Retailer Awards
Rules of entry
For the two NBF Retail Champion Awards, entrants must be either a current NBF Premier Retail Champion or NBF Retail Champion.
For the National Bed Retailer and Online Retailer Awards, the majority of your product offer (at least 50%) must be sourced from NBF members.
ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY, 2nd AUGUST
The Award Categories
Small NBF Retail Champion Award
(Independent bed retailer with four stores or fewer)
This award recognises a retailer who goes that extra mile to deliver an outstanding customer experience, develops staff knowledge and stands out in a highly competitive marketplace.
It is only open to retailers who are current NBF Premier Retail Champions or NBF Retail Champions with four stores or fewer and evidence submitted must be relating to the period July 2023 – June 2024.
The judges will be scoring the entries on the following criteria so please ensure you address these in your entry:
Financial Performance – i.e. increase in turnover, profit, average order value, conversion rate, website traffic. Use percentage figures if you do not wish to share actual monetary data. Any sensitive information that you DO NOT want to be shared MUST be designated as such in the entry eg. ‘not for publication’.
Supporting NBF brands – which NBF brands you stock or sell.
In-store POS support of NBF and NBF member brands and your NBF Retail Champion status – please attach photo evidence.
Customer Service – online reviews & testimonials, examples of outstanding service.
Staff training & Development – new initiatives, induction procedures (eg NBF Introduction to Beds course), factory visits, performance reviews.
Marketing/Sales Strategy – include details of any particularly successful campaigns.
Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility – mattress recycling initiatives, zero-to-landfill, charitable or local group support etc.
Large NBF Retail Champion Award
(Independent bed retailer with five – 20 stores)
This award recognises a retailer who goes that extra mile to deliver an outstanding customer experience, develops staff knowledge and stands out in a highly competitive marketplace.
It is only open to retailers who are current NBF Premier Retail Champions or NBF Retail Champions with five – 20 stores and evidence submitted must be relating to the period July 2023 – June 2024.
The judges will be scoring the entries on the following criteria so please ensure you address these in your entry:
Financial Performance – i.e. increase in turnover, profit, average order value, conversion rate, website traffic. Use percentage figures if you do not wish to share actual monetary data. Any sensitive information that you DO NOT want to be shared MUST be designated as such in the entry eg. ‘not for publication’.
Supporting NBF brands – which NBF brands you stock or sell.
In-store POS support of NBF and NBF member brands and your NBF Retail Champion status – please attach photo evidence.
Customer Service – online reviews & testimonials, examples of outstanding service.
Staff training & Development – new initiatives, induction procedures (eg NBF Introduction to Beds course), factory visits, performance reviews.
Marketing/Sales Strategy – include details of any particularly successful campaigns.
Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility – mattress recycling initiatives, zero-to-landfill, charitable or local group support etc.
National Bed Retailer of the Year
(More than 20 stores with countrywide coverage)
Awarded to a larger retailer that has demonstrated great commercial success and catered for its customers over the period July 2023 – June 2024. The winner will demonstrate great retailing skills, deep customer understanding, excellent execution of strategy and business sustainability. At least 50% of your product offer must be from NBF members.
The judges will be scoring the entries on the following criteria so please ensure you address these in your entry:
Financial Performance – ie increase in turnover, profit, average order value, conversion rate, website traffic. Use percentage figures if you do not wish to share actual monetary data. Any sensitive information that you DO NOT want to be shared MUST be designated as such in the entry eg. ‘not for publication’.
Supporting NBF brands – which NBF brands you stock or sell.
In-store POS support of NBF and NBF member brands – please attach photo evidence.
Customer Service – online reviews & testimonials, examples of outstanding service.
Staff Training & Development – new initiatives, induction procedures (eg NBF Introduction to Beds course), factory visits, performance reviews.
Marketing/Sales Strategy – include details of any particularly successful campaigns.
Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility – mattress recycling initiatives, zero to landfill, charitable or local group support etc.
