As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that I need to be taking care of myself in order to keep up with day to day life. I’ve taken a pledge to get healthier and find beauty in the simple things in life. One of those things is the ability to get a good night’s sleep – something I think many of us take for granted. As you would have seen, we recently ordered a Casper mattress. To understand a little bit more about this amazing brand, I took the opportunity to sit down with Casper expert Nicole Tapscott to talk about real sleep with real people behind the brand!
You’ll remember that we introduced you to Casper earlier this year when I started giving my life and the solutions I needed some thought. Since then, I’ve been doing a lot of research with Catherine on the importance of sleep for my health (and let’s be honest, my sanity). But I also wanted to know about the people behind the brand, because at the end of the day, making a decision to buy a new mattress was after all a big one. I spent a lot of time on my own looking into what options were available to me when it came to purchasing a new mattress. I must have looked through different brands like Simba Mattresses and so many others similar that I knew I needed an expert on the subject.
So when it came to sitting down with Nicole Tapscott, Casper expert from New York, she helped to shed some light on what Casper is really all about. Originally from Toronto, Nicole’s first exposure to Casper was through the NYC transit ads. “I loved what they were doing. The concept of buying a mattress used to be such a horrible experience. Going to big box store is very off putting – the big box experience is all about being upsold while laying in front of a stranger for two minutes.” I quickly was reminded of my last experience buying a mattress before moving to Toronto a few years ago and it was just that. Awkward and totally impersonal.
Here are a few questions I asked and the answers that helped to assure me that Casper was right for Julio &
Q: “Lifestyle” seems to be an ever growing area of interest for Canadians and can mean a lot of things. Casper speaks highly to sleep as a lifestyle – what exactly does that mean?
A: The best way to think about it is the founding story. The idea behind Casper came out of a work space when 5 coworkers were working on another project and people were sleeping on bean bag chairs, not getting a good nights rest. The founders behind Casper thought to themselves, Why are these smart people not taking the time to research a mattress in NYC. The idea spawned out of that – sleep, health and performance all lead to a healthy lifestyle. “We don’t want to be prescriptive by any means. If you’re only going to get 6 hours of sleep, we are here to make those the best possible.”
Q: I know that as I’ve gotten older, I’ve had an epiphany about the necessity of sleep for my mental and physical well being. Briefly tell me about the moment you realized that sleep was a contributing factor to your success as a Casper team member and as a consumer yourself.
A: As a “real person”, my family has always been big nappers. We call ourselves The Napscotts. I grew up with my dad having twenty minute power naps. He would take that time to rest and recover during a busy day. A lot of people in Canada work really hard and this was something that was reinforced and encouraged in our home growing up.
As a member of the Casper team, we’ve noticed that there is a cultural shift. Sleep is now a major asset. People are taking naps to help the body recover after workouts and in general are talking more and more about sleep. It’s all about understanding sleep as a pillar of the performance of society.
Q: Why do you feel it was important for Casper to involve real people in the development of their line of products?
Real people use the line of products, so it just made sense to involve them in the product development process. The team spent over a year in the Capser Labs with real people who were interested in better sleep. People allowed us to film them sleeping – that process is what brought us to a universal level of comfort. For example, memory foam sleeps very warm and the body is good at self regulating. The blend of latex allows the body to keep cool. The conversation is continuously going on because there is always something to be learnt. “We constantly innovate sleep research, products, and services because it’s our mission to help everyone achieve their best life possible.”
Q: It seems as though Casper is more than just a product to be purchased. It is about educating Canadians on the benefits of a good night’s sleep and how they can achieve it. Why do you think it is important to responsibly inform your customers about the process and ultimate product vs the more “corporate brands” on the market who rely on the preconceptions of the sleep industry?
A: At the end of the day, we are a sleep brand and company, and we want to do something to provide Canadians a better nights sleep. The ease of the return process and 100 day guarantee is very important. We strongly believe in those kinds of principles and pillars. We are in no way just trying to sell the product. We want to be innovative and that is why we speak in an authentic way.
Q: Convenience is everywhere we turn these days as consumers. Why was it important for the experience of purchasing a Casper mattress from start to finish, including shipping, to be made easier?
A: From the buying experience to having the mattress shipped conveniently to your home. We wanted to disrupt the “traditional” consumer experience for the better. Capser has free shipping, duties are paid (so there is no COD) and will arrive at your door in convenient sized box. Customer Service is a key factor in the experience even after the mattress arrives – our team is an amazing group of young people who are always looking to help the customer.
Q: How do you feel the role of social media has played in the process of becoming a leader in the sleep industry?
A: Social has been an important area for us to talk with our consumer about what we do. It is an accessible way for us to engage and inform. Our voice has a balance of fun and sass, which stems from the fact that we are a young company. Using these great ways makes social media particularly important for us. We never want to be taking ourselves too seriously and we hope that this comes across on our social channels.
I couldn’t agree more with what Casper has to offer Canada and it’s one of the many reasons why I was so willing to get a mattress for Julio and I. Plus, Canela seems to be just as excited now that the bed is all set up – after all, she’s a big proponent of memory foam mattresses.
After a few weeks of sleeping on a Casper mattress, I can say with certainty that it is life changing. I find myself checking the sleep monitor on my Fitbit and noticing that I toss and turn less and have longer periods of restful sleep. It may not be 8 to 10 hours a night, but what I do get to enjoy beside my husband is proving to be much more valuable than it has ever been.
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For more information on Casper and their line of products, make sure to head to www.casper.com
And of course, don’t forget to join in on the social media conversation with one of our favourite brands by following @Casper on Twitter and Instagram. Stay tuned as some exciting things come to Canada over the next few months that we learnt about and can’t wait to share with you all soon!
For more behind the scenes of this and other amazing brands we are working with around the world, make sure to follow along with the #DoTheDaniel Instagram account. We would love to have you come along on our daily adventures with us!
Photos: Casper & Daniel Reyes
Cheers!