For some time I’ve been wanting to improve the quality of the foam we put inside our LofaBed mattresses. Not that there’s anything wrong with the existing foam, mind you…..it’s just that I feel we can do better. But I’ve been reluctant to make a move, because increasing the quality means increasing the price as well…..and in the current economic environment, how could anyone in their right mind raise prices?

Well, I’ve decided to do it anyway….mainly because it’s the right thing to do….and because I want to be able to continue being passionate about my LofaBed. Last year (2008), when oil was selling for $150 a barrel, there was simply no way. Polyurethane foam is an oil derivative, you see. But this year oil prices have stabilized somewhat, so bumping the price now wouldn’t be nearly as traumatic as it would have been last year.

Enough about prices…..let’s talk about the real, underlying issue here: How do you construct a sofa-bed mattress that people can enjoy sleeping on every night? In the beginning (1996), the goal was to introduce a product that would compare favorably with the existing competition: futons and hide-a-beds. Surveys had shown that the use of these products was “occasional,” not full time. So we selected a grade of foam (1.5 pound density, medium compression) that was better than what was in your normal futon, but still reasonably priced. And we’ve stayed with that formula for the past 13 years.

But times, they are a-changing…..and now I’m getting more and more inquiries about the wisdom of sleeping on a LofaBed every night. Whether it’s because an adult child has come home to live with his parents, or because “she who must be obeyed” has decided that hubby’s snoring can no longer be tolerated (see video below)……

or because all the bedrooms are filled with children and Mom and Dad have been relegated to the sofa bed in the living room…..doesn’t matter…..they’re all legitimate reasons. In response to these requests, I have decided to offer a better version of the same LofaBed mattress; one that will be MORE comfortable and LAST longer…by introducing a “Premium” foam option to the productline. From now on, all seven sizes (chair, twin/single, loveseat, full/double, “qouble,” Mary Miller queen, and sectional) will be available in the “Premium” foam option.

But what does that mean?

Well, it’s still a compromise. Afterall, the absolute best available foam, Memory Foam, would be much too expensive. In fact, even a 3-pound regular foam would add so much to the price of a LofaBed, that no one would buy it. So I’ve compromised with a 2-pound density, soft compression version that costs ME $55 extra for a full/double. I’m not trying to make a PENNY on this….it’s expensive enough….I’m just going to pass it on.

But, OMG, what a difference it makes!!! Now, when you sit on it, you sink in…..just like you would with an expensive piece of upholstered Italian leather. Most people’s reaction is simply, “Wow!” And just like with most Italian furniture, our Pirelli elastic webbing supports both you and the cushion, making sure that “bottoming out” is never a concern. No, there’re enough layers of cotton batting (4) and polyurethane foam (4) to keep you supported in absolute luxury, while allowing you to sink in far enough to be sublimely comfortable. And yet, when lying down, you still feel completely supported because your body is spread over a much larger area than when sitting. To paraphrase the immortal Henry Higgins, “By Jove, I think we’ve got it!”

The “Premium” foam option is just that, an option. No one is being forced to buy it. But if you’re in need of a full-time place to lay your head every night, and the other bed(s) in your home have been taken, THIS is the LofaBed for you. The higher density means it’ll last longer, and the lower compression means it’ll feel more comfortable. And if enough customers “opt” for this option, it’s only a matter of time before this becomes the way ALL LofaBeds are made.

“Premium” foam prices:

chair/ottoman = + $49
twin/single/ottoman = + $59
loveseat/ottoman = + $70
full/double = + $55
“qouble” = + $66
Mary Miller queen loveseat/ottoman = + $84

Developing Premium foam…
Met resistance like Georg Simon Ohm.
We made it much stronger,
As well as last longer…
But it took many days, as did Rome.

Mitch Wapen
www.lofasofa.com
lofasofa@videotron.ca
877-424-1431

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