NBF executive director Jessica Alexander comments: “After careful consideration it is with great regret that we announce the postponement of the Bed Show until September 2021. It’s been a tough decision to make but feedback from our members highlighted that this was the right outcome – we don’t want to compromise the event or anyone’s safety.
“The Bed Show has become part of our lives for the last decade and we will miss networking and celebrating all the fantastic achievements of our industry at the gala dinner and awards.”
The Bed Show will return to Telford International Centre from 21st-22nd September next year.
The trade association has also appointed a new president following election at its virtual AGM. David Moffitt, CEO of Kayfoam Woolfson, manufacturer of the Kaymed brand, will take over from Tony Lisanti, CEO of Airsprung Group, from October. David announced that he would be working with two vice presidents – CPS Group MD Simon Green, and Vispring MD Jim Gerety.
David says: “I am honoured to have been elected as the new NBF president and I am keen to help the industry best navigate the stormy waters ahead as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. I believe that the drive by NBF manufacturers to forge an ever-closer alliance with premium retailers of mattresses is more important than ever.
“I want to highlight the move to a circular economy as a policy initiative that is likely to accelerate in the post-pandemic era thereby creating both threats and opportunities for the NBF membership.”
David spent the first 15 years of his working life running companies in Ireland, the UK and Spain for two global businesses, Smurfit Kappa and RR Donnelley. He then set up Tech Group Europe, a specialist medical injection moulder, in partnership with American backers before selling the business on in 2005. In 2009, he took on the role of CEO of Kayfoam Woolfson, best known as one of only four foamers in UK/Ireland and a major supplier of both bed-in-a-box and premium mattresses.
Simon Green comments: “CPS joined the NBF 10 years ago and I’ve played an active role on the executive board during that time. Being the vice president for suppliers means I can represent their views and engage this area of our membership who play an important role in the supply chain.”
Jim Gerety adds: “I am pleased to be the vice president for manufacturers and one of my key concerns is to see how we can help our members, who are part of a very important industry in the UK in terms of sales and employment, to recover as quickly as possible from the Coronavirus pandemic - and for us to understand the needs of both retailers and consumers as we emerge from lockdown. With a background in retailing and export-driven sales any support and advice that I can bring from my experience I will gladly pass on to our members.”
Two new directors were also elected to the executive board: Greg Winston, director of Elite Bedding Company, and Furmanac MD John Hilliard.
...From Furniture New Today
