Louis Mitchell, Director of The M6 Bed Warehouse, reflects on a recent award win that celebrates the business as one of the best in the country.
The M6 Bed Warehouse recently scooped the ‘Small NBF Retail Champion of the Year’ award at the National Bed Federation’s (NBF) Gala Dinner during the 2025 Bed Show. The Cheshire-based retailer delivered exceptional financial performance and presented strong growth, while continuing to develop both instore and online. Investments through its new mattress care guide, free mattress recycling, logistics enhancements and community partnerships helped it stand out as a worthy-winner.
Has the moment actually sunk in? Louis Mitchell, Director of The M6 Bed Warehouse, couldn’t be ‘prouder’ of the recognition. “It’s an absolute honour to win the ‘Small NBF Retail Champion Award’. We were finalists last year, so to go one step further this time feels incredibly rewarding. More than anything, it’s fantastic to be recognised within the industry for the hard work our team puts in every day to give our customers the best possible shopping experience.
“Winning this award is fantastic for our business because it gives us recognition at a national level and aligns us with some of the very best retailers in the country. It also acts as a springboard for our future growth, reinforcing the trust customers place in us. The NBF is such a respected organisation, providing a wealth of resources to the public, so to be recognised by them is further testament that we offer the very best in service, choice, and advice.”
Marking the milestone moment, Louis and the team celebrated with a few drinks on the night but reserved the main celebration for when back at HQ. “We marked the win with a few celebratory drinks on the night – it was a brilliant way to share the moment together. Back at home, we gave each team member a voucher as a small thank-you for their hard work and dedication. The award is a team effort, and we wanted everyone to feel appreciated.
“The reaction has been amazing. Our staff are incredibly proud and excited – it’s a real boost for everyone to see their hard work recognised in this way. Customers have shared so many kind words and congratulations, which means the world to us as a local family business.
“We’ve also had fantastic messages of support from reps, suppliers, and even other retailers. Over the years, we’ve built some great relationships within the industry, so to hear such positive feedback from our peers is really special.”
The win also caps off a busy year for the business, with Louis highlighting some Sealy products that have performed very strongly, as well as recent company investments that are taking the business to the next level.
“It’s been a standout year for us, and we’re on track to exceed all the targets we’ve set. The exceptionally warm summer presented extra challenges, but we’ve worked hard to continually review and optimise our range to stay competitive while maintaining the choice and quality our customers expect. We’re aiming for a strong finish to the year, and this award win gives us an extra boost of momentum.
“We’ve seen great success with the Sealy Elevate and Elevate Ultra collections – the unique spring systems and encapsulation create a compelling story that resonates with customers. Our investment in the Exquisite range has also delivered strong sales and offers a one-of-a-kind product selection that customers love.
“Excellent support from the Sealy sales team, including transport and aftercare, has given us the confidence to sell these ranges successfully and provide a seamless experience for our customers. Congratulations also to Sealy for winning NBF Product of the Year – thoroughly deserved!
“Away from products, we’re always looking to grow and progress our business further, and recent investments reflect that commitment. Most notably, our new route tracking and optimisation software has already increased operational efficiency by reducing unnecessary mileage, improving delivery accuracy, and giving customers live tracking updates.
“Alongside this, we continue to invest in our showrooms, staff training, and digital presence to ensure we offer the very best experience both in-store and online.”
Louis added that there are more plans on the horizon with the company ‘actively’ searching for the next opportunity to grow. “Our second store has given us invaluable experience of both the positives and the challenges that come with running multiple sites.
“Building on that, we remain fully committed to our expansion strategy and are actively looking for new opportunities. We’ll continue searching for potential sites that meet our requirements, with the goal of bringing our trusted service, quality products, and family values to even more customers in the future.”
As a final thought on the award recognition, Louis remains extremely humble with the win and wanted to take this opportunity to deliver a big thank you. “We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to the NBF for recognising us with this award, to our suppliers for creating such fantastic products, and to our fellow retailers who make the industry so dynamic and competitive.
“Most importantly, we want to thank our customers – their continued support and trust make everything we do possible.”
