Furniture industry veteran Alan Scott, who spent most of his working life in the furniture and bed industry – most recently as export sales director at Harrison Spinks, until his retirement in 2014 – has passed away.
Alan was born in Levenshulme, Manchester in 1946, and worked in sales from the age of 16. At the age of 23, he secured a job as a sales representative for Rest Assured, covering for North Lancashire, and went on to become sales manager and divisional director at the bedmaker.
Over the next 30+ years, he held senior roles at Bridgecraft Furniture in Leeds (sales director), Slumberland Beds (also sales director), Health Beds (sales manager), and Pocket Spring Beds, part of Silentnight (MD).
He then joined Harrison Spinks as sales and marketing director of Somnus Beds, until he retired at the age of 68.
Shortly after this, Alan was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, which he coped with stoically for the last 10 years, says his wife, Norma.
Most of Alan's roles saw him repairing brands: taking Bridgecraft Furniture from receivership to recovery; helping take Slumberland Beds back to strong sales and profitability; and developing a new brand at the top of the market (Pocket Spring Beds).
He became a freeman of the City of London with the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers in 2007, and joined Harrison Spinks in the same year, tasked with relaunching the Somnus brand, which had been dormant for around 30 years.
Over the following five years Somnus, put down some good foundations in the UK and built a reputation for high-quality beds, innovation, design, good marketing and customer service. Somnus now trades with many of the best shops in the UK, and was the vehicle for Harrison Spinks to begin exporting around the world.
Alan passed away on 2nd March 2025 at St James’s Hospital, Leeds. For information about the funeral arrangements, contact Co-op Funeral Care, Otley, West Yorkshire, on 01943 462185, or email frlotley@coop.co.uk.
