What tech could be involved in this process? You squish the edge of a bed or plop down on the side to see if it feels good.
If you are not squeamish, you may even lay down on it for a moment and kick back for that short moment where you feel like a king or queen. Or do you?
Purchasing a mattress and being successful purchasing a sleep solution are two different things. For many years, people bought a mattress and held onto it till it fell apart. Mattress shopping was a grudge purchase and you only did it when you moved out, went to college, got married, or had a baby. Many people grew up with hand me down mattresses. A mattress was a mattress and there was not a lot of consideration given to how mattresses may affect health and wellness. If you had a bad back or aches and pains, it was due to age or illness. Understanding that this was not the case and that comfort and health were actual viable options has made the buying experience potentially more rewarding for the average consumer.
Technology and research started to change this thought process. Using sensors, researchers were able to measure pressure generated by coil systems, visco elastic, and air upon the body and how that pressure impacted sleep. Evaluators also looked the alignment of the spine relative to the body and how sleep surfaces and conforming materials supported weight. Sleep performance was also measured, indicating whether or not people were getting deep, restorative sleep that promoted wellness.
This research filtered into the point of purchase materials, salesperson training, and outside advertising. Instead of mattresses being either luxury sales for the affluent investor or haven seeker and simple replacement, specialized sleep and comfort solutions joined the range of options available. Different support systems, such as visco-elastic and air were introduced to reduce pressure and conform to the body so that the body was properly supported and weight was evenly distributed across the sleeping surface. Breathable fibers, hypo-allergenic materials, and various types of pressure relieving foams helped with temperature regulation and with airborne allergens that can disrupt sleep. Flame resistant materials also were introduced to make bedding safer so that it would not readily act as a contributing accelerant in a potential fire. The innovations that were incorporated into luxury bedding and problem solving also helped make entry level low price options better.
Sales people are still part of the process. Originally, these sales representatives were all-purpose attendants that acted as cashiers and greeters as they tried to sell a sleep set based on its material composition, quality of construction, luxury panels and upholstery. As research into health and wellness related to sleep changed opinions on how alignment and pressure affected the body, this understanding also affected mattress sales professionals. Instead of just sales representatives, many were trained in how the features in the product improved sleep and solved problems. There was still a place for knowledge of construction such as frame and furniture recommendations, foundation height selection, and which luxury quilts advise, but now sleep was integrated into the shopping process. Instead of just suggesting a pillow to go with a new mattress, pillows were recognized as important accessories that support arc of the neck and aid in breathing comfortably. Fitted sheets helped complement the buying process, but also acted as warranty protection and as a aid in combating allergens.
