[Weekly SME] Simmons Bed · Soda · Essa

Simmons Mansion Changwon Branch, opened this week.
[Photo by Simmons]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Simmons Bed, a sleep specialist brand, has opened 'Simmons Mansion' stores in Changwon and Ansan, and premium contemporary shoe brand Soda (SODA) won first place in the '2021 9th Korea Marketing Awards Digital Customer Satisfaction (HTHI) Footwear Category' hosted by the Korea Marketing Association. In addition, premium fabric sofa brand Essa has launched an eco-friendly sofa with 99.9% antibacterial virus protection.

Simmons Bed Opens 'Simmons Mansion' Stores in Changwon and Ansan

Sleep specialist brand Simmons has opened 'Simmons Mansion' stores in Changwon and Ansan. Simmons Mansion is a store where Simmons Bed headquarters fully supports all aspects necessary for store operation, including rent, management fees, interior costs, and display products. This program creates an environment where franchise owners can focus on store management and product sales without financial burden, while providing consumers with consistent, high-quality service, making it a pioneering program of Simmons Bed.

The Simmons Mansion Changwon store is located in the Sangnam-dong area of Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, near large shopping facilities such as Lotte Department Store and E-Mart, as well as Changwon City Hall and Sangnam Market, ensuring abundant demand from the surrounding area. The store is also close to major electronics retailers like Samsung Digital Plaza Changwon Main Store and LG Best Shop Sangnam Main Store, attracting customers preparing for moving or wedding gifts.

The Simmons Mansion Ansan store is situated near Sangroksu Station on Subway Line 4, a high foot traffic area. The surrounding area is a key commercial district with large electronics stores such as LG Best Shop Sangroksu and Lotte Hi-Mart Sangroksu, making it highly attractive to customers preparing for moving or weddings. It is expected to broadly cover demand from Ansan, Siheung, Uiwang, Hwaseong, and Gunpo areas, being close to the Yeongdong Expressway and Seohaean Expressway that run through Ansan.

To commemorate the openings of Simmons Mansion Changwon and Ansan stores, an event is being held where customers receive genuine Simmons bedding as a gift depending on their purchase amount. Gifts are limited in quantity and provided on a first-come, first-served basis; the event may end early if gifts run out.

A 'Wedding Promotion' for couples preparing for marriage is also underway. Large premium mattresses essential for a comfortable sleep environment are available at up to 18% discount. Certain frames and room sets are discounted up to 30%, and new frames, sofas, and tables are also offered at 10% off.

'Soda' won first place in the 2021 Digital Customer Satisfaction (HTHI) oral care category.
[Photo by Soda]

Soda Wins 1st Place in 2021 Digital Customer Satisfaction (HTHI) Footwear Category

Premium contemporary shoe brand Soda (SODA) won first place in the '2021 9th Korea Marketing Awards Digital Customer Satisfaction (HTHI: Heart to Heart Index) Footwear Category' hosted by the Korea Marketing Association.

The Digital Customer Satisfaction (HTHI) index measures a company's ability to communicate with customers via SNS by evaluating quantitative and qualitative aspects such as activity, loyalty, empathy, interactivity, and diffusion. It was developed to numerically represent how well companies communicate with customers and positively influence them in the current digital-centered business environment, helping predict future market competitiveness.

This survey was conducted on 328 organizations and companies across 90 industry sectors closely related to consumers' daily lives. Data from SNS channels including blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube were collected and incorporated into the evaluation model to rank industries.

Soda was selected first place for the second time since 2014, reflecting continuous efforts to expand communication with customers. Soda strengthened not only its Instagram channel, which had previously received positive evaluations, but also its blog and Facebook channels, achieving higher scores than the previous year. Additionally, sharing brand news and product information across various promotional channels and providing diverse content such as practical shoe care and styling tips contributed to improved customer satisfaction in the digital environment, earning favorable reviews.

A Soda representative said, "Since SNS is the channel closest and easiest for consumers to communicate, digital communication activities using SNS are becoming increasingly important in the fashion industry. Going forward, Soda will continue to keep pace with this trend by providing differentiated content and active SNS activities to communicate with customers in real time and build empathy."

Amir 4-seater corner-type functional cashmere fabric sofa.
[Photo by Essa]

Premium Fabric Sofa Essa Unveils Eco-Friendly Sofa with 99.9% Antibacterial Virus Protection

Premium fabric sofa brand Essa has unveiled an eco-friendly sofa with 99.9% antibacterial efficacy. Essa received certification for 99.9% antibacterial effectiveness from the domestic accredited testing agency (FITI) in antibacterial functionality tests. When strains harmful to humans such as Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were applied to the Cashmere fabric, 99.9% of bacteria disappeared after 18 hours.

Along with antibacterial certification, the product also received Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification, which is granted to products that pass tests for over 100 harmful substances at all processing stages including fiber raw materials and intermediate products. The sofa is made with eco-friendly materials such as Nordic birch wood, safe adhesives made from natural materials rated E0, and antibacterial fibers that inhibit bacterial growth, considering both consumers and the environment.

Essa introduced new Amir and Emma sofas made with Cashmere fabric along with the antibacterial certification results. The Amir sofa features a swing gear-adjustable backrest, allowing free adjustment of sofa depth up to 830mm, making the sofa feel wider and more spacious. The backrest contains goose down for optimal seating comfort, and cushions with microfiber filling are provided to create a cozier space on the sofa.

Essa’s popular Emma sofa series boasts a modern design harmonizing curves and straight lines, completing a special living room interior. The swing-type functional backrest can be adjusted to a depth of 930mm, allowing comfortable reclining or pushing the backrest back to expand the left seat area. The armrests feature hydraulic gears that can be lowered by physical pressure and fixed again when raised, providing comfortable rest tailored to the user’s body.

Meanwhile, Essa is launching new knitting fabrics Rico and Rib Fabric with an online-exclusive launch promotion. Additionally, various events and purchase benefits are offered, including special department store events 'Exciting Spring at Essa' and 'Cherry Blossom Sofa' promotions welcoming spring.