’ which was made using Smart Grid Technology. This mattress distinguishes itself from others for multiple reasons. It is the first of its kind and takes the shape of the person who sleeps on it. Designed to offer comfort like no other, hard and soft just at the right places. It is equipped with 2500 air channels, ensuring that you remain cool as a cucumber
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been an increase in the number of people suffering from sleep disorders. Many people are suffering from a disorder called “COVID” insomnia without even realising it.
throughout your sleep. Redefining sleep technology this mattress is crafted with care and prevents the user to suffer from any hip, shoulder, or back pain. The users are of the opinion that it’s the perfect orthopaedic mattress and offers relief from back pain. The mattress redefines luxury with its cotton viscose cover and premium build.
Another bedroom addition that was well-received is a reversible blanket. Easily washable in a washing machine, it had admirable-worthy patterns sewn on it. Using one accentuates the room.
Sleeping soundly improves heart health, promotes concentration, reduces the risk of diabetes, decreases the chances of depression and betters an athlete’s performance. Last but not least, it helps one remain bright and active the next day.
Something that every mother chides their child for is dirtying the mattress. But that concern has been addressed with a bamboo mattress protector. Simply spread it on your mattress to prevent it from getting stained.
Latest happenings in the Mattress Industry
The future doesn’t look so bleak and there are growth opportunities for the industry players. Young entrepreneurs have used this as an opportunity. Here’s what Gaurav Raj, the co-founder of a mattress company had to say about the process of sleep and the changing attitudes of people, respectively. According to him, ‘Sleep is a mere bodily process addressed with no care and hence sleep aid did not receive much focus. Customers don’t spend much on it. The industry did not innovate. There were only cotton mattresses. But today, consumers have realized the importance of good restful sleep and are paying a lot of attention to how they sleep. The sleep aid industry has grown by leaps and bounds. Last year has seen more and more people preferring natural and healthy products in the bedroom.’ His is an online only brand, when questioned why, here’s what he had to say, ‘It is an online-only brand. Today, customers want to research before investing in a mattress, they want to know more and want to know directly from the source. The pandemic has made them more conscious about their health and the need to take care of themselves. They ask questions, visit blogs, and view video tutorials. Digital content consumption has shot up by 2x in the post-pandemic world. In order to be in line with what customers are looking for, it is important to design your website and marketing strategy to inform the customer about the product and the space you are in and thereby boost online sales. I invest actively in building consumer awareness.’
The mattress offered is all-natural and made using only pure latex. It is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and chemical-free. The users of the product were of the opinion that it offers good back support. Being natural latex mattresses makes it an all the more preferable option.
Yet another entrepreneur, Rakesh Malhotra turned the pandemic into an opportunity. In the year 2020, he added to his existing product line of products in the Sleep and Wellness vertical, which includes mattresses, pillows, and bed sheets. His aim was to save people from sleeplessness with environment-friendly mattresses that are designed to meet your requirements.
Changes in sleeping patterns and trends
Sleep innovation, “sleep health“, and “sleep technology” are spoken about more often than before. This increased awareness can be attributed to the multiple mattress options that are available for users to pick from. But before you purchase a mattress, it is important to ascertain which mattress is best suited for you on the basis of your age and ailments. For starters, a foam mattress, owing to its soft texture, is an apt choice for children. A latex mattress is a perfect choice to ease the pain. An orthopaedic foam mattress is useful for combating back pain, fatigue, muscle pain, and arthritis.
When it comes to mattresses, there is no shortage of options, and the industry is constantly introducing new products.
you purchase a mattress, it is important to ascertain which mattress is best suited for you on the basis of your age and ailments. For starters, a foam mattress, owing to its soft texture, is an apt choice for children. A latex mattress is a perfect choice to ease the pain. An orthopaedic foam mattress is useful for combating back pain, fatigue, muscle pain, and arthritis.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been an increase in the number of people suffering from sleep disorders. Many people are suffering from a disorder called “COVID” insomnia without even realising it. The term is used to describe the stress that is pertaining to the virus and the fear that people are harbouring in relation to the changes that the virus has brought with it.
Life is filled with uncertainties, but quality sleep, to a large extent, can help counter these problems. Incorporating few rituals in your daily schedule can help improve your sleep pattern. You can schedule your exercise in the first half of the day or at least 3 hours prior to bedtime. Because exercising results in the release of a hormone called cortisol which alerts the brain and makes falling asleep harder. It’s best to refrain from taking a long nap or else falling at night becomes a task.
Another thing that helps is sleeping when you are tired, postponing falling asleep is going to make it difficult to get any sleep at all. Even eating a light dinner makes falling asleep easier. Sleeping soundly improves heart health, promotes concentration, reduces the risk of diabetes, decreases the chances of depression and betters an athlete’s performance. Last, but not least, it helps one remain bright and active the next day.
Maintaining and improving your sleep health is in your hands. Hence incorporate sleep hygiene tips and techniques and choose a mattress that caters to your needs.
The evolution of the Bedding Industry since Covid 19.
The bedding industry, like every other industry, recognised the importance of doorstep delivery, and as a result, since the pandemic, consumers have received this service free of charge. This benefited them because visiting someone’s home opened up new doors of opportunity. The handyman providing the service may discover another room in need of a mattress, or it may be time to change the pillows. These salespeople ensure that the company is more than it was intended to be. Furthermore, mattress retailers recognised the importance of being responsive, and in order to do so, all customers entering the store were required to fill out their contact information. This database contains the most recent updates and offers. Disposing of a mattress, like purchasing one, necessitates caution. The industry took notice and began disposing of old mattresses in an environmentally friendly manner. Most importantly, mattress retailers established a digital presence because digital is the way of the future. In the earlier days, purchasing a mattress involved visiting a physical store, and eventually, with time, the same mattress could be purchased on e-commerce websites like Flipkart or Amazon. But with time, manufacturers realised that was not enough, so they established an Omnichannel presence. This implied that the same manufacturers had a website from where the mattress could be ordered and even a physical store where one could walk in and choose a mattress of their choice.
There is an old saying ‘There is good in every evil’ that can be used as a consolation in this difficult and unexpected time. Every business had to undergo changes to adapt to this new situation. Indian Mattress industry just did the same. The industry worked on new delivery channels, brought in innovation, and introduced new products to cater to changing consumer needs.