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Made in the USA Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers News Coverage Organic Mattress & Bedding Woman-Owned

As Seen on TV – Behind the Scenes at CozyPure Mattress Factory

There’s never a boring moment here at CozyPure.  Some days you come in to a ton of online orders, some days you are swamped with customers in our Norfolk, VA showroom, and some days it’s “lights, camera, action,” fortunately for me the latter isn’t too often. Today we were visited by Cheryl Tan and her camera crew to do a segment for HR Business Weekly, a 30 minute show produced by WVEC ABC13 and their partners, that serves as a resource and voice for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses in the region.

Cheryl Hahn being interviewed by Cheryl Tan for HR Business Weekly.
Cheryl Hahn being interviewed by Cheryl Tan for HR Business Weekly.

They were here to interview Cheryl Hahn, our fabulous owner, as “entrepreneur of the week.”  There is always plenty to say about our organic latex mattresses and Cheryl’s passion to her company,natural latex mattresses, organic bedding materials is inspiring to other local entrepreneurs.

 

Cheryl let us know that filming would be taking place in the workshop and showroom today and my seat in the lobby is often a hot-spot for traffic so I knew to brush my hair.  What we could not foresee is that one of our artisans would be out sick today.  When the camera is on, you naturally want everything to look it’s best and CozyPure’s workshop looks best when everyone is busy working.  So, guess who had to fill in?  That would be me, the new girl.  I’ve never operated a sewing machine in my life but for “staging purposes” I sat in front of one today and that is all I intended to do was “sit“. However, I was quickly approached by a true artisan that thought it would look even better if I was actually working and she taught me how to sew on a blanket’s binding.  I never expected to sew today and I don’t expect to sew tomorrow but I’m glad I could fill an empty seat, while the cameras were rolling at least.

Just for the cameras, I pretended to sew.
Just for the cameras, I pretended to sew.

The camera crew seemed mesmerized by our workshop bustling with activity – there is something aesthetically pleasing about seeing hands working with beautiful raw materials.  In our workshop our artisans make the finest bedding materials from all natural materials.  This behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship that goes in to every CozyPure mattress is sure to make a great video for the local viewing audience.  The camera crew captured the sewing of organic cotton, the tying of handmade wool comforters, even the creation of CozyPure’s exclusive LaNoodle pillows, hand filled with pure natural latex noodles.  There are much more interesting things going on in the workshop than me pretending to be a seamstress, but that was the highlight of my day nevertheless.

Written by Angela Carey, CozyPure’s newest team member.  Angela brings over 15 years of experience in sales and marketing to the CozyPure staff and is currently greeting customers, answering phones and pretending to sew when the camera is on.  

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Made in the USA Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home News Coverage Organic Apparel & Textiles Organic Clothing Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Renewable Energy Sleep Tips

The Benefits of the Outdoors

It has been said that when one is deprived of their natural habitat they will experience a slight physical and psychological breakdown. Studies show that students whose classroom environment is close to a park, or trees, will likely do better on their tests and such. Elders who live near parks will also be more likely to live longer. A 2001 study, conducted by Frances Kuo and William Sullivan found that those who live in houses that have no immediate access to nature will experience more chaotic – and aggressive – behavior.

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“In our studies, people with less access to nature show relatively poor attention or cognitive function, poor management of major life issues, poor impulse control,” says Kuo. In a Norwegian study, victims of severe depression who took part in a horticulture program noticed reduced symptoms within 3 months. The effects of nature reach far beyond simply looking beautiful, for it brings upon an almost calming, or serene, effect on those who enjoy it. The absorption of vitamin D in the sun does no one harm – until, of course you walk into the house with lobster claws and a blood red chest, so be sure to apply sunscreen generously. Apparently, just the sight of natural landscapes ignite the area of the brain that promotes balance. Studies have shown that when exposed to images of mountains, rivers, beaches, etc, people will most likely observe feelings of ease and well-being.

Not only does being exposed to the natural world help one feel better mentally, but physically it can ease stress, blood-pressure, and anger. It impacts our abilities to pay attention and stay alert, and studies directed toward exercise have proved that those who walk on an outdoor track, for the most part, will walk at a brisker pace than those walking on an indoor track, or treadmill. This is why it remain at the utmost importance that we continue to hold high the integrity of our ecosystem, because without it, physically and psychologically we would begin to ‘break down’ and while the human species lives to adapt, we might never be the same if we didn’t have the outdoors at our disposal. If we had no place to go in order to ‘calm’ ourselves, or to get some fresh air or catch some rays, we might just go insane.

Sitting around for too long is detrimental to our health, and so is sitting in front of the boob tube or computer screen. I don’t want to undermine the advantages that technology has granted us within the past century; however, I do feel the need to stress the importance of exercise and fresh air. Walking around for an hour a day, through your neighborhood, through the park, or strolling down the beach can all do not only your body, but also your mind a lot of justice. Doing this can cross off both one’s need to experience the effects of nature while also fitting exercise into their daily routine. Neither of these two things can be a bad thing unless abused – and by abused I mean working out until you puke and staring into the sun for far too long – which, hopefully, many will have the sense not to do.

