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JANUARY NEWSLETTER 2026

Highlights

Happy New Year to all! 🎉 Wishing you a year filled with success, health, and happiness. 🌟

As we look ahead, let’s embrace new opportunities, set inspiring goals, and work together to make this year our best yet. 🚀

Cheers to a fantastic year ahead!

Here’s a round-up of exciting updates, highlights, team wins and competitor insights from across the business throughout January.

What’s Happening: Installations

Update from Rich Jones

🛠️ Installations Update – January Meeting Highlights

Our first Installations meeting of the year took place on 22nd January, and it was brilliant to see such strong engagement from the whole team. The session was extremely well received and gave us the perfect opportunity to celebrate an exceptional year while looking ahead to the exciting developments on the horizon.

⭐ Exceptional Performance

One of the standout achievements was our remarkably low remedial rate.

Across 14,182 blinds manufactured, we recorded an error rate of just 2.9%, an extraordinary result when you consider this represents around 57,000 individual measurements taken throughout the year. This level of precision reflects the skill, consistency, and professionalism of the entire Installations team.

⚡ Innovation: 12v Roof Motor System

We also introduced the upcoming launch of our new 12v roof motor system, enabling us to supply and install conservatory roof blinds with a fully integrated low‑voltage solution. No other company in the industry is offering this technology, giving us a clear competitive advantage and keeping us years ahead of the market.

🧠 Interactive Quiz & Team Engagement

The team took part in an interactive online quiz focused on time management and the exceptional service we deliver every day. It sparked great conversations and was one of the most positively received parts of the agenda.

🔗 Smart Home Integration Training

To support our continued growth in smart home integration, we delivered updated training on the Connector home automation hub, covering:

This ensures the field team has even greater confidence when setting up customers’ blinds on the app.

🧠 Quote of the Month 

All the best, Rich.

What’s Happening: Factory

Improved Direct Drive Roof & Velux Blinds

We’ve recently made some adjustments to our Direct Drive roof blinds and motorised Velux aiming to reduce service calls. They are now corded similarly to our lantern blinds but the components vary due to the different moving rail.

Update on Linea Facia End Plate Design

Our Linea facia’s have been selling so well since their introduction at the of 2024. We’ve recently come to the end of our first run of 90mm end plates and we wanted to take this opportunity to alter the design.

The photos above show the prototype from our supplier. You will see the back edge is chamfered at the top to allow for easier fitting of face fix blinds. This also allows the back edge of the endcap to rest against the wall, stabilising the blind.

These will start coming out on jobs in the next month and we will copy this design to the 70mm end plates once we run down stock of the existing design.

What’s Happening: Marketing

Current Performance

After a slow start in January 2025, we’re pleased to report that the number of leads issued this January is up 45% compared to last year! As always, we will continue to monitor where our enquiries are coming from and adjust/increase advertising budgets accordingly.

Customers ‘Tagging’ us on Instagram

It’s always rewarding to see customer’s taking the time to leave us online reviews, but even better when we can see their blinds in action! Two customers have recently posted on their own Instagram pages, sharing their experiences with their own following as well as tagging us.

@salesteam @installteam: If you think your customers are likely to use socials, please do encourage them to tag us in their videos.

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

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Google’s AI Overviews

As reported in our November newsletter, we are constantly updating our websites to improve our visibility in Google’s search results. You will have noticed that when you use Google yourselves that the top results are often AI Overviews now, so we are pleased to see a huge increase in the number of times Google has used our website to help answer people’s questions. Not surprisingly, YouTube is now above us in the top five websites with visibility, but we are still beating all our competitors.

Installation Team Meeting

At the meeting last week, we’ve asked the team for their help in obtaining more videos that we know works across our social channels. We need to ensure that we continue to post videos that our followers engage with so that they save/share our posts, and ultimately message us when they’re ready for a quote. Keep an eye on our socials to see what they achieve…

WeLCOME TO OUR NEWCOMER

We would like to introduce you to our newest team member who joined us at the start of January. Please join us in welcoming Laura, who has come on board as our Associate Director of Marketing.

Laura has already made a great impression through her enthusiasm, dedication, and collaborative approach, and we are excited to see the positive impact she will make as she settles into her new role.

Laura Williams

Associate Director of Marketing

“I’m pleased to be starting my new role here at Specialist Blinds.

For the past 10 years I have headed up the marketing function for high end interiors products, manufacturing and construction brands, selling to a variety of markets. I particularly like to work with incredible quality products and services with a technical or specification approach and refocus them towards design-led audiences and ensure that the quality really gets chance to shine! 

I’m an avid netball player (guess which position) and a big fan of yoga and whatever weird and wonderful exercise trend is in at any given time (out: rock climbing, in: reformer pilates). I’m currently in the rather slow process of redecorating my house; much to the dismay of the ginger cat that lives there.  

Thank you for welcoming me.” – Laura

🎉Congratulations🎉

Factory Employee of the Month

Our employee of the month for January is

Laura Aldridge🥳🥇

“Laura is our first employee of the month in 2026. Laura is always willing to take on a new challenge and has recently been learning how to make lantern blinds. She has been proactive during this quieter period of the year, asking for more jobs and beginning to work on free hanging blinds. This attitude is great to see, well done Laura!” – Ellie Smith-Anderson

JANUARY Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in January! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 2025

Message From Ian Baxter

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everybody in the company for their valuable contributions across the year. It may be obvious, but everyone plays a vital part in the process of making us the Specialist Blind Company.

Despite a challenging market, your efforts have enabled us to consolidate our position as leaders in the UK blind industry.

The Sales Team recently met in the Ashford Showroom, keeping everyone up to date with recent innovations and developments. In addition, we spent a significant amount of time on how we could improve our individual and team performance to achieve the highest order value going forward. We discussed best practice within the team (with many helpful tips from Howard Prince) and how to set ourselves apart from companies providing inferior products and services, and frankly offering low and ridiculous pricing.

During the meeting we looked at Appeal Home Shading – historically one of our main competitors – who have experienced a significant decline over the past three years, including millions in lost sales and a substantial loss of hundreds of thousands in 2024. This reinforces an important truth: low pricing ultimately leads to weakened performance and reduced long-term viability

The following day, I received a call from Arnaud Keat, who said he had enjoyed the meeting. However Arnaud highlighted an important point: starting negotiations with very low pricing leaves little room for movement and didn’t understand why some of the team started their negotiations at a very low price. He noted that whether you begin at £11,000, £10,000 or £9,000, the initial reaction from customers may be surprise or shock, but it rarely impacts the final outcome or conversion rate. What it does influence is the achievable order value and overall profitability – benefiting both the salesperson and the company.

