Following election at the National Bed Federation (NBF) AGM, Stuart Hibbert, MD of Breasley Consumer Products, is now the president of the trade body. He will take over from Simon Spinks, MD of Harrison Spinks, who has served the customary two years as NBF president.
Stuart has been an active member of the NBF board in the role as vice-president, as well as serving as chairman on the marketing committee for The Sleep Council, the body funded by the NBF to promote the importance of a good bed, regularly replaced, to consumers.
Says Stuart: "I am delighted to be given the opportunity to represent the NBF and honoured to be recognised by the industry to carry out this exciting role. The industry has undergone huge changes in the past five years, and there are likely to be even greater changes in the next two years. I relish the opportunity to use my time as president to help progress the aims and aspirations of the NBF in the challenging times ahead.
“Our departing president, Simon Spinks, has been an inspiration to us all over the past two years and will be a hard act to follow, but I aim to build on the momentum that he has successfully generated whilst in office.”
Stuart started working in sales in 1974, working for Dornay Foods (a division of Mars) within the FMCG sector. He has been in the furniture industry for over 30 years –15 years as a sales agent and subsequent sales director positions with Designer Craft Upholstery, Whitemeadow Furniture, and Nestledown Beds.
In 2005, Stuart co-founded Breasley Consumer Products, aiming to be the first company to launch a range of vacuum-packed mattresses to be manufactured in the UK. As the MD, Stuart has been the driving force, and in seven years has made Breasley Consumer a leading UK vacuum-packed mattress producer.
The NBF is the recognised trade association representing UK manufacturers of beds and their suppliers. Founded in 1912, its members today account for about 75% of the total UK bedding turnover.