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Once again, people can all do their own part in keeping the environment clean if only by throwing away their own garbage, and not making it somebody else’ job to do. Don’t forget to experience the natural effects of latex, wool, and other various organic materials in your own bedroom by checking out CozyPure and the Organic Comfort Zone.

 

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When Choosing Your Latex Mattress

Before buying your next mattress you must keep some very important things in mind on your search. First of all, you have to wonder whether or not you are going to want – or need – to buy a new mattress, once again, within the next ten years. If the answer is yes, and you think that buying a mattress every ten years is a good idea, then you have been sleeping on the wrong mattress’ for far too long. If your bed starts to wear down within a couple of years, overcome by dust-mites and destroyed by time and erosion, then you are either a.) having TOO much fun on your mattress, or b.) your mattress plain sucks. Durability is a sure sign of whether or not you have succeeded in purchasing a quality bed – or anything for that matter, and lets face it, they just aren’t making things these days like they used to. In fact, many mattress’ these days are made so that they can break down in only a matter of years, and therefore the company can sell more product once the customer once again goes into the market.

CozyPure LaNoodle Topper

Believe me when I say that a mattress is not a product that you want to be looking for the cheapest version of. The thing about your bed is, that whether you like it or not, you are going to be spending up to one third of your entire life on it with your face pressed against the pillow, with your body matted to the cushion, so you are going to want to invest in something that is, I don’t know, worth the investment… Try looking for key words such as “quality” versus “cheap” and “organic” over “synthetic”. The reason you want to buy the best quality product is, of course, in case you didn’t see the word the first couple of times that I used it, because of the QUALITY! You don’t want to spend money on something that is going to break down because then you’ll just be spending money on money trying to find a product to replace it, so why not just bite the bullet and buy something that will last for years the first time around. Also, spending money on petroleum based products just sounds icky, especially in the case of your bedding which your face is pressed up on all night and your lungs inhaling the fibers around you.

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There are many different mattress’ to choose from, and in those mattress’ there are many things that you yourself can do in order to make it fit your own needs. You can order a triple layered mattress or you can order a core, its your choice. Ordering a mattress with more layers gives you the option to remove them if necessary, and ordering a core foundation gives you the option to order pieces to place on top of your mattress. Its good to keep your options open, on the bed, off the bed, in the bed, its always good to have options no matter which way you might spin it. “Zoning works by providing more density (firmness) where you need it most (center of the bed). We created lateral zones which are symmetrical so the head and foot are the same, and the shoulder and lower-leg zones are the same, with the large middle section in the center third of the mattress acting as the most expansive zone. This allows easy rotation of your mattress keeping the more critical zones in-tact (shoulder area and mid-section).”

A flame retardant mattress is a good mattress. Nowadays mattress’ must be manufactured to meet federal guidelines, which ensure that one’s mattress won’t, you know, burst into flames at any given moment (not that mattress’ are particularly known to spontaneously com bust or anything, but there is always the odd cigarette fire and what not.) Many people resort to meeting these guidelines by adding more chemicals to cancel out the other chemicals that will aid in igniting the fire. A popular method among natural latex bedding that is used to combat flames is the use of wool batting either in the latex itself or in the mattress casing. Also, the great thing about the use of organic cottons and wools in one’s bedding is that these components are good for wicking away moisture, which you might find will keep you from waking up in a puddle of your own sweat at night. These materials also enable air flow, unlike synthetic fibers they ‘breathe’ with your body.

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eric-SAT-picEric is currently a student and part-time 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.

 

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Which Pillow Is Right For You?

Waking up with a stiff neck can be a pain; it can set your hole day up to be a struggle. It is very unpleasant to sit at a desk massaging your neck and shoulders to no avail. You wake up feeling worse than when you fell asleep all because your neck and shoulders have become stiff overnight. This can all be fixed with the right pillow, though.

While choosing the right pillow for you there are many factors that should go into your decision, and at the Organic Comfort Zone, there is a bundle of options for you to choose from.

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First of all, you should consider the fill of your pillow. Here there are a few different fill choices for you to choose from. For someone with a neck that should be elevated during sleep (snoring or apnea problems), perhaps an extra fill would do you justice to help open the airways – keeping the head and neck elevated can help with one’s breathing.  If you are a stomach sleeper, like myself, you might want to try using a pillow with a lite fill so that your body isn’t being stretched backwards.  And for those who are ambivalent to either choice, perhaps you might enjoy the regular fill which suits most side and back sleepers. Choosing the wrong fill can be uncomfortable and, of course, it can make one’s neck very stiff by the time that the morning hours roll around.

Next you should consider the softness of a pillow. In a lot of downy-feather pillows the fluff begins to fade within a year or two and usually the feathers disperse every night so the pillow goes flat (we don’t offer down pillows).

With a wool pillow the fluff is batting that provides a slight softness with support. The wool compresses and will become flatter with use so if you like that type of pillow, choose wool.  However, if you prefer a pillow that sinks and forms to your head, you might enjoy the La’Noodle pillow, because while it conforms to your head and neck, its fluff factor does not fade for ten or more years. You can sleep on the pillow every night and it will bounce right back to natural plumpness once fluffed. It offers both contouring support that is soft and squishy. Other pillow options at the Organic Comfort Zone include organic pure Kapok, Cotton, and Buckwheat.

