SOMMNI Sdn. Bhd. (SOMMNI), an aspiring figure in Malaysia’s bedding industry, and PONEY Group (PONEY), a renowned name in children’s fashion retail, joined forces in a remarkable collaboration to introduce an innovative kids bedding series across all PONEY stores.
The collaboration announcement, made today at PONEY, IOI CITY MALL, marks a significant milestone for both companies, showcasing their joint commitment to delivering quality products for children while actively contributing to the community in the long run.
To mark the official commencement of their partnership, SOMMNI and PONEY initiated the Hearts & Homes: Aidilfitri Charity Launch in the presence of Yang Berhomat (YB) Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM).
As part of this noble endeavour, SOMMNI and PONEY generously donated 100 mattresses worth RM35,000 and 192 sets of clothing across orphanages in Klang Valley. YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri highlighted in her speech, “A collaboration like this proves that we all can and should play our respective roles in making a significant impact on society, especially for those in need. In the context of community development, we must not forget our responsibility to ensure that every individual, especially marginalised groups, have access to the resources and support they need.”
SOMMNI embarked on its journey in 2017 to provide surplus mattresses sourced from the company’s Export & OEM manufacturing division to the domestic market, ensuring accessibility at reasonable prices. Nonetheless, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a deliberate reassessment of its strategic direction, culminating in the resurgence and repositioning of SOMMNI as a distinguished ‘Mattress in a Box’ brand.
After a vigorous two-year research and development (R&D) phase and meticulous sourcing of materials, the group debuted its first “SOMMNI” mattress, followed by an expansion of its product range to include 40 different offerings catered to direct consumers, hotels, hostels, interior design companies, and more.
In August 2023, an opportunity with PONEY was presented to curate a new baby and kids bedding series. While initially reserved to enter the market due to the lack of SOMMNI-branded kids or baby items, discussions with PONEY revealed a shared commitment to nurturing children’s growth through each other’s products, and most importantly, corporate social responsibility.
Kevin Tan, Chief Executive Officer, SOMMNI said, “At SOMMNI, we’re driven by a shared commitment to charitable action, both individually and as a business. We recognise the challenges orphanages face in providing basic necessities like mattresses, especially amidst rising living costs. Sleep is crucial for physical and mental development, especially for children, which is why we’re dedicated to ensuring that less fortunate children have access to quality bedding. Our goal is to support their growth so they can grow up to their fullest potential, succeed in life, and contribute back to society.”
“As a market leader in children’s fashion, we recognise the need to give back to the community. In this regard, it was very important for us to have this Hearts & Homes: Aidilfitri Charity Launch in conjunction with our partnership announcement. We hope that by pooling our resources, expertise, and dedication to social responsibility, we can extend our reach and enhance our effectiveness in bringing about a positive impact to our society, in this case, underprivileged children,” added Amanda Tan, Head of Merchandising, PONEY Group.
Through the collaboration between SOMMNI X PONEY, not only do the two partners aim to shed light on the importance of giving back to society, but they also hope to contribute to the vibrancy of the local trade landscape. Recognising the challenges faced by emerging businesses, particularly in distribution, both partners aim to play a support role in fostering a thriving domestic market by pooling resources and expertise to empower new ventures, expand market reach, and curate a sense of community support for local enterprises.
In a bold move towards expansion and diversification, SOMMNI teases its ambitious roadmap for the next five years, aiming to transcend its current identity as a mere bedding brand and emerge as a comprehensive home and living powerhouse. This strategic development illustrates SOMMNI’s unwavering dedication to broadening its product portfolio and establishing a formidable presence across multiple aspects of the home lifestyle market.
Central to this vision is the aspiration to position SOMMNI for sustained growth beyond the confines of the home and living sector. With an eye on the horizon, the company sets its sights on a transformative milestone: pursuing a public offering through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) within a 10-year timeframe.
The newly debuted SOMMNI X PONEY product range currently includes a collection comprising a baby cot, a children’s bed frame, two mattress options, three variations of pillows for different age groups, equipped with complimentary bedsheets and pillowcases. Additionally, the product range underwent rigorous material selection to deliver the highest quality mattresses and pillows at competitive price points. With PONEY IOI City Mall being the first PONEY store to debut the SOMMNI X PONEY collection, the two companies will be rolling out the SOMMNI X PONEY collection in all 42 PONEY outlets in the near future.