Sales of sleep products booming at Galaxus
22/8/2024
Translation: Katherine Martin
When you’ve had a bad night’s sleep, your whole day can quickly turn into an ordeal. However, there are products that can help with that – and demand for them has skyrocketed. Customers of online department store Galaxus have bought 74 per cent more sleep therapy products this year than in the same period last year. The product selection ranges from nasal plasters and nose clips to dental splints, sprays, sleep analysis gadgets and breathing devices.
Almost two thirds of people in Switzerland suffer from sleep disorders (article in German). In Austria, sufferers often wait a whole year to be medically examined in a sleep laboratory, according to Austrian sleep apnoea charity «Selbsthilfe Schlafapnoe». Waiting lists are just as long in Germany (sources: personal experience, other sources). Galaxus’s sales figures in Switzerland and the EU demonstrate just how high the demand for sleep optimisation is in Europe. From January to August 2024, the online retailer sold 74 per cent more sleep therapy products (CH/DE) than in the same period last year.
«Examples of the most popular product types include nasal strips, which allow more air to pass through the nose, and nose clips, which serve the same purpose,» explains Jordan Frey, Category Business Manager at Galaxus. Dental splints that push the lower jaw forward are also among the most frequently sold product types. With the splint creating more room in the throat, wearers snore less.
Given that sleep problems have a variety of potential causes – from narrow airways to sleep apnoea to psychological or external factors – the solutions offered by the sleep optimisation industry are equally varied. After the product types mentioned above, Galaxus customers most frequently opt for sleep aids and sleep trackers. Galaxus even sells CPAP devices – electronic breathing masks that health insurance companies often rent for patients.
There are various types of sleep aids in Galaxus’s product range, including white noise machines. While some devices are targeted more towards adults, specialised products for babies and toddlers are also highly sought-after. Alongside nasal strips, sleep aids show the highest sales growth compared to last year. Sales of dental splints to combat snoring, however, have remained at a consistently high level.
Sleep therapy isn’t just a concern for older people. Customers aged 25-34 account for almost a third of all purchases.
The Galaxus Editorial Team tests sleep products
Patrick Vogt from the Galaxus Editorial Team has given pretty much every sleep therapy product a go. The self-confessed snorer has set himself the goal of disrupting his wife’s sleep as little as possible. Check out the articles listed below to see how he’s getting on.
Countless options for sleep analysis
Technology is key to sleep research. If you’d rather not wait years for an appointment at a sleep laboratory, you can examine yourself at home using sleep analysis devices. These gadgets are getting better and better, boosting sales at Galaxus in the process. However, it’s worth mentioning that pulse oximeters and smartwatches do the same thing to some extent. Galaxus sells these products in other categories, so the corresponding sales figures haven’t been included in this report.
Some companies have also started using AI to optimise our sleep:
That being said, if you’re experiencing serious sleep problems, it’s probably a good idea to see an ENT doctor before you fork out 700 US dollars on an AI pillow.
Do you usually get a good night’s sleep? What sleep therapy products have you tried?
Header image: Jacob Wackerhausen / iStockphoto
Daniel Borchers
Senior Communications Manager
Daniel.Borchers@galaxus.deA soft spot for good series, loud music, science fiction and (second division) football. As PR Manager, I am available to answer journalists' questions about Galaxus and honest e-commerce.