The National Bed Federation continues to deliver impactful support, leadership and industry collaboration, reinforcing its role as the leading and most influential voice for the UK and Irish bed sector, despite ongoing challenges in the industry. The cost-of-living crisis has led to a surge in unknown bed and mattress brands targeting consumers, which is likely to continue in 2026. These could be imported mattresses that are fallout from the US tariffs placed on Chinese products and may not meet UK safety standards, or perhaps more worryingly, from much closer to home.
NBF consumer research in 2025 found that purchasing beds from the back of a van had declined: however, unscrupulous traders are now luring in consumers using flashy social media ads and online marketplaces to attract unsuspecting buyers. These activities damage the reputation of reputable bed retailers and manufacturers by creating the false impression that high-specification products can be bought at much lower prices. This is why the message of buying from a reputable bed retailer that stocks NBF-approved member brands is more important than ever.
At the core of NBF membership is adherence to its Code of Practice, with the sixth edition being published this month. The CoP requires manufacturer members to pass an audit with strict requirements, and sets out criteria to ensure processes and procedures are in place for supply-chain scrutiny and regulatory compliance. As part of the CoP, the NBF has a due diligence random testing programme, which ensures it checks NBF members for ongoing compliance and not just at the time of the audit. It also purchases non-member products as part of the
programme and shares the results with its primary authority partner, West Yorkshire Trading Standards.
WYTS conducts its own investigations, often visiting manufacturing sites to provide expert advice, or if necessary, initiate legal proceedings against the business. If the company in question is outside West Yorkshire, it contacts the relevant trading standards authority to follow up. Consumer education remains a priority to help tackle ruthless traders from the other side of the coin. The association has significantly increased its consumer scams awareness education, highlighting the benefits of buying NBF-approved brands from reputable retailers and the dangers of not doing so. To solidify its commitment to this, the NBF will have a new dedicated
consumer campaign later this year.
To further support retailers, it introduced a new level of benefits to the Retail Champions Scheme last summer. In addition to the free package, which includes a listing on the NBF’s consumer website – bedadvice.co.uk – and a POS pack, the enhanced package takes business support to the next level, starting from £250 a year for small retailers.
‘The education being provided here is incredibly valuable: not just for compliance, but for building genuine, responsible businesses,’ says Matthew Randle, Dreamland Bedding Centre general manager.
Those who have signed up have benefitted from in-depth information on the latest product legislation, expert support and advice on HR, health and safety, legal, and tax and VAT issues, annual NBF consumer bed-buying
research, discounted City & Guilds training, sustainability insights, and the Bed Show’s first VIP lounge. Sustainability continues to remain a focus during 2026, with work required on digital product passports to support the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).
To further assist NBF members on their sustainability journeys, a comprehensive NBF Sustainability Guide will strengthen existing guidance, such as the freely available Ecodesign Principles and NBF Chemical Claims Guide. The NBF Pledge for Our Planet will also be refreshed to keep members on track. The NBF has been researching how the industry can measure the cleanliness of reused and recycled materials from beds and mattresses, through its Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University. Circularity is critical to the future of the bed industry and the planet, and the test will be launched with NBF members later this year.
