Sue Calladine, Director at Bedrock Furniture, reflects on 25 years in the trade as the company celebrates a milestone moment.
Recently, Bridgwater-based Bedrock Furniture celebrated its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the retailer offered discounts, free gifts and a bit of bubbly as a thank you to its loyal customers from over the years.
In fact, the milestone moment still hasn’t sunk in completely, with Sue Calladine, Director at Bedrock Furniture, saying it feels “unbelievable” to reach such an achievement in its history. “In the early days it was really hard to get deliveries south of Bristol without placing huge minimum orders, which just wasn’t possible for a small new business.
“So, we found suppliers in and around Birmingham, and every Wednesday Dad would drive up there in the van to collect exactly what we’d sold. It made a massive difference to our cash flow and meant we could offer quick delivery, which customers loved.
“There have been plenty of memorable moments since then. We actually started the business in an old warehouse – I found it while Dad was away on holiday. When he came home, I handed him a paintbrush and said, “Right, get to work!” We scrubbed, painted and got it ready ourselves.
“It feels unbelievable to get to where we are now. We kept the celebrations simple and very “us” – no big parties, just taking a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come. But we definitely wanted to mark it for our customers too, so we ran a special anniversary offer: 10% off plus some lovely free gifts as a thank you for all the support over the years.”
Sue didn’t just find the location to set up the business, she actually founded the company too, with the idea originating from when she bought her first house and was taken aback by how the “bigger retailers” treated her looking to furnish the property. “People often think my dad started Bedrock, but it was actually me,” Sue said.
“The idea came when I bought my first house and couldn’t believe how pushy and overpriced some of the bigger retailers were. I remember thinking, we can do better than this. We already had a family business making electric cable, so we knew how to run a company. I found suppliers, got a cheap industrial unit, and when we opened the doors, we had six bed frames and six tables and chairs. That was it!”
Over the years that followed, the business grew – along with its product offering – becoming a staple family business in Somerset, setting real family values at its core. Though experiencing plenty of good times, there were moments where the business had to be resilient through tough times. Sue continued: “One of the toughest times was around 2016/17 when the roadworks for the new Hinkley Point link road started.
“Sales dropped almost overnight and stayed that way for months. We had no support from the council or EDF – we just had to grit our teeth, tighten our belts and get through it. Then came lockdown. Again, it was an overnight impact.
“We weren’t allowed to open the shop, but we still had customers who needed beds and mattresses. So, we adapted again. We turned the van into a mobile showroom, did telephone consultations, and then took a selection of mattresses out to customers’ homes so they could try them safely on the driveway, socially distanced. It was a crazy time, but it kept us going and kept people sleeping comfortably.
“All of these moments – the funny ones, the hard ones and the ones where we had to think on our feet, have shaped who we are today. We’re still very much a family business. Dad still pops in, Les and I do the deliveries ourselves, and we run things the old-fashioned way – honest, personal, customer-first.”
In more recent history, the last 12 months have offered its own challenges. However, the business has remained true to its core philosophy, which has delivered results. “It’s been steady but challenging, like most small businesses right now,” says Sue. “People are being more careful with money, but they still want quality and comfort – especially when it comes to mattresses and sofas.
“We’re one shop, and we’re proud of that. We’ve focused on listening properly, offering what people actually need, and keeping our service personal. It’s not been easy, but it’s been solid. We’ve expanded our range of UK-made furniture, especially natural fabrics and materials, as well as working closely with our British manufacturers to keep delivery times short.
“We’re also continuing to improve our showroom layout to make it easier for customers to test mattresses and see more styles. In fact, we’ve seen more people moving away from fast furniture and choosing better-quality pieces that last. Comfort is back in style – big, deep sofas, supportive mattresses, and proper wooden furniture.
“Natural fabrics are also making a comeback: cotton, linen, wool blends, real leather. People are fed up with things that look good for five minutes and fall apart. They want homes to feel warm, real and lived in again.”
As a final word, Sue echoed her earlier sentiment on celebrating 25 years, endorsing hard work, continuing to show up and having the ability to adapt has been key to its ongoing success. “It’s all a bit surreal to be honest, but it feels incredible. The real key has been hard work and determination. There’s no shortcut. We’ve had some very tough times, but we kept showing up.
“And we genuinely appreciate every customer. For us, every sale matters – it keeps a roof over our heads, so we never take it for granted. Going the extra mile isn’t a strategy, it’s just how we work. You have to evolve, you have to adapt, and you have to find solutions when things get rough. That’s what’s kept us here for 25 years.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built – a small, honest, family business with good old-fashioned values. And I hope that in another 25 years, we’ll be able to pass it on to the next generation. We might be a single shop, but we put our heart into everything we do. And I think customers can feel that.”