LaNoodle Pillow

 

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Eco-Tips Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Apparel & Textiles Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Sleep Tips

Kapok: The Tree of the Gods

Yesterday I wrote an article about wool, hoping to persuade those against it to join; however, I understand the integrity our customers hold and that some of them can not sacrifice their beliefs for a product, no matter how cozy it may be. This one goes out to all the vegans out there.

I understand that wool is an animal product and I am a firm advocate of animal rights, and while I still enjoy my wool comforter and indulge in feasting on a Thanksgiving turkey or a juicy burger whenever the time comes, for the most part I steer clear of products in which I know that animals are treated harshly. The food chain is real, and I wont sacrifice my appetite as long as the chicken that I am eating grew up happy and healthy. I also hold true to using wool products such as socks and bedding. Still, there are substitutes for wool all over, it just depends on where you are looking for them.

Good thing you are looking at CozyPure, though, because our natural Kapok has much of the same therapeutic effect as wool does, and its just as comfortable. Kapok is a soft, all natural product that comes from none other than the Kapok trees in South America. Kapok is a non-toxic, hypoallergenic fiber that has been used for centuries for things such as pillows and in other bedding products because of its durability and also because it is safe to grow, without comprising the environment around it. It has been used for a variety of things from stuffing life-preservers to cushions and saddles and woven into blankets, its wood has been used for carvings and coffins and canoes.

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The Mayans believed the Kapok tree to symbolize the heavens and all of the glory than shines in the night time sky. This is where their Gods reigned, in comfort and peace, stowing away in the trees. Who could blame them? I would be propped up in one at this very moment if there were any nearby, what with all the comfort and beneficial properties that the tree holds. It is used as a medicine plant in the Mayan culture and in most wedding ceremonies, as well as other gatherings, it is made use of.

My affection for the tree is so high that I wrote a small poem dedicated to it. Enjoy:

The majestic Kapok tree, how we worship thee

you are oh so divine, your qualities benefit mine

and I am happy to use you: in my pillows,

in my blankets, and even between my toes!

 

bodypillow-joy copy

 

Ok, so maybe I’m no poet, but at least I know it! (Bad joke?) Still, there is no denying the natural benefits of Kapok products and it is the perfect substitute for those who are allergic to cotton and wool, or are against the manufacturing of wool, or other animal products. Don’t waste your time, try it for yourself today. It can’t hurt, it can only help.

 

 


eric-SAT-picEric is currently a student and part-time 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.

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Environment Green Living Healthy Lifestyles Made in the USA Miscellaneous Natural Bedroom Natural Fibers Natural Home Organic Apparel & Textiles Organic Clothing Organic Comfort Organic Mattress & Bedding Sleep Tips

Why Wool Is Cool

A huge problem that people have with buying wool is that it is an animal product, and with the way that animals are treated in modern civilization people are skeptical on the matter. However, sheep are not killed when wool is attained, and while some people do bring harm to their sheep we make sure that where our products come from there is a safe environment for the animals. The wool is merely sheared off, so it is as if the animals are getting a haircut. No harm comes to these sheep, they enjoy their days long after the product has been taken, can you say the same about that burger that you ate last night?

amaizingwool-belle

Another concern with wool is the odor. So many people understand wool to retain a musty smell after being worn multiple times but this is true with all fibers, synthetic included! It is a fact that an article of clothing will get dirty and smelly if not washed for a prolonged period. All my wool sweaters and socks smell perfectly fine after being thrown into the washer, just as my spandex do. See, it can go either way in whatever you are wearing, no matter what your body will leave behind odors on your clothing and its up to you to make sure that it does not stay in such a smelly condition. Its either that or remove your sweat glands.

Wool is WARMER! Wool is capable of maintaining body heat, and while it dries slower than synthetic fibers it is still able to keep one’s body heat elevated without them burning up. Wool is a temperature regulator, meaning that in the cooler months it tends to retain body heat, while during the hot seasons it breathes with your body It is water resistant to a certain degree (lets not get too crazy here though, you can’t jump into a pool and stay dry) however, with smaller spills and messes there is a tendency for the liquid to drip down and simply spill off the fibers. Wool can also absorb up to 30% of its weight in water before beginning to feel wet.

Being the flame resistant fiber that it is wool will not melt into a persons skin when on fire. It is self-extinguishing, so when caught on fire it will typically only char (lets hope that fire gets contained though because you’d hate to ruin that polyester sweater of yours). Not only is it flame resistant but its super durable. Unlike other fibers that break and wear down over time, wool takes much longer to wear down.

Finally, wool is comfortable too! Every night I tuck myself away under my warm, cozy organic wool comforter and thank the stars that its available to me. In the morning I wake up just a little happier because of how cozy I am wrapped up underneath my blanket and my mood is destroyed when the realization that I actually have to see the world outside sinks in. Just another reason to sleep, I guess.

 

 


eric-SAT-picEric is currently a student and part-time 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.