Tossing and turning, and hot uncomfortable sleep are outdated. They also are unhealthy. One of the most exciting trends discussed at last month’s Las Vegas Market was the public’s growing interest in gel beds and “cool and healthy sleep” bedding products that support a better night’s rest.
Both were heavily referenced during Furniture/Today Executive Editor Dave Perry’s State of the Bedding Industry presentation. Perry had previously predicted that, “Gel beds will be more common in Las Vegas than casino chips” – and he was right! We at BiOH® polyols also are predicting that this trend will take off at a remarkable speed within the specialty sleep category.
Two new BiOH® products for healthier sleep
There are now nearly a dozen gel bedding products on the market from such well-known names as Simmons, Sealy, Kingsdown and Serta. Most, if not all, combine memory foam with gel technology. Now BiOH® is debuting two new products to fill this growing demand: one is a memory foam and the other is a gel.
It’s an exciting new direction for the bedding industry because these products have the strong potential of giving consumers the best sleep of their lives. And just imagine the health and productivity benefits of having millions of well-rested Americans!
We make cool, healthy sleep plus environmental sustainability possible with two brand new products:
• BiOH® polyols renewable urethane gel: Ideal for a host of cool sleep products, this new polyol can produce urethane gel with greater than 90 percent renewable content.
• BiOH® polyols next generation “cool” memory foam: A breakthrough product with more than 50 percent renewable content. This new viscoelastic foam dissipates heat 25 percent faster than comparable memory foams.
Other experts and trend watchers agree that cool sleep technology is creating a new wave of excitement for the industry. To learn more, call 877-765-9246.
These days we are so used to being tired, that most of us hardly remember what it felt like be well rested! Demands on our time – from shift work and family obligations to jet lag and 24-hour business cycles – cut short our sleeping hours. And our stress levels prevent us from enjoying a good quality of sleep once we do finally crawl into bed. It’s no wonder that U.S. retail coffee sales rose 19 percent last year! We are all battling to stay awake.
Jessa Gamble, an award-winning writer and expert on our internal body clocks’ struggle against our urban schedules, describes an interesting study. When people lived without artificial light, they slept twice at night. They slept from 8 p.m. to midnight, had two hours of meditative quiet in bed during which their bodies produced abnormally high levels of prolactin*, then they slept again from 2 a.m. until sunrise.
The study participants reported that they felt they were experiencing true wakefulness for the first time in their lives.
Do your customers want to feel that wide awake tomorrow morning?
The statistics say it all: we’re tired! According to a Gallup poll, three in 10 Americans don’t feel well rested. A Harvard study found that 40 percent of college students feel well rested just two days per week. The most revealing of all: Only about four in 10 people responding to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation said they got a good night’s sleep every night, or almost every night, of the week.
Sell a better night’s sleep
People want better sleep. Their bedding is a means to that end. Your goal is to give them the confidence that what they are buying will help them wake up in the morning feeling more refreshed.
Become a better sleep expert. Earn their trust by giving them other ideas, in addition to their bedding, that might contribute to a better night’s rest. We will continue to provide information on this topic here.
When the conversation turns to bedding, point out that temperature regulation is important to sleep quality. Mattresses, mattress foam toppers and pillows made with the new BiOH® visco polyol provide a cooler, more comfortable sleep. Studies show memory foams produced with this new product dissipate heat more quickly, cooling off 15-40 percent faster than memory foams using infused gel technology. Foams made with BiOH® Polyols are also less sensitive to temperature overall, so they stay softer at cooler temperatures.
Many people overlook some of the most obvious components to a good night’s sleep simply because they don’t know about them. Let’s start a new trend in 2012 of better educated consumers who understand the value of great bedding!
*Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Prolactin levels fluctuate throughout the day, and are highest during sleep.
We are so excited about attending this year’s Las Vegas Market, January 30-February 3 at the huge World Market Center. Each year, there are always plenty of new and exciting things to see and do, so even if you have attended in the past, you’ll want to spend time planning out this year’s adventure.