Online Bed Retailer of the Year
(At least 80% of sales via the internet)
For this award, judges will be looking at everything from website design, product imagery, use of video, user experience, product choice to the marketing techniques employed to drive direct sales and overall performance in the qualifying period (July 2023 – June 2024).
You must be UK based and at least 50% of your product offer must be from NBF members.
The judges will be scoring the entries on the following criteria so please ensure you address these in your entry:
Financial Performance – ie increase in turnover, profit, average order value, conversion rate, website traffic. Use percentage figures if you do not wish to share actual monetary data. Any sensitive information that you DO NOT want to be shared MUST be designated as such in the entry eg. ‘not for publication’.
Supporting NBF brands – which NBF brands you stock or sell.
Online support of NBF and NBF member brands and your NBF Retail Champion status – please attach screen shot evidence.
Website Design
Product Imagery
Use of Video
Product Choice
User Experience
Customer Reviews
Marketing/Sales Strategy
Sustainability
Corporate Social Responsibility
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS & TOP TIPS – PLEASE READ
- The main elements of your entry should be the Executive Summary of no more than 750 words. Entries exceeding the word limits given in the criteria will be disqualified.
- Please study the criteria the judges will be looking at in the category and ensure you address each one in your summary.
- For retailers, clear support of NBF and NBF member brands is a crucial element of your entry. This is not limited to simply stocking the brands, we want to see how else you support and showcase NBF and NBF member brands to your customers.
- Your entry can be accompanied by no more than 2 attachments of supporting detail. Please, no fancy presentations or videos. They won’t influence the judges’ decisions, which will be based on content.
- This will only be looked at IF the Executive Summary persuades the judges it’s worth delving further! Please do not include links to further material in your supporting documents.
- Do not reprint general information that can easily be found on websites or in company literature.
- Allow yourself plenty of time to consider and develop your entry but don’t miss the relevant deadlines. Please check the deadline for each category.
- Provide solid evidence for any specific claims or statistics you make in your entry.
- Use spell check and ask someone outside of your business to proofread your entry – this will make sure that it makes sense.
- We may ask you to provide further details about your entry, if necessary. So please ensure correct contact details are provided.
Entry Form
Your confirmation will appear on the screen after you click ‘Submit’ and you will receive a confirmation email (check spam/junk folders).
"*" indicates required fields
The Judges
Jarrod Bird (Interiors Monthly)
Judging Small NBF Retail Champion, Large NBF Retail Champion, National Bed Retailer of the Year, Online Bed Retailer of the Year
About Jarrod Bird
Making his judging debut this year, Jarrod is a highly experienced furniture industry professional. He started his career with Cabinet Maker before co-founding Interiors Monthly magazine in 2007 with three of his work colleagues to create a one-stop trade publication for the furniture, beds & flooring industry.
With almost 25 years in the sector, Jarrod is well qualified and extremely proud to be a judge in this year’s retailer awards categories.
Bernard Eaton (Greenwood Retail)
Judging Small NBF Retail Champion, Large NBF Retail Champion, National Bed Retailer of the Year, Online Bed Retailer of the Year
About Bernard Eaton
Bernard Eaton is the founder and Managing Director of award-winning sales promotion company, Greenwood Retail, a regular trade magazine columnist and a seasoned judge on the NBF Award panel for six years running.
With 37 years of B2C experience across sectors ranging from direct sales and mail order, to the retailing of jewellery, fashion, electrical goods, garden products, furniture and furnishings, Bernard has a real passion for, and proven expertise in effective retail sales and marketing methodology.
Dan Squires (Big Furniture Group)
Judging Small NBF Retail Champion, Large NBF Retail Champion, National Bed Retailer of the Year, Online Bed Retailer of the Year
About Dan Squires
Based in Norfolk, Dan has been a journalist since leaving university in 2009 and has acquired a particular expertise within the furnishing industry. Having previously worked for Cabinet Maker, he is currently the editor at furniture industry publication Big Furniture Group.
Subscribe
Sign up to receive the NBF’s regular BedBiz Newsletter.