Tropicana September-October 2018 #120: Art As Life Issue

CASEY TEH TM |

CASEY TEH TM | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 24

CASEY TEH Hoteliers are well aware of this. The beds in their rooms are one of their most important assets, “ because that’s what their guests want – a good night’s sleep. Whether you’re a businessman or on holiday, you can be out the whole day, you’re tired, you want to come back and have a good night’s rest,” Teh went on. The numerous international hotel chains that have cemented partnerships with Simmons are a ringing endorsement of Simmons’ reputability as a maker of premium mattresses. The brand counts Starwood Group of Hotels and Shangri-La Hotels as their clientele, while Westin Hotels was among the first to bank on their beds in a marketing campaign. “ Westin wanted to brand themselves as the hotel with the best beds for their guests, so they approached Simmons and asked us to develop a bed just for them, and that is how the Heavenly Bed came about,” Teh recounted. The average consumer isn’t as up to speed and pays surprisingly little attention to the kind of bed they sleep on, despite the importance it plays in their overall wellbeing. The fact is we spend a considerable amount of time sleeping – eight hours a day, a third of our life – yet this is often overlooked. Indeed, most of us complain that we don’t get enough sleep due to the demands of our job, home life and the impinging influence of social media and technology. For that reason it’s important that the sleep we do get is as restful as possible. Yet, when it comes to investing in a bed, often our actions fly in the face of this reality. Teh, who has made it his professional goal to educate a wider audience on the importance of sleep and selecting the right mattress for their needs, uses an example to illustrate this. “ You can spend so much on a car, on its initial cost and upkeep, but the most time you will spend in it, even here in Malaysia and other cities known to have traffic jams, is maybe about four hours a day.” Teh has seen first-hand the common mistakes consumers make when choosing a mattress, like testing one by sitting on it or pressing down on the mattress surface with their hand. Neither is an adequate test of the mattress’ suitability for its prospective user. “ We don’t sleep on our butt or on our hand or palm,” Teh said. Yet you see this all the time. To ensure that you don’t waste your money on something that turns out to be not quite right for you, Teh and his team always suggest that prospective buyers lie down on a mattress between 20 to 30 minutes in their favourite sleeping position to make a more thorough assessment. To help you narrow down your options, he also suggests that you run down a checklist of questions to help you identify your personal sleeping habits and preferences, like what kind of mattress you’re currently using; whether you prefer a firm or soft mattress; if you sleep alone or with a partner or pets; and whether you suffer from any physical problems. “ If you have a slipped disc or back problems, don’t get a soft mattress,” Teh recommended. Blazer, Personality’s Own Outfit, White Shirt from SACOOR “Unless you BROTHER test the mattress for yourself with what Simmons terms “the bowling ball demonstration”, you wouldn’t be aware of the science and engineering that has gone into such an everyday product” All of this is important, as one’s preference is a personal matter and one’s choice is very subjective. “ Sleeping habits are very unique to different countries and different cultures,” Teh underlined. “Asians tend to prefer a firmer mattress, while American mattresses are known to be much more soft, plush and bouncy.” To meet these demands Simmons has factories all over the world – “ In the U.S., Canada, Japan, Korea…” he continued. Of the BeautyRest, BackCare and Dreamscapes lines that Simmons produces, Teh divulged that he uses a BackCare 4. In addition to providing solid support, the Japan-made mattress uses e-ION Crystal Technology, which carries the positive effect of negative ions and far-infrared technology in the bed fibres to promote blood circulation, increase blood flow to the brain and improve metabolism. Teh likens the effect to forest bathing or waterfall chasing, both known environments where negative ions are abundant. “ You wake up feel more refreshed and recharged, like you’ve just come out from a shower.” Of course, sleep is one part of a much bigger picture. “ Being in the business of sleep, it’s also about health and wellbeing. That’s why I strongly believe in exercise, taking care of my health, and while I enjoy eating, at the same time, I watch my diet,” Teh revealed. An avid runner and cyclist, it’s one reason why after living in the city centre he eventually chose to return to his East Coast roots. “ I stayed in the Orchard Road area for almost three years before deciding to go back,” he smiled. He describes East Coast, where he has an apartment, as more of a residential area. Close to the beach, it has running and cycling paths, and is an ideal place for Teh to walk his dog Jessie, whom he dotes on. Jessie is a nine-year-old toy poodle, and Teh initially struggled with leaving him at home in the care of a dog-keeper when travelling. Now he drops Jessie off at his dog-keeper’s home. “ He’s much happier there, not lonely. He even gets to sleep on her bed,” Teh beamed. This allows Teh the freedom to travel, both for business and for pleasure. 25 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 | TM