On opening day, make the First Look Exhibit in the Building B lobby one of your first stops. You will be able to pick up a copy of the First Look Book (limited quantities available) and see a showcase of the new product trends to be discovered at the show.
Speaking of trendy, we’re looking forward to the Food Truck Festival, to be held opening day at 6 p.m. in the Grand Plaza. The courtyard will be transformed into a four-wheeled, gourmet food fiesta. There will also be a DJ spinning favorites from the 50s and 60s. Should be a fun evening!
If you prefer something a little more low key, check out high tea, taking place Monday through Thursday in C512 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. You’ll enjoy complimentary tea sandwiches, cocktails and a selection of gourmet teas.
First Time Buyers Orientation
If you haven’t attended this event, this special orientation can be extremely helpful. It takes place from on January 30th from 10-11 a.m. in room C368, and is designed to help you maximize your buying time. You’ll get a rundown on all of the resources, destinations, seminars and events happening at the Las Vegas Market.
Seminars and Continuing Education Credits
There are a number of valuable seminars planned. One that sounds intriguing to us is LuxeEco and One Good World: Designing the Future, happening on January 30th from 11 a.m. to noon. This is a panel discussion among the Sustainable Furnishings Council’s distinguished DESIGNINGGreen Leaders, and should be quite informative. It’s also worth 0.1 CEU.
Verified Eco-Friendly Exhibitors
Perusing the list, we found many eco-friendly exhibitors including Artists Guild of America, Jordan Spence Design, Matt Downer Designs and a company called Groovystuff, based in Dallas, that features seven distinct one-of-a-kind collections. You’ll find everything from artwork to bedding and decorative accessories made with materials that are kind to Mother Nature. Of course, be sure to watch for products made with BiOH. Our partners who will be exhibiting at the show include: Broyhill (A1053), Harden (A901), Hickory Springs (B-0918), Klaussner (A847, A801), Comfort Solutions (A538, A542, A546) and Natura (A946).
Buyer Services
We love the Buyer Lounges, located in each building. They are a great place to rendezvous, relax and grab a snack. Each building also has a Business Center where you can connect with your home office via Internet, phone or fax. This is also where you can make copies or send mail. The Internet Lounges in Buildings A and B have WiFi and communications devices available.
Transportation and Concierge Services
The complimentary M Line shuttles run all day between the World Market Center and select host hotels. Once you arrive at the event, convenient skybridges connect all of the buildings. If you want to take in more of the sights and sounds of Las Vegas, there is a Vegas.com computer kiosk concierge in Building A where you can find dining options and even buy show tickets.
One last word of advice: wear comfortable shoes! The World Market Center is a five million square foot campus!
Companies are making it easier than ever for Americans to embrace the concept of sustainability and energy conservation. The selection of products and services has never been greater – and it just keeps expanding!
One of the newest initiatives is Zero Energy America, a project focused on using eco-friendly materials and new building techniques to design Zero Energy Homes. A Zero Energy Home is one in which the net average energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emission, are both zero over the course of a year.
In the U.S. and Europe, our homes account for about 40 percent of the total national energy consumption. But even if an entirely new, energy efficient home is not in your future this year, there’s another way you can become part of the solution. The next time you’re in the market for future, shop for pieces that contribute to a zero-energy lifestyle.
Here is a checklist to help you determine if that furniture you’ve been considering is also good for the environment:
1. Is it made of wood? Ask if the wood is sustainably harvested for domestic, replenished forests. Or, look for reclaimed wood, bamboo or other environmentally safe materials. Products made with Smart Wood certifies that you are supporting a global effort for responsible forest management.
