Springing Into New Markets

Shire Beds create innovative new bio mattress products with help from a PAPI grant.

Image: Masthead

Shire Beds, based in Dewsbury, are specialists in the manufacture of beds, mattresses, headboards and pillows. A PAPI grant helped the company to create a new, innovative biodegradable mattress range and create 2 new jobs.

Innovation

Since Shire Beds was established in 1997, the company has grown rapidly and now employs 76 people, manufacturing a number of ranges under their own branding, which are sold to internet and high-street retailers. They also manufacture branded products for specific retailers as well as a range for the hospitality sector. The products have won several awards and industry recognition.

Research demonstrated that UK demand for environmentally friendly products had increased dramatically, and Shire Beds identified a gap in the market for sustainable mattresses. This, along with a company ambition to become a market-leader in sustainability, led them to develop an innovative new mattress design which used organic materials to produce 99.5% biodegradable mattresses, the ‘Eco Core’ range.

Shire Beds website
Image: medium

New products

In order to manufacture the new design, the company needed to invest in new equipment. They successfully applied for a PAPI grant which helped with the purchase of a new border tacking machine, which enables the use of natural and organic cotton and wool backings and stitching.

The new machinery helped Shire Beds to create a unique range of biodegradable mattresses, the ‘Eco Core’ collection. The range used cotton, wool, latex and coconut husk in its design. This was a huge achievement for Shire Beds, and also attracted attention to the need for more eco products in the sector.

The PAPI grant allowed Shire Beds to begin production of their new range and also create two new, full time jobs within the business. The company continues to innovate and develop their business and aim to become a truly international brand in the coming years.

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Image: medium

PAPI has enabled us to create the ‘Eco Core’ Mattress range; innovation in sleep products. We are proud to invest in products that are environmentally sustainable.

Fara Butt, Director