National Bed Retailer of the Year
Winner
Bensons for Beds
In an extraordinarily close decision, Bensons for Beds clinched National Bed Retailer of the Year. Despite economic challenges, it expanded its retail footprint and launched a highly successful, bold new brand platform, earning a 41% increase in Return on Investment, while its first creatively ambitious influencer campaign drove substantial engagement across web channels. Bensons demonstrated an appetite for innovation — trialling and expanding into new routes to market and customer touchpoints.
Finalists
DFS
Despite industry challenges, beds and mattresses achieved sales growth driven by NBF member collaborations, innovative ranges, and enhanced customer experience. Notable gains include a mattress revenue increase, improved in-store and online journeys, expanded customer safety guidelines and major marketing success – all supporting strong financial results.
Dreams
Dreams reinforced its leadership in the UK bed market by focusing on quality, service, innovation and customer trust. In a tough retail climate, delivered growth, expanded its store network, and deepened collaboration with NBF members. Multiple ongoing investments in people, product and purpose continue to drive its success.
Online Bed Retailer of the Year
Winner
MattressNextDay
MattressNextDay was crowned Online Bed Retailer of the Year for the third time. Another record-breaking year for turnover growth; its outstanding financial results saw turnover increase by 47% year-on-year, and judges experienced a website that delivered an exceptionally slick and intuitive user experience. Continued investment in this area resulted in a digital journey that enhances the online buying experience in line with some of the best e-commerce brands around.
Expanding its in-house web team by 33% and initiatives such as the Brand Ambassador Programme, 100-night sleep trial, sustainability campaigns, staff wellbeing improvements, and local community support all helped MattressNextDay clinch the top spot.
Finalists
Land of Beds
Delivered outstanding customer satisfaction, strong commercial results, and a commitment to NBF values and member brands. Highlights include a participant study on website user experience, innovative video and imagery, strong digital marketing, expert-led, evidence-based advice from renowned health professionals, award-winning community initiatives and a deep commitment to sustainability.
Mattress Online
Excelled through digital innovation, sustainability, and community focus – launching new products, enhancing a hybrid customer experience and increasing sales. With an “Excellent” Trustpilot score, investment in experts across sleep science, nutrition and relationships, and impactful social initiatives, Mattress Online delivered strong growth while championing wellbeing and environmental responsibility.
Small NBF Retail Champion of the Year
Winner
The M6 Bed Warehouse
Over the past year, The M6 Bed Warehouse has delivered exceptional financial performance, raised the bar in staff development, deepened its community partnerships and support for the NBF, and introduced innovative solutions that enhance both the retail experience and commitment to sustainability.
Investments such as its mattress care guide attached to every order, helped it stand out in the category. The guide provides customers with clear, digestible information to get the best from their investment and limit common post-purchase concerns with a section specifically dedicated to ‘mattress care & maintenance’.
Finalists
Carters Bed City
This three-generation family business provides exceptional service and products that its local community can rely on, evidenced by it being in the top six out of 93 mattress shops and the top eight out of 128 in the bed shop category on Trustpilot. With positive year-on-year gains in turnover, profitability, conversion rates and average order value, plus a well-trained, incredibly loyal and long-standing workforce, it is a worthy contender for the award.
The Carriage
This Burley-in-Wharfedale business has evolved over 10 years to become one of the leading specialist bed retailers in the North of England. Reporting a very healthy financial performance over the qualifying period, investing in the team, supporting NBF brands, delivering exceptional customer service, honing their marketing to their targeted audience and supporting their local community.
Medium NBF Retail Champion of the Year
Winner
Mattressman
In a unanimous decision, the judges awarded Mattressman Medium NBF Retail Champion of the Year, which showed strong evidence in all criteria. Impressive growth in year-on-year turnover alongside profit and average order value increases. Powerful marketing strategy including a complete re-brand and launch of a national TV campaign. They championed NBF-approved products, invested in staff through their ‘three-year People Strategy’, delivered excellent service, and pushed forward with sustainability and community initiatives.
Finalist
Linthorpe Beds
Another strong year from this Northeast retailer, growing sales, profitability and average order value, as well as improving conversion rate and earnings per employee. Innovative marketing concepts via radio and social media drove awareness whilst they continue to invest in staff training and sustainability initiatives.
Prestige Beds
Prestige Beds continues to build on more than six decades of expertise, enhancing sleep health across its communities through exceptional service and NBF-approved, British-made products. Prestige delivered a very healthy financial performance across all measures and branched out into new markets by securing a supply deal for over 1,000 mattresses for student accommodation and another with a local Michelin Star restaurant-hotel.
Judges were Jarrod Bird (Interiors Monthly), Bernard Eaton (Greenwood Retail), Richard McMurrough (Propaganda), Dan Squires (Big Furniture Group) and James Winfield (Propaganda).
Further details on all the winners and finalists will be published in the trade press in November.
