Lovesac Official Company Blog

Travis Pastrana has a Big Sac

As it turns out, athletes from the NBA to the X Games use the LoveSac as a place of refuge and meditation before the big game, heated match, or sick trick.  Long time fan of the Sac, Travis Pastrana invited me down to spend a little time with him (which means I get to winch him out of his foam pit) as he prepared for the X Games...."Oh, and bring my Sactionals with you."  I believe were his orders.  So I loaded up his order into my Navigator and delivered it myself, hoping to get a few Rally Racing tips out of him.  I drove to Maryland to SAC TRAVIS PASTRANA'S PAD.

So in what precious little time off I do have I end up working with foam, and fluffing....at least this time it wasn't fluffing Sacs. (and it certainly wasn't that kind of fluffing either).  Travis' foam pit, filled with 40,000 pieces of cut-foam blocks (should've been Sacs), needs to be "fluffed" after each and every time he goes in on one of his attempts so that the next time the landing area will be as fluffy as the first time.  All I have to say is this: I watched this dude wake up, throw on a T-shirt, jump on his bike, get a 30 foot run at the ramp and bust a double back flip as his warm up trick...a trick that he originated 3 years ago and hasn't been caught up with until this year, finally.  This guy is truly the best in the world at what he does.  Oh - and if you don't follow action sports, just tune in to MTV this fall for the 2nd season of his hit TV show "Nitro Circus."  Who knows, you may even just spot a Sac there too.  In the mean time, check out this little vid of this, the 2nd ever episode of SAC MY PAD...

 -- Shawny D. 

What's Your Favorite Position?

Even if you have seen our patented twist on furniture, the Sactionals, you need to see this new video (below).  I understand that at first glance Sactionals appear just "neat sofas" that can be moved around.  But if you haven't seen them in real life, you will be surprised at just how tight they are and how good they look in person...the real thing seems to always exceed expectations.  I've said it before and I'm saying it now: This product will eventually become the "default" furniture for American TV rooms.  It is the only changeable, washable, FedEx-able, simple, extremely modular furniture that can be taken-home-today because of the way its small packaging allows it to be stacked/stored/stocked.  Watch the video past the first section to the part where it gets into the Sactional Positions.  Please leave a comment and let me know: what is YOUR favorite position?  I wanna know.

I honestly believe that this product is good for people.  It frees them from being stuck with their furniture in an elegant and affordable way. It is reliable and guaranteed for life.  I believe it will be the single-biggest furniture concept in the country once discovered, and our patents help to ensure that, but for now we are small.  We are not able to advertise.  Unless people happen to stumble into one of our little stores and experience these for themselves, they will never know they have this option....and most people who do end up regretting that they, "Just bought other furniture."  Often people even return their recently purchased sofas and come back to pick up Sactionals.  So help me get the word out!  Please forward this to your friends and family, because now LoveSac is small, but someday with your help, everyone will LoveSac.   WATCH THIS VID (ALL THE WAY THROUGH)....

-- Shawny D.

SICK New LoveSac Offices

Okay, so it’s not new.  It’s actually the same old office, but we actually finally moved in!  Two plus years in the same place and I feel like we never really unpacked…until now. 

WELCOME TO THE NEW LOVESAC H.Q. OFFICES

I’m not sure if any of you have ever felt this way at home or at work, but its like we were all in such a hurry to get to work that we just threw some furniture down, plugged stuff in, and started typing.  Wires strewn everywhere.  Boxes on the floor piling up with “stuff.”  Last week I noticed that our full-size office copier/printer/fax was actually straddling the space between a desk and some weird table – just “functional.”  Bare walls, or worse, crap taped to the walls everywhere, crooked, out of order—just functional—barely. 

(ONE OF MY ONLY SHOTS OF THE OFFICE “BEFORE” CROWDED BY PEOPLE WEARING FUNNY HATS AT OUR BABY SHOWER FOR LUCKY)

 

Well, those days are finally over.  And it is not like last week was convenient or anything.  In fact, it was probably the most inconvenient time that it could have possibly been.  We are about to open 7 new stores in 60 days!  We are in final sampling to launch about 20 new products this fall!  And we are in talks with numerous new investors interested in helping us grow our business.  CRAZY, CRAZY times.