Two days after the meeting I received a call from Steve Locker as he was driving home. He said that he had taken on board what Howard Prince and I had said at the meeting and just left a customer with a quote for £4,000 with significant room for negotiation, as the customer already had an appointment the following morning with John Lewis, providing a quotation for Luxaflex (Hunter Douglas) roller blinds. As Steve was in the area, the customer agreed that he could return at lunchtime to conclude business. The John Lewis – Luxaflex price was £3,618. Steve took the order at £3,800 by including a Home hub, which was the cherry on the cake for the customer. He wanted to buy from us because he was really impressed with the company, with Steve and in particular because he loved our exclusive 90mm linear fascia.

The moral of the story is that by starting with a higher price, you are likely to achieve a healthy order value – start with a low price and you can guarantee a low order value! Steve started high, negotiated with the customer and achieved a price that they were both happy with – the customer got value for money for a superior product and Steve got full commission on the order- a win/win! 

So, the challenge is on for the Sales Team in the coming Year – take a leaf out of Howard’s, Arnaud’s and Steve’s book – work smarter, not harder!

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.

Best Wishes,

Ian

Message from Richard Jones

MESSAGE FROM KEVIN, TOM & ELLIE

Thank you all for your hard work this year. The last 12 months have been a time of change within our industry, and we are pleased to finish this year with a very busy December after the hard start we had.

To all those who have been with the company for many years now, thank you for your patience and resilience during the harder times, and to those we have welcomed this year, we thank you for the fresh energy and enthusiasm you have brought to the team.

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the time off and we look forward to welcoming you back in January.

From Kevin, Tom & Ellie

🎄 DECEMBER Festivities 🎄

Contracts Team Annual Christmas Get Together

This year we put on our best frocks (or was that just Sean?) and ventured out with our better halves, on a very wet and windy night in Ashford. A great night of laughter, fantastic Italian food and a modest amount of alcohol! Perfect night to kick off celebrations for the festive season.

Christmas Jumper Day ☃️

We don’t need an excuse to be festive (or is that just Sean again??) so always participate in the annual Christmas Jumper day. A proper rogues gallery!

FaCTORY RAFFLE

As the year draws to a close in the factory, we held a staff raffle to distribute gifts from our suppliers. This year’s top prizes included a deluxe hamper and the much sought-after TOIL hours. Thank you to Jayne for arranging many of our prizes.

We gathered together afterwards for tea and cake for those who couldn’t make our company bowling night at the end of November.

ALAN Becoming Santa for a Day

This all came about through the gym I’ve been attending since February. A few weeks ago, one of the instructors asked if I’d be willing to play Santa at a children’s Christmas party, as he was unavailable for the day and the gym owner needed someone to step in. I’d gotten to know the owner quite well, so I was happy to help, especially as it was for the kids at Christmas.

It turned out to be the owner’s family’s annual festive gathering. He usually plays Santa himself, but some of the older children had begun to realise that “Santa” was actually “Uncle Mike,” so he wanted someone new this year. He provided a very professional Santa suit – far more authentic than I expected.

While the children were in a private room at a local soft-play centre, I changed in a store cupboard and made my surprise entrance with their presents. A few of the older kids looked genuinely confused, especially with “Uncle Mike” standing there taking photos instead.

It was a heartwarming and fun experience, though wearing the suit was a workout in itself – I was absolutely roasting. I’ve no idea how anyone manages a full shift dressed as Santa! 🎅✨- Alan Dawes

Secret SANTA GATHERING

December brought plenty of festive cheer to the Head Office as the Contracts Team made their annual trip up to Ewell for our much-loved Secret Santa gift exchange. The office was soon filled with laughter as gifts were unwrapped, bringing plenty of smiles and a great sense of festive fun as everyone enjoyed seeing what surprises were in store. 🎁

Of course, no Christmas get-together would be complete without festive snacks, and the spread did not disappoint, giving the team a chance to relax, catch up, and enjoy some time together.

It was a lovely way to mark the end of the year, celebrate the season, and enjoy some well-earned Christmas cheer with colleagues. 🎄

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our colleagues for your hard work over the past year. We look forward to the new year ahead and will be back in the office on Monday 5th of January.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ✨

Thank You From our chosen charity

Just a quick email to say thank you very much to you and everyone at Specialist Blinds for supporting us again this year! We really appreciate your donation – and the shout-out on social media too, which helps us reach new potential-supporters as well as spreading word of our work.

I hope you and your team have a lovely Christmas, and thank you again!

Robert Eyers

Fundraising Manager

Letter from the CEO

Dear everyone at Specialist Blinds,

On behalf of all the staff and volunteers at York Road Project, we would like to say thank you for your very generous Christmas donation of £250.

Your kind contribution means a lot to us, and enables our team to provide essential services to those experiencing homelessness in Woking, Waverley, and nearby areas. This ranges from us providing emergency and outreach services, to transitional support for clients so they may secure longer-term accommodation and independence.

We’re very grateful that you chose to support York Road Project in this way. With your support, we can defeat homelessness together.

Best wishes,

Cherisse Dealtry

Chief Executive

DeCEMBER Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in December! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉

🎉Congratulations🎉

Factory Employee of the Month

Our employee of the month for December is

Andrew Murray🥳🥇

I’m pleased to announce the employee of the month for December is Andrew Murray. Andrew always keeps his head down and gets on with his work as well as going out of his way to help other departments with deliveries. Andrew had several nominations from the team, showing his hard work is recognised by his colleagues as well as the management team.
– Ellie Smith-Anderson

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 2025

Highlights

As we are moving from November into the final weeks of the year, the holiday season is beginning to take centre stage 🎄✨. It’s a great time to enjoy some festive moments 🎅, reflect on the year’s progress, and look forward to the opportunities the new year will bring 🎉Let’s sleigh this season with joy, laughter, and a sprinkle of magic! 🎁✨

Here’s a round-up of exciting updates, highlights, team wins and competitor insights from across the business throughout November.

👷🏻On Site This Month

We’re always receiving feedback from our installers about what they see on site, and it’s a powerful reminder of why our standards matter. One recent example came from a customer who asked us to supply and fit real wood venetians in a seven-part bay. They already had venetians in their lounge bay and wanted us to match them in the daughter’s bedroom.

Following our installation, the installer went downstairs to look at what another company had previously fitted, and he was shocked. The gaps were huge, fascias weren’t mitred in, and no child safety cleats had been fitted.

This kind of comparison highlights the difference Specialist Blinds makes. Where others cut corners, our team delivers precision, safety, and care. It’s not just about fitting blinds, it’s about protecting our reputation and giving customers the high-end, personal service they deserve. 

I’m 100% sure this customer will now be looking at their downstairs bay wondering why they accepted such a shoddy job!  Our installer managed to get a sneaky shot to show the unaligned gaps!

🧠 Quote of the Month 

All the best, Rich.

Greg was issued the lead and in his own words – It’s not a window design I’ve seen in 37 years of doing this!

