Q & A |
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company.” He understood why I was confused, and couldn’ t wait to tell me how little thread count has to do with the comfort and quality of abed sheet. We felt that we could do better than the status quo, making it easy to purchase great quality bedding. So, even though we didn’ t yet have a company name, the idea for Boll & Branch was born. |
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YOUR PRODUCTS ARE MADE FROM ORGANIC COTTON. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORGANIC AND REGULAR COTTON?
SCOTT: In theory, cotton is cotton. However, when it comes to cotton, it’ s everything you can’ t see that makes all the difference. Cotton is grown worldwide, but a great majority of the cotton used in creating textiles originates in the developing world on small-holder farms where safety standards can be quite a bit different from larger-scale American cotton farms. When we purchase certified organic cotton from our farming partners in India, we know that the men and women responsible for growing the crops have not been exposed to harmful chemicals and pesticides. Further, we also are proud to know that the organic cotton farming techniques of our partners provide both health and financial stability for their entire communities.
YOUR PRODUCT LABELS STATE“ MADE ETHICALLY IN INDIA.” CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND HOW YOU WORK TOGETHER WITH COTTON MILLS IN INDIA?
SCOTT: In 2013, we began working with a small-but-talented textile manufacturer in Kolkata, India. Where the larger mills had no interest in allowing us to inspect their facilities, trace their supply chains, etc., this mill was quite the opposite in just about every way. In many ways, their owner, Rajat, taught Missy and I the textile business, and worked tirelessly with us to make absolutely spectacular products. And, like us, Rajat has a
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deep compassion for people— he treats his employees like family. With Rajat’ s support, Boll & Branch became the first bedding brand that had ever been certified by Fair Trade USA, which is something we are very proud of.
YOUR WEBSITE SAYS YOUR SOLID HEMMED SHEET SET IS THE SOFTEST IN THE WORLD. WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES THEM SO COMFORTABLE?
MISSY: When we were creating our hemmed sheets, which is our original and still most popular style, we must have gone through hundreds of prototypes before we landed on what we call our“ Signature Soft” weave. Obviously, starting with the highest grade of organic cotton we could find has alot to do with the softness, but we’ ve spent a great deal of time experimenting with various thread counts to devise the optimal product weight and density. So, not only are they incredibly soft, but they keep you cool— meaning that you don’ t sweat.
CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR FAVORITE ITEM FROM THE BOLL & BRANCH BRAND?
MISSY: I love our“ Signature Soft” sheets. Not only are they still our bestsellers, but I knew I had never slept on any sheets that soft before, and thought that we had something very special to share with the world.
SCOTT: That’ s easy: Our new line of down pillows. Not only is it the first pillow that I’ ve ever used that frees me of any neck pain, but I’ ve had a
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FAMILYFIRSTAs parents to Sophie, 14, Brooke, 11, and Hailey, 11, the Tannens knew that starting Boll & Branch would be a family adventure.“ Sophie has visited our factories in India with us, Hailey has agreat eye for detail and helped Missy perfect our color palate before we launched, and Brooke has always been our‘ softness detector,’ and has a really great ability to judge the‘ hand feel’ of products,” Scott says.“ Of course, Boll & Branch is now ateam of 30-plus people, but the girls are absolutely a part of this team. My hope is that the girls have seen Missy and I chase our dream and build something that plenty of people doubted our ability to create. They know that we’ ve been successful only because we’ re hard-workers and hustlers— not because of any advantage we had in the market— and Ihope that they realize that they’ re capable of accomplishing anything they are willing to work towards.” |
front-row seat to see Missy and her team spending nearly three years engineering and designing something that’ s quite remarkable on the inside, too. I’ d challenge anyone to find a better pillow at any price than our medium / firm down pillow... though I know that Missy prefers our soft. They’ re amazing!
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
SCOTT: There’ s no“ off button!” Particularly in the early days, when you start a business and something needs to be done, there isn’ t anyone
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BED: COURTESY OFBOLL & BRANCH |