Merrimac Dillon is kind of like the Goldilocks of pillow users, except instead of choosing one of three options, she decided to completely reinvent her own. That’s the idea behind The Pillow Bar, a machine Dillon invented to make your bespoke pillow dreams a reality. The patented machines create custom pillows that are not too hard or too soft, and are perfectly suited to your sleeping style. You’ll find Dillon’s down-stuffed pillows in Stanley Korshak and chic local boutiques like The Linen Boutique and Peacock Alley.
We’re always looking for ways to catch a few extra quality z’s, so we caught up with the queen of comfort herself to talk bespoke pillows, her favorite Pillow Bar pillow, and the four keys to a good night’s sleep.
What do you think makes customization so important in the creation of the perfect pillow?
There are three basic factors we consider when making each pillow: sleep style (front, back or side sleeper), height, and of course, age. Good pillows aren’t just fluffy rectangles anymore. If a pillow is made to fit your unique sleep style and physical size, we feel sure that your entire life will benefit from consistent quality sleep. It is a proven fact that good sleep contributes to your overall well being; from attitude and mental clarity to weight loss.
Why was it important to you that customers be able to make their pillow right there in the store/boutique (in under five minutes!)?
We find instant gratification and personalization are rarely available together, so we think this is a unique offering and highly prized by customers. In most cases, when someone decides its time for a new pillow it is because they are having stressful sleepless nights, so to be able to go home immediately with a pillow made just to match their sleep style, they are both relieved and excited.
In Dallas, we have Linen Boutique on Lovers Lane that is the only Pillow Bar location in Dallas where they hand make and embroider each pillow on site in one of our patented machines. The customer can participate in the process and have a custom pillow in just minutes.
What is your favorite Pillow Bar pillow to sleep with right now?
I have just started to sleep with our Slumberlicious Body pillow, as I find it supportive and super comfortable at this point in my life where I seem to have more lower back pain. The whole body support seems to work for me.
What has been your favorite (or most memorable) feedback from a client?
We have one client in Dallas who has purchased dozens of our pillows for wedding gifts, graduation gifts and feel good gifts, with everything from bible verse to country western songs embroidered. “What better gift can I give someone than a good night’s sleep with a personal message?” she always says. “They never forget that I gave it to them and it sure beats an unnecessary knick-knack!” We love to hear that!
A great pillow is key to a good night’s sleep of course, but is there another sleeping essential that you can’t live without?
I think it is essential to have the perfect sleep environment to get the best night’s sleep. This includes…
- A 68 degree bedroom
- All cotton sheets like the ones we offer
- All cotton pajamas
- The lavender sachet that comes in each of our pillows really makes a difference to me. It is a proven fact that lavender helps you sleep longer and more peacefully and I definitely agree.