2. Is it made with leather? Ask if the tanning chemicals used are either biodegradable or recycled?
3. Is the furniture upholstered or does it have foam cushions? Look for the green and white hang tag indicating that the foam is made with BiOH® polyols. Traditional foam and carpet cushion ingredients are made from petroleum-based chemicals. BiOH polyols are made from a renewable resource – soybean oil. Manufacturing BiOH polyols requires 60% less non-renewable energy and results in less global warming emissions than manufacturing the petroleum polyols we replace. Additionally, for every one million lbs of BiOH polyols used, over 2200 barrels of crude oil are saved.
4. Where is it made? Furniture made in America cuts energy consumption and emissions associated with transportation.
Need an exciting gift idea for someone in your family this holiday season? Think new! Think stylish! Think green! Environmentally friendly furniture and mattresses made with soy-based BiOH® polyols are cutting edge. Just say “no” to boring or predictable gifts! Sustainable furnishings are ideal gift alternatives that say you know how to make smart, informed choices.
There is something comfy and durable for just about everyone on your list, and in just about every price range. They’ll feel happy and indulged for years to come, and you will feel terrific because you’ve also done something good for the planet.
For the sports fanatic. How about a cozy Klaussner recliner? This large lounger with pillow arms reclines three ways for maximum comfort. We like the dark leather that can hide those unavoidable spills when your home team makes a touchdown. Not sure if it’s made with BiOH®? Ask a sales rep or look for the hang tag!
For the bookworm. Here’s a novel idea. Curl up with a good book on this BiOH-infused mattress from HOM sleep express. BiOH® polyol-infused mattresses let you sleep cooler than traditional foam mattresses, and they stay softer at cooler temperatures.
For the snugglers. Memory foam toppers, available at Bed, Bath & Beyond, are made with BiOH® polyols and are resistant to rips and tears. They’ll transform any mattress into one that will provide a cooler, more comfortable sleep.
Still can’t decide? Want even more ideas? Shop from Furnitureland South beginning on Black Friday and throughout December. It has every imaginable type and style of furniture, available for purchase both in the store and online. Just look for the BiOH® tag in The Eco-Link for manufacturers that use BiOH® polyols.
Good news! We now have an amazing interactive training video to help you and your employees quickly grasp how to talk with your customers about sustainability and buying green furnishings, including a simple ways to explain the BiOH® polyols difference. It’s a great resource that’s fast and fun to use. After just a few minutes, you and your employees will be sounding like sustainability experts.
Hesitant to try it? Check out this training video testimonial from Furnitureland South’s Cameron Lindsay as he talks about the importance of sales training for sustainable products made with BiOH polyols and how it can increase your sales today!
Try it out! It’s more than just a video. With a few clicks of your mouse, you’ll be immersed in short Q&As, and you’ll also discover how consumers responded to a sustainability and home furnishing survey. Most important: you’ll learn the key messages that will resonate with your customers: comfort, durability and environmentally friendly benefits.
Watching this retail training video could easily differentiate your store from your competition. Most consumers want to buy green home furnishings. They want to do their part for the environment but they need your help finding and choosing the right sustainable products.
As more people become aware of sustainable furniture, it’s important to educate them about their options including the significance and value of foams and mattresses made with BiOH® Polyols. In some cases, you may be the only one who knows about this option! That will make you the subject matter expert and it may be the tipping point that could lead to more sales.
After viewing our new interactive retail training video, you will be ready to help your customers make an informed purchase decision that’s right for them and their families.
If you are a retailer and you carry these furniture brands, contact us about co-branding opportunities. We can provide you with retail resources. Or, ask your manufacturer if they have resources to help you promote BiOH in your store.
BiOH® is excited to announce the launch of our co-branding program with Klaussner Home Furnishing (KHF) at High Point Market Oct 22-27th in High Point, NC!If you are at Market this week, stop into Klaussner’s Showroom & check out the BiOH kiosk to learn more about the Free Online Retail Training and gain more insight into what BiOH can do for you!
Klaussner Home Furnishings made with BiOH Video:
There is a growing trend of furniture manufacturers such as KHF finding ways to distinguish themselves on the eco-friendly scale. “It’s long been evident to us that when retail shoppers are offered the option of a product that is more environmentally friendly, those shoppers will select the more eco-friendly product,” confirmed KHF’s Marketing and Brand Manager Brian Myers. KHF has long been an avid supporter of environmental initiatives, and its continuous actions are evident.
