Retailer Awards
Entries have now closed.
Winners will be announced Tuesday 23rd September following the Gala Dinner.
Keep up to date with announcements in our ‘Award News’ below.
The Award Categories
Small NBF Retail Champion Award
(Independent bed retailer with one or two stores)
This award recognises a retailer who goes the extra mile to deliver an outstanding customer experience, develop 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 one or two stores and evidence submitted must be relating to the period July 2024 – June 2025.
The judges will be scoring the entries on the following criteria so please ensure you address these in your entry:
Financial Performance (relating to your beds category) – i.e. increase in turnover, profit, average order value, conversion rate and 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 ‘not for publication’.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 – the 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.
Medium NBF Retail Champion Award
(Independent bed retailer with three – 20 stores)
This award recognises a retailer who goes the extra mile to deliver an outstanding customer experience, develop 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 three – 20 stores and evidence submitted must be relating to the period July 2024 – June 2025.
The judges will be scoring the entries on the following criteria so please ensure you address these in your entry:
Financial Performance (relating to your beds category) – i.e. increase in turnover, profit, average order value, conversion rate and 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 – the NBF brands you stock or sell.
In-store POS and other support of the NBF, NBF member brands, and your NBF Retail Champion status – please provide 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 2024 – June 2025. 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 (relating to your beds category) – ie increase in turnover, profit, average order value, conversion rate and 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 – the NBF brands you stock or sell.
In-store POS and other support of the NBF, NBF member brands and your NBF Retail Champion status – please provide 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.
Please note that if you are shortlisted in the National Bed Retailer of the Year, you will be asked to put forward a spokesperson to discuss your entry with the judges. Interview date tbc. Please think of an appropriate spokesperson in the meantime.
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, and product choice to the marketing techniques employed to drive direct sales and overall performance in the qualifying period (July 2024 – June 2025).
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 (relating to your beds category) – ie increase in turnover, profit, average order value, conversion rate and 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 – the NBF brands you stock or sell.
Online support of the NBF, NBF member brands and your NBF Retail Champion status – please provide screen shot evidence.
Website Design
Product Imagery
Use of Video
Product Choice
User Experience
Customer Reviews
Marketing/Sales Strategy
Sustainability
Corporate Social Responsibility
Please note that if you are shortlisted in the Online Bed Retailer of the Year category, you will be asked to put forward a spokesperson to discuss your entry with the judges. Interview date tbc. Please think of an appropriate spokesperson in the meantime.
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
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 almost 40 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.
Richard McMurrough (The Propaganda Agency)
Judging National Bed Retailer of the Year
About Richard McMurrough
Richard McMurrough is the director of the award-winning strategic and brand consultancy agency, Propaganda. Richard returns to the panel having shared his expertise in our retailer awards in 2022 and 2023. He is a seasoned marketing professional with over 30 years’ experience in both consumer and B2B marketing and has worked with a wide range of brands including Clipper Logistics, Seabrook Crisps and Woodlands Home & Garden Group.
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.
James Winfield (The Propaganda Agency)
Judging Online Bed Retailer of the Year
About James Winfield
Making his judging debut this year, James Winfield is a digital marketing and e-commerce specialist with over 19 years of experience across both agency and client-side roles.
He began his career in sports PR working on the Football League and Coca-Cola accounts, before moving into digital account management for Carling.com.
After time spent in agency sales and client strategy, he went on to launch Henleys Clothing’s first e-commerce offering.
In 2011, he joined Illamasqua make-up, where he progressed to board level with responsibility for global digital and customer experience functions.
In 2017, James launched the digital offering at Propaganda, building a team that now delivers a full range of in-house strategic services, including web design & build, paid media, social, email, and affiliate marketing.
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