On meeting the client, they mentioned to Greg that a company from Bristol, confirmed as Appeal, cancelled their appointment having looked at a photograph as it wasn’t possible for them to do it. 

The customer had received similar responses from other companies or no response at all, who clearly chose not to visit. The customer were pleased Greg had even just come to have a look!

Having come up with a proposal, Greg discussed the layout with Ellie, in particular the LH and RH sides to check if we could configure blinds to the shape.

Greg’s solution was to plan two manual shaped roof blinds pulling horizontally across the triangular windows to the LH and RH. Having sorted these two odd shapes, the remainder is covered by two motorised inverted gables and three freehanging side blinds, all using our Pure 10 12v motors linked to mains power by our Pure Max 5 transformer.

The client’s brief was a dim-out solution in a neutral colour so SuperCell Haze Desert with white hardware was selected.

Martin is booked to install in January so watch this space to see Greg’s innovative solution come to life and provide the coverage the client requires, that everybody else shied away from!

Customer FEEDBACK

Email from an existing customer from 2003

Dear Arnaud,

Firstly to thank you very much for taking the time to visit yesterday. It was a pleasure to meet you again after all the years since the last time we replaced our blinds. It was very helpful to talk through options and see samples insitu.

Thank you now for your quotation. We can see that it is so very much higher than the price we paid for the same product (crushed Parchment) on the same 14 windows (conservatory & kitchen) back in 2011. On that occasion we paid £1,500. Further back, in 2003, you installed our first set of blinds – in crushed light peppermint green. On each occasion we have been so happy with the wonderful service and great look of your blinds. We would love to repeat the custom but hope you can consider our loyalty to come to a better price point for us.

On considering the two blind style samples we have here (single and double skinned) Dave and I have decided, should we go ahead, it would be the single-skinned lower-priced ‘Solar Design Crush’ for which we would opt. We await the sample of the Duck Egg Blue to consider colour choice and confirmation that the factory are willing to make that one slightly longer, yet narrow, end blind.

I do hope we can come to a mutually acceptable price and look forwards to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Sian (and Dave)

November Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in November! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 2025

Highlights

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻 With the clocks now turned back and the evenings drawing in, there’s no mistaking the shift in seasons. Whether you’re handing out sweets to trick-or-treaters or wrapping up another busy day, the shorter days and cooler nights are a clear sign that winter is on the way — bringing new challenges and fresh opportunities.

Here’s a round-up of exciting updates, highlights, team wins and competitor insights from across the business throughout October.

🧬 Installer DNA: Built on Pride, Precision, and Purpose

Installation isn’t just a job, it’s a mindset. Every day, I see it in action: quiet determination, zero compromise, and a deep pride in doing things right. It’s not written on a wall, but it’s etched into every bracket, every angle, every finish.

We’re not the loudest about what we do, and sometimes, self-praise doesn’t come easy. But that’s exactly why it matters. Because the standard we set, the care we take, and the pride we carry deserve to be seen, shared, and celebrated.

SO………….

This month, I asked some our team to pause and reflect, not on the tools they use, but on the values they carry. What drives them? What defines their craft? What does it mean to be part of a team that installs with purpose? I asked them the below questions.

🔹 What does pride look like in our craft? It’s the signature we leave behind. Our team doesn’t chase praise, they chase perfection. Whether it’s a complex roof lantern or a sleek bay window, every install is treated like a personal signature. 

“I want the customer to walk in and say ‘Wow.’ That’s when I know I’ve done my job.”   - Martin Evans

🔹 What does it mean to ‘do good’ on-site? It’s more than getting it done. It means showing up early, solving problems calmly, and leaving the space better than we found it. It’s about respect, for the customer, the home, and the craft.

 “We’re not just fitting blinds. We’re representing the brand, the team, and ourselves.”  –  Jack Wesson

🔹 How do we define precision in our installs? Angles. Levels. Tolerances. Our installers don’t guess, they measure, adjust, and refine. Precision is our quiet obsession. It’s why our remedial rates stay low and our reputation stays high.

 “If it’s 99% right, it’s still wrong. We go for 100.”  – Lex Allen

🔍 Installer Challenge of the Month

Take 60 seconds. No tools, no tape measures, just you. Ask yourself: “What did I do this month that made someone say ‘Wow’?” If you’ve got an answer, own it. If you don’t, chase it.

🧠 Quote of the Month 

🙏 A Personal Thank You

To the entire Installations team, thank you. Your pride, your precision, and your professionalism never go unnoticed. I see the effort, the care, and the quiet excellence you bring to every job. You set the standard, and I couldn’t be prouder to lead this team.

All the best, Rich.

What’s Happening: Sales

Sale of the month

Congrats to Andy Cruse for this sale, comprising 35 blinds across 10 rooms, for a new build in the leafy village of Bouton on the Water, for the tidy sum of £21783.00.

The client was trying to play hard ball and saying he would go elsewhere for a cheaper package, but Andy knew this was not true as some of the elements he required wouldn’t not have been possible from alternative suppliers. After a few weeks of delaying the client finally conceded that we were the only ones that could supply his vision but stated the order was dependant on being complete by his moving in date! Not an easy commitment with our lead time being seriously affected due to their delays! Thankfully common sense prevailed, and Jeff was able to organise a survey to give the factory sufficient time to manufacture, to enable installation around their moving in date and the client is happy with proposed dates.

Andy has specified several different blind types across the rooms, from our Linea 90 Roller blinds with Pure Power 30 Mains motors to span wide sliding doors in the living and dining areas, to Bauhaus Pure Power 40 battery Dimout Duette blinds to the main bedrooms and SmartCord and button fit tension blinds to spare bedrooms and gym areas.

Watch this space for completion photos.

The Building History….

Camden Town Hall, known as St Pancras Town Hall until 1965, is the meeting place of Camden London Borough Council.  Previously housed in the vestry offices in St Pancras Way, the offices were found to be inadequate, so civic leaders elected to construct a purpose-built facility.

The new building was designed by Albert Thomas in the neoclassical style. The construction was undertaken by Dove Brothers of Islington, involving a steel frame clad with Portland stone, with construction starting in 1934. The design involves symmetrical frontage along both Judd Street and Euston Road with huge Corinthian Order columns supporting a pediment in the middle of each elevation, giving the building a truly grand appearance. Internally, the principal rooms were an assembly hall on the ground floor in the east of the building and the council chamber and mayor’s parlour on the first floor in the west of the building. The building was officially opened in October 1937 and having gone through several renovations since it’s opening and annexe buildings being adopted for council offices, the town hall was re-opened in 2023, serving once again as the council’s meeting place and events venue.