 

WE DID HIRE PAINTERS OFF OF CRAIGSLIST.  WORKED ALL WEEKEND.  THIS DUDE PASSED OUT AND SLEPT UNTIL NOON ON MONDAY JUST LIKE THAT – FULLY WORKING OFFICE, WITH PEOPLE ALL AROUND HIM.  SEE THE CHAOS WE WERE LIVING IN!?  NASTY CARPET, EH!?

 

 

 

But somehow, between many late, late nights and early, early mornings…making for long, long days, we transformed the office from what it was, to the Sac H.Q. that it always should have been.  And all this on a shoestring budget!  We built our own desks, made our own furniture (of course), and did most of the work ourselves.  Check it out!  Please COMMENT and let me know what you think.  Like it or hate it, I LOVE to hear from you.

THE ENTRY, LOOKING OUT: CURRENT SEASONAL (TATTOO, FOR NOW) COVERS ON DISPLAY. (SAME PLACE YOU SAW THAT PAINTER PASSED OUT, BEFORE)

 

THE ENTRY, LOOKING IN: THAT IS OUR BOARD OF HISTORY.  LAYERS OF 8 YEARS’ STUFF STAPLED, TAPED, TACKED UP THERE, FRAMED IN BLACK.  TABLE ON THE LEFT WHERE WE WILL CONTROL ALL THE MUSIC TO ALL THE STORES LIVE, FROM H.Q.

 

ENTRY, LOOKING IN: CHECK OUT THESE SICK CUSTOM ORDER MIXED SACTIONALS COVER-SETS.  PLEATHER “FORD” COMBINED WITH STUFF SO NEW ITS NOT EVEN ON THE SWATCH YET!

“WEB CORNER”:  HERE SITS MIKE AND SAMBIR, THE WEB CREW, ON ONE OF OUR (MANY) CUSTOM BUILT DESKS.  THESE ARE  ¾” THICK 8’ LONG PLY-WOOD “SLABS” MIXED, A 4X4 CUT TO SIZE ATTACHED WITH A LAG BOLT, AND SOME STUFF FROM IKEA.  WE BUILT THEM OURSELVES.  FUNCTIONAL WITH LOTS STORAGE & SURFACE AREA. 

 

ACCOUNTING CENTRAL:  MORE SLABS.  DAVE & SPENCER (PRODUCT DESIGNERS) REALLY OUT-DID THEMSELVES WITH THESE DESKS.  BUILT-IN PLUG STRIPS, HIDDEN CORDS, SHELVES, HANGING ACCESSORIES, CORK-BOARDS…ALL CUSTOM.

 

NANCY AND MY OFFICE:  WE ARE BIG ON COOPERATION AT LOVESAC, AND EVEN BIGGER ON GATHERING.  OUR  OFFICE DOUBLES AS MEETING ROOM.  THE WINDOWS ARE OUR WHITE-BOARDS—ALWAYS CAKED WITH LISTS & PLANS.

 

CFO’S OFFICE BEFORE:  (HEE HEE)

 

 

 

CFO’S OFFICE: AFTER (NOW)

THE ROCKSTAR ROOM (CONFERENCE ROOM): BEFORE

 

THE ROCKSTAR ROOM: AFTER (NOW). NOTICE THE SO-NEW-THEY’RE-NOT-EVEN-ON-THE-CUSTOM-SWATCHES CHENILLE COVERS.  MURDERED-OUT LOVESAC NEON SIGN STUCK TO THE WALL.  MURDERED OUT CHANDELIER FOR LIGHT.  THE WALLS ARE 100% CHALK-BOARD PAINT & THE WALL BEHIND THE SHOT IS BLANK – JUST WAITING FOR SOME INTENSE BRAINSTORMING….UP THE WALLS.  STACKS OF VINTAGE GUITAR AMPS FOR FRONT TABLE – TO HOLD THE CHALK & ERASERS (NOT SHOWN).

 

BIT OF LOVESAC TRIVIA: THE GUITAR HANGING ON THE RIGHT IS A LEGEND.  THE AMERICAN BUILT FENDER STRATOCASTER, SUNBURST.  IT IS THIS GUITAR’S SUNBURST DESIGN THAT INSPIRED THE COLORS FOR THE ORIGINAL LOVESAC LOG0. 

 

THE NEW LOVESAC H.Q.  IT’S GOT SOUL AGAIN.  IT’S GOOD TO BE HOME.

 

-- Shawny D.

 

 

Hotel LoveSac: Using Sactionals as Beds!

