Independent mattress retailer Mattress Online introduces two new faces of its sleep panel with the appointment of a new Head of Sleep Science and Relationship Expert.
Mattress Online kicked off the New Year with the appointment of Hannah Shore as its new Head of Sleep Science. Her role sees Hannah have a touchpoint across the whole business, with suppliers and manufacturers, and also with Mattress Online’s wider partnerships, as well as being a figurehead of its collective aim to helping the UK get the best night’s sleep.
In addition, Hannah joins Mattress Online’s expanding panel of sleep experts, alongside James Wilson, The Sleep Geek, as well as fellow new recruit Jenni Trent Hughes, who recently joined the business as its new Relationship Expert.
Steve Adams, CEO, explained: “As our new Head of Sleep Science, Hannah Shore is well-known in the industry already – many readers will have met her and been privy to her support and vast product knowledge during her time with Silentnight. With broadcasting as one of her many areas of experience, Jenni Trent Hughes is equally as renowned in her areas of expertise and will be a familiar face, and voice, to many. Both the new additions to the cohort joining us at the same time is merely a happy coincidence.
“The investment reinforces our aim to help our customers navigate their purchase – not content with giving them access to the best range of products in the market, we’re always looking at ways to help consumers through the buying journey. Trust is crucial, and so providing subject matter experts to guide consumers through to final purchase is really important to us as a brand.
“The new roles will bolster our offering of transparent and clear communication, through advice content on our website, product information, and other public facing platforms. It’s our way of further enhancing what we do and making sure that the customer gets the best product out there for them.”
Mattress Online believes that the new additions to its “panel”, Hannah and Jenni, along with James, will provide its customers with relatable and genuine expertise – sharing insights and opening up conversations with the public who want to better understand how product is connected to their sleep needs.
Furthermore, with growing demand for ‘genuine expertise’ the appointments come at the right time of the retailer’s journey as being one of the top industry go-to brands around sleep. “From a PR perspective, we’re seeing a demand for genuine expertise,” says Adam. “Lots of journalists are reaching out to us for wellbeing commentary around sleep and health, and are acknowledging that sleep is so important as a pillar of health – just as important as diet and exercise, often if not more. Being able to access a panel of bonafide experts really helps to instill confidence in what we’re sharing to the general public.”
For both Hannah and Jenni, the decision to join Mattress Online was easy, jumping at the chance to help make a difference. “Understanding and navigating buying a mattress can be very confusing for a consumer, there are many different products out there and all do something unique for each sleeper,” Hannah said.
“Working with Mattress Online will allow me to work closer with the consumer to help improve that customer journey and unpick some of the myths and common mistakes when making a purchasing decision. Ultimately, I want to help people get the good nights’ sleep everyone deserves and that starts with a good foundation, a good mattress, and the right advice.
“I am incredibly passionate about improving sleep quality and I am eager to leverage my expertise to help Mattress Online further enhance its position as a leader in the sleep industry.”
As for Jenni, she commented: “Nowadays what we are buying might be the same as always but how we are buying is totally different. When I heard ‘mattresses sold online’ my first thought was “that’s an awfully large jiffy bag”. Mattress Online is the perfect example of a successful, modern business taking a basic traditional concept and turning it on its head and bringing into the 21st Century.
“One of the most powerful relationships in your home is between you and your bed. When I ask you about ‘bed’ you don’t say “I am going to the bed”. You say “I am going to my bed” – and who better to help you achieve that than Mattress Online.”
With the two appointments now firmly in place and part of Mattress Online’s panel of experts, Adam concluded that other expansions are in the pipeline as the company continues to grow. “Our new store roll-out is continuing in the background, after the successful launch of our Doncaster store which is coming up to its first anniversary – and encouragingly has been steadily growing in numbers – both in revenue and footfall,” he said.
“The whole team is in a good place and we’re ahead of budget and feeling positive about the year ahead.”
