The cream

The Bed Industry Awards recognised the finest of the sector

Dreams clinched National Bed Retailer of the Year for the third year running, having recently celebrated nine years of consecutive profit growth. The judges recognised its passion for customer service and impressive ratings, and its strong support of NBF manufacturer and supplier members alike. Staff development is a priority for the chain, with several training packages and a financial support programme for employees.

Bensons for Beds, DFS and Furniture Village were finalists.

MattressNextDay was crowned Online Bed Retailer of the Year for the first time. The retailer launched its new website in late 2022, with significant investments in photography, videography, an AI mattress finder tool and comprehensive blog.

Eradicating plastic packaging and an impressive upturn in traffic, orders and average transaction value helped to secure it as this year’s winner.

Mattress Online was runner up.

Sussex Beds, scooped the Large NBF Retail Champion of the Year award. Over the past year, Sussex Beds has achieved record net profits, with two new store openings as well as a full rebrand and new product training video programme for staff. Partnering with a sleep expert has not only supported the sleep of both its customers and staff but has helped to enhance its web and social media presence.

The Bed Post was runner up.

Peter Betteridge – Your Bed Expert, a Premier Retail Champion that stocks entirely NBF-approved brands, won Small NBF Retail Champion of the Year. In the past year, the Southwest-based retailer saw a healthy increase in sales volumes and an up-tick in margin. It completed a significant extension to one of its showrooms and increased presence of NBF-approved brands. Other highlights included enhancing its social media presence and launching new IT systems.

Dreamland Bedding, Linthorpe Beds and Now to Bed were finalists.

‘The industry-renowned Bed Industry Awards are a valued opportunity to recognise the standout companies and individuals in the UK and Irish bed sector. Congratulations to all the worthy winners and finalists and those who put themselves forward to be judged,’ says Jim Gerety, National Bed Federation president.

Sleepeezee was awarded the Bed Product of the Year for its Centurial 3 mattress, a celebratory launch ahead of the manufacturer’s 100-year birthday. Centurial provides exceptional levels of comfort through an impressive array of natural fillings, including Talalay latex, British wool and alpaca wool. The judges commended the mattress for looking opulent and feeling substantial. It is glue free, 100% recyclable at end of life, and backed up with excellent POS for the independent retailer. Additionally, the judges acknowledged it being great value for money, and for each sale a donation is made to a homeless charity. The judges highly commended Sealy UK’s Posturepedic Exquisite Indulgence Plush mattress, its integrated technology and proven components producing a bed that looks and feels superb.

The finalists were Millbrook Beds for its Opulent Supreme 5000 range and Komfi for its KomfiMed range.

Jay-Be scooped the trophy for Bed Manufacturer of the Year. Aiming for global growth and demonstrating the extent of its ambition on many fronts, Jay-Be has seen its customer base expand greatly, alongside two Which? Best Buy accolades.

The Yorkshire-based manufacturer’s product development focuses on sustainability with the use of recycled materials and more recyclable designs. Judges were impressed by Jay-Be’s innovative approaches, such as the use of 3D printing and computer robots to produce exciting new concepts, efficiencies and improved customer service. Clutching a fistful of  certifications, the company is now reaching out aggressively on the export side, initially to the USA, Canada and New Zealand and Europe.

Harrison Spinks, Hypnos and Sealy UK were finalists.

Component Supplier of the Year was awarded to The Vita Group. Taking responsibility is at the heart of The Vita Group’s approach and it is proud of its initiatives to measure and reduce its environmental impact – such as the Orbis range, using polyols from used foam and its Lifecycle Analysis tool, measuring the environmental impact of its products.

Vita aims to look after its customers and its people in equal measure, with customer contact across many

On The Panel

departments and a new engagement manager role focusing on staff welfare.

The finalists were John Cotton Nonwovens and Spinks.

John Cotton Nonwovens took home this year’s Component Product of the Year trophy for its new ECO₂Blend, a carbon-negative polyester binder fibre. Manufactured from recycled PET and biowaste gases, ECO₂Blend reduces its environmental impact by delivering a negative carbon output and a lowered carbon footprint and is 100% recyclable at end of life.

The judges commended the innovative approach to developing the fibre as a huge step forward, coupled with the ambitions to extend it across a broader range of polyesters y The judges for the retail awards were Bernard Eaton (Greenwood Retail), Dan Squires (Big Furniture Group) and Andrew Kidd (Interiors Monthly). y Steve Adams (Mattress Online), Sue Davies (Sue Davies Design Solutions), James Dunne (Prestige Beds), Paul Farley (Furniture News) and Becca Maloy (AIS) judged the Bed Product of the Year. y Richard De Melim (Furnishing Report), David Fitzsimons (Oakdene Hollins and European Manufacturing Council) and Jonathan Hindle (British Furniture Confederation and KI Europe) judged Bed Manufacturer of the Year. y Adams, James and Maloy judged NBF Member Sales Agent/Rep of the Year. y Ad of the Year was judged by Phil Bennett (PIP Creative) and Richard McMurrough (The Propaganda Agency). y Component Supplier of the Year was judged by Farley, Fitzsimons and Hindle. y Component Product of the Year was judged by Natalie Armstrong (Sealy UK), Danny Blackmore (Silentnight) and Dave Morris (Sleepeezee). without compromising performance or adversely impacting affordability.

The judges also highly commended The Vita Group’s Orbis flexible polyurethane foam. Orbis is a truly circular solution, manufactured from 20% recycled polyols and derived from post-consumer waste mattresses, with substantiations for every claim.

Justin Read from Sealy UK clinched the NBF Member Sales Agent/Rep of the Year Award, which shines a spotlight at an individual level.

His professionalism and customercentric approach has allowed him to build strong, lasting relationships that have been instrumental in securing customer loyalty during a period of disruption and challenging trading.

Read demonstrated outstanding sales performance over the last 12 months and is hugely respected by his customers and colleagues alike.

The finalists were Jason Hillier from Komfi & Shire Beds and Robert Moore from Sleepeezee.

Prestige Beds’ online video ad was crowned Ad of the Year.The Lancashirebased retailer created an engaging video ad, impressing judges by producing it entirely in-house to showcase its wide product offer, excellent service and 60-year family heritage.

Using Google’s Performance Max, the ad was promoted via Google, Facebook and YouTube, delivering impressive and measurable increases in store traffic and sales.

The finalists were MattressMan and Mattress Online.

Visit: www.bedshow.co.uk/awards