Fifteen years ago, The Manchester Factory business of where we are today was just a dream—a small family-run business operating from a modest warehouse in Alexandria, NSW. Back then, we sold Manchester and homewares products straight from cartons, driven by a simple yet powerful mission: to bring high-quality homewares to Australian households at affordable prices.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve come a long way. From opening our Marrickville Road shopfront in 2010—where customers could touch, feel, and experience our products firsthand—to transitioning into a fully online ecommerce business in 2023, every step of our journey has been guided by one thing: our customers.
Left Before our store front opened in 2010 Right Manchester Factory 2017
Why Manchester Factory?
A lot has changed in the homewares and bedding industry over the last 15 years, but one thing remains the same—our commitment to making every home feel like a sanctuary. Unlike big-box retailers, we take pride in carefully curating our range, offering luxurious yet affordable bedding.
What sets Manchester Factory apart?
It’s simple:
Family Values: As a family-run business, we value trust, relationships, and a long-term commitment to our customers.
Handpicked Quality: Every product we offer is chosen to meet or exceed our high standards for comfort and durability.
Affordable Luxury: We believe that great sleep shouldn’t come with a hefty price tag, so we make top-quality bedding accessible to everyone.
Adaptability: From a physical storefront to a seamless online experience, we’ve evolved to meet the needs of modern shoppers while staying true to our roots.
. We expanded into our warehouse in Marrickville (2019)
Why Did We Go Online-Only?
In early 2023, we made a bold decision—closing our Marrickville shopfront to focus entirely on eCommerce an 100% Online bedding store. It wasn’t easy, but it allowed us to reach more Australians than ever before and offer an even better shopping experience.
Now, you can shop our extensive range from the comfort of your home, with fast shipping and top-tier customer service at your fingertips.In 2025 we are now shipping world wide with our brands Sienna Living and Morgan & Reid.
A Conversation with Our Founder, Dimitri
Recently, I sat down with our founder, Dimitri, to reflect on Manchester Factory’s journey over the past 15 years.
Dimitri - Our Founder in our Marrickville store (2018)
What inspired you to start Manchester Factory?
"I think the initial reason for why I started the business to now has completely changed. Initially, Manchester Factory was started due to a gap in the warehouse factory outlets in Alexandria. My father at the time was selling outdoor teak furniture, but during the winter months, retail trade was quite slow.
Due to a family contact who was a large importer of bedding goods, my father decided to bring manchester (bedding) products into the warehouse to fill the lull period. That’s how Manchester Factory was born. In the early days, we sold goods straight out of the boxes they came in, with a traditional factory outlet feel.
When the opportunity arrived for us to expand into a retail outlet, I became more involved. The original vision was to provide the largest selection of mid-range products at exceptional prices, stocking a wide range of brands. But today, we've shifted our focus—reducing the number of brands we carry and instead developing high-quality products under our own branding. This allows us to maintain better control over the customer experience and ensure even higher quality at great prices."
(Manchester Factory Storefront on Marrickville Road in 2018)
Memorable Moments and Growth
What’s your most memorable experience?
"For me, the most memorable experience comes from the relationships built with our loyal customers over the years. Working in the Marrickville shop for 12 years, I got to know so many customers who became familiar faces and even friends. The trust they placed in me to guide them in their bedding choices was truly special."
What sets Manchester Factory apart from other bedding retailers in Australia?
"What set us apart in the beginning has transitioned over time. Today, we’re focused on bringing new innovations to market in terms of product fabrics, on-trend colours, and designs. We want our products to stand out in a crowded marketplace while still staying true to our mission: to provide quality at an affordable price."
(Before opening our warehouse in marrickville we would pack all of our online orders in our store front and all our stock would be delivered to our store.)
Expert Advice: Shopping for Bedding
If someone is buying bedding online for the first time, what should they look for?
"Look for detailed information about the fabric. Price is usually a good indicator of quality to a degree, but ultimately, experience with a trusted brand makes all the difference. If you’ve had a good experience with a brand before, it gives you confidence in the quality of your next purchase."
What’s one piece of bedding that’s 100% worth the investment?
"Bed sheets! They’re the core product you use every day and can make or break your quality of sleep. Fabric and quality matter."
What’s your favourite product right now, and why?
"Our brand-new cooling sheets. They feel super soft, silky, and incredibly cool to the touch. This product is my favourite because of the journey it took to bring it to market—I love seeing the positive reviews from customers who have tried them."
Behind the Scenes
What’s the most exciting part of your job?
"Hearing customer reviews and their positive experiences with our products—especially when we ourselves truly believe in the products we produce."
BEST MANCHESTER & BEST SERVICE
"Recently purchased kids dinosaur cushion & throw, and royal blue comforter bed set.
Both arrived promptly with helpful notifications of delivery. High quality products.
Email query instantly replied and resolved by telephone response. Couldn’t recommend more highly in all aspects, thank you.A keeper!" - J.W
What’s your own bed setup like?
"Bamboo Egyptian Cotton Sheets and the Sienna Living Winter Feather Quilt in winter.During the warmer months I have our cooling sheets and a our lightweight 2 in 1 Bamboo Comforter."
Do you have a favourite bedtime routine or sleep tip?
"I don’t have a strict routine, but my sleep tip is simple: the darker the room, the better my sleep. So make your room as dark as possible!"
Our Team’s Top Picks Right Now
"If I had to pick a favourite product, it would be our cooling comforters. They’re lightweight, breathable, and perfect for summer—once you try one, you’ll never go back!" - Lia
"I would say our 1500gsm mattress topper , I never thought I needed a mattress topper cause I have a pretty good mattress that was until till I started using this topper it is like sleeping on a cloud." - Jess
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 15 years, we’re incredibly grateful for our loyal customers who have been part of our journey. The next chapter for Manchester Factory is about continuing to innovate, expanding our product range, and finding new ways to enhance the online shopping experience not just here in Australia but around the world . Here’s to the next 15 years of comfort, quality, and style!
If you’ve been with us from the beginning or are just discovering Manchester Factory, thank you for being part of our story. We can’t wait to see where the future takes us.
Manchester Factory: Quality, Comfort, Style—Your Online Homeware Haven.