The Brief…

Having been approached by Butterfield Designs, an architect responsible for works within the event hall, we were asked if we could provide blinds to arched windows and adjacent glazing. Nothing unusual for us but having visited Grant Johnstone established the arched windows were approximately 7 metres from the floor and the windows beneath had a drop of 3800! So, working height was obviously an issue and the drop of the blinds exceeded our specifications! And to further complicate matters there is internal glazing which would need to be temporarily removed to allow installation.

The Result…

Survey took place, with the client supplying scissor lifts, so we could reach the top of the blinds.

Being a commercial project, appropriate health and safety concerns were addressed, and full PPE was worn. In depth conversations regarding position of electrics and a support baton for the arches and blinds beneath were confirmed in writing and with Kevin K having approved the build of the out of spec drops a fit date was booked and manufacture commenced. All blinds had been specified in Duette Cloud Dimout Slate, which is fire a retardant fabric, a requirement for blinds in public buildings, with our Bauhuas profile and Pure Power 40 motors for the very long window blinds and our Pure 10 12v motors for the arches.

Scissor lifts were again in position to get our guys to the working height but unfortunately; despite giving clear instructions regarding removal of the internal glazing and positioning electrics, things weren’t quite ready for our arrival on the 28^th! RJ and James put a long shift to overcome these hurdles and the installation was completed.

An amazing installation in this truly grand building, with our arched blinds fitting seamlessly into the window spaces, to provide a dim-out scenario required for functions and events, with full motorisation for ease of use. Another installation that truly encapsulates who we are and what we can do.

Here’s a beautiful time-lapse capturing the installation in progress:

DiARY DATES

📅 Key Dates to Remember

🎄 Christmas Order Cut-Off Dates

• Non-Stock/Coupage Duette: Deadline was Monday, 27th October – now passed.
• Stock Duette, Pleated, Roller & SuperCell Orders: Final deadline is Monday, 3rd November.

This is your last opportunity to submit orders in time for Christmas processing.

📅Sales Meeting – Ashford

24th & 25th November
The upcoming Sales Meeting will be held in Ashford.

SOCIAL MEDIA

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again… We’d love to see more videos like these please!
The videos that do well on socials tend to be:

• In a beautiful room (show the room, not just the blinds – people are nosey and love seeing home interiors!)
• Blinds ‘doing a lot’ in a short amount of time (e.g. if it’s a gable then left side up, right side up, both down together, up together. Other blinds need to be the most visually interesting it can be – symmetry, patterns made by moving opposite blinds!)

• Camera still (don’t walk around – it looks too wobbly when we speed it up. We’ve even had people comment about some shaky clips with ‘did you film that on a boat!’)

OCTOBER Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in October! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉

This month marks a special milestone as we extend our warmest birthday wishes to Peter Matthews, our company’s founder and director, on his 60th birthday.

Having established the business 30 years ago, his vision laid the foundation for what has grown into the company we are all proud to be part of today. Reaching six decades is no small feat, and we acknowledge the dedication and longevity that has brought the company through three decades of change and evolution.

We wish Peter a very happy birthday and continued good health and success in the years ahead. Here’s to marking this significant occasion and to many more chapters still to come.

🎉Congratulations🎉

Aaron Qualifies to Represent Team GB in Spain!

Back in September, we shared some exciting news about Aaron Sparks-Carolan, who was gearing up to take on the European Olympic Duathlon Qualifier — a seriously tough race made up of a 10K run, 40K bike, and 5K run.

Well, we’re absolutely delighted to share that all of Aaron’s hard work and determination have paid off! 🎉

At the qualifier last weekend, Aaron put in an outstanding performance — finishing third overall and earning himself a place on the podium, which means he’s officially qualified to represent Team GB in his age group at the European Championships in Banyoles, Spain, in July 2026.

We’re all so proud of you, Aaron — what an amazing achievement! Your dedication and drive are truly inspiring, and we’ll be cheering you on every step (and pedal) of the way to Spain. 🏃🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🇬🇧

Congratulations to Dan Watson – Proud Grandad!

We’re delighted to share some wonderful news from Dan Watson and his family! Dan is thrilled to announce the arrival of his 2nd grandchild.

Indie Edwards

Born on 25th September weighing a very healthy 8lb 12oz

Indie gave everyone a bit of a scare on her way into the world, but thanks to a safe delivery by C-section, both mum and baby are doing brilliantly. Dan tells us he was happily tucked up in bed when he got the late-night call — “I want my Dad!” — sparking a very tense but ultimately joyful night at the hospital.

Now that everyone is home and settling in, Dan is already embracing life as a very smitten grandad and looking forward to many more sleepless nights.

Congratulations to Dan and his family on the wonderful new arrival!

Factory Employee of the Month

Our employee of the month for October is

Barry Davies 🥳🥇

“Barry is a joy to have in the factory, he’s always got a smile on his face. This year our lantern blinds have been extremely busy and Barry has risen to the challenge at every opportunity. His hard work and good attitude it noticed by everyone, as he has received the most nominations of any winner so far.”– Ellie Smith-Anderson

Office Stories

The Case of the DIY Blind Surgeon

Lesley had quite the entertaining call this week from a builder working at one of our client’s homes. He explained that he’d just installed new windows — a tidy 15mm smaller than the originals — and discovered that the blinds (with our label proudly displayed) no longer fit.

No problem, he thought. He’d just cut them down a bit! 💡🪚

As you can imagine… the results were not exactly showroom quality. In his own words, “they look awful.”

He then asked Lesley what blades we use (as if there’s a magic saw that fixes design decisions!) and whether he could bring them in for us to sort out.

Lesley swiftly passed the call over to Sean — our go-to problem solver for all things blinds — who we’re sure had a few thoughts of his own on this “creative” attempt at customisation.

Sean advised that it would not just be the rails that need reducing and that it is likely he will not achieve the desired results. He was fairly confident that he would, so Sean clarified that he would need to use a chop saw that has a cutting blade that is rated for aluminium, as nothing else will give a clean finish. Sean didn’t get a chance to discuss the fabric!

He advised he didn’t have a chop saw and asked would a window company that fabricates aluminium frames have one? Sean suggested it is likely, but they would not want to be cutting products that aren’t their own. “That’s no problem” he said as he knows a bloke that works for just such a company! We dread to think what the outcome will be!

Moral of the story: just because it looks easy doesn’t mean it is! Leave the blind surgery to the professionals. 😄

SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER 2025

🏅 Worthy of a Mention

Proud to Deliver, Precise by Design

We should all be proud, our current remedial rate in Installations stands at just 2%.

What does that mean in real terms? Out of all completed installations over the past two months, we’ve recorded only 9 errors. Of those, just a handful were mismeasures, and the remaining were unexpected challenges, not necessarily requiring a remake but still noted with accountability.