The new HOTEL LOVESAC was constructed in less than 5 minutes and cost far less to build than the $1 Billion Yankee's Stadium we visited once they arrived.  My sister, Wendy, and her entire family came to stay with us on the East Coast this weekend--her first trip ever to the Big Apple and her kid's first time sleeping 100% on LoveSac furniture (parents took the guest room).  Check out how Sactionals and PillowSacs make absolutely perfect extra guest beds, in case you ever need one.  Here's how:

1. Have friends (or family). Or, as some have been known to do, use LoveSac furniture as your only furniture.  (Yes, my nephew, Tyler, is putting his Yankees ice cream helmet-cup on my dog).

2. Tuck in your Ottoman (lone Base Piece) into the L-corner of your Sactionals sectional.  Secure moste easily with clamp, alone. 

3. Move Back Pillows. Place mattress topper or blanket over cushions. Sactionals cushions are LoveSac soft, and definately large enough (roughly Queen sized) to sleep on.  A mattress topper to cover the cracks makes them softer than most beds!  Also, Sactionals Bases are flat on top, not sloped back/down like all other sofas...making Sactionals excellent guest beds.

4. Just add bedding.  My favorite are goose down filled comforters....available at LoveSac.com very soon, btw! 

5. PillowSac Rocker: multi-functional.

6. PillowSac guest bed by night.  Just place black Rocker Frame (upper left) on its side - stores easily.  Lay down on the PillowSac.  OR, the newest Khaki PillowSac Inserts from LoveSac are actually 1 foot longer than the Covers, making them exactly the size of a "Full" (or "Double") Mattress!  Take the Cover off and fit it with "Full" sheets. (shown below with Eskimo Phur Cover still on.

 

7. Just add guests. Matt & Jess out cold.

  

8. My dog chooses the Sac over any "real" bed any day.

PS: Don't forget to teach your nephews the lessons their parents won't: How to ride motorcycles and how to catch crabs.  :)

-- Shawny D.   - Manager, Hotel LoveSac

How LOVESAC Goes Green...

Ryan Johnson is my business partner, and LoveSac's CFO.    Being that Ryan handles all the money for LoveSac, he is generally has pretty serious business to attend to.  The Easter Bunny pictured to the right is not Ryan.  It is, in fact, Ryan's hi-jacker.  He's sitting in Ryan's office.  Nice place, right!? We'll call this pic the "Before" pic.  Ryan wasn't at work today.  You see, it's St. Patrick's Day and Ryan claims to be Irish or something, which apparently gives him the right to take the day off and go be "Irish." (as if we all don't know what that means).  So in the great tradition begun by the ongoing Lauren vs. Mike Office Prank Battle (see previous posts), and in trying to keep pace with the marketing agenda of every other company in America, we decided to help you go green!!!   Check out this video... 

A big thanks to Lauren, Liz, Davey, Spencer, Ben, Mary Tashia, Tiffany, and the rest of the crew who pitched in to do this right.  Like I always say: If you're gonna do something, might as well go all the way. A HUGE thanks to Susan, who also sits in the corner & has to live with it too.

Yes, those are custom painted Sactionals in the corner.

Yes, that is new wall-to-wall astro-turf fake lawn.

Yes, his computer still works.

Yes, the paint was (mostly) dry.

Yes, there is an editor of a magazine visiting the office tomorrow to do an interview....should be good.

 

Yes, the girls took the edge off with a mini-keg of Heineken (NOT to be consumed in the office, of course). 

Yes, I think Ryan might actually be part Irish.

Yes, some work actually did get done this day besides just this prank. (Thanks finance team).

Yes, in person it is even better. It is not just green--it OOZES green out the door, thru the windows.  Ugh.

No, Dave did not split his pants this time, participating in this event.

This is the door that Ryan found, early the next morning, when he arrived at the office, as usual, before anybody else.  As he walked across the room, toward his office, he probably chuckled, thinking, "Ha, ha, they put some St. Pattie's Day decorations in my office"...

So please comment and tell Ryan what you think!

So THANK YOU, Ryan, for giving LoveSac H.Q. an excuse to finally, GO TOTALLY GREEN!   I feel more American (and Irish) than ever.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. NEVER stop rockin' the Sac.

--Shawny D.

  

From East to WEST COAST Front Line Tour Ends...

My 2008 coast to coast drive in the LoveSac Bus ends in sunny California, at the California LoveSac Stores.  I've met every Sac'r in the country, and, gotta say, I love em all.  That really is my favorite part of operation Front Line.  It's not the training; it most certainly isn't the remodeling and merchandising;  it's got to be the Sac'rs--those that work for us and those who are just fans of the Sac.  CHECK OUT SOME OF THESE WACK JOBS, from my visits to LoveSac Tyler Galleria in Riverside CA and Northridge CA...

