The Sleep People: Yorkshire firm launches veteran training programme after boost in sales
A Yorkshire mattress maker has hired more staff and developed a new training programme for veterans after it experienced an online sales boost.
Ossett-based The Sleep People said its sales had jumped 27 percent in three weeks after it launched on online marketplace Temu, in a bid to expand its sales beyond the UK market.
Founded in 2014, The Sleep People makes mattresses and bedding under brands including The Foam People, Extreme Comfort and Starlight Beds.
Mike Worden, managing director of The Sleep People, said that launching on Temu had given the company access to a “much broader” base of shoppers.
He added: “We had the production capacity and the quality, but reaching new customers through traditional routes was getting harder.
“Our goal is to show that British-made products can compete internationally while continuing to support our local communities.”
It comes after The Sleep People said rising material costs and competition from low-priced imports, as well as the increasing costs of living in the UK, had previously put pressure on the business
The Sleep People’s factories produce more than 1,400 mattresses a day, with annual turnover topping £20m.
Since the sales increase, the firm has hired new staff and developed its new training and jobs programme for armed forces veterans.
Looking ahead, The Sleep People said it plans to broaden its range into premium sleep accessories and sustainable materials.
Temu began serving UK consumers in 2023 and is available in over 90 markets globally.
The company is one of the most widely-used shopping websites in the USA.
The company is operated by e-commerce firm PDD Holdings, and sells heavily discounted goods, with the tagline “shop like a millionaire”.
The firm introduced its Local Seller Program in 2024 in the US and last year in the UK.
The platform aims to enable local businesses to sell and fulfill orders within their own markets.