Sleepmaker boss: Why buying Australian-made beds supports local jobs
PARTNER CONTENT: Comfort Group CEO Craig Turner says supporting Australian-made products is a "social responsibility" that will help protect local jobs and manufacturing.
Don’t get Craig Turner started on the need to support Australian businesses.
The CEO of The Comfort Group, Australasia’s largest bedding and foam manufacturer – producing famous brands and world-class products across seven manufacturing facilities in both Australia and New Zealand – is a staunch supporter of the Back Australia Campaign.
“We have to look after our own,” Mr Turner says.
This article is part of the Back Australia series, which is supported by Australian Made, Harvey Norman, Westpac, Bunnings, Coles, TechnologyOne, REA Group, Cadbury, R.M.Williams, Qantas, Vodafone and BHP.
“Business is not just about making money. There is a huge social responsibility for all manufacturers to support your country. You must support your country.
“We must support Australia or otherwise other countries will just take over from what we’ve got here and that is just going to destroy Australians.
“That’s not good enough. So why would you do it?
“If the products are better, they are basically the same price, and you know the money is going to go back into Australia, and it’s going to grow Australia, to me it’s just a no-brainer. We must do it. It’s social responsibility.”
The Comfort Group started out in New Zealand with the humble name of Arthur E. Mudd Ltd in the 1930s.
It’s now grown to be one of the major players in the sleep industry, with more than 1000 employees across NZ and Australia.
The Comfort Group are behind the iconic Sleepyhead and Sleepmaker bed brands, started in 1935 by Arthur Mudd and acquired by Sidney Turner in 1946.
Now, Sidney Turner’s grandsons Craig and Graeme run the business, producing famous brands and world-class products across multiple manufacturing facilities in both Australia and New Zealand. The company now has a strong relationship with Harvey Norman.
“I always remember when I first met with Katie Page from Harvey Norman, asking if they would consider taking us on, and she said, ‘you’re a family business? I absolutely support it’,” says Mr Turner.
“Her dedication to Australia and family business are incredible.
“Sometimes I wonder, with all of the stuff coming in from other countries, she is steadfast on that commitment and it has really worked very well for us.
“Business is tough right now. But the reality is that Australians make very good quality beds that will last a long time.
“Importing stuff from China and other places that have no interest in the health of the Australian people or countryside – why would they care? All they want to do is sell it here and move on.
“You’re paying the same money for us as you are paying them and you just don’t realise that what they’ve sold you is a piece of garbage that’s not going to last.
“I will guarantee you will get better value out of the Australian-made model, it will last longer, it will be recycled and it will help Australia.
“Why wouldn’t you do it?”
This article is part of the Back Australia series, which is supported by Australian Made, Harvey Norman, Westpac, Bunnings, Coles, TechnologyOne, REA Group, Cadbury, R.M.Williams, Qantas, Vodafone and BHP.