No store visit without someone ridin' a Sac full speed down the main hallway of the mall. (wait till you see the video, coming soon to the in-store DVD)  After 3 grueling days and a nearly full remodel of the LoveSac Tyler Galleria Store, the Manager, James, wasn't the only loopy one.  But thanks to a hard working staff, the store turned out great, and we had some crazy Mexican Food getting adventures that last night on the LoveSac Bus.

Besides the typical store visit I had a little visitor of my own.  Bud and Keenan, from Home Break Surfboards, brought me my long awaited custom LoveSac surfboard.  A "fish," just as requested, facilitated by their new partner (and my partner of 7 years), Mr. Jon Coltharp--manager of the LoveSac factory since 2001.  Check this bad boy out...

  We'll come back to the surfboard later--I promise.  First, we had some serious training to do with the Tyler Galleria Staff...  In search of the best Mexican Food of the Inland Empire, we headed up Magnolia, further into Riverside.  We found the natty natty Mexican food, and some other wierdos along with it...  All in all, the Tyler Galleria Crew were definately keepin the vibe alive, and it was a laugh a minute to be with em.  It's good to see that LoveSac is still alive and kickin' in California, even if it a shadow of what we once were....LoveSac is back in black and we are about to blow it up again.  So on to the Northridge store--just above L.A., for my final Front Line visit.   

The Northridge LoveSac Crew (right) were definately, once again, a unique crew of Sac'rs.  I like it!  They all pitched in as we tore their store up from the floor up, and in just a few short hours, it was like a new place.  We replaced every light bulb, killed those life-sucking flourescents, moved the behemoth fixtures, and makd the place look like new. Then we busted out some wicked sales training on the LoveSac ice-queen (this woman just wanted nothing to do with the Sac), and we met a nice little LoveSac family too.  Check out these two videos of Chris, Sue, and their cute daughters--who ultimately get their way...

With some lousy Pizza Hut Pizza on the Bus, and one final Guitar Hero throw-down in the parking lot of the Northridge mall, my Operation Front Line, 2008, was finished.  Yes--that west-coast Pizza was making me miss home and the good old Colony Grill, in Stamford, Connecticut, with the bombest thinnest, spiciest, best pizza in the United States of America, and I knew it was time to be on my way.  So THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, Staffers, fans of the Sac, customers, to everyone who made my 2008 tour as wierd as it was...thank you so much.  YOU make LoveSac what it is.  YOU keep us weird, and we like it.  YOU deserve a MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HANUKKAH, KWANZA, or whatever it is you're into.  So have one.

I, on the other hand, was not about to leave California without trying that surfboard.  So I have have reached the end of the line.  From Boston to So Cal, LoveSac is still spreadin' the Love coast to coast, and the vibe lives on into 2009.  Signing off from Huntington Beach, California.....watch this....

src="https://lovesac.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5501c846a883301053687ee01970b-250wi">  Ride the Love.  Happy Holidays.

-- Shawny D.

SL-UT (Home of LoveSac) & THE LONGEST DAY in December...

My cross-country store tour brought me back to Salt Lake City, Utah for Thanksgiving!  I can't complain.  Home for the Holidays is always a good thing, especially with an extended family as huge as mine (and my wife's). We kicked it off on Thanksgiving NIGHT with a LoveSac Bus appearance at the Fashion Place Mall midnight opening for Black Friday.  Thousands of people lined up outside of the mall entrance as we circled the parking lot in the bus throwing our balls at people, trading LoveSac schwag for stupid human tricks, and an ongoing Guitar Hero battle on the LoveSac Bus.  It's as close to Girls Gone Wild as we get on the LoveSac Bus.   Check out the chaos in this video...

I began the real work with a visit to Layton Hills LoveSac.  It looked great!  Best staff I've ever seen there. Thankfully, the Layton Hills Crew has been running a pretty tight ship.    Good merchandising, and a growing business.  I had a couple of fans of the Sac waiting there for me on arrival.  Check out the green tea girls of Layton...  

In each store we make a video which will be used inside of the in-store video.  Layton did the wannabe Sac immitator race. Not bad.  It was the best human Sac costume I've ever seen.   

