Malaysian brand of cool and washable heavyweight blanket – Wired PR Lifestyle Story
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I am a light sleeper. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t struggle with sleep.
Entrepreneur in the Mike Chu series can also relate to this. His solution was to try heavy blankets, which prompted him to sell under the Malaysian brand. Lazy Blanket.
If his name sounds familiar to you, it’s because he’s also the founder behind it PTT Away, a local online marketplace that sells cheap outdoor equipment.
Finally, a good night’s sleep
“Being an entrepreneur, stress can sometimes cost me hours of sleep at night. I tried [drinking] chamomile tea, [using] the smell of lavender, as well as counting the real sheep, but that didn’t work, ”he shared in our interview.
Searching for solutions on the net, Mike found heavy blankets from a US company. Although the shipping fee cost him a bomb, he ordered one to be tested and then fired for 8 hours.
“It’s been over 10 years since I slept for 8 hours (not even on vacation)!” Mikel remembered that he couldn’t believe it. Needless to say, it sold more than the concept.
That’s how the idea for Sloth Blanket came about. Launched in September 2021, the e-commerce platform sells heavy blankets to Malaysians, reducing shipping costs to buy from foreign markets.
In fact, shipping is free for orders on the Malaysian mainland.
It’s like receiving a warm hug
Weighted blankets work based on a concept called deep pressure therapy (DPT). A good example of this is the feeling that arises when you are hugged. DPT is said to provide comfort and safety to relieve stress and relieve anxiety.
From my personal struggles with sleep, I have also tried on a heavy blanket in light of these claims. But instead, I felt “trapped” rather than relaxed by the blankets because it made it harder for me to change sleeping positions. Unlike me, some people like that feeling.
“Yeah, technically, you’re‘ trapped ’, but it feels good at the same time,” Mike said.
“The science behind this is that the feeling of being ‘confined’ triggers the release of dopamine, relaxes the body and also creates a feeling of happiness (in our case, comfort).”
For example, in an autistic community, occupational therapists often use heavy blankets to calm or comfort the restless or stressed.
Therapy dogs also use DPT. If the owner suffers a nervous breakdown, the dog is trained to place his legs on the owner to calm him down. Starting a baby is another example of DPT.
“Quilts and duvets are great for giving almost the same effect, minus the weight,” Mike added. “There are people who can’t sleep without covering their whole body with a quilt. That’s also basically part of the DPT.”
I, for one, can’t stand the feeling of using heavy blankets, Mike’s last statement is what I can really relate to when using a duvet.
Warm, but not stifling
Cotton is the material used for the outer layer of heavy blankets. However, they can be very hot and not so suitable for Malaysian weather.
That’s why the outer layer of Sloth Blanket fabric is made of bamboo fiber. Known as a cooler material, the sensation spreads around the blanket so you won’t feel any heat underneath, even if it’s completely covered.
Inside, organic glass beads suitable for the washing machine are used. The beads are evenly distributed using the structure of a square seam. That is, each square has the same number of grains (weight) so that the blanket is evenly structured.
Sloth Blanket’s production and design are currently outsourced to China, but that doesn’t mean Mike didn’t try to find a local producer for the product.
“There are a lot of mattress factories that we approached with the concept as well as a commitment, but they rejected us,” he said, adding that he had been denied at least 30 times before going on the import route.
Of course, one day it plans to manufacture locally, believing in the empowerment of the local economy. “Once we have a growth trajectory, we will be approaching 30 identical factories to work with them,” Mike predicts.
Great price for a blanket
When you buy a Sloth Blanket, you can choose from the different weights you want to bring your unit: 4.5 kg, 5.4 kg, 6.8 kg and 9 kg.
Customers are advised to choose a blanket that is 10% of their body weight. For example, if you weigh between 60 kg and 70 kg, the best weight for your blanket is 6.8 kg.
“Anything lighter, maybe you won’t feel it, and heavier everything can cause an uncomfortable level of suffocation,” Mike said. It is also important to note that although weighted blankets are safe for children, Sloth Blanket does not recommend use with children under 3 years of age.
Price between RM299 and RM499, depending on the weight, Sloth Blanket products can come as a luxury purchase for the average Malaysian middle-income earner.
However, Mike justified the fact that the heavyweight blankets of his brand are priced lower than the weightless silk duvets, so those who think they can benefit from the former will be content with the expense.
In addition, while looking for other brands that sell weighted blankets on the net, Sloth Blanket carried a wide range of prices among the limited local options. We say limited because you can actually count them by hand.
The Sleep Huggy Manta A Malaysian mattress brand is worth RM329 (no promotion), the one I tested from a friend was RM351, and a local Shopee brand sells its own between RM298 and RM379. Of course, different materials, quality, durability and the cost of shipping blankets should be considered for different price points.
Sloth Blanket offers a 30-night free refund policy with a money back guarantee for those who have not seen any improvement in sleep. Of course, the returned product must be in an acceptable condition, free of stains or damage, and stored in its original packaging.
Helping others sleep better
So far, Sloth Blanket’s clients are both male and female from all over Malaysia, mostly in cities like Klang Valley, Johor and Penang. Mike also saw a Sarawak customer buy blankets for his entire family.
Customer feedback has also been good, with Mike saying that 95% of customers reported having better sleep after using Sloth Blanket.
Sloth Blanket, which produces an average of 600 blankets a week, sells about 200 blankets a month. Mike expects it to grow at least 10 times from now on, indicating the brand’s 2-year goal.
For the brand’s short-term goals, the team is looking to partner with mattress brands and home developers where they can include a Sloth Blanket in their packages.
“We also aim to turn to charities that work with autistic children, which is the commitment of our business from day one. The more blankets we sell, the more we will return,” Mike hoped.
Since lit blankets are a sensory object, Sloth Blanket hopes to appear in roadshows so that customers can get to know the product first hand.
Featured Image Credit: Sloth Blanket
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