Sleepmasters or Bensons – which bed shop should you choose? Both are owned by the same company and they both trade on the same high streets and retail parks. How does that work?

Well, if you want an expensive bed, or a branded bed (eg Sealy or Silentnight) then Bensons is the shop. If you want a cheap bed then Sleepmasters is the shop.

Its not quite as simple as that but ever since the two companies were bought over their buying policy has been to segment the market so they don’t compete against each other. The strategy appears to work and if you want to buy a bed you will find that one or other of the stores will suit you better.

However what a chore. Wouldn’t it be much easier if you had one big bed shop where you could see all the models and then you can decide there and then. And that’s what we achieve at Archers Sleepcentre. Twice the size of a typical Bensons or Sleepmasters and we show the top brands such as Kaymed, Silentnight and Sealy, and alongside these beds we show the unbranded “value brands” such as Sweet Dreams and Highgrove.

It can be quite an eye opener lying on an unbranded bed and then jumping on a branded bed. The branded bed isn’t always better by the way!