I then tore up Fashion Place Mall for a couple of days, completely re-arranging their floor and lighting...a change needed for years now.  The staff there is a VERY cool group of young Sac'rs who later showed up for a late night ride on the bus to the infamous "PIE" pizza place near the U of U.  Crazy times.

We had some REAL fun at the Gateway.  One of those never-ending all-nighters that got really ugly, but ended up pretty...a completely new concept store now.  We had all kinds of adventures in remodelling (and trying to keep the store running with happy customers thru all of the chaos), as you can see below in the numerous strange videos.  Good stuff.  The Gateway Store turned out amazing, I must say, thanks to the hard work of everybody on their staff, as well as Davey, Charlie, and Spencer from HQ, and even Andres, who flew up from New Mexico LoveSac to help out. Check this mess out...

FIRST, A RUG MUNCHER!?  AT LOVESAC!?

THEN, A CUSTOMER WHO TAKES HIS SACTIONALS A PIECE AT A TIME...

NEXT, A WINDOW TINTING EXPERT WHO DOES THE FIRST EVER TOTALLY BLIND WINDOW TINTING JOB...ONLY LOST THE TIP OF A FINGER...ONLY AT LOVESAC...

Here is the itinerary for a day in the life of the glamorous Shawny D. on Frontline!? LONGEST DAY IN DECEMBER (so far):

11am THURSDAY: Arrive at the newly carpeted Gateway.  Proceed to deal with brand new fixtures, arrived broken on delivery.  Fix & set up. 

2pm: Tear the entire store apart one half at a time, operating a functional Holdiay Season LoveSac store on the other side.

3pm: Discover yet more supplies (Velcro, staples, nail gun) needed to finish the store.  Run to Lowes & Industrial Supply store.

5pm: Pick up LoveSac Bus having had minor work done to prep it for west coast front line visits.

6pm: Arrive back at the Gateway, BEGIN to re-set store layout after total upheaval.

7pm: Window tinter arrives and demonstrates his skills.

9pm: Electricians arrive to climb over the top of us, hanging lights where they can.

10pm: BEGIN to hang the artwork...a 12 hour process for 1 person (yours truly, plus one assistant)

1am: Midnight run for greasy Mexican food to keep us going.

2am: Large Artwork finally in place...goin' all night now...

7am: 75% of small artwork (300 frames!) hung on the walls.  Beg Tiffany to wake up, bring me clothes, and deoderant so I can get to my next appointment...

8am FRIDAY: Give speech to room full of 100 entrepreneurs at the Larry H. Miller Shool for Free Enterprise in Sandy on zero sleep.  At least 4 of them commit to buying Sactionals.  LoveSac is back!

10am: Return to Gateway Mall, finish hanging ALL of the artwork and re-setting store layout for big weekend in sales.

1pm: Rush out to Bountiful, home of my in-laws to shower.

1:20pm: Rush back to Holladay to pick up my nephew Matthew and 8 of his friends for his 10th birthday party (something I hate to miss).

1:45 pm: A bus full of screaming kids playing Guitar Hero, on our way to the Ice-Skating Rink where they expect me to entertain them.

2:30pm: Pull 8 10-year-olds around the Ice-Skating Rink in Murray Utah in the famous "Uncle Shawn Train."

4:00pm: Eat Cupcakes.

5:00pm: Back on the bus for an hour of Guitar Hero in the Best Buy Parking Lot next door. 

6:00pm: Back to the Gateway Mall for their Merch Walk-Thru with the Managers.

7:00pm: Sales Training with the entire Gateway Staff, where I work the store floor for 3 hours until closing. They watch, take notes, and we debrief after every group of customers leave.  I put the hard-sale on two couples from Idaho, in town, shopping for Christmas.  Sold two SuperSac packages right there.  Charlie drove to Fashion Place Mall to pick up their SquattoMans!

10:00pm: Mall closes.  Back to the LoveSac Bus for Brand Training ON the bus, where the entire staff stares at me while I try to remain coherent for a 90 minute training session.  Ahhhhhh!  In my sleep deprivation, I forgot to take the Gateway Staff Pic.  Bummer.

11:30pm: Part of Gateway Staff hangs out on Bus for some Guitar Hero Action.  The FASHION PLACE staff show up with their fiends/boyfriends/girlfriends, having not had the chance to be on the bus because it was in the shop.  I take them all to the Pie Pizzeria for some late night pizza action, running the bus' sirens and PA all the way up town.

2am SATURDAY: Leave the Pie.  Head back to Bountiful for my first sleep in about 42 hours. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!!!!!

