Pets are often treated like family members and, in recent years, more guests are bringing them on the road in their travels. In many cases, the pets sleep on the floor, in the bed with their owners or in a less-than-elegant crate.
Coexiste has launched a new program that brings luxury pet furniture to hotels so that pets can have a comfortable place to stay, while also adding a piece of furniture that is up to the level of decor expected at a luxury hotel.
The company’s core product, The Ripple Home, is a pet home designed to function as a piece of furniture that blends into a room’s decor.
The design process on The Ripple Home was extensive, taking “a good year-and-a-half to two years,” said Simonne McDonald-Hewett, founder/CEO, Coexiste. “Not only do you have to come up with a design, but now you have to ensure that it’s really safe for dogs.”
The idea for the product came from McDonald-Hewett’s own personal needs. Seeking a solution for the “clutter of two crates” in her home, she envisioned a piece of furniture that could serve as a pet home while also looking good in the room. This idea gained momentum when her son’s dog, Nova, needed a place to stay. This led to the creation of a product that could be “a beautiful piece of furniture that was actually usable, added to the esthetic, but also provided a warm, comforting place for our grand dog, Nova, to go to,” she said.
When the pet home was first being developed, the company worked with the Tampa SPCA, with foster dogs being the first to use it. The company’s marketing materials uses pictures with dogs from the shelter.
A key aspect of the product is its sustainable and recyclable nature. The frame of The Ripple Home is 3D-printed using a plastic polymer called PTG, which is 100% recyclable, according to McDonald-Hewett. The tops and bottoms are ash wood sustainably harvested from forests in West Virginia.
The accompanying Sleep Round pet bed is 100% biodegradable because it’s made from the sap of the rubber tree plant, with a cover made waterproof using cornstarch. “We really wanted to create something that’s sustainable and safe for our beloved pets,” she said.
The products are customizable, with options for different colors and wood finishes. The pet beds can also be embroidered with a hotel’s logo.
McDonald-Hewett explained that the hotel program was a natural extension of the product’s original purpose. Recognizing the increase in pet-friendly travel, she saw a unique opportunity.
“There’s an opportunity for hotels who say that they’re really pet friendly to set themselves apart in this competitive industry,” she said.
The Coexiste hotel package includes The Ripple Home, which is easy to clean, according to McDonald-Hewett, along with a machine-washable pet bed. Additionally, it includes branded collateral, such as a catalog that offers guests an opportunity to purchase the items, with hotels receiving a portion of that sale.
The CEO said the company is targeting upscale hotels due to its high price point. “It takes a discerning guest to see the value in that,” she said.
The company has worked with Kimpton Hotels, which recently launched a Pampered Pooch Package at the Kimpton Shane Hotel in Atlanta featuring Coexiste’s pet homes.
Andrew Funt, GM of the hotel, stated that the package has been a “highlight for guests staying with their dogs.” He added, “The Coexiste bed has been a true standout and excellent addition to our pet-friendly offerings.”
McDonald-Hewett emphasized the importance of aesthetics to the brand’s identity. She recounted an experience where a hotel guest told her, “I don’t have any dogs, but I’m going to buy this just because I love the table.”
