Colin Rafferty

In the late 1980’s a young upholsterer, Colin Rafferty, approached his employer to enquire about the possibility of a pay rise. He was refused, and told to seek his fortune elsewhere. An unrepentant Colin decided to do just that and with the help of Prince’s Youth Business Trust set up his own business manufacturing headboards for all makes of beds.
Colin, assisted by his wife Glenda, worked around the clock in a rented factory on the Longhill Industrial Estate in his home town of Hartlepool, attempting to turn his dream of becoming his own boss into a reality.

The business took off and expanded rapidly. Within 6 months Colin had won a national award for entrepreneurs, being presented with the Livewire Of The Year Award 1989 by Richard Branson at a ceremony in London.

He was soon employing 20 staff and acquired a larger factory on the same estate from which the firm operates today.

Further accolades followed as the business developed, such was his success that Colin was chosen from over 13,000 entrants to exhibit his work before Prince Charles at the success in Business Awards 1992.

Up until the mid-nineties the company had been supplying headboards, beds, and sofa beds countrywide, but only to trade. In 1995 Colin extended and developed the business premises, creating The Sofa Bed Factory Shop, and began selling products direct to the public. Such was the success of this venture that within three years Colin was able to open a second retail outlet in Hartlepool. The Bed And Pine Furniture store, situated in the town’s York Road, opened in 1998 offering a selection of beautiful hand made furniture and unusual home accessories. The bespoke furniture which Colin sells is either manufactured in the factory workshop within the Sofa Bed Shop or sourced from around the world to guarantee quality.

A visit to either of Colin’s stores in Hartlepool is a must, and if so desired customers may actually watch their furniture being made in the busy Sofa Bed shop workshop itself.