Never stop rockin' the Sac.

-- Shawny D.

New LoveSac Look, New LoveSac Direction

First of all, let me say THANK YOU to all of you who submitted names for the LoveSac Dog.  I have chosen the name for one, and plan to have chosen the name for the second dog by Tuesday - when I will announce the winner(s).  See my blog 3 previous if you still want to submit.  Winners get stuff.

It has been 8 years in the making, but LoveSac Stores finally have a complete and unique look to them.  Check out these pro photos from our brand new model store up in Mayfair, Wisconsin.  We're finally showing the world the complete line of LoveSac alternative furniture (yes, we even sell the rugs), as we specialize in Home Theater seating.

 The Home Theater

 The Loft

  The Living Room

 LoveSac Store Front View 

 The Limited Edition Cover Pod

 The Custom Order Cover Pod

 The Cash & Wrap Pod

 The Kid-Gamer-Pet Pod

 The Home Theater, looking back

It is really kind of funny that it took us this long to figure out who we are and what we are selling.  You know, we started out literally in my parent's basement and even when we finally did open up our first high-end mall store, we had no real identifiable concept.  For years we somehow paid the rent (in most cases) just selling Sacs, our stores looked like bean-bag-land.  With Sactionals finally perfected and selling just as fast as we can make them, I am proud of what we have built, together, from nothing. 

It was kind of hard to put together a cohesive retail concept using our products because they are so weird.  We really cannot follow a typical furniture store layout in selling our stuff.  As simple as it appears, because it is totally modular, and all of the Covers come off and are changeable and washable, and also because nearly everything we sell comes shrunken-down, somehow, it is difficult to just copy good merchandising and normal display techniques from other places.  A Sac Cover is more like a pair of jeans than a piece of furniture, and then you have our whole name and our vibe - not exactly the typical furniture store attitude.  We needed to stand out a bit.  With everything in the mall reaching for your attention, how to cut through the clutter and show unique design, an attention-getting presence, and keep it classy - all in a laid back, chilled out "LoveSac" environment?  So we plastered the walls with our REAL culture, pictures from the last DECADE of Lovin' the Sac.  Events, chicks, store openings, customer photos, beauty shots, decorating ideas, LoveSac vehicles, etc....but all enclosed in classy frames.  Then we went big - with over 300 pieces of framed art, we not only tell the LoveSac story - you can't escape it.  You've got my grandparents up there, "The Old LoveSac," you have my baby up there, "They Young LoveSac," you have T Hawk up there, "Skaters LoveSac," you have Billy Clinton up there, "Ladies Men LoveSac," and the list goes on and on.  We kept our sense of humor, while putting on a good show. 

Look for us to open a few more of these in 2009, and watch as we slowly convert our older stores over to this new look. 

Just thought you  might like the inside scoop.

--Shawny D.

Who's the #1 Fan? (COMMENT & VOTE)

So for years now, my good buddy Wayne Vaughan, of Boulder Colorado, has been THE self-professed #1 fan of LoveSac.  Wayne has volunteered many hours in our Flatiron Crossing LoveSac location, and probably helped to sell more Sacs than he owns - which is saying a lot.  Once we even flew him out to HQ and celebrated "Wayne Vaughan" day.  Last time I checked, Wayne had like 4 Sacs just in his room - and more than half-a-dozen Covers to go with them.  Here is a video of Wayne showing off his skills in Sacrobatics during my store visit to Flatiron last year....

Of course - we have to give a shout out to the Flatiron Crossing LoveSac crew for their polished rendition of the LoveSac boogie, as well....we'll be adding both clips to our LoveSac store video, "Sacs Education," available in its newest form later this summer.

But Wayne, I hate to break it to you, but you have competion.  Tyler, from Las Vegas, Nevada, claims to be LoveSac's number 1 fan as well.  Tyler has a the limited edition Black PlayaSac, but he's saving up for a new MovieSac.  I'm guessing he's going want the Black Bear Phur, coming out this fall, once he sees it.  So Tyler came by the store in Henderson, Nevada, just the other day to say hi.  His feedback on our new developments in Sactionals proved to be invaluable.  THEN, Tyler showed up to help set up the showroom at the World Market Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  It was NOT a quick job.  I do believe Tyler might just give Wayne  a run for his money, in the world of LoveSac fans.  Did i mention that Tyler is even the leader of a MySpace group called "LoveSac Fans."  Click here to check it out. http://groups.myspace.com/lovesac   Join up - support the kid's ambitions.

