Author: Jamar Diggs

Jamar Diggs is a PR and Communications team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

Categories
Natural Fibers Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding

The Therapeutic Benefits of Sleeping with Wool

For over 12,000 years wool has been used to make life naturally comfortable. Some believe that sleeping with wool will make you sweat. Actually wool bedding (mattress toppers, comforters and pillows) provides a temperature controlled sleep environment perfect for your body. Wool is animal friendly because no animals are killed and is sustainable and renewable like human hair. People with allergies are able to use wool products because it is resistant to bacteria, mold and mildew (which can trigger allergic reactions in some).  Wool products  also wards away dust-mites. Dust-mites need moisture to survive, but because wool evaporates moisture rapidly they are unable to live in it.

Everyone has had that one itchy wool sweater but in reality wool batting is actually really soft. Pure wool batting is sheared from living sheep, washed without harsh soaps and then combed into soft clean wool fill.

Wool is naturally flame resistant. When wool touches a flame it will not ignite because the fibers do not support combustion. Ever wondered why firefighters wore wool clothing? That’s why!

No matter what the season, wool is able to maintain a comfortable body temperature. In the winter wool produces warmth without overheating and has the ability to keep you comfortable  in the summer because of its moisture wicking process. The wool fibers create a still lining of air next to your skin to hold in heat during the cold months and cool your body as outdoor temperature rises. When we are asleep wool draws and absorbs the moisture that we sweat, reducing the skin temperature.  When you are cooler you sleep more soundly and toss and turn less often. In the summer the outdoor heat is kept away from your skin because of the wools insulating barrier of air pockets.

The average sleeper will lose almost a pint of water vapor in an eight-hour sleep period. At night wool is able to absorb this moisture without feeling damp or clammy. The cells of wool fibers are able to quickly and efficiently absorb and evaporate moisture.

Now that you know the truth cuddle up with and wool comforter and let the pure organic comfort begin!

 

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Jamar Diggs is a PR Communications and Social Media team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

Categories
Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Natural Home Organic Comfort Products & Sales

CozyPure at The Green Festival Sept. 29-30

Pack your bags and get an up close look of our CozyPure® mattress and bedding collection at the 2012 Green Festival, provided by Green America and Global Exchange. There you will find Cheryl Hahn, the President and Founder of Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturer of CozyPure® organic mattresses and bedding. She will be there to talk to you about how her CozyPure® products can make our lives healthier, how the quality offers a return on your investment and how our manufacturing procedures alongside our fabrics and materials have a very low-impact on our environment.

The Green Festival will have 125 renowned authors, how-to-workshops, cutting-edge films, fun activities for kids, organic beer and wine, vegetarian cuisine and live music. Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, author and lawyer, with more than 40 years at the forefront of progressive movements, will be a keynote speaker at the DC Green Festival.

In addition to all the great speakers and activities, everyone who attends will be able to shop the festival marketplace of more than 300 eco-friendly Green America business members, including CozyPure®.

For more information about The Green Festival visit www.greenfestivals.org

For more information about Green America and Global Exchange visit www.greenamerica.org and www.globalexchange.org

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Jamar Diggs is a PR Communications and Social Media team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

 

 

Categories
Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom

Sleep Tips for A Better Nights Sleep

Do you toss and turn every night? There are a lot of factors that interfere with a good nights sleep. It could be pressure from work and family to relationship issues and illness. We can’t always control the factors that ruin our sleep but adopting habits that encourage a good nights rest is a great place to start.

Try sticking to a sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same times even on weekends and holidays help your body’s sleep-wake cycle. If you don’t fall asleep within about 15 minutes get up and do something relaxing and go back to bed when you are tired.

Watch what you eat and drink. Don’t go to bed hungry or stuffed. Your discomfort could keep you up. Reduce the amount you drink before going to sleep to decrease middle of the night bathroom runs.

Creating a bedtime ritual is an easy way to tell your body when its time to wind down. You could read a book, listen to calming music, take a bath. Doing relaxing activities before bed create an easier transition to becoming drowsy.

Create your room ideal for sleeping.  Make your room cool, dark and quiet. Try using room darkening shades, a fan, earplugs or other items that can create your ideal sleep environment. Your mattress and sheets can contribute to a better sleep. Using fibers such as polyester can overheat your body at night and make you feel uncomfortable. Natural fibers like cotton and pure wool wicks your body’s moisture causing you to stay  a little cooler so you can sleep better through the night. Don’t forget coverings such as blankets and even your pajamas which should also be made from natural fibers to help contribute to better sleep.

