Dreams (bed retailer)

Dreams is a United Kingdom-based bed retailer and manufacturer specialising in beds, mattresses, bedroom furniture and bed linen. The first Dreams store was opened in 1987 by Mike Clare,[2] and today there are over 200 stores nationwide. The company has its own purpose-designed mattress factory, and currently employs around 1,500 people, across a network of retail showrooms.

Dreams Limited
TypeLimited company
IndustryFurniture retailing and manufacturing
Founded1985 (1985)
HeadquartersLoudwater, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Jonathan Hirst, Chief executive
ProductsBeds
Bedroom furniture
Bedsteads
Duvets
Mattresses
Pillows
Revenue£194m GBP (2008)
OwnerTempur Sealy[1]
Websitewww.dreams.co.uk

History
Dreams store in Portsmouth, England

The first Dreams store opened in Uxbridge in 1985. By 2000, Dreams had 50 stores, and opened its own mattress factory in Oldbury, Birmingham.

In April 2013, Dreams PLC went into a pre packaged administration, and was purchased by Sun European Partners. It has since traded as Dreams Ltd.

Sun European Partners put the retailer up for sale in early 2017, advised by N M Rothschild & Sons.[3]

In May 2021, Dreams were acquired by Tempur Sealy.

Around 2021/2022, most Dreams stores in Northern Ireland were renamed to Bedtime to match the Sofatime brand, this rebrand was backtracked in 2023, with the stores rebranding back to the Dreams name.

TV advertising

Dreams was the main sponsor of the Channel 4 reality television show Celebrity Big Brother from its sixth series in 2009 to its seventh series in 2010. In 2013, they then sponsored the eleventh series of Celebrity Big Brother, this time on Channel 5. . Currently (winter 2023) Dreams are sponsoring ITV's Dancing on Ice.

In 2023 Dreams changed its strapline to "Love your bed".

Investigations

Investigations in to the business's operations have been conducted by the United Kingdom's Office of Fair Trading in 1998[4] and again in 2001,[5] due to contracts in breach of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. Following customer complaints, the company was also investigated and featured on BBC's Watchdog programme.[6] In response to this matter Dreams made an apology on the programme.

In February 2007, Dreams was investigated and censured by the Advertising Standards Agency for misleading claims in its promotional material.[7] In 2010, another complaint against Dreams was upheld by the ASA, which ruled that Dreams' advertising broke the rules regarding truthfulness, and contained misleading advertising without evidence to back up its claims.[8]

Awards
  • High Street Recycling Champion 2008[9]
  • British Safety Council – International Safety Award 2015[10]
  • West London Business Awards – Retail Business of the Year 2017[11]
  • Sunday Times Profit Track 100 2018[12]
  • The Drum Social Buzz Awards 2018 – Best Use of Group/Community (Mumsnet)[13]
  • National Bed Federation 2018-19 – Large Bed Retailer of the Year[14]

References
  1. https://www.tempursealy.com/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "Dreams". mikeclareofficial. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  3. Armstrong, Ashley (13 May 2017). "Chinese bidders circle £400m Dreams takeover". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  4. "Issue 5" (PDF). Unfair Contract Terms. Office of Fair Trading. October 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  5. "Bulletin 18" (PDF). Unfair Contract Terms. Office of Fair Trading. May 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  6. Wallis, Ian (1 July 2007). "Dreams: Mike Clare (page 1)". Growing Business. Crimson Business. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  7. "ASA Adjudication on Dreams Plc". Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. 21 February 2007. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  8. "ASA Adjudication on Dreams Plc". Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. 16 June 2010. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  9. "Winners of 2008 Awards for Excellence announced - letsrecycle.com". letsrecycle.com. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  10. "International Safety Award Winners 2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  11. "2017 Winners". Retrieved 17.02.2020.
  12. "Profit Track 100 National Press Release". Retrieved 17.02.2020.
  13. "Social Buzz Awards 2018". Retrieved 17.02.2020.
  14. "2018 Bed Industry Awards Winners". Retrieved 17.02.2020.
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