Tyler - it was good to finally meet you in person.  Thanks for all of your help setting up the show!  Keep rockin' Lovesac Las Vegas.

If you are reading this - based on what you've heard and seen, comment and let ME know which one of these guys is, in fact LoveSac's biggest fan.....the jury's out.

- Shawny D.

The LoveSac Theater, a radically new movie experience

Completing this theater may very well be the 3rd proudest event of my life.  I actually got to design an entire movie theater!?  To see this old, retro, soulful movie theater become something legendary - filled with my inventions that hopefully will make people's lives more comfortable, is something to behold.  The world's first LoveSac Theater is up and running!

It has been a long time in the works, but Mark Cuban and crew at Landmark Theaters finally got up the guts to go really "out there" on one of their Theaters.  They chose the Inwood, Dallas, TX.  The Inwood  Theater was built in 1947, and has become a Landmark in Dallas.  The auditorium is huge, and it was certainly a task to get the layout right, using only LoveSac original inventions as seating.  

There really is nothing quite like it in the world.  Landmark Theaters purchased more than 200 of our Sactionals Bases, 320 Sactionals Side PIeces, custom Bella (Velvish) Covers, 2 dozen Sacs, and a bunch of U-tables.  Of course the entire Theater is 100% changeable, modular, and machine washable.  Every single cover of every single piece of LoveSac furniture can be taken off, washed, and changed around.  Every unique style of seating (other than our Sacs) was actually built from only two pieces...Sactionals Bases and Sides, which hook together with no tools in just seconds, and can be re-configured endlessly. 

There are many different "rooms" and configurations in the Theater, but mainly there are two types of Sactionals seats. Those that are "deep" and those that are standard.  "Deep" Sactionals is when the Base Piece is turned so that the long dimension runs back - placing the back of it further from the front edge.  You sit in it far more reclined.  Deep Sactionals are actually great near the front of the Theater, where typically you have to strain your neck to see the screen.   

The Sacs are really the icing on the cake though, and the funny thing is, they make what are typically the worst seats in the house the best ones.  20 minutes before the first midnight showing, ever, in the LoveSac Theater last night, every Sac on the front row was taken, leaving plenty of prime seating for everybody else. 

After 4 grueling days of very little sleep, we finished the install at 6am on Friday morning.  Shower, shave, and back to the Theater later that day to promote it.  It was actually a lot of fun.  We brought out the Sacs Machine, the LoveSac bus, and parked it in front of the Theater.  We actually set up a LoveSac lounge right in front of the Inwood Lounge (Martini Bar connected to the lobby).     Every single person who walked by couldn't help but take a flop in the Sac.  When we explained that the etirety of the legendary first floor 400 seat auditorium at the Inwood was set from this furniture, people went nuts.  Many of them claimed they had not been to the Inwood in years - just passing by, getting ice cream next door.  Now they plan to come back.

Just by luck, one of Dallas' longstanding movie critics, Pilip Wuntch, who has 30 years writing about movies, just showed up with his classic southern belle of a wife, Mimi, to see the independant film now showing.  He was blown away by the new digs.  He promised to blog about it. (Philip & Mimi below) 

Another great family, Jose and his nearly overdue pregnant wife drove 45 miles to check it out, because they had heard about it at our Stonebriar location, just out of town.  They didn't even care what the movie was!  It did not disappoint.

Then there was Andrea and her daughter Blake.  Once I showed them the furniture, and let them peek into the actual Theater, in between showings, I honestly thing Blake bounced like she had a pogo-stick.  The screamed, and instantly proclaimed that she expected her mom to book the theater for her birthday.  She began texting her friends to get the word out about her upcoming LoveSac Theater party.

We basically just hung out all night in front of the Theater, until we were overrun by mostly intoxicated regulars from the Inwood Lounge. They just could not resist the power of the Sac.  Risking being sited for public intoxication, they were piled on the little lounge out front.  So I took my installation crew to dinner....man did they deserve it.  We worked multiple 21 hour days, trying to get it all done, and by the end, we were all thrashed.  A sincere and massive thanks to Travis, Alex, Jon, Ben, Charles, Fernando, Curtis, Dustin, Bianca Kimberly, Beau, Alex, Jeremy, and even crazy Mike for all y'all did to make it happen.  It was not easy.  The good news - it worked!

