High Growth Markets: Luxury bed manufacturer set to spring overseas

LUXURY bed manufacturer, Harrison Spinks, says it has ambitious plans to grow its £25m turnover by exploiting its spring technology in new sectors and geographical markets.

The Leeds-based, family-owned business, which employs 280 staff, sells its range of beds under the Somnus, Spink & Edgar and Harrison brands and also manufactures own label mattresses for major high street department stores.

With turnover increasing year-on-year, Harrison Spinks is thriving despite the challenging economy by innovating and seeking out new markets for its technology, such as North America.

Earlier this year, it celebrated a double win in the annual Queen’s Awards for Enterprise after being awarded in the innovation and sustainable development categories.

Managing director, Simon Spinks, said: “Some of the fantastic opportunities we have got with our technology are on an international scale. Now for us it’s about concentration on the right markets.”

The 173-year-old company also owns and manages a 300 acre farm with a flock of sheep and wood-land in North Yorkshire to provide natural materials for its mattresses and associated products. This approach has seen some of its small, innovative pocket springs find their way into lots of other products around the world – car seating, footwear as well as furniture and other manufacturer’s beds.

Barclays bank is helping Harrison Spinks expand by meeting its corporate banking needs and foreign exchange requirements.

Mr Spinks said: “Being an international bank with all that experience, it’s really useful for us now to tap into that as we move from a UK high-end mattress manufacturer to being a global business.”