According to insights by Flipkart, the shift from spring
mattresses to foam has largely been observed over the last 5 years.
Priya Fotedar, Senior Director, Furniture at Flipkart said,
“With Indians spending most of their working hours at home over the past
few years, there has been an increase in the selection of more comfortable
mattresses in the market. We have observed a significant growth in the
customers’ preference for foam mattresses across the country with an over 150
percent increase in demand registered over the last two years. Flipkart today
offers one of the largest selections of mattresses in India and we are
constantly working with brands to cater to the customers’ evolving
requirements. Today, we offer an expanded selection of mattresses, and offer
doorstep delivery across the country.”
Customers are looking to invest in excellent items for a
good night’s sleep as a result of the pandemic-induced work from home over the
last two years. Due to the lack of comfort in traditional mattresses and the
influence of sedentary lifestyles on sleep cycles, there has been a significant
shift in demand for orthopaedic or foam mattresses over the past few years.
Customers like foam mattresses because they remember and preserve the contour
of the body, which helps to maintain appropriate posture, align the spine
properly, and are hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. This trend has escalated
in the aftermath of the epidemic, which has resulted in a rise in stress
levels.
According to Flipkart data, demand for foam mattresses has
surged 1.5 times in the last two years, and the move from spring beds to foam
mattresses has mostly occurred in the last five years. Customers in metros and
tier II cities account for roughly a third of total demand, but tier III and
beyond cities account for 44% of total demand.
Companies such as Sleepyhead and Wakefit were the early
entrants in the foam mattresses segment, but the industry is also witnessing
the foray of existing and new players in this segment. Since the onset of this
trend, Duroflex and Curlon have also expanded their presence in this segment
while new entrants such as The Sleep Company are pushing for greater
innovation. This has also helped increase the average selling price to Rs
20,000 from Rs 9,000-14,000 earlier.
With growing demand, the
mattress industry is witnessing newer innovations such as the ‘Mattress in a
box’ concept which is fast gaining popularity. Here, mattresses are compressed
in an air-sealed bag and rolled tight before shipping for better convenience of
customers. Courtesy: www.indianretailer.com
