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.
What’s Happening: Installations
Field Update from Rich Jones
🕘 A Day in the Life of an Installer
Precision, Pride, Professionalism. Every single day.
| 🛻 07:00, Gear Up & Get Set | Van loaded, tools checked, route confirmed. Branded gear on, mindset locked in. First stop: a roof lantern install with awkward access and zero margin for error.
“We gear up with purpose, because every job deserves our best.”
| 🔍 08:30, Site Arrival | Customer greeted with clarity and confidence, Quick recon. Check the structure, confirm specs, spot potential curveballs. We’re not just installers, we’re problem-solvers.
“Every job starts with eyes and ears, not tools.”
| 📐 09:00, Install in Action | Laser levels out. Framework/shelfs aligned. Blinds fitted with millimetre-perfect care. It’s a dance of discipline, every movement deliberate, every finish flawless.
“We don’t rush. We refine.”
| 🥪 13:00 Lunch & Logistics | Quick bite, quick check-in. Next job confirmed, team messages exchanged. Pride travels with us, from site to site.
“Even lunch is part of the rhythm.”
| 📸 15:30, Customer Handover & Socials | Customer’s home left exactly as we found it, clean, tidy, and respected. A detailed handover confirms every blind, every control, every expectation met. A few standout shots captured for our social media, maybe they’ll feature in the next newsletter. Pride packed up, ready for the next visit.
“We don’t just finish the job, we finish well.”
| ⚡ 16:30, Survey: Electric Gable Blinds | Arrive on-site to measure for Two aspect 3 bespoke gable blinds, all electric. Angles assessed, fixings considered, cable routes mapped. Meet with the customer’s electrician to coordinate power options and control points. It’s technical, collaborative, and crucial.
“We don’t just fit blinds, we design solutions.”
| ✅ 18:30, End-of-Day System Update | Back home, the installer logs in. Outstanding calls checked off, jobs marked complete, notes updated. Van reloaded with tomorrow’s kit. It’s quiet, focused, and full of pride.
“The day doesn’t end when the tools go down, it ends when the job’s truly done.”
🧬 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.
Installation of the Month
Honours shared this month for installations completed by Martin Evans and Dan Watson
On first glimpse the window areas appear to be the same, both at height, but each has its own blind solution.
Martin’s installation required gable blinds to be recessed within each window opening so that the apex of the highest blind would align and fit within an existing recess. The height of the gable area was such that further free hanging window blinds had to be positioned beneath.
There were also further blinds required on the adjacent elevation. The window frames were Anthracite so a combination Pure Aspect 3 Gable blinds with Slate Duette Linen Silk Fulltone fabric and Anthracite hardware means the blinds blend into the frames.
As the blinds are very high, battery power could not be specified as charging would be impractical. Therefore, Pure 1012v motors with a Max 5 transformer were specified. However, the nearest power was located on the adjacent mezzanine, so wiring has been run from the transformer along the top of the 2 windows blinds on the left through to the gable area. All seamlessly hidden as the photos show and done while working off a tower.
For Dan a different challenge, as there is a staircase immediately adjacent to the installation area. Normally we would look at discussing scaffold requirements for the client to arrange, but with careful planning and discussions between Dan and Alan, the installation was carried out on ladders set at different positions up the flight of stairs and two fitters in attendance.
This window area had very deep wooden mullions with narrow openings between them, so 2 surface mounted Pure Aspect 3 Gable blinds were specified to sit in front of the mullions and give a less busy appearance. Each blind runs on our Pure Power 10 12v motor, similar to Martin’s installation, and again there was not power available close to the blinds, so this time we used battery operation and Dan was able to conceal charging cables for both motors within trunking adjacent to the middle stair landing, making it easy for the client to access and hidden from view.
On this installation the window frames were natural wood and the decor much lighter, so SuperCell Pumice Cream fabric was used with Parchment hardware to perfectly compliment the area.
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.
Spotlight on Innovation
Engineering Elegance at Camden Town Hall
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 28th! 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.
OCTOBER Reviews Showcase
We’ve received some fantastic reviews this month, and we wanted to share a few standouts:
Lovely email To Arnaud Keat:
Dear Arnaud
Simon and I wanted to let you know how very pleased we are with the blinds to our conservatory and kitchen door fitted by the absolutely delightful Ryan last week.
Already we can see the benefits of having these blinds. Sitting in the conservatory without being blinded by the autumn sunshine is fantastic.
A huge thank you to you and the team of experts at Specialist Blinds for your professionalism and craftsmanship. The finished work is superb.
We will have no hesitation in recommending Specialist Blinds to anyone we know who is looking for the best in window blinds.
Kind regards,
Gail & Simon Watkins
Much better than Hillary blinds!
⭐ 10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Aaron Sparks-Carolan & Rob Scott)
From the time the advisor came to see me to the time the blinds were installed, I was kept up to date with what was happening and the fitting date was even earlier than I had anticipated.
No hard sell, good honest advice (told me I was wasting my money on what I had originally wanted and offered a cheaper and better option).