Limiting daytime naps will help you get a good nights sleep especially if your struggle with insomnia or poor sleep quality. If you choose to nap, limit yourself to about 10-30 minutes during the mid-afternoon.

Include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular physical activity promotes better sleep, helping you fall asleep faster and to enjoy a deeper sleep. Make sure to exercise earlier in the day. If your exercise before bed you may be too energized to sleep.

When you have many things to do and think about – your sleep suffers. Consider healthy ways to handle stress. Start by getting organized, delegating tasks and setting priorities. Take a break when you need one. Before bed, quickly write down what’s on your mind and save it for tomorrow.

Hopefully with these tips you are able to receive the best sleep you deserve and wake up a little less crabby. If you have trouble sleeping often, contact your physician. Finding and treating an underlying cause may also contribute to a better sleep for you.

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Jamar Diggs is a PR Communications and Social Media team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

 

Categories
Environment Green Living Miscellaneous Renewable Energy

Clean Energy vs. Nonrenewable Resources

When you think of the word “clean energy” what comes to mind? Can the average Joe actually define this term? Clean energy is produced by renewable resources. So a way that we are able to make clean energy is by using resources like water, oxygen and the sun. The Organic Comfort Zone CozyPure  products are manufactured with the energy from two wind turbines and solar-panels. Heating and cooling needs are controlled by a GeoThermal system. For over a year we’re proud to report a ZERO kWh usage.

Nonrenewable resources such as coal, oil, and gas are being depleted quickly and can not be reproduced as fast as they are being used. In order to conserve these limited resources we should look for alternative energy sources.

With alternatives like wind, geo, hydrogen and ocean energy we can recreate an advocate the need of using resources efficiently. Why waste a product that is almost gone?

What do you think about the energy alternatives? What are some other ways to conserve our energy resources? Share your comments below.

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Jamar Diggs is a PR Communications and Social Media team member for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

Categories
Environment Healthy Lifestyles Made in the USA Miscellaneous Organic Comfort Renewable Energy

Made In The U.S.A

At Organic Comfort Zone we pride ourselves on making all of our CozyPure® products in the U.S.A. When you decide to purchase a product that was completely made in the USA like our LaNoodle pillow versus foreign countries you will feel the highest quality of comfort.

When someone purchases a “Made in the U.S.A” product they can be fairly confident that it is safe. In America we have consumer protection laws and safety standards that protect you and your family. Some foreign countries have low safety standards. Think about how many children’s toys made overseas that ave been recalled because they have been found unsafe or toxic.

The U.S. manufacturing processes implemented here at Organic Comfort Zone are much cleaner for our environment, especially considering we generate our own energy, minimize scraps, and don’t have any chemicals on our premises. Many products produced overseas where there is no regulation, use dangerous processes that pollute our environment. We choose chemical- free organic eco-smart materials to create our CozyPure® products which provide a healthy and comfortable sleep.

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Jamar Diggs is the PR and Communications specialist for Norfolk, VA based business Organic Comfort Zone, manufacturers of CozyPure organic bedding and mattress. For more information visit organiccomfortzone.com or cozypure.com or call 757.480.8500.

Categories
News Coverage

Inside Business – Eco-Friendly Bedding Provides Comfort

November 14, 2011

By Susan Smigielski Acker


Cheryl and Richard Hahn hopped on the organic craze long before it was fashionable when they started Organic Comfort Zone 20 years ago in Norfolk’s Ocean View section.

Cheryl now runs the company of 10 employees that makes and sells the CozyPure line of bedding products. The difference between their product and others is that the inside is made of all-natural-latex products. The outside lining is all-natural fibers including cotton, she said.

“They wrinkle and we say it is good if they do because it means there is no synthetic material in them,” Hahn said. “The cotton we use is grown without pesticides and does not have any formaldehyde in it. The wool is also pure, like our grandparents had many years ago.”

People with sensitive skin find their products more tolerable although Hahn said her bedding items are not medical products so they do not make guarantees.

Their best seller is La Noodle pillow. It feels similar to a down-filled pillow except without the possibility of dust mites and other allergy-causing factors. It has naturally made “noodles” that don’t attract dust mites, something that down pillows could do.

“People like it because it moves like a down pillow,” she said.

The idea to create an organic business was her husband’s . Hahn’s background is in the textile industry, marketing for a sportswear company.

“I knew little about organic products, but I learned quickly,” she said.

The first store was in JANAF shopping center in Norfolk. They later moved to the Hilltop area to capture Virginia Beach tourists doing upscale shopping. That move brought them national attention.

“We began a catalog mailing soon after that,” she said.

