The Importance of Our Imperfect Sale

As a company that makes mats that your little one spends a lot of time playing on, we take extreme care to make sure that every product for sale in our store is nothing less than perfect. From sourcing the safest, cleanest materials to ensuring that every stitch is neat and secure, we want our mats to be safe, durable, and well-loved throughout their lifetime. After all, this is a mat that sees your family through the happiest years. We don’t take that honor lightly. Our mats are designed to withstand years of mess, scribbles, accidents, and all things that come with having a tiny human learning how to do everything for the first time. But, while we strive for perfection, life is rarely perfect. Combined with human error, that means that, once in a while, we make a product that is just a little bit flawed. The mat might have a loose stitch or a small fabric stain, and while these flaws are minor and don’t affect its functionality, it’s still not quite up to our standards to be sold at full-price. That wouldn’t align with our integrity as a company. What, then, becomes of these mats? Well, that’s where our Imperfect Sale comes into play.

Now and then, we hold an Imperfect Sale, where we offer these slightly flawed mats at a steep discount. These minor flaws, like small fabric snags, stitching thread imperfections, or fabric marks, are only cosmetic. The mats are still built to last for years and years of boundless play. By marking down these mats and putting them up for sale with full transparency, it allows us to reduce waste. We’re big believers in sustainable options because we want to leave the planet a safe, inhabitable place for our children, our children’s children, and so on. It might not seem like much, but our Imperfect Sale finds these products a home instead of letting them gather dust somewhere. It also gives customers, who may have been eyeing a product but been hesitant to purchase because of its price, the opportunity to get their hands on the high-quality, sustainably-sourced, and non-toxic play mat of their dreams. We’d call that a win-win. 

So, why should we care about waste? Did you know that the world is on pace to generate 2.2 billion tons of solid waste by 2025? All this waste affects the environment in multiple ways. When burned in open landfills, it emits dangerous levels of greenhouse gasses that contribute to a worsening climate crisis. The consequences of global warming are dire. Melting ice caps, rising sea levels, forest fires, and other disasters negatively impact wildlife and human health. It’s hard not to feel discouraged and hopeless about these ongoing crises we’re constantly battling to undo. But, if we all make small changes and thoughtful decisions, we can make a real difference in the long run. That’s why we don’t make cheap products that are only designed to last a short while. After all, the most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it, and that’s something we take seriously. 

The cost of our mats comes from the cost of the materials and production. Both our cotton covers and our vegan leather covers are OEKO-TEX-certified, while our organic foam inserts are GOLS-certified. These certifications mean that they are free from any chemicals known to be harmful to humans and the environment, and that they fulfill a stringent criteria that guarantees social and environmental responsibility through the entire supply chain (in layman’s terms, the materials are high-quality and environmentally-conscious). That means, you can rest easy, knowing that your baby’s play mat is safe for them to use, and that you’ve purchased a product that’s been thoughtfully and carefully manufactured. And if the cost still gives you pause? Well, that’s another reason our Imperfect Sale works for everyone!