Healthy Furniture on the Rise... Furniture Brands Targeting Consumer Health Gain Popularity

Household Market Up 23% Last Year... Sealy Beds, Curble Chairs, and Other Health-Related Furniture Sales Soar

Curble Chair Wider. [Photo by Curble Chair Wider]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] As interest in health has surged due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, furniture products that consider health are gaining attention.

According to Statistics Korea, last year's retail sales of furniture increased by more than 23% compared to the previous year, surpassing 10 trillion won. With more time spent at home, interest in home furnishing has grown, leading to market expansion. Among these, some brands that help with health management showed growth exceeding the overall market growth rate.

'Curble Chair' Creates Correct Posture Using the Lever Principle

Ableu's 'Curble Chair' is an auxiliary chair that helps users sit with correct posture by applying the lever principle, where the seat surface is pressed down and the backrest pushes the thoracic spine. When used properly, it is designed to reduce pressure on the spine and joints, helping to maintain a healthy spinal line.

In an internal survey of product purchasers, 84% of all users responded that it helped maintain correct posture. Dr. Lee Seung-heon of Kyung Hee UN Korean Medicine Clinic evaluated, "When focusing on work, posture tends to collapse easily, but the Curble Chair helps cultivate habits for correct posture during daily life."

Thanks to word of mouth among consumers and a commercial featuring national gymnastics athlete Son Yeon-jae, the Curble Chair built recognition and sold more than 5 million units in 2020 alone, marking the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, sales are also expected to surpass last year's figures.

An Ableu representative said, "The Curble Chair combines the lever principle that pushes when sitting with high-elasticity materials and ergonomic design to help maintain the natural shape of the waist," adding, "With the recent increase in remote work and online classes, it is gaining attention as an essential indoor living item."

'Sealy Mattress' Created by an Orthopedic Doctor

Sealy Mattress is a company that developed technology in collaboration with orthopedic specialists for the first time in the world and maintains the number one market share in the U.S.

The spring technology applied to Sealy mattresses, called 'Posturepedic,' is a compound word combining 'Posture' and 'Orthopedic.' It effectively eliminates pressure points that hinder blood circulation, helping to provide comfortable sleep.

In Korea as well, with the spread of staying at home culture due to COVID-19 and growing interest in premium mattresses that improve sleep quality, sales in the first quarter of this year increased by 40% compared to the previous year.

'Motion Desk' Changing the Home Office Environment

Desker's 'Motion Desk,' equipped with an electric height adjustment function, saw sales increase by 40% from February to April last year compared to the same period the previous year, as remote work was fully implemented and the home office market expanded.

Since everyone has different body types and preferred desk heights vary accordingly, chairs alone have limitations in accommodating all body types. The Motion Desk allows delicate height adjustments tailored to the user's body type and situation, helping maintain correct posture and improve concentration.