Silentnight

{{Infobox company

| name = Silentnight

| logo =

| type =

| industry = Bed manufacturer

| fate =

| predecessor = Clarke's Mattresses

| successor =

| founded = 1946 in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England

| founder = Tom Clarke

| defunct =

| hq_location_city = Barnoldswick

| hq_location_country = England

| area_served =

| key_people = Tracey Bamber (CEO)

Daniel Orwin (CFO)

| revenue = £152.1 million

| revenue_year = 2016–2017

| profit = £14.6 million{{cite news|title=Turnover tops 150m at Silentnight|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/turnover-tops-150m-at-silentnight|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=Insider Media|date=28 November 2017|language=en}}

| products =

| owner =

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year =

| parent =

| website = {{URL|https://www.silentnight.co.uk/}}

}}

Silentnight is the beds and mattresses manufacturer and is located in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, England. The company is owned by HIG Europe{{Cite web|url=https://higeurope.com/main/news/release/46|title=Silentnight Group acquired by HIG Europe|website=higeurope.com|language=en|access-date=1 May 2018}} who acquired the company on 10 May 2011. The company also manufactures Rest Assured beds & mattresses and was originally founded in 1946.

History

The brand is Silentnight, and the company name is Silentnight Group.{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07525259|title=SILENTNIGHT GROUP LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=19 May 2017}}

The company was founded on 11 July 1946 by Tom Clarke.{{Cite web|url=https://www.silentnight.co.uk/about-us/history/|title=The History of Silentnight {{!}} Silentnight|website=www.silentnight.co.uk|language=en|access-date=19 May 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00414800|title=SNBL REALISATIONS 2011 LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=19 May 2017}} It was founded as Clarke's Mattresses Limited in Skipton with the gratuity paid to Tom after he was demobbed from the Royal Navy.{{cite news|title=Founder of Silentnight group dies|url=http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/749082.Founder_of_Silentnight_group_dies/|accessdate=18 July 2017|work=Keighley News|date=4 May 2006}} The name was changed to Silentnight Limited in 1951 at the suggestion of Tom's wife, Joan. Clarke later said that the name change was a brainwave that brought millions into the company.

Famous to the brand are the iconic Hippo and Duck characters, introduced in 1985 and shared in the brand’s TV advertising campaign in 1986. Hippo and Duck illustrate Silentnight’s innovative introduction of Miracoil® spring units, designed to offer zoned support with no partner disturbance. They also feature in the brand’s ellipse logo, serving purpose as recognisable mascots.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HAtObqhaY8 |title=Silentnight: Hippo and Duck Commercial/Advert Compilation (READ DESC.) |date=2022-01-22 |last=KindAdaptableKayak |access-date=2025-05-30 |via=YouTube}}

The company floated on the stock market in 1973{{cite news|title=UK {{!}} England {{!}} Lancashire {{!}} New suitor for Silentnight|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/3162678.stm|accessdate=18 July 2017|work=BBC News|date=3 October 2003}} but due to market uncertainty and a loss of confidence with the management, the Clarke family took full possession of the company again in 2003 and the company became private.{{cite news|title=Family take Silentnight private in £72m deal|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/family-take-silentnight-private-in-163-72m-deal-1-2527866|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=12 September 2003|language=en}}

During the 1980s, and again in the 2000s and the 2010s, the company was the United Kingdom's largest bed manufacturer.{{cite news|title=Jobs to go at Silentnight as turnover drops off|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/jobs-to-go-at-silentnight-as-turnover-drops-1143389|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=Manchester Evening News|date=10 August 2004}}

The companies fortunes declined in private ownership and, in May 2011, the company was saved from receivership by HIG Europe, a private equity company.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-13331662|title=Silentnight saved by HIG Europe buy-out|date=9 May 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=19 May 2017}} Much of the existing management was replaced in 2011, including the Clarke family.

