Sleep Well, Do Good
Scott and Missy Tannen can sleep at night knowing their luxury sheets are changing the textile industry.
THEY WERE POLITICAL RIVALS BUT there’s one thing the Clintons and the Bushes agreed on—where they get their bed sheets. All three political families (including Bush Sr. and George W.) have purchased their linens from Boll & Branch. There, husband-and-wife team and Chatham residents Scott and Missy Tannen have set up shop for their line of organic, Fair Trade luxury sheets and towels. But the presidential stamp of approval is just another feather in their hats. Their biggest achievement is running a successful business while upholding ethical practices in an industry often tainted with labor violations and human trafficking.
It all started four years ago when the Tannens, dismayed by a lack of transparency while trying to buy bed sheets, opted to create their own line. They selected farmers to grow organic cotton in India and worked one-on-one with textile factories to pay workers a fair wage. The result is a silky and sustainable sheet that buyers can feel good about. Also, the Tannens donate a portion of proceeds to Not For Sale, an anti–human trafficking organization. Here they tell us about their business methods—and why New Jersey is the best place to start.
The Tannen Family
Your sheets feel and look beautiful, but the way they’re made is just as appealing as their quality. Why is transparency in manufacturing so important to you? Scott Tannen: It’s really simple: You have a responsibility to the customer to tell what you’re selling. Since the Internet gave us access to information, everyone has the power to be an educated consumer. If you fast-forward a few years, I don’t think there’s going to be an alternative to doing business with transparency and ethical practices. Consumers are getting smarter and have more ability to understand what’s going on.
What advice do you have for purchasing sheets? Missy Tannen: I think the biggest mistake is letting yourself be bombarded with all the marketing. For instance, a lot of people rely on thread count as an indication of quality, but it’s just a buzzword—it’s a measure of the threads per square inch. What’s more important is that the cotton you’re using is fine, high-quality 100 percent cotton. Cotton is a natural fabric, and as far as we’ve experienced, nothing synthetic can come close to its durability, softness and breathability. Cotton bedding is sourced from a natural crop so keep in mind the adage of “you get what you pay for.”
Why did you decide to set up shop in New Jersey? What do you like about the Garden State? Scott: New Jersey’s awesome! I grew up in Bernardsville, and now we live in Chatham. Our business was originally in Chatham too, but we moved to Summit because we outgrew our office space. Missy: New Jersey has so much to offer—skiing in the winter, the Jersey Shore in the summer, and the city whenever you want.
Are there any local businesses you frequent? Missy: The Tannen family loves to eat, and we’re very lucky to have some amazing spots right in our backyard. On weekends, we get subs from Pascarella Brothers or Chatham Sandwich Shop. Of course, a stellar soccer performance by any of the Tannen girls almost always earns a trip to Magic Fountain in Summit for dessert.
Do you ever draw inspiration from the area or work with local artists? Missy: We work closely with Cory Connor, a designer in Chatham. Her style is very similar to mine. Ever since the beginning, I would rely on her for trending patterns, colors and prints. Scott: Also, there are so many homes here owned by people with unique decorating tastes. We do almost all of our photography for our website in homes from the area, so it’s a wink and a nod to where we’re from.
Did you expect to see this much success when you started the business? Scott: Missy had no idea! I would say I hoped we would, but I don’t think you could have ever predicted what’s happened with a straight face. Missy: What’s neat to me is that we sold out our inventory in the first six weeks, so we called one of the factories and said we needed to make more. And we learned that already in that amount of time, the business had made an impact on the workers. We were making it sustainable for them to have income and a quality-of-life change.
A portion of the proceeds from your business benefit Not For Sale. Why did you specifically select this group? Scott: Human trafficking presents itself in many ways, including in the form of forced labor. When we started, we didn’t realize the scale of the impact we could have by creating good jobs, but unfortunately a lot of people don’t have access to that opportunity. Groups like Not For Sale work on the other end of the spectrum to help give people a way to work back upstream so their vulnerability can be reduced.
Your three girls play a small role in the company and even have their own business cards. How do you involve them in the business, and what lessons do you hope to teach them? Missy: They’ve been involved during the whole natural progression of the business. They helped us through naming the company and picking the colors. Our oldest went with us to India to see the factory, and when we’re Skyping with the factory, they’re there for that. We have so much pride in what we do as a family. Scott: You should see them hand out the business cards. They are the dream team. They feel so connected to the brand, and they are learning they can grow up and do anything they put their minds to.
What advice would you give entrepreneurs who are just starting out? Scott: Commit to the long haul. Starting a business is extremely difficult emotionally, financially and personally. But, often what’s easiest isn’t what’s best or ultimately right. When you’re down or struggling, there always seems to be a shortcut. Try not to take it. Fight on and see your dream become a reality. The rewards are absolutely worth it.
