Cozy Earth founder Tyler Howells: the brand story

Behind the bamboo sheets that have been on Oprah's Favorite Things list four years running is a story most Cozy Earth buyers never hear. Tyler Howells and his wife Brittany Howells founded the company in 2014 from their garage in Utah. Eight years later, Oprah was holding their sheets on national TV. Here's the full origin story.

Who founded Cozy Earth?

Tyler Howells co-founded Cozy Earth in 2014 alongside his wife Brittany Howells. Tyler serves as CEO, Brittany as Co-Founder and active brand director. Both still actively run the business from Park City, Utah.

Backgrounds before Cozy Earth:

• Tyler Howells — finance background, MBA, prior career in private equity
• Brittany Howells — design and merchandising background, prior career in retail and home goods

The couple is publicly active — both appear in occasional Cozy Earth marketing materials, GMA segments, and Tyler has done podcast appearances discussing the founding story.

How Cozy Earth started in 2014

The Howells started Cozy Earth after Brittany experienced severe night sweats during pregnancy. Standard cotton sheets weren't cutting it — too hot, too damp, low quality even at premium price points. The couple began researching alternative fabrics and discovered bamboo viscose, which was being used in athletic wear and infant products but rarely in premium bedding.

The original Cozy Earth bedding was prototyped in their garage in Utah. The first production run was 200 sheet sets, sold mostly through word of mouth and a basic Shopify storefront. Initial pricing was significantly higher than mass-market sheets but designed to compete with brands like Boll & Branch on quality.

The brand name "Cozy Earth" was chosen to evoke natural materials and comfort — Brittany's idea, per Tyler's podcast interviews.

The slow early years (2014-2018)

For four years, Cozy Earth grew slowly. The bamboo viscose category was new to consumers, the price point was premium, and the brand had limited marketing budget. Annual revenue stayed under $5 million through 2017.

Key milestones in the early period:

• 2015 — first wholesale partnerships with boutique linens stores
• 2016 — launch of pajamas alongside sheets (first product expansion)
• 2017 — bamboo comforter and bath towel introduction
• 2018 — focused investment in customer service and 100-night trial (the policy that later became a key differentiator)

The brand was profitable but small — the kind of premium niche business that could have stayed niche indefinitely.

The Oprah moment that changed everything

In 2019, Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheet Set was included in Oprah's Favorite Things 2019 list. Tyler has talked about the moment in interviews: Oprah's team had received samples through a publicist, Oprah personally tested them, and the inclusion was announced with no advance notice to the brand.

The Oprah feature was transformative:

• Traffic to cozyearth.com increased ~50x overnight
• The brand sold out of inventory within hours
• Production scaled rapidly to meet demand
• Revenue grew 10x+ in 2020

Then Oprah included Cozy Earth again in 2020, 2021, and 2022 — making Cozy Earth one of the only brands to appear on Favorite Things four consecutive years. This established Cozy Earth as a credible premium bedding brand in mainstream awareness.

Post-Oprah, the brand secured podcast and influencer partnerships (Mel Robbins, Glenn Beck, Jefferson Fisher, Megyn Kelly — see our influencer codes guide) and Good Morning America featured segments.

Where Cozy Earth is today

As of 2026, Cozy Earth is one of the largest direct-to-consumer premium bedding brands in the US. Key facts:

• Headquartered in Park City, Utah
• Tyler Howells remains CEO; Brittany active in brand direction
• Catalog has expanded to 200+ SKUs across bedding, sleepwear, loungewear, bath, baby, accessories
• Estimated annual revenue: $100M+ (private company, not publicly disclosed)
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class I certified for safety
• BBB accredited with A+ rating
• 10-year warranty and 100-night trial remain core brand promises

The company mission & values

Cozy Earth's stated mission centers on temperature-regulating sleep — specifically, helping people who experience temperature dysregulation (hot sleepers, menopause, healthcare workers on shifts, pregnant women) sleep better. The brand has expanded into bath and apparel, but the core thesis is still about regulated body temperature.

Specific company practices:

• Sustainable bamboo sourcing — bamboo from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, certified through Forest Stewardship Council-equivalent programs
• Closed-loop manufacturing — chemical recovery and reuse in viscose production
• Healthcare and military discount programs — verified through ID.me, ongoing community support
• 10-year warranty — longest in the bedding industry
• 100-night sleep trial — free returns within 100 nights of delivery

The Howells haven't sold the business, taken outside investment publicly, or stepped back from operations. Cozy Earth remains an owner-operated family business at its core, despite the scale.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Cozy Earth?+

Tyler Howells and his wife Brittany Howells co-founded Cozy Earth in 2014 in Utah. Tyler is the CEO; Brittany is Co-Founder and active brand director. Both still actively run the company from Park City, Utah headquarters.

When was Cozy Earth founded?+

2014. The Howells started Cozy Earth from their garage in Utah after Brittany experienced severe night sweats during pregnancy and couldn't find a satisfactory bedding solution. The first production run was 200 sheet sets sold via word-of-mouth and a basic Shopify storefront.

Who is Tyler Howells' wife?+

Brittany Howells, Cozy Earth's co-founder. The couple founded the company together in 2014 and both remain active in the business — Tyler as CEO, Brittany in brand direction and design. Both occasionally appear in Cozy Earth marketing materials and GMA segments.

Why is Cozy Earth on Oprah's Favorite Things?+

Cozy Earth was first included in Oprah's Favorite Things 2019, then again in 2020, 2021 and 2022 — four consecutive years. Oprah's team received samples through a publicist, she personally tested them, and the inclusion was announced with no advance notice to the brand. The Oprah feature transformed Cozy Earth from a small premium brand to a national name.

Is Cozy Earth a US company?+

Yes. Cozy Earth, Inc. is headquartered in Park City, Utah, where the design team and customer service operate. Manufacturing happens in China (where bamboo is sourced and processed at OEKO-TEX-certified facilities). The Howells remain the active owner-operators.

Is Cozy Earth a public company?+

No. Cozy Earth is a privately-held company. Tyler and Brittany Howells haven't sold the business, taken known outside investment, or stepped back from operations. Annual revenue is estimated at $100M+ based on public industry data, but the exact figure isn't disclosed.

Where is Cozy Earth's headquarters?+

Park City, Utah — the brand's HQ where Tyler and Brittany Howells run the business, design new products, and operate customer service. Manufacturing is in China. International fulfillment is via regional partners depending on destination.