Its sustainability accomplishments include:
Purchasing wood materials from suppliers who are part of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, which has strict standards for replacing harvested trees while protecting wildlife, plants and soil and water quality.
Using recycled steel in its eco-friendly seating system.
Choosing fiber-fill for cushions and pillows that is derived from recycled materials.
Recycling 100 percent of excess packaging, fabric, leather, foam materials—which keeps those materials out of landfills and enables the re-use of products such as foams, which can become carpet padding.
Taking one step further, KHF has decided to fully co-brand with BiOH on its entire domestic upholstery product line featuring cushions that are made with BiOH polyols derived from soy beans. KHF has previously used BiOH Polyols in the foam process, and saw this co-branding as an opportunity to further its commitment to adding more sustainable components to its products. With BiOH, KHF has the capability to differentiate itself in the furniture market through focusing on the emerging eco-friendly consumer niche.
Klaussner is definitely on the right track in boosting its environmental outlook with its BiOH collaboration. According to results of the 2008 Green Marketing Consumer Study sponsored by the Sustainable Furnishing Council surveying 300 female homeowners between ages 30-60, while four percent purchased eco-friendly furnishings, the rest either didn’t know there was an eco-friendly option or said it wasn’t available.
Now, nearly three years later, the furniture market has drastically changed and manufacturers are listening. Consumers are willing to purchase a product that is of long-term benefit at a reasonable cost. They are waiting for manufacturers to deliver a quality product. Klaussner Home Furnishings has listened and has taken actions that will set a leading example for years to come.
Make sure to look for the BiOH® Brand hang tag on your next furniture purchase.
Feeling drowsy this morning? Maybe you need to chill out. Experts agree: cooler temperatures help you sleep deeper and longer. That advice applies not only to room temperature but also to your bedding.
A mild drop in body temperature induces sleep
Mother Nature has put your body on a 24-hour cycle, called the circadian rhythm. Time, light and temperature all factor into how your body clock functions.
Every night, your body temperature automatically lowers by just a couple of degrees, signaling your tissues and organs to become less active. Even a slight increase in external temperatures can become so uncomfortable that it causes you to awaken. The closer you can stay to your body’s natural ‘set point’, the more rested you will feel in the morning.
Sleep experts typically recommend keeping bedroom temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. In reality, you should set your thermostat at whatever temperature comfortably helps you fall asleep and stay asleep.
New BiOH® soy-based polyols help memory foam achieve better temperature regulation
Your mattress is, of course, another part of the sleep equation. Memory foam mattresses are popular because they conform to your body’s shape, giving you maximum support, and helping to prevent tossing and turning
throughout the night. But foam is notorious for absorbing and holding onto body heat. In fact, some memory foams rely on heat to stay soft.
Now there is a way to enjoy the benefits of memory foam mattresses while also sleeping cooler. Studies show memory foams produced with a revolutionary new BiOH® Polyol dissipate heat more quickly, cooling off 15-40 percent faster than memory foams using infused gel technology. Foams made with BiOH® Polyols are also less sensitive to temperature overall, so they stay softer at cooler temperatures.
Concerned about durability? Memory foam toppers with BiOH® Polyols are resistant to rips and tears.
And, as a bonus, initial findings show that these new vegetable-based foams are 51 percent renewable, so you also are helping the environment when you purchase BiOH®-based foams.
The result is a memory foam that provides a cooler, more comfortable sleep. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting new development.
New BiOH foam does not heat up as much.
After eight hours in an oven at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the new BiOH memory foam was not as hot as the gel-infused material.
The BiOH experience offers resources for you to learn and participate in helping communities and the environment. It is brought to you by the BiOH polyols business — a maker of soy-based ingredients for foam. Please explore our site and then share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you!
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