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Waterbeds and Technology – A perfect marriage.
Last Updated: 09/13/2010
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What in the world do waterbeds and technology have in common? Believe it or not, waterbeds aren’t the old-fashioned fads that most people think they are. They have an interesting history with technology, and are currently thriving on the internet. Impossible? Let’s find out.
The waterbed was a product born out of invention, almost 200 years ago. While searching for methods to relieve the suffering of invalid patients in the early 1800’s, Scottish physician Neil Arnott devised a bath of water, covered with a rubber-infused canvas. Over the last 2 centuries, new technology and ideas would drive inventors and engineers back to the idea. We might ask, why the obsession with water? If you know a little about water, you’ll quickly realize why engineers and doctors would push the idea even after so many failed attempts.
Water is an extremely high-tech material. It is dense enough to support the weight of a foreign object, whether it be an oil tanker or a duck in a pond. The interactions of objects on the surface create what we call buoyancy. The perimeter of water has surface tension which allows objects to float. This property, as observed every day in the natural world, must have been irresistible for an inventor looking to reduce pressure during sleep. Furthermore, water is great at transferring and holding heat, which makes for an ideal sleeping environment. There is really nothing like it! No wonder people kept trying to perfect the waterbed.
Only In the last 40 years or so, as plastics and new polymers have been developed, have we seen the real implementation of a commercial waterbed product. Modern technology was the key to making waterbeds convenient, safe, and able to be mass-produced. Every advancement in polymer technology results in an increase in waterbed strength, reduing the chance of leaks.
Modern foam and bedding techniques have led to the most dramatic development of all, the soft side waterbed: a true evolution of the waterbed. Soft side waterbeds make it possible to get all the benefits of sleeping on water, without having to purchase specialized bed furniture and accessories. Now you can use standard sheets and bedding, as well as your existing headboard and footboard. This kind of innovation is only made possible because of the advancement of technology in the bedding industry, as well as the enduring success of water as a primary sleep material.
Another link with technology came in the late 1990’s as waterbed retailers were disappearing. It was getting more difficult to sustain the industry, and sell a specialty item in the growing bedding industry that was coming out with new and less expensive products all the time. Imports, low cost manufacturing and new products like Tempur-Pedic were squeezing out the local waterbed retailer. Fortunately, a few companies saw the rise of the internet as a possible way of the future. Sell waterbeds on the internet? Sounds crazy but it actually makes a lot of sense.
First of all, waterbed users already know what a waterbed feels like, and the reality is that most of the purchases they make are for conditioner, liners, sheets, and other accessories that don’t require a physical store. If they did need a replacement mattress, they could usually just order the same model, or something comparable. With the flexibility of a waterbed, you can actually change the feel of it by increasing or decreasing the water level. It’s totally customizable, unlike most other traditional mattresses, where you get what you get. This means the risk of not liking the mattress goes way down. Again, a plus for “sight unseen” purchasing.
Secondly, most of the retailers, as the market was fading, responded by raising their prices to make ends meet. Higher retail costs for waterbeds, actually squeezed people out of the industry, thus making the problem worse. Once again, the internet provided a much needed solution. Remember, waterbed customers are some of the most loyal in the industry, and they were leaving their waterbeds, not because of comfort, but because the prices were rising. Internet retailers realized that the internet allowed them to drop ship right from the manufacturer, eliminating the need for expensive retail stores, and local marketing. These cost savings were passed on to the buyers. Also, the internet made it possible for a single website to reach the entire country, instead of trying to squeeze all their business out of one single area. It was a match made in heaven, and it came at just the right time.
Now, the waterbed industry is still going strong. With tools like online video, reviews and social media, waterbed retailers are able to not only service existing waterbed owners, but bring in new customers to the fold. With a guaranteed return policy and certified business ratings with consumer groups, new customers, who are continually looking for better ways to sleep, are able to take the plunge into waterbeds. Who would have though that this 200 year old idea would get new life in the 21st century!
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