Whatever is a Nap Now Hoodie you might ask? Well, it’s another very smart product introduced by Cabeau into the market and it’s tailor made for anyone who travels. It’s proving a great success. I recently caught up with David Sternlight, Cabeau’s CEO, who explains the thinking behind the product.
Peter Marshall (PM): David, welcome back to TRunblocked.com. I am fascinated to hear the backstory to Nap Now Hoodie, but I first want to revisit Cabeau’s achievement of B Corp certification. It certainly represents you being a force for good in the travel industry. It not only validates Cabeau’s existing sustainability credentials, but also sets a framework for future improvement and accountability. It may also give you a competitive edge. I was wondering which of the following headers were the most important for you as a business when deciding to go for B Corp registration:
Credibility, accountability, industry leadership, investor appeal, talent attraction. All of these, and what, then, would be your rank order?
David Sternlight (DS): Thanks, Peter. It is always a joy to speak with you and talk about the current travel retail landscape. Jumping in about our B Corp certification, we appreciate the kind words. As a company, we’re very proud of our score received and our certification process.
To your question, we would rank accountability as our number one priority with the given list as accountability. Internally, our team communicated how important this was to show up and show out as a brand and company. As almost everyone in the company touched a portion of our application submission process, we were all committed to lead the way for our fellow travel retail brands that this level of sustainability is achievable and attainable.
We would say that credibility and Industry leadership follow closely after accountability. The rest of the list, such as investor appeal and talent attraction, are added benefits that we can leverage and continue to highlight in future conversations.
PM: When we spoke last time, you said certification required a sea change in the company’s mindset. Does this remain the case, and what new learnings as a business can you share?
DS: Our B Corp certification certainly did require a fundamental shift in Cabeau’s mindset, as it emphasizes balancing the drive profit with additional purpose every day. For many businesses, including ours, this process activated a deeper commitment to accountability, transparency, and sustainability across all aspects of operations. While the initial transition was transformative, maintaining the certification ensures that this mindset remains ingrained in our culture. Over time, we’ve learned that embedding these values isn’t a one-time effort but an ongoing journey. It has encouraged us to continuously refine our practices, foster stronger engagement, and innovate solutions that align profitability with positive impact. Additionally, the certification has opened new opportunities to collaborate with like-minded organizations, driving collective progress toward shared goals.
PM: Let’s move onto a brand new product you have launched – the Nap Now Hoodie. It’s fantastic – not least in the name! What drove you to its creation?
DS: The Nap Now Hoodie was born from our continued commitment to enhancing comfort and convenience for modern travelers. We have noticed a growing demand for versatile products that seamlessly combine comfort and functionality no matter where you are, but especially while on the go. Inspired by this, we designed a customizable hoodie with built-in features like our patented nose bridge for black out with ANY face shape and super-soft materials, which make for perfect on-the-go napping or unwinding. It reflects our continued dedication to reimagining travel essentials in ways that meet our customers’ evolving needs.
PM: I get it, this is a quite unique travel accessory that is designed to provide a comfortable and private environment for people on the go. But how does it actually work?
DS: Take a look at this short video and you’ll understand at once.
PM: So, can you briefly walk us through what its core features are?
DS: The Nap Now Hoodie is designed with innovative features for unmatched comfort and functionality while traveling, enjoying a yoga savasana, – or just trying to catch a quick 15 minute nap at work. As you will have seen from the video, its patented nose bridge can be shaped to fit the unique contour of any nose, ensuring 100% light blockage for complete darkness. Two strong attachable clips allow you to easily secure the hoodie to neck pillows, blankets, jackets, or other items, transforming anything into a cozy hood. The silky satin lining protects your hair, keeping it smooth and frizz-free, while the cinchable drawstring lets you adjust your level of privacy and comfort. For a secure and customizable fit, the hoodie features an adjustable sliding front clasp, and it even includes premium memory foam earplugs to reduce ambient noise, conveniently stored within the hoodie for easy access.
PM: Can you speak to the main differences between the new Nap Now Hoodie and other travel napping solutions?
DS: The main difference is the portability. Yes, there are hoodie style neck pillows on the market but they’re clunky and don’t have the coverage the Nap Now Hoodie does. Additionally, the Nap Now Hoodie stands out from other travel napping solutions by combining innovative features with unmatched versatility by being able to take the product everywhere needed. Unlike traditional sleep masks or neck pillows, our product integrates 100% light blockage, ensuring a truly dark environment for a restful nap with its attachable clips to transform virtually anything—like blankets, jackets, or pillows—into a cozy hood, offering adaptability that most other products lack.
PM: So, can you briefly walk us through what its core features are?
DS: The Nap Now Hoodie is designed with innovative features for unmatched comfort and functionality while traveling, enjoying a yoga savasana, – or just trying to catch a quick 15 minute nap at work. As you will have seen from the video, its patented nose bridge can be shaped to fit the unique contour of any nose, ensuring 100% light blockage for complete darkness. Two strong attachable clips allow you to easily secure the hoodie to neck pillows, blankets, jackets, or other items, transforming anything into a cozy hood. The silky satin lining protects your hair, keeping it smooth and frizz-free, while the cinchable drawstring lets you adjust your level of privacy and comfort. For a secure and customizable fit, the hoodie features an adjustable sliding front clasp, and it even includes premium memory foam earplugs to reduce ambient noise, conveniently stored within the hoodie for easy access.
PM: Can you speak to the main differences between the new Nap Now Hoodie and other travel napping solutions?
DS: The main difference is the portability. Yes, there are hoodie style neck pillows on the market but they’re clunky and don’t have the coverage the Nap Now Hoodie does. Additionally, the Nap Now Hoodie stands out from other travel napping solutions by combining innovative features with unmatched versatility by being able to take the product everywhere needed. Unlike traditional sleep masks or neck pillows, our product integrates 100% light blockage, ensuring a truly dark environment for a restful nap with its attachable clips to transform virtually anything—like blankets, jackets, or pillows—into a cozy hood, offering adaptability that most other products lack.
PM: How sustainable is it?
DS: The Nap Now Hoodie is durable and made of high quality fabrics to ensure longevity, reducing the need for frequent replacements. The versatile functionality of our Nap Now Hoodie also minimises the need for multiple travel accessories, promoting a less-is-more approach to consumption. We continue to explore sustainable practices, and this product aligns with our brand’s mission to innovate while considering its environmental impact.
PM: One final question. What else might you have in store for Travel Retail?
DS: Peter, you’re always ahead of the game, trying to get the inside scoop from us!
Right now, we’re deep into the hustle of peak travel season, celebrating another remarkable year for our brand and company. That said, we’ll drop you a little hint—big things are on the horizon for Cabeau in Q2 of 2025. We can’t wait to unveil what’s coming and share the excitement with you and the TRunblocked community!
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