HIG Europe spent £19 million acquiring the company, but in doing so, shelved some of the pension scheme rights for retired and current workers. The Pensions Regulator served notice in 2013 that they would start legal proceedings to reverse this process and force HIG to re-invest £17.2 million back into the company's pension pot.{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Harry|title=Judge backs pensions chief in battle with Silentnight|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/judge-backs-pensions-chief-in-battle-with-silentnight-8bvcs0hv5|access-date=31 August 2017|work=The Times|date=13 January 2017|issn=0140-0460|url-access=subscription}}{{cite news|last1=Kleinman|first1=Mark|title=Silentnight Owner Braced For Pensions Payout|url=http://news.sky.com/story/silentnight-owner-braced-for-pensions-payout-10446475|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=Sky News|date=7 May 2013}} HIG eventually agreed a £25 million settlement with the regulator in 2021.{{cite web|website=The Pensions Regulator|url=https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/media-hub/press-releases/2021-press-releases/tpr-agrees-25m-settlement-with-owners-of-silentnight|title=TPR agrees £25m settlement with owners of Silentnight|date=2 March 2021|access-date=13 February 2022}}

=Strike action=

File:Barnoldswick industrial building during Silentnight strike.jpg

For 18 months between 1985 and 1987, the company had a drawn out strike which is the longest strike action against one company in Britain, which took place over 616 days.{{cite news|last1=Owen|first1=Jonathan|title=The women who changed Britain forever|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-women-who-changed-britain-forever-8478498.html|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=The Independent|date=3 February 2013}}

Workers belonging to the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union went out on strike from two of the Silentnight factories at the time, Barnoldswick and Sutton-in-Craven due to an increased demand by management upon production scales. The union also claimed that an agreement had been reached whereby the workforce would not press for a pay rise provided the company did not enforce any redundancies. Eight weeks later, 52 members of staff were made redundant.{{cite news|last1=Cope|first1=Sally|title=200 jobs at risk as firm hints at factory closure|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/200-jobs-at-risk-as-firm-hints-at-factory-closure-1-2404983|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=8 March 2002|language=en}}

As a result of the strike, 346 workers were sacked by the company. The strike gained much support from the miners and the Labour Party.{{cite journal|last1=Mustchin|first1=Stephen|title=Dismissal of strikers and industrial disputes: the 1985–1987 strike and mass sackings at Silentnight|journal=Labor History|volume=55|issue=4|pages=448–464|doi=10.1080/0023656X.2014.932521|date=8 August 2014}} Whilst the strike was discussed at length in Parliament{{cite web|title=Silentnight (Industrial Dispute) (Hansard, 6 November 1985)|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1985/nov/06/silentnight-industrial-dispute|website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|access-date=31 August 2017|date=6 November 1985}} and it was noted for its generally passive nature, there were incidents of rock throwing and one notable event when the strikers' caravan was firebombed.{{cite news|title=Firebombs and stones thrown in bed-factory strike|work=Craven Herald & Pioneer|date=11 October 1985|page=1|issn=0961-1908}} The chief executive at the time was Tom Clarke, the company's founder, who was a supporter of the Conservative Party and friend of Margaret Thatcher, who gave him the nickname of Mr Wonderful. This led to the strikers erecting boards at the picket line which read "Mr Wonderful's scabs cross here".{{cite news|last1=White|first1=Clive|title=What came after the longest strike in history was finally put to bed|url=http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/nostalgia/nostalgia_history/4277441.What_came_after_the_longest_strike_in_history_was_finally_put_to_bed/|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=Craven Herald|date=10 April 2009}}

Structure

The company employs around 1,250 people in the United Kingdom.{{cite news|title=Silentnight saved by HIG Europe buy-out|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-13331662|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=BBC News|date=9 May 2011}} It is headquartered in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, in Pendle, where the company has been based since 1949, and in its current premises since 1961.{{cite news|last1=Athey|first1=Neil|title=East Lancashire bed manufacturer hails record year after £140million sales|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/14659169.East_Lancashire_bed_manufacturer_hails_record_year_after___140million_sales/?ref=rss|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=Lancashire Telegraph|date=3 August 2016}}{{cite web|title=Restructuring beds in at Silentnight as sales top £100m|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/113636-losses-reduce-silentnight|website=insidermedia.com|accessdate=31 August 2017|date=20 April 2014}} The company also operates a digital office on Quay Street in Manchester.