This is a magnificent achievement when you consider the sheer volume of precise measurements we take, the structural variety we face, and the concentration required to deliver standout jobs like BIMM Bristol’s XL Duo Lanterns and Ryan’s retractable roof installation.

Every blind fitted reflects our standards. Every low remedial rate reflects our pride.

Specialist Blinds, right first time, and proud to prove it

🌟 Special Mention: Jeff – September Standout 🌟

We’d like to give a huge shoutout to Jeff, who has received an outstanding amount of praise from our customers throughout September. His hard work, professionalism, and dedication have not gone unnoticed, the positive reviews have been pouring in, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to read them.

Jeff consistently represents the company with integrity and care, and his commitment to delivering excellent service is a credit to the team.

Thank you, Jeff, for your continued effort and the pride you take in your work. Keep it up, we’re lucky to have you!

🧠 Quote of the Month 

All the best, Rich.

What’s Happening: Sales

Aaron has secured an order for this stunning Vale Garden House in the leafy village of Dockenfield outside of Farnham, for a not insubstantial sum of £45752.00!

The client was recommended to us by an Interior Designer, that Aaron has worked with on several projects previously. It wasn’t a given though, as Vale usually work in partnership with Appeal, but having presented to the client, it was an easy decision for her to move forward with us.

Aaron also met with the Vale team, as the area is currently under construction and their eyes were opened to our way of working and the specialist products we can bring to the room, so hopefully this may garner some contact in the future.

The construction is ongoing, and Aaron noted how amazing it was to watch the works being carried out. The ‘skeleton’ is an aluminium frame which is premanufactured and assembled like a large Meccano set, prior to being clad in timber to give the room a stunning luxurious finish.

The client has selected Duette Cloud Parchment fabric, with Solo Connect operation so they’ll have flexibility of use via our Pure handset or smart devices with our exclusive Solo App.

There’s so many roof blinds – 70! – that we will be fitting two Solo boxes and LV cable has already been supplied to the client for installation, so that there is no visible wiring.

Ryan has been in contact to discuss survey with the client, so watch this space for survey/installation updates.

Well done Aaron!

What’s Happening: Factory

Factory Office Set to Receive Air Conditioning This Month

Having moved both the Contracts and Factory Office to the mezzanine above the loading bay some time ago; to garner better communication, the benefit of the showroom air conditioning was lost. This month a newly installed unit in the office area will provide lasting comfort, particularly in the summer months next year.

Social Media Content Leaderboard

Thank you to the installation team for your continued effort to supply great marketing content!

We’ve used photos/videos from almost everyone over the last 3 months, which is amazing! Some of your content will also be included in the new website gallery that went live last month. Please remember to like and comment on our posts.

Our top 5 contributors are shown below, with Lex slightly in the lead with 7 posts.

Staff News

How long have you been with CBL?

4 and a half years.

What’s your go-to snack or drink during a busy workday?

Cadbury Starbar 🍫

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

When I was young I had a week’s trial at Liverpool. 👟 ⚽

What’s your favourite thing to do when you’re not working?

I love going to watch West Ham play!

What’s something on your bucket list that you’re determined to cross off?

I would like to go to Jamaica 🏝️⛰️☀️

If you weren’t working for CBL, what other profession would you be in?

Wood Machinist.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (work-related or not)?

“Be yourself”

If you could swap jobs with anyone in the company for a day, who would it be and why?

Tom Q, the General Manager, so I could boss people about (joking)😂

September Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in September! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉

🔔WEDDING BELLS🔔

“We got married on the 23rd of August. Lauren and I have been together since our school days, and our first formal event together was prom at the age of 15, held at the Niagara Conference & Leisure Centre. It felt only right to return to that special place, this time to tie the knot in the outdoor marquee, after 14 years together and four children later. 💒💖

Before the wedding, I faced a health scare, and while I was in pain and suffering, I was worried we might have to postpone the wedding. I had the operation on the 5th of August, and initially, the recovery was expected to take 2-3 months. Despite this, we decided to go ahead with the wedding, and we were able to enjoy our special day filled with love and laughter. I even managed to dance—though I say that loosely, as I’m not exactly built for dancing!”🕺🏻- Rob D.

GOOD LUCK🍀

Aaron Sparks-Carolan Aims to Fly the Flag for GB in Spain 2026

“I’m excited to share that I’ll be competing in the European Olympic Duathlon Qualifier this October — a challenging race consisting of a 10K run, 40K bike, and a final 5K run. If all goes well and I qualify, I’ll have the incredible honour of representing Great Britain in my age group at the European Championships in Spain in 2026. 🤞🏻

Earlier this summer, I was thrilled to take first place at the Eastbourne Duathlon, which has given me a huge confidence boost heading into this next big race.”🥇🚴🏻‍♂️

Everyone at Specialist Blinds is incredibly proud and cheering you on every step of the way. We wish you all the best in your training and can’t wait to see you take on the qualifier in October. 🏆🇬🇧

Good luck — we’ll be rooting for you all the way to Spain in 2026!

Welcome to our Newcomers

Welcome to our new team members! We are thrilled to have you onboard and look forward to working together. Your skills and enthusiasm will be a great addition to our company, and we’re excited to support you as you settle in. Here’s to a successful journey ahead!

Matt Crisford – Specialist Department (factory)

Glenn Pheiffer – Pinoleum Supervisor (factory)

🎉Congratulations🎉

Factory Employee of the Month

Our employee of the month for September is

Bhim Chhantyal 🥳🥇

“Bhim has been a loyal member of the team for over 14 years now. She was nominated because she’s always willing to help others and keeps a smile on her face at all times. Her hard work is noticed by everyone around her.” – Ellie Smith-Anderson

AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2025

🧗 Project Surveys – Going the Extra Mile

As mentioned last month, awkward access is becoming the norm, whether it’s scaffolding over staircases or working at extreme heights. Here’s the result.

Ryan’s recent installation is a great example: completed to a superb standard and fully met the customer’s expectations. Ryan drafted in his own team to get this completed in time.

Top effort!!

⚠️ Health & Safety – Standing Tall, Working Smart

As we continue to measure and fit increasingly complex window and roof blinds, often at heights of 7 to 8 meters or more, it’s essential that we stay sharp on safety.

Whether it’s gables, lanterns, or angled roof structures, the challenge isn’t just technical, it’s physical. Every install must be approached with the right access equipment, proper planning, and a safety-first mindset.

✅ Key Reminders:

• Always assess access requirements during survey stage
• Use appropriate ladders, towers, or scaffolding, never compromise
• Communicate if additional support or equipment is needed
• Take your time, precision and safety go hand in hand

Let’s keep doing what we do best: delivering excellence without cutting corners. Your safety is non-negotiable, and your professionalism sets the standard.

