21/08/2026
Another week of bed retail.
Before I start, there’s likely way more interesting stuff i could be talking about but if I don’t write it down I soon forget. I’ve literally just remembered two interesting things that I forgot to mention on the video. I need more practice at this!
So let’s kick off, the shop has been steady with a good mix of people with many different needs, some browsing, some buying, some too scared to make the final colour choice on their own…
The steady streak continues. Steady isn’t a negative to me. I can cope with steady. If the door is opening now and again I’m happy. We had one incredible day, the kind that comes once every 3 months or so. Most of these sales were from people who had been in before, gone away to think things over then all decided to come back to order. I’m glad you did, thank you.
We are still seeing a mix of returning customers, recommendations and new customers, all young and old.
I don’t recall any octogenarians this week.
Mum has been doing a grand job in the shop. We left her on her own almost all day on Wednesday as me and Big Nige went off to Middle Earth on our own little side quest. Well, we went to West Yorkshire to drop off some mattresses for recycling, collect a few bits from some suppliers and visit the Highgrove Beds factory.
We love a factory visit. We have seen everything from tiny cottage industry manufacturers to the biggest in the game. Highgrove are heading towards the latter. They are a family run business and operate one of the largest bed production spaces in England. The site covers around 450,000 square feet. There are a lot of automated processes, lots of computer intervention, the scale of everything was massive, but two things stood out to me.
Firstly I didn’t see a single member of the production team who didn’t seem genuinely pleased to see the production manager who took us around. It absolutely seems a decent place to work.
Secondly, they have Llamas! Theres a strip of land around the factory which wasn’t used, so they’ve only gone and got a load of llamas. Apparently most of the staff will visit them in their lunch breaks, and it’s not unknown for the owner to conduct meetings and interviews in the llama field. I absolutely love this, high tech factory, solar panels, 40 wagons, amazing stock control, and llamas. Fabulous.
Our day out on Thursday put a bit of pressure on today’s deliveries, it’s been pretty heavy but we got through without any drama.
Injuries. Dads got an iffy knee from his years as a steel fabricator and it’s given him a bit of grief this week, and I’ve managed to pull a muscle in my back so it’s been a difficult week all round. Thankfully I’ve had the help of a couple of friends who were happy to step in for my dad. I just struggled on (sympathy please)
Forgotten interesting thing no. 1.
I delivered a mattress, went back to the van to be greeted by a chap from across the road. I wondered what I’d done wrong but it turned out to be my dad’s cousin! Small world.
Forgotten interesting thing no. 2.
There’s been a nautical theme to Wednesday. First delivery we noticed several pictures with military references, it turns out they had a family member who worked on submarines.
The very next delivery, more pictures and memorabilia and he was also in the Royal Navy with a couple of interesting (although not appropriate for here) stories to tell.
Two embarassing moments this week, firstly delivering the wrong bed to a customer. I’ll admit, it’s my fault. I tried my best but I couldn’t figure out a way to blame my mum or dad so I’ll have to admit it. All me. I loaded the van wrong. To make matters worse the customer noticed but “didn’t want to cause a fuss” bless them. One phone call, one return trip and problem solved. They still maintained they didn’t mind.
Second is a bit more complex.
Superking size bed into a house that is being renovated. They came in and chose the bed they loved. When the time drew closer I ordered it in, it arrived, delivery scheduled. Happy days. Customer called to hold off delivery for a week, no drama, it happens and we can cope with this.
New delivery day is here. Van loaded and we arrive bang on time (first one of the day so it makes it a lot easier to be on schedule)
We take one section of the base upstairs, usually the ceiling opens up when you get to the top, this one doesn’t, it’s touch and go. We try a few different angles, turn the base around, up a step, down a step, to you-to me. This base isn’t going up. It’s really close, inches away but I’m not prepared to damage someone’s wall and I dont want to damage the bed either. So I run through some alternatives with the customer. But they have other ideas.
We try again from an angle I hadn’t considered and it’s really close, closer than I’d managed to get it but it still won’t slip through as the banister was in the way. After a bit of grunting and groaning the customer grabbed the banister, pulled it a few inches which allows the base to JUST slip through. Elation (and and actual high 5, I believe my first on a bed delivery)
It was quite embarrassing that I’d written this off only for it to happen, but in my defence we do prioritise not damaging customers homes in order to make our life easier.
Happy days!
I’ve waffles on for ages so I’ll leave you with this.
I made myself jump at my own reflection.
I said hello to a cat that turned out to be a soft toy.
And that, my friends, is bed retail.
