The Sleep Council has launched its first ever retailer panel – a 10 strong group of national and independent retailers - to represent the bed retail industry.
The panel will form an important channel of communication between retailers and The Sleep Council to help direct and address the issues which are key to them.
“It’s important to us that the marketing resources we develop and produce are what the retailers actually want and need,” said Lisa Artis of The Sleep Council. “No one knows more about the retailing industry than those in it and their knowledge will help focus and shape our marketing resources towards what they want to see tackled.
“We’re also hoping our panel will come forward with proactive ideas, as well as feeding back to us on our annual awareness campaigns and what helps them to sell more beds.
“We had an overwhelming reaction to our request for volunteers,” adds Lisa. “It was great to have the backing from retailers. In selecting our panel of 10, we’ve aimed for a mix of nationals and independents from up and down the country. We literally spilt the responses into areas and picked randomly out of a hat.”
The Sleep Council Retail Panel of 10 are:-
• Paul Nettleingham, Blackburns of Broadstairs in Kent
• Darren Bastin, Bonus Beds in Sligo, Ireland
• Rachael Ainsworth, Dreams – National
• Rachael Haydon, Feather & Black – National
• Garry Preston, Haskins Furniture in Somerset
• Andrew Kerry, Mattressman based in the Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk area
• Ian Casson - Reddish Beds in Stockport
• Ashley/Nicola Nemes, Simply Beds & Bedroom Furniture in North Yorkshire
• Lee Chambers, The Bed Chambers in Retford
• Vic Smith, Vic Smith Beds in London
“Of course we will continue to welcome comments and suggestions from everyone who volunteered and indeed anyone in the industry,” said Lisa. “Plus we will review the panel every six months to ensure it’s working as it should!”