🎶 BIMM Bristol – XL Lantern Installation at 13 Meters

At the heart of BIMM Bristol’s gallery space sits a striking 5-meter square skylight, positioned a full 13 meters above ground level. The challenge? To install two side-by-side XL Lantern blinds that would give the college full control over light and temperature in this dynamic, high-traffic environment.

🏗️ Accessing the Impossible

Reaching this height safely required serious planning. Professional scaffolders were brought in to construct a custom access tower within the building, an impressive structure in its own right. But the real precision came from the Specialist Blinds installation team.

🔧 Precision in Motion

Fitting such wide lantern blinds at this elevation demanded flawless coordination and trust. The team will work together to carefully lift the blinds up the scaffold and manoeuvre them through the scaffold floor, a feat requiring not just strength, but strategy.

🦺 Safety at the Forefront

Working at this height takes more than courage, it takes commitment to safety. Installers were equipped with full PPE, including safety harnesses and fall protection lines, ensuring every step of the process met the highest standards of health and safety.

This project didn’t just raise blinds; it raised the bar. A true example of Specialist Blinds’ ability to deliver bespoke solutions in even the most demanding environments.

🧠 Quote of the Month 

All the best, Rich.

What’s Happening: Sales

The award for most stunning setting probably should go to Arnaud this month.

The client contacted the contracts office regarding an ‘unusual’ roof in the middle of a property. Arnaud followed up with the client and visited this stunning property in the picturesque village of Goudhurst in Kent. The property is split in half by a central full height glass atrium, giving the property stunning views of the Kent countryside.

The atrium has a spiral staircase in the centre which will certainly be an obstacle to overcome, but the client has the foresight to own their own tower for the purpose of cleaning at height, so we are able to make use of the same.

As the area lends itself to our Pure conservatory style roof system, we have sold Solo Connect so the client has flexibility of operation on smart devices. The side windows however presented a slight issue as they are too large for our normal Pure Solo configuration, but we have overcome this by specifying WT style motor and Bauhaus receiver so they are controlled by the Solo system.

The walls are a perfect match to French Grey Duette fabric and Anthracite hardware will exactly match the framework, so the blinds will blend in seamlessly.

Watch this space for survey updates and installation photos.

Not only has Arnaud taken this fantastic order this month he is currently smashing the sales stats for August at 20 orders from 29 leads circa £105,000 nett. He’s kindly gone on holiday to give the rest of the sales team time to catch up this weekend, so let’s pull out all the stops everyone!

What’s Happening: Factory

New Product Announcement:

• Individual and simultaneous operation of up to 8 blinds
• Suitable for pure hardware with Pleated | SuperCell | Duette® Pinoleum | Aluminium Venetian blinds
• No battery pack or solar panel required
• Works with Pure Power remote controls only
• Compatible with Pure Power Home Hub Automation

Exciting Update: A New Way to Access Media and Boost Our Company’s Visibility! 

We’re excited to announce a major update that will revolutionise how our media – including videos and photos – is accessed, creating a more efficient and collaborative environment for our marketing and contracts teams. This means that our in-house marketing team, external marketing partners, and contracts team will have seamless access to a centralised platform where all media assets are stored and easily searchable. 

Streamlined Access for Greater Collaboration and Impact 

This new platform will make it simpler than ever for our marketing team and external partners to access the media they need for social campaigns, video content, and other promotional efforts. From behind-the-scenes footage to project photos, everything will be available with just a few clicks. 

Additionally, our contracts team will benefit from having the full archive of survey and installation videos and photos right at their fingertips, enabling them to review important documentation quickly and efficiently. 

With easy access to all this media, we’re setting the stage for more engaging, on-brand content across our marketing channels and social media platforms. This streamlined process not only helps us create high-quality content faster but also strengthens our brand visibility. As we share more of our work online, we’ll be able to attract more attention from potential clients and, ultimately, generate more leads. 

By streamlining access to our media, we’re positioning ourselves for even greater success – fostering more collaboration, boosting visibility, and opening up new opportunities for the company. 

This update is just one of the many exciting changes we’re making to improve workflows, enhance our brand presence, and drive growth.  

Staff News

How long have you been with Specialist Blinds?

I’m in my 10th year.

If you weren’t working for in the blinds industry, what other profession would you like to be in?

Professional Golfer 🏌🏼‍♂️⛳

What’s your hidden talent or hobby that no one at work knows about?

I make great eggs and like a game of chess.

Can you please name any well-known individuals’ residences you have visited during your sales appointments? 🤩

Daniel Craig, Bono, Janet Suzman, Ellie Taylor

Who was your most memorable customer and why?

Harry Kane’s mum. Spent a couple of hours talking Spurs, blinds and about our boys who are a similar age! 

What’s your idea of a perfect weekend?

Nice Long walks, off to watch Spurs and spending time with family and my beautiful granddaughter who seems to love me for some reason! 

If you could swap jobs with anyone else in the business for a day, who would it be and why?

Richard J, because he gets to talk to me most days! 😉

Favourite quote or saying?

How would you like to pay, card or transfer? 💳 😁

August Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in August! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉

🎉Congratulations🎉

Factory Employee of the Month 🥳🥇

Our employee of the month for August is Donald Smith. 🎉🥳🎉

“I am pleased to announce Donald as August’s Employee of the Month. Donald is always reliable and efficient out on the road as one of our drivers but this month he has also picked up several shifts in the factory, including on his usual days off. He has a commendable work ethic and is always willing to get on with any job presented to him. I can’t overstate how valuable he is to the team.” – Ellie Smith-Anderson

JULY NEWSLETTER 2025

Wedding season is in full swing 💒

Recently Dan and Rob had to revisit the installation of blinds at Wryesdale Park.  

A stunning wedding venue on the Wryesdale Estate, near Scotton in Lancashire, we fitted blinds in March of 2024 to the atrium in the ‘party barn’, where up to 200 guests can dance the night away after the ceremony. 

We were contacted during the building process to provide a shading solution so that the guests would have a comfortable environment to party in and our Pure Duo motorised SuperCell roof blinds provided the perfect solution. 

All was well until a contractor was called in to carry out some sand blasting, which sadly for the owners caused considerable damage to the blinds. Not so sad for us though, as they were left with no choice but to replace the whole blind installation. Having negotiated a fair discounted price, for the repeat business, the client was happy to proceed with a like for like replacement and is once again over the moon with our works and the benefit the installation gives to the wedding guests. 

Dan and Rob did have to work a little harder second time around though, as a scissor lift was used on the first install, to allow easy passage along the length of the atrium, which is interrupted by many tie bars! On the second installation though the flooring was in place and was too fragile to support the weight of a scissor lift, so we had to use towers that had to be manually erected and then taken down to move along and re-erected to clear each tie bar. Well done Dan and Rob for the extra effort to deliver a stunning installation. 

What’s Happening: Sales

Sale of the Month 

Make mine a pint! 