Now they are mailing catalogs to about 15,000 people. When Internet shopping took off, they immediately launched a webpage – www.cozypure.com and their company grew to 10 employees.

Prices range from $32 for a small pillow to $1,900 for a mattress.

Hahn said the business took off more, but she made a conscious decision not to have it grow too fast.

“The opportunity to grow big has always been there. But I am also a mom and did not want to be at work all the time. I want to be available for my children,” she said. Her children are now teenagers.

“ We’ve enjoyed a moderate and steady growth, allowing us to expand on my time line, using our revenue towards the expansion without the need for any outside loans whatsoever.  Over the past five years we’ve been fortunate to experience 30 to 40 percent increase in our bedding sales each year. It’s great not having any huge financial debts looming over our head – especially in this economy,” she said

Hahn recently made the decision to place to place her products with other select retailers throughout the country.

“That is what I am working on, putting together point-of-purchase displays. We will also have fixed pricing.”

While many consumers purchase from their catalogs and online, Hahn recognizes many customers want to feel a bedding product before they purchase it.

When asked if the Eco friendly fad has helped business, Hahn said, “Yes, way back in the early ’90s, you did not hear a lot about it. Our consumer base has expanded but our competition is also greater.”

Recently Hahn enjoyed a sense of accomplishment while staying in a hotel.

“They had our pillows in the room,” she said.

The deal with the hotel was better than her other sales.

“That was awesome,” she said. “I slept in and it was great.”

Categories
News Coverage

Hampton Roads Magazine – Green Dreams: Bringing Sustainability to Slumber

April 2010

By Michael Jon Khandelwal

When Cheryl Hahn moved to Hampton Roads more than 20 years ago, she was drawn to the region’s natural beauty and soon realized she had a strong desire to do something to help sustain it.

She and her husband, Richard, started Tomorrow’s World, a retailer that offered green products. And after her husband decided to pursue other opportunities, the business became the Organic Comfort Zone in Norfolk’s Ocean View neighborhood. Here, Hahn, 46, oversees the manufacture and sale of dozens of green products from pillows to mattresses.

Hahn spoke with Hampton Roads Magazine about all things green from her office next door to where she and her husband are getting ready to open another green venture—Sunrise Solar and Wind, specializing in solar panels, instant hot water heaters and wind turbines.

What gave you the passion to open a green business?
When we moved here, we did a lot of research and there were not a lot of green products available. We wanted to change that. We opened the first store and offered a lot that was green like light bulbs, body care and recycling tools. As products started to become more available in general, we stopped selling them because we want to want to be a pioneer of what should be. I had a background in textiles, so when my husband left the business, it was only natural for me to want to get to that end of it as well as manufacturing. I have a real passion for this. The bedroom is the place you spend more time than anywhere else—you shut down, you’re vulnerable—it should be a healthy sanctuary. Our products have to be high quality and beautiful, good for the environment and good for you.

How does having your own manufacturing contribute to being a green business?
Number one is reducing our carbon footprint, and that’s especially true when we sell to our customers in Hampton Roads. We’re also a green manufacturer; and I like that we can choose everything we use. All our components are green—organic and natural wool, cotton, natural latex—everything is sustainable and renewable. Our La’Noodle pillow was invented after noticing foam manufacturers were throwing away all the little scraps and leftovers. We committed to purchasing it to make the pillow filling—that keeps it out of the landfills.

We use fluorescent lighting; we have geothermal heat and our wind turbines are going up soon. Soon, our sewing machines will be powered by green power. I think we’ll be the only bedding manufacturer in the country that produces green bedding with our own green power—not buying green power, which is great, but producing our own green power.

What’s one thing you’d like everyone to know when they are considering an organic or green purchase?
Most green things have a really good return on investment. Products like compact fluorescent light bulbs cost a little more, but you’re saving on power and they last you for 10 years. If you look at the big picture, the whole life cycle of the product, going is actually cheaper. Also, consumers should be aware that “green washing” is very big right now. A label could say the product is green, but you have to be cautious as to what you are getting. Just because it says “green” doesn’t mean it’s green. Research the company, the manufacturer, the retailer.

What advancement would you like to see take place in the next 20 years?
Green energy, especially here in Hampton Roads with the wind and solar energy—we have so much potential. I’m a big advocate of the beauty of wind turbines. I’d rather see a wind turbine any day than a power line.

What do you like most about Hampton Roads?
We enjoy the water that’s everywhere. Hampton Roads has a very nice natural environment; it’s beautiful here. People are friendly and laid back, especially when compared to where I’m from. I’m used to people hanging up on you when you call them. Here people take the time to talk.