We came back at midnight for the Theater's first midnight movie, Rushmore.  I needed to get some photos of the Theater, so I asked everyone to stick around and become a part of history.    I tried to explain to everyone how the seating worked before the movie.  There is even a handicapped section. 

One of the biggest hits were the PIllows and blankets.  They just kind of float around the theater.  There are bins full of them as you walk in the door.    It is definately going to be quite a lot of work for the staff to keep up with it, but it will definately be worth it.  Also, did I mention that there is actually a bar in the Theater!?  Right in the back corner, partially glassed-off, you can avoid even having to leave the movie to keep the juices flowing. This, of course, one of the most important features of the theater, to some. 

The entire Theater boasts Ocean Velvish and Merlot Velvish fabrics.  It is one of our softest fabrics, yet, amazingly, it is our absolute toughest fabric!  It cleans right up, and wears better than even suede.  You will notice LoveSac U-tables and U-drinks scattered throughout.  These simple inventions afford you a nice wood surface on which to place the beverage of you liking.  These "deep" U-drinks were developed especially for the theater, to help avoid spills.  They actually hug the cup tightly.  Another simple LoveSac original invention.     The U-Tables halves fit nicely over ottomans in each room, forming a sort of coffee table - only you can actually just slide it to the side when you want to kick your feet up on the ottoman (base).  2 U-Tables together work as end-tables, in select spots throughout the Theater.

During Rushmore, the midnight movie, I was just glad to see people figuring out, on their own, how to "use" the furniture.  Some had their feet up.  Others sat sideways.  Some layed down lenghtwise in their Lover's lap.  One couple snuck up to the Movie Lounger in front with a FootSac blanket.  U-drinks got moved around - some on the arms of the furniture, some on the backs (same thing really - just a Sactionals "Side).

The Theater, as it stands, is really, pretty functional - even practical....just different.

So in 2 weeks, May 22nd, the Theater is planning a sort of "Grand Opening" around the new Indiana Jones movie, which will be opening that night.  If you are at all in the Dallas area for that, I'm sure it is a party that you won't want to miss.  Party in Dallas, at the LoveSac Theater!  That should be a packed house.  I am excited to see what that looks like. 

Well, it is almost 2 pm the next day - having been up all night running the photo-shoot, and just making some finishing touches.  I have to say - I'm proud of this little company.  I still have 3 stores to open or finish opening in the next 4 days.  I have to do one of them in the next 12 hours, before I get to fly home.  I need to grap some sleep, desperately.  I'm already sick as a dog.

I still find it amazing that our furniture, originally designed for home-use, is actually well-built enough to work, without hesitation, in a commercial environment like this.  Sactionals will become the biggest furniture phenomenon in America.  You just wait....and I'll just keep saying it until it happens.  There is no doubt in my mind. 

From Mark Cuban's Landmark Theaters to your home theater, Sactionals are the answer.  I can't wait to get back home to mine.  I know that Hollywood is just sitting there, on that back cushion, waiting for me/us to get home.  (FYI, it was Tiffany and Lucky that take the spot for my first two most proud acheivements....and I miss them most of all).

Livin' the dream.  You know this whole thing started when Mark Cuban saw our Sacs, thought they'd be cool in some of his theaters, and told his guy, Bill to call me.  Well, in all the years it took to figure out a deal, we invented Sactionals, and that made us able to not just throw some Sacs on the front row - we created an environment.  Bill was still on the fence.  Finally, Bill was sitting in his own LoveSac PillowSac Rocker, when he caught a re-run of my reality TV victory on The Rebel Billionaire.  He heard me BACK THEN, 2005, after I had just won one million dollars, about how there would one day be LoveSac stores, LoveSac limos, LoveSac Theaters.....So he picked up the phone, taking it as a sign, or fate, and made the call.  The Theater was born!

I think that is the thing I love most about my job.  My opportunity to create environments for people, whether it be stores, theaters, promo buses, or LoveSac Headquarters, that influence p eople for good.  This theater is DEFINATELY one more step towards making people's lives more comfortable.  Get your own.

The world's first LoveSac Theater is finally here, I can't believe it....but it won't be the last.   

Lovey'all. Love Texas.  Love our great people here at the Sac.  They don't stop for nothin'.   

- Shawny D.

[FOR HI-REZ PHOTOS OF ALL OF THESE IMAGES, GO TO PICASA, AND DOWNLOAD THEM THERE - LINK BELOW]    http://picasaweb.google.com/chairmansac/TheLoveSacTheaterAtTheInwood