In March we received an enquiry from The Molson Coors Brewing Company. They had recently relocated their offices within Burton on Trent to be closer to their UK Brewery site, which has links to the town dating back to 1744.  

Colin met with Theresa, their Property and Facilities Manager to discuss their requirements and learned that the offices are within an existing building which has been owned by the Molson company for generations and has been used as part of National Brewery Heritage Trust to preserve the brewery heritage.

Repair and renovation works commenced in 2023 culminating in a large open office area within a central atrium, with large gable windows on the upper floor and wide windows to the ground floor. Whilst other rooms/areas have had blinds specified within the renovation contract, the commercial supplier was unable to provide a solution for the large gable shapes and wide windows, and it soon became apparent that working in a central atrium was difficult due to the excessive glare and heat that the uncovered windows provided. Music to Colin’s ears! 

The solution Colin provided was our Duette Pure Aspect Gable blinds and our Duette Pure Free-hanging window blinds using Pure Power 10 motors. Being able to provide a solution to their problem meant the order was placed! 

There is the possibility of more windows that need covering, so watch this space for updates on installation and hopefully future works. 

What’s Happening: Factory

Exciting News! 🚀 

We are introducing the new and exclusive:

Pure Power 10 – 12V Tensioned Motor – Battery Operation Only!  

The Pure Power Tensioned Motor provides a sleek, mains-free solution for side-return extensions and conservatories with predominantly solid walls.  It is perfectly designed for rectangular and shaped conservatory roofs, roof-style gables, and arched blinds. This innovative motor is set to transform the way you approach these installations, offering a fantastic alternative to the PureSolo, Quad, Duo, and Zero – eliminating the need for trunking, and a clean, minimalist aesthetic.. 

The battery-only design removes the need for mains/low voltage cables, delivering a neat appearance. Plus, it’s fully compatible with all Pure Power Remotes and Home Hubs, ensuring effortless control and seamless integration. 

Specialist Blinds are exclusively offering the latest in motor technology — This exciting update will be published to your Product Manuals within the next few weeks! 🎉✨

What’s Happening: Marketing

We’re pleased to have seen a fantastic increase in leads in recent weeks, and an uplift from all lead sources. We’ve even seen a handful of leads generated through AI searches/ChatGPT, which is an area that we’ve started to focus on. 
 
Despite us reminding them throughout the year, it seems that most people still only start looking for blinds when extreme temperatures remind them that they need them!   

As it’s now peak holiday season, and we’ve already seen a slight dip in leads again, it’s important that we continue to nurture those recent leads to ensure they’re not forgotten. @SalesTeam, please make every effort to contact all leads from the last few weeks, and return any to us that you’ve been unable to contact.  

Earlier in the month we visited a customer in Berkshire who kindly agreed to let our photographer visit them to take extra photos and videos. It’s a stunning property with 3 lanterns across their open plan lounge, diner and bar area. A huge ‘thank you’ to Martin for discussing this opportunity with his customer. 

Staff News

How long have you been with Specialist Blinds?

5 years.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Helping people to resolve simple issues with their blinds.

What’s your go-to snack or drink during a busy workday?

I love a Babybel or pack of salted cashew nuts. Drink wise, just a bottle of water for me (boring I know).

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I’m petrified of spiders. Hence the reason I try to delay maintenance visits as long as possible.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (work-related or not)?

As my grandad always says “treat others how you want to be treated & be kind, always. Other than when you’re on the football pitch”😂

What’s something on your bucket list that you’re determined to cross off?

A trip to Alaska to see the northern lights.

If you could swap jobs with anyone else in the business for a day, who would it be and why?

James Alexander. I’d love to drive his Tesla around for the day and I’d like to see what tape measure he uses .😉

Favourite quote or saying?

I’ll do that in a minute” my wife’s personal favourite.

July Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in July! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉

Welcome to our Newcomers

Welcome to our new team members! We are thrilled to have you onboard and look forward to working together. Your skills and enthusiasm will be a great addition to our company, and we’re excited to support you as you settle in. Here’s to a successful journey ahead!

Philip Seidl – Sales Team

Darran White – Specialist Department

Sophie Bowler – Fabric Department

Ray Putley – Powder Coating Department

Petru Socaciu  – Pinoleum Department

Jade O’Reilly  – Roller Blind Assembly

🎉Congratulations🎉

Jack Wesson – Congratulations on becoming a fully qualified fitter and well done on becoming self-employed! That’s a fantastic achievement! It’s been great to see you grow with the company and develop your skills over time. We’re sure you’ll do brilliantly and continue to succeed. Thank you for all your hard work and commitment.

Factory Employee of the Month 🥳🥇

The factory team have introduced an employee of the month scheme. There is a nomination system in place, and the winner is chosen by Tom Q and Ellie.

We’re pleased to announce that Mateusz Nowacki has won this accolade for the first month (June), as well as receiving £50. 

“Mateuz is an incredibly hard working member of the team. He consistently goes above and beyond what is expected of him. The powder coating department can be a very pressurised and uncomfortable working environment and Mateuz handles it all with a smile on his face. We’re lucky to have him and very pleased that he is our first employee of the month.”  
– Ellie Smith-Anderson 

Our employee of the month for July is Craig Cowland. 🎉🥳🎉

“Craig is a well deserving winner of employee of the month. He always works hard and the last few months have been no exception. Not only has he worked extra hard covering his colleague Birju’s 3 week holiday, he was also a big part of the effort to unload and organise a very large aluminium delivery we had just last week. Keep up the good work!” 
– Ellie Smith-Anderson 

Shout Out

We’ve received the following lovely email from Grant S Johnston in the Sales Team:

“I would like to mention an unsung hero. The person that comes to mind is Colette Huckstepp who sends our fabrics out. 

I have been able to close many a deal based on the fabric choice that we give the customers. She works tirelessly and without complaint and she is crucial to the success of the Sales Team.  I feel she goes largely unnoticed and would like to highlight her efforts and thank her for her dedication and commitment to the company.”

JUNE NEWSLETTER 2025

June has been full of adventure—from fitting out boats to navigating them to access properties, the team has been on the move. We’ve also seen a surge in commercial contracts being installed, many involving high-access work. A big reminder that safety always comes first—thank you for keeping that top of mind. 

Behind the scenes, a lot of effort has gone into updating our survey paperwork to make things more efficient on site. This will be rolled out soon, along with a call to each Installer to walk through the changes and what’s needed on the new forms. A big thank you to Ian and Judy for their input and help in making the documents look sharp and professional. 

It’s also been a pleasure to catch up with some of you this month and see the professional, courteous way you represent us on site. It truly makes a difference. 

A Quick Reminder 

As we move into the warmer months, please take care in the heat—especially when working in roofs. Stay hydrated and take regular breaks when you need them. 