The fitter, Rob, was very competent and did the job in the time that he said – despite very hot working conditions. – Allison Saville
Excellent service
⭐ 10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Grant S Johnston & Richard Turner)
Had a lantern blind fitted. From start to finish – everything went smoothly. Grant went through our options clearly and Richard measured and installed. Great value for money and would highly recommend – Emma Pitcher
Excellent service and product
⭐ 10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Grant Johnstone & Paul Stuart)
Very easy and smooth process from first contact to book a consultation and measure up to final installation. Lots of options to choose from and advice given on consultation and measure up was very helpful. At no point was I rushed to make a choice and given plenty of time to browse materials catalogue. Consultant was knowledgeable of the catalogue. The wait time for the blinds was as predicted and installation was quicker (and quieter than expected). The result is I have a set of bifold door blinds that looks fantastic. My only regret is not having these blinds done sooner – Simeon Gill
A great company
⭐ 10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Paul Herrington & Dan Watson)
An excellent company from initial inspection and quotation to completion of fitting. Each representative was professional, friendly and knowledgeable. Work carried out safely and without any fuss. I am extremely pleased with the results and would highly recommend. – Mary Nelson
Great company, great product
⭐ 10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Clare Walker & Richard Turner)
From start to finish the experience with Specialist Blinds was exemplary. The representative was helpful and instructive without being “hard sell” at all. The fitter was thorough in both his measurements and his explanation of the of the options and process for fitting. On the day he was meticulous in his approach to the fitting and setting up the blinds. We are delighted with them and would thoroughly recommend the company and their product. – Paul Sutton
Well please with my new blinds
⭐ 10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Alan Dawes & Dan Watson)
I had 6 blinds and 2 side remote controlled blinds for my veranda. They did a very neat job, the blinds works perfectly and they look amazing. – Elizabeth Milbourn
This is a very experienced and professional business
⭐ 10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Grant Johnstone & Ryan Keegan)
I highly recommend Specialist Blinds. Extremely professional service. Clearly they deliver high quality, timely and cost-effective service. We were very pleased with the quality of the workmanship and the product. The installation was quick and well done. – Katherine Frey
COMPETITOR WATCH
When ‘Fully Operational’ Isn’t Quite What It Seems
At Specialist Blinds, we’re often called in to put things right — and this recent project is a perfect example.
A customer who had previously purchased blinds from Hillary’s Blinds was left disappointed when their so-called “fully operational” gable and folding door blinds failed to live up to expectations. The gable blinds had been supplied as WS43 models with fixed tops, but issues quickly became apparent. The customer ultimately rejected the blinds and, after taking the matter to small claims court, received a refund.
However, they still wanted blinds — and asked us to step in to provide a quality replacement.
Arnaud Keat handled the project, ensuring the customer received the expert advice and precision finish they had hoped for the first time around.
The “before” photos tell their own story:
- Anthracite rails with clear handles clashed with the customer’s black frames.
- The 20mm pleated fabric on the folding door blinds had already dropped, showing visible creasing.
- The gable blinds displayed scrunched pleats around the hinge sections.
- Attention to detail was lacking, with friction cords tied off in an untidy manner.
We’ll share the “after” photos soon, showcasing the transformation once the installation is complete — a perfect illustration of how craftsmanship and care make all the difference.
At Specialist Blinds, we believe customers deserve blinds that not only look the part but also perform flawlessly. Sadly, that’s not always what they get elsewhere — but we’re always happy to step in and set things right.
What’s Happening: Marketing
Website Product Pages – Inspiration & Advice
We’ve upgraded the functionality in the gallery section on each of the website product pages so that we can add videos alongside the existing photos. Videos really help to show customers exactly how the blinds will work in each situation, and as most competitors focus on images, this really helps to set us apart.
Winter Themed Adverts & Keywords
As the weather turns colder and people start to think of ways to keep their homes warmer over the coming months, our main activity across all marketing channels this month has been to switch the emphasis of our advertising to focus on winter themed keyword searches.
We’ve created a series of ads for use on social media, as well as writing various articles and adding to our product page FAQs with keywords such as thermal blinds, insulating blinds, best blinds for winter, etc. We also have a new main product page for thermal blinds to help drive more visitors to the website.
Customer Reviews on Google, Checkatrade etc
For those who don’t know, Lesley emails our customers following installation asking them to leave us a review. If you receive an email directly from one of your happy customers, please forward it to Lesley so that she can ask them to leave a review on one of our public review platforms.
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!’)
Some examples…
Staff News
How long have you been with Specialist Blinds?
Somehow I’ve been here over 14 years!
If you could swap jobs with anyone in the company for a day, who would it be and why?
Perhaps someone in the contracts department, to see what their day-to-day job is like.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai
What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I actually studied music and used to play the Trombone.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you bring?
A satellite phone, some shade and a lot of factor 50!
If you could have dinner with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I would have dinner with Harrison Ford because he seems pretty chill and probably knows a lot of good places to eat.
If there was a movie made about your life, who would play you?
He’s sadly no longer with us but the only real answer is Philip Seymour Hoffman.
What’s your favourite part of the job?
Probably the variety of it – it’s never the same one day from the next!
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. 😄
Specialist Blinds Staff Blog 