Blind faith leads to UK-wide growth

From the archive, first published Monday 4th Dec 2006.

A blinds company is looking to franchise its business only 18 months after it was formed.

British Blinds, based at Tong Park, Baildon, was set up by Karen Hudson and Paul Lister and provides blinds to homes, businesses and hotels all over the area.

Since its successful launch the firm is now taking its next step by looking to franchise the business throughout the UK, something it expects will boost its turnover to £2.6 million within three years.

Mrs Hudson said: "We want to become one of the biggest window blinds businesses in the country.

"We are bringing the latest fabric designs and the most technologically-advanced blinds into people's homes - and they're all made right here in Bradford."

Mrs Hudson was inspired to set up the business because of her previous career as the owner of a soft furnishings shop in Halifax. Her work often involved fitting out homes with curtains and drapes. But when it came to blinds she was constantly frustrated by the poor quality of the products she was ordering for clients.

Convinced she could do better, she formed British Blinds.

The company invested £350,000 in a 7500sq ft manufacturing base at Tong Park where it employs 25 people. It has quickly built up a strong client base and all via word of mouth with the firm yet to do any advertising.

Mrs Hudson said: "Over time, we found that the quality of materials we were buying in to produce blinds could be improved on and we felt our customers deserved better.

"By manufacturing and designing our own blinds we can now offer customers the high standards they expect, while helping to refresh the market.

"We are constantly sourcing the latest technology and trends, from electric blinds which open and close according to the light, to blinds which filter UV light or, for commercial purposes, blinds which kill the MRSA superbug.

"The next obvious step in developing the business was finding a way to get our creations out to as many people as possible. Franchising the business means that British Blinds can train franchisees to a very high standard and developing the business this way enables us to maintain and regulate the high quality of blinds that we produce and fit.

"We're aiming to boost our workforce by at least 75 per cent by next year."

The blinds and shutters market has grown more than 25 per cent since 2002 and is expected to be valued at about £480 million by 2007.

e-mail: mark.casci@bradford.newsquest.co.uk