Uniform Update 

Keep an eye out—new uniforms will be delivered next week along with your scheduled drop-offs. Looking forward to seeing you all looking sharp. 

Quote of the Month 

“Tough jobs don’t build character—they reveal it.” 

Thank you again for everything you do. —Rich 

Shout-outs this month: “Two of our newest Installers”  

Jack Wesson successfully completed his first Duo Roller Lantern—only the second we’ve done in six years! The installation has been recorded for future training and will be uploaded to our OneDrive. Brilliant attention to detail, Jack, on a particularly complex job. 

James Harforth, who joined us in January, is now out and about on his own and doing a fantastic job. He’s already tackled some difficult installs, including scaffolding setups and intricate shapes requiring templates. Great work, James!  

What’s Happening: Sales

Update from the Factory

Louvolite motors and remote controls have been discontinued.

There will be a new range coming out at an increased price so we will decide if we will continue using this option. 

Sale of the Month 

Steve had an enquiry from Scarborough Hill Country Inn, a beautiful boutique hotel and wedding venue set in the Norfolk Broads, looking for roof blinds for their existing wooden conservatory area. 

The conservatory footprint allows for seating up to 60 people for various functions, so the client was looking for something that provides shade but also does not limit light. Our English Pinoleum was the solution, quoted in 201 Shaded White, which would be the perfect colour to compliment the décor and give a bright fresh finish. 

The owners of the hotel agreed and proceeded with an order and some installation shots can be seen here. Look out for more pictures and videos coming soon to social media.

Such was their satisfaction they have asked Steve to quote for another hotel along the waterway in the Broads. Well done Steve. 

What’s Happening: Marketing

Google SEO Projects (Search Engine Optimisation)

We’re embarking on a couple of new projects to help with our Google rankings.  

As we’ve mentioned before, Google’s algorithms are constantly changing. As well as the usual challenges of us competing with Sponsored links and online shopping sites (which are always at the top of Google’s results), Google is now also favouring AI Overviews at the top of results. 

Here’s a couple of examples of the search results for ‘Are thermal conservatory blinds any good?’. For a search on a PC, you’ll see we have top results on the right-hand side for both websites: 

You get slightly different results on a mobile, with results just showing our article on the CB website.

As you can imagine there are hundreds of relevant questions for our products, so we’re working to prioritise the most popular questions. 

In addition, Google also highlights questions in a ‘People also ask…’ section.

Here’s an example when searching for ‘lantern roof blinds’: 

We’ve always included these types of questions as part of our Google SEO strategy, but we are currently working through a HUGE research document to ensure that our websites answer these questions for Google to pick up. 

Marketing Team

We have been working with three external consultants for 6-12 months now, mostly focusing on our social media, the website revamp and SEO to improve our organic results in search engines. Jesse has now left the company, so his responsibilities are being absorbed by the rest of the team here as well as our external consultants to ensure continuity in our marketing strategy. 

BBSA News

As you are all aware, this month we are in the process of reaccrediting our BBSA members’ ID cards. We take this opportunity to highlight the importance of our membership and the pride we have in being part of this esteemed organisation. 

What is the BBSA? 

The British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) is the only trade body representing companies involved in blinds, shutters, and awnings across the UK. Established over a century ago, its mission is to uphold high industry standards and promote fair trading practices. Specialist Blinds has been a proud BBSA member since 2002, reflecting our commitment to providing only premium, safe, and reliable blinds. We have greatly benefited from the association’s resources, including industry updates, research materials and training opportunities. 

Why Choose a BBSA Certified Business? 

Membership in the BBSA demonstrates a company’s dedication to delivering superior quality products, exceptional customer service, and current industry knowledge. To become accredited, companies must undergo strict vetting processes to verify they meet high professional standards. Reaccreditation occurs annually, ensuring members consistently uphold these standards. All accredited companies are required to follow the BBSA Code of Conduct and have access to the latest industry guidance, safety updates, and product regulations. 

The BBSA provides customers with confidence that its members are: 

• Fully insured 

• Focused on child safety 

• Knowledgeable about current regulations and best practices 

• Compliant with the BBSA Code of Conduct 

• Annually reaccredited  

Once accepted, members pledge to follow the BBSA’s Code of Practice, which encompasses ethical standards, fair trading, quality of service and workmanship, safety, and ongoing training. In the rare event of a dispute, customers can access BBSA’s mediation services for a fair resolution. 

These rigorous standards give customers peace of mind, knowing that BBSA accredited companies will deliver high-quality products and exceptional service. 

Prioritising Safety 

Specialist Blinds supports the BBSA’s Make it Safe initiative, launched in 2009 to prioritise the safety of children and vulnerable individuals in both domestic and commercial settings. We are committed to supplying only child-safe blinds, ensuring all products meet UK safety standards. Choosing a BBSA member guarantees that your blinds, shutters, or awnings are installed with safety at the forefront. 

Championing Environmental Responsibility 

The BBSA actively promotes sustainability and invests in research and development to help members improve their eco-friendly practices. Their Shade IT campaign, for example, conducts independent research into how solar shading technologies can enhance energy efficiency in homes and businesses. 

By leveraging these findings, Specialist Blinds and other members can offer sustainable products that aid in insulating buildings during winter and providing shade in summer, benefitting both the environment and consumers. 

BBSA’s Tribute to Appeal Home Shading Boss

Michael Madigan, executive chairman of Appeal Home Shading, sadly died following a motoring accident earlier this year.

Known to his friends as Mike, he was a well-known figure in the shading industry and had led Appeal’s board of directors since 1998, growing the business into a successful national brand.

His colleague, Appeal finance director, Peter French, told Openings: “Mike’s foresight means that despite our inevitable sorrow and grief, the company is in a strong financial position and arrangements are in place to ensure the management succession is assured.”

“The directors intend to guide Appeal forward with the same clear business ethics and professionalism that Mike showed us.”

Mike leaves behind his wife Jane and children Christopher, Tara and Suzy, all of whom have worked within the company.

Staff News

How long have you been with Specialist Blinds?

5 and a half years

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Helping people to resolve simple issues with their blinds

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Worked on a dairy farm for 18 years, milking cows, artificial insemination, calving, feeding, vet work, foot trimming, tractor driving and on one farm driving a dumper truck (great motorised large wheel barrow) and everything else to do with the job.

Tea or coffee?

Lots of tea

One thing on your bucket list?

A trip to the arctic circle

If you could swap jobs with anyone else in the business for a day, who would it be and why?

Cheryl Ede, to see how a day in the life of a Operations Director and how different the phone calls are to answering customers queries.

Favourite quote or saying?

(Ffs🤣)Who wants a cup of tea?!

June Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in June! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳

Happy belated birthday to

Krzysztof Stefankiewicz! 🎉🍰

Sorry, we missed your Birthday in May.