Kocoono chose N.I to enter into the UK market

Kocoono has announced its decision to use Northern Ireland as a base to meet growing UK demand. 

Owner and founder, Emer Flannery, says they’re partnering with successful Newry fulfilment centre eParcels. “We are delighted with this new arrangement because it enables us to successfully deliver to our NI and UK customers.”

Founded in 2019, Kocoono now ships to more than 10 countries from their main warehouse in Galway. Emer says the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit transition period presented extra challenges to ROI companies serving NI and UK markets. 

“To meet growing UK demand post-Brexit, the logical step was to establish ourselves with a fulfilment centre in NI. Goods can continue trading across the Irish border - as it was before Brexit. So, this makes Northern Ireland an excellent business base for serving NI & U.K. consumers.”

“This partnership will help us to grow and will support employment within the fulfilment centre and the local area.” 

Gavin Curtis, director of eParcels fulfilment centre says “We are very excited to be working in a new partnership with Kocoono to handle their stock and delivery logistics. eParcels has seen a massive growth of ROI based companies interested in shipping their products from N.Ireland post Brexit. Customers can access both the UK and EU markets with greatly reduced logistical and export costs. We look forward to supporting the growth of Kocoono and helping them access new sales markets” 

Emer Flannery says they are the only weighted blanket company in the NI market. "Weighted Blankets' benefits help alleviate stress, anxiety, restless legs, insomnia and other sleep-related disorders. But Kocoono Weighted Blankets have several unique features, which has led to the growth in demand from NI and UK consumers, in addition to the rise of anxiety and “coronasomnia”. Each Kocoono is customisable, handmade, ethically and sustainably produced, and has been a very popular gift since the pandemic began." 

Launching a weighted blanket in the summer may sound challenging but Emer says Kocoono works well in warmer weather too "With the Kocoono Luxe version, people can apply a cooling effect by removing its inner weighted bands and place them in the freezer. No other weighted blanket in the market offers this feature. Also, all our Kocoono Weighted Blankets have 100% cotton on one side, which is extra-breathable, and they are filled with glass beads instead of plastic, which help you regulate your body temperature. A new fully cotton version is also coming soon”

Emer Flannery says she has felt welcomed in Northern Ireland in her new venture every step of the way. She got advice from Newry-based InterTradeIreland, which helps small businesses across the island explore new cross-border markets. “They offered excellent training and advice on all aspects of customs, global trade and supply chain. This has guided Kocoono through the process of preparing our supply chains for post-Brexit trading.”

Emer launched Kocoono with a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in October 2019, raising more than double the funding goal needed to commence manufacturing. 

“Many people struggle with sleep difficulties and anxiety at present. So our goal at Kocoono is to alleviate some of those symptoms and help people to fall in love with sleep again. Then they can get back to enjoying their lives fully,” says Emer Flannery. She has a psychology degree and career background with nine years of experience in the care sector. So, she knows the frustration and negative effects sleep loss can have on our mental health.

Emer designed her first prototype for a child with Autism when she was working as a behaviour therapist. Years later, she herself suffered a bout of sleep deprivation, while working in the homeless services sector. So, she made the first Kocoono Weighted Blanket  product for personal use and developed Kocoono into the business that it has become today. Nowadays, the Kocoono Weighted Blanket is an improved version of the original prototype. It is patent-pending, unique in design and function.

About Kocoono and its Unique features

Kocoono Weighted Blanket is a calming, customisable weighted blanket designed to ease tension and anxiety and provide better quality and quantity of sleep. 

Kocoono Weighted Blanket is known as the "the Blanket that hugs you back" because it makes the user feel embraced, providing the same benefits of a comforting hug. This is thanks to the gentle pressure applied and its exclusive shoulder embrace, that cocoons the body from the top, and no other Weighted Blanket on the market offers.  

"It is so warm and comfy and feels as if someone is hugging you. I love the blanket wrapped around me. I fall asleep within 20 minutes now of using the Kocoono blanket," Maureen, who bought Kocoono, stated.  

Many of their customers have chosen Kocoono to give a  hug to their loved ones during the pandemic, and support their relative’s sleep and wellbeing, as Mary who bought a Kocoono blanket for her Mum and stated: "Perfect gift. I ordered this for my elderly mother. She is sleeping much more soundly and loves the luxurious feel of the blanket. We all need a Kocoono in our lives."

The Kocoono Weighted  Blanket comes in two forms, a Basic version and a more versatile Luxe version. The Kocoono Weighted Blanket Luxe is the original version that Emer Flannery launched on Kickstarter. After having had some customers asking for the same benefits as the original Kocoono™ Weighted Blanket , they created a Basic version with fewer features. 

This new design  is a simpler and less adaptable weighted blanket, with no shoulder embrace and customisation feature ,  but still designed to provide you with the same benefits as Kocoono™ Weighted Blanket Luxe. 

"The cost is down to a few things," Flannery says. "The production is very labour intensive as the pockets are hand sewn. Kocoono Weighted Blankets are made with top quality fabrics and ethically produced in Europe instead of other locations with low-cost labour where we would have no idea regarding the ethical viability of our production and supply chain. I think people should see a Kocoono as an investment. You buy it as a once-off. We spend a lot on a good mattress, and this is a similar sort of long-term purchase." Emer Flannery explains.

"We are proud to say that we produce all our products ethically in Europe. We are a Wellness Company, and one of our core values is that people's well-being is at the heart of our business, from the people on the floor producing the product to the team packaging our products and getting them ready for delivery, we value the fact that everyone is receiving a fair wage and are treated well and are helping to provide a sustainable product that adds value and relaxation to its end user's lives."