Formerly, the company had factories in Sutton-in-Craven (1970–1994),{{cite web|title=History of Local Buildings|url=http://www.suttonincravenpc.org.uk/history_ofbuildings.html|website=www.suttonincravenpc.org.uk|accessdate=31 August 2017}}{{cite news|title=Factory site is put up for sale|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8073908.display/|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=29 August 1998}} Batley (closed March 2012){{cite news|title=Silentnight's Pendle future secured with a £1 million investment|url=http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/news/business/silentnight-s-pendle-future-secured-with-a-1-million-investment-1-4380082|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=Pendle Today|date=25 March 2012}} and Keighley, which was closed in March 2002.{{cite news|title=220 jobs axed in factory shutdown|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8030988.display/|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=8 March 2002}} All of these, and the Barnoldswick plant, were in the former West Riding of Yorkshire when the company was started. The boundary change of 1974, put the Barnoldswick factory in Lancashire. The plant is a major employer in the area alongside the Rolls-Royce jet engine facility in the town.{{cite news|last1=Livesey|first1=Jon|title=Warm welcome in Barnoldswick for Rolls-Royce jobs boost|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4516659.Warm_welcome_in_Barnoldswick_for_Rolls_Royce_jobs_boost/|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=Lancashire Telegraph|date=29 July 2009}}

The company also had other plants around the United Kingdom as a result of its acquisitions of rival companies. Two plants in South Wales and Andover, which were part of the Ducal brand, were closed when the company re organized and went private in 2003. Many jobs from the closed Keighley factory were transferred to Sunderland, but this plant was sold off as a management buyout under the Stag Furniture brand in June 2005.{{cite news|title=Clock is ticking in race to save remaining jobs|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/clock-is-ticking-in-race-to-save-remaining-jobs-1-1105941|accessdate=31 August 2017|work=The Sunderland Echo|date=27 February 2006|language=en}}

During the period of ownership by HIG both turnover and profits have increased markedly, after the initial management clear-out and implementations of the turn round plan. Turnover grew by over 50% between 2012 & 2017 & a pre-tax loss of £4.5m was turned into a pre-tax profit of £11.6m in the same time period.

Pre-takeover

2008/09 turnover was £110.8m
2009/10 turnover was £107.1m {{cite news|title=Silentnight saved by HIG Europe|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-13331662|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=BBC News|date=9 May 2011|language=en}}

Post-takeover

2012/13 turnover was £98.9m with pre-tax loss of £4.5m
2013/14 turnover was £109.3m with pre-tax loss of £3.2m{{cite news|title=Restructuring beds in at Silentnight as turnover tops 100m|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/113636-losses-reduce-silentnight|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=Insider Media|date=30 April 2014|language=en}}
2014/15 turnover was £125.1m with pre-tax profit of £3.3m{{cite news|title=Silentnight turns 125m turnover|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/144234-silentnight-turns-125m-turnover|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=Insider Media|date=27 July 2015|language=en}}
2015/16 turnover was £137.5m with pre-tax profits at £3.9m{{cite news|title=Silentnight hails record sales performance|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/silentnight-hails-record-sales-performance|accessdate=1 May 2018|work=Insider Media|date=2 August 2016|language=en}}
2016/17 turnover was £152.1m with pre-tax profits of £11.6m

Brands

Layezee
Perfecta
Rest Assured
Silentnight
Studio{{cite web|last1=Frackiewicz|first1=Hannah|title=Silentnight latest company welcomed into BFM|url=https://www.furnitureproduction.net/news/articles/2017/06/244168133-silentnight-latest-company-welcomed-bfm|website=www.furnitureproduction.net|accessdate=31 August 2017|date=5 June 2017}}
The Pocket Spring Bed Company