This week I attended The Bed Show organised by The National Bed Federation (NBF). The show is an annual event, every September, for their members to showcase their wares for two days at The International Centre, Telford.

As part of the proceedings, on the evening of the first show day, a Gala Dinner is held to raise money for their chosen charity, The Furniture Makers’ Company. At the Gala Dinner, awards are presented to those in the bed industry who have excelled over the preceding year. This year the awards ceremony was hosted by Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine.

I have attended the Gala dinner for many years and this year I decided to enter Surrey Beds into the ‘Independent Retailer of the Year’ category for the first time. I am delighted, and proud, to say that Surrey Beds is this year’s winner, chosen from a record number of entries.

Surrey Beds was commended by the National Bed Federation:

“…….But the winner of this year’s award goes to Surrey Beds who stood out for all round effort and quality. Going by the title the Beducator, owner Jerry Cheshire, has been embracing online sales and marketing, offering sleep consultations, developing its own You Tube channel and working its socks off to combat every retailers’ nightmare scenario – three months of major roadworks right outside the front door – and still managed to show very respectable overall year-on-year sales growth despite it.”

Five bed industry champions were awarded at the ceremony, for a full list of winners click here:

A lifetime achievement award was presented to Peter Keen, chairman of Hypnos in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the bed industry.

Congratulations to all the winners from Surrey Beds!

Here’s looking forward to another progressive year in 2015.

Jerry Cheshire

The Beducator