Day: March 10, 2021

What businesses depend on shipping? Well, the short answer is: almost all of them! From most of the food we eat, to the supplies we use and even the fuel we consume, most businesses are dependent on reliable shipping in one way or another.

As such, it’s important to ensure that shipping routes and supply chains are disaster-proof as much as is possible. When the unthinkable happens, that’s when people are most in need of vital supplies that they may not be able to obtain locally. So we have to ensure that, when society temporarily falls to its knees, our shipping networks don’t fall with them.

The recent big freeze in Texas has shown the amount of suffering that can be caused when the thermometers drop far below the average and people, towns, and infrastructure struggle to keep up with the challenge.

Let’s look at some of the ways and reasons why we should safeguard our shipping in times of crisis. 

Delivering Vital Goods

Harsh winters can create roads that are covered in dense blankets of snow, shut down power supply, and leave millions of people vulnerable to the elements; this when we need our shipping networks the most. 

Shipping, be it by sea, land or air is responsible for large logistical networks that distribute everything from food to power to communications, fuel, and much more. 

Transportation is often considered a critical infrastructure as a disruption somewhere in its chain can have a significant negative impact on the economic and social well-being of people in that region. 

Ensure that your fleet is up to the task with the latest caterpillar parts, so that when the tough times come, you and your business can show up for those who most need you.

Photo by Shawn Ang on Unsplash

Preparedness

Given the potentially catastrophic humanitarian ramifications for failing to prepare for large logistical network disruptions, it’s best to ensure your fleet remains winter-proof. 

Ensuring that relief materials, such as fuel, spare parts, and equipment are effectively warehoused and that labor forces are trained in emergency events can help minimize the effects of a disaster. 

The hope is always to get existing networks up and working as soon as possible to minimize disruption to people’s lives, so it pays to be prepared. Your customers will thank you for it in the long run and trust will be built, resulting in greater turnovers. 

Infrastructure Failure

Infrastructure failure can happen due to many factors, including poor and ineffective management, design flaws, and a failure to plan for worst-case scenarios. Making sure that your business is prepared for all eventualities can instill confidence and trust in the services you offer.

The Takeaway

The recent big freeze in Texas has shown us how quickly and easily unprecedented weather patterns can throw whole throngs of people into disarray and potentially deadly situations. Ensuring that the logistical systems that sustain people’s material well-being are as disaster-proof as possible can safeguard the unseen and often overlooked fabric of networks that sustains much of society’s necessary material needs. 

There’s no denying that almost everything is just within our reach with the creation of the internet. We now live in an era where staying connected is possible despite being physically distant, accessing information is just one click away, and even purchasing items can now be done in the comfort of our homes. Life has never been easier indeed.

Thanks to the online market, shopping for things we want is not that complicated, not to mention pressuring, anymore – and yes, this includes buying even something as big as your bed. In fact, many markets online offer a better bed price, and their quality can still be comparable to those you bought in a brick-and-mortar store.

The latest mattress trend taking the online world by storm is a compressed mattress designed to fit into a box. Want to know more about it? Let us explore what this kind of bed is and why it is better to purchase your next bed online.

Choosing Your New Mattress

As said, a bed in a box is a state-of-the-art method of welcoming your next mattress into your home. In this kind of setup, your mattress is compressed and rolled to fit into a box (literally), making the package’s transportation to your front door more convenient and economical. This style of packaging also allows you to easily install it in your bedroom.

They are usually made of memory foam which reinflates once you remove it from the box and simply unroll the bed. You have to wait for a while, though, until it completely decompresses. It won’t necessarily take that long, and you will be able to sleep on your new mattress in no time.

Online vs. In-stores

Understandably, you may still want to purchase innerspring beds in traditional retail stores, especially that the bed-in-a-box market has only been a recent buzz among consumers. Plus, there is still the risk of online scams. However, purchasing online is the more preferred method during this time since we are still in a global pandemic. 

If you are worried about scams, you have the option to search for companies and read customer reviews online. This could help you assess whether they are a reputable company. Also, you can try to check out News Week to know the right type of bed in a box for you and some trusted brands.

Why should I buy my new mattress online?

Aside from it’s a safer method because it lessens your physical contact with others, buying online also offers these benefits:

More options to cater to specific needs.

Although it seems unlikely, buying your mattress online actually gives you more variety of options to choose from. This includes securing the best mattress according to your preferred sleeping position (ex. Side-sleeping, stomach-sleeping, or back-sleeping) to purchasing one to relieve pain such as neck pain or back sores. 

Higher chance to be better informed.

When you shop online, you can also narrow down your choices by doing mattress research and price comparison with other brands. Usually, online mattress stores include the full breakdown of materials used to make the bed you are interested in, which is quite advantageous for your part because you can personally check out whether the material is of good quality or not.

When checking for good quality, do not miss out on the foam density, moisture absorption properties, and what phase change materials they are made of.

Lesser pressure

Nobody likes to be pressured, especially when making big purchases, such as the bed. This is not always the case, but sometimes, salespersons tend to pressure consumers from buying (though some are purely unintentional). Well, they’re just doing their job anyway. However, if you want to shop smart, you must not easily get swayed by all the sales talk.

So, what do you think is the best way to do that? Completely avoid them, of course. When you shop online, you don’t have to face problems caused by sales pressure. You can just freely scroll your pc until you find the right brand for you.

Ease of Delivery

Ordering your bed online means that you can have it delivered right to your doorstep. If you don’t want to set it up on your own, some companies also offer full service, from the transportation to setting it up and even having your old bed removed. This implies additional fees, of course, but to have these benefits in their service delivery? You can say that putting in the money is worth it.

Other companies also offer free shipping deliveries, but not all. It is best that you check their specifications and policies to be sure of the inclusions during your purchase.

Affordability

Online mattress stores are not trending without any good reason at all. One of these reasons is because the majority of the consumers can afford them. There are also bed-in-a-box mattresses that cost a bit higher, but generally, they are all budget-friendly compared to models found at retail stores.

You might get skeptical about why an online purchase is more cost-efficient than in physical markets. This is because most online shops sell virtually – through their websites – which ultimately reduces overhead costs from having physical locations, paying employees, and the likes. Also, putting the bed in a smaller box can reduce overall shipping costs.

Takeaway

The advantages mentioned above are just some of the reasons why you should purchase your next mattress online. Aside from the overall convenience, it can also help you save a lot of money. Of course, beds in a box have their share of disadvantages, too, but the good ones far outweigh the bad.