FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER 2026
Highlights
As we look ahead, we’re excited for the arrival of spring, especially with daffodils beginning to pop up everywhere as a hopeful sign of the season to come. 🌼
Here’s to brighter days, improved weather, and lighter evenings just around the corner.
Here’s a round-up of exciting updates, highlights, team wins and competitor insights from across the business throughout February.
What’s Happening: Installations
Update from Rich Jones
✈️ A Slightly Bonkers (But Brilliant) Order at Stansted Airport
This month we took on a project that sits in the “you don’t get this every day” category: shaped roller blinds for Stansted Airport’s air traffic control tower. Yes, that tower, the one that keeps the entire airport moving.
Getting to the tower was an adventure in itself. After navigating airport security, we found ourselves driving alongside the runway, an experience that feels a little too close to the action when planes are taking off and landing right beside you.
Once inside the tower, the real challenge began. Measuring the windows meant weaving around screens, equipment, and enough tech to launch a small satellite. To make things even more interesting, the windows aren’t just angled, they also lean outward, so being that high up looking at the ground felt uneasy.
Our installations and manufacturing teams have since put their heads together to engineer a solution. Because the blinds will run directly over glass, we’re adding small wheel guides to help them glide smoothly. The blinds themselves will be made in a transparent, glare‑reducing fabric, so the controllers can still see the skies without being blinded by them.
“We’ll keep you all updated following the finished Installation.”
🧠 Quote of the Month
All the best, Rich.
Installation of the Month
Transforming a Grand Orangery in Dockenfield
This month’s top installation can be found in an Orangery, in the leafy village of Dockenfield, on the outskirts of Farnham and to describe it as huge is an understatement!
The Orangery has two lantern openings at over 7metres long by 3.1 metres wide, so they are too big even for our XL lantern design. The solution? Aaron proposed individually recessed Duette roof blinds paired with our exclusive Solo Connect motorisation system.
With the order placed at £44962.00, Ryan duly contacted the client to discuss readiness, as the Orangery was under construction and kept in close contact with them, having arranged for Solo cable to be supplied pre-survey, so that the wiring could be concealed by the client’s builder.
With no concerns arising at survey, installation was booked for the 18th February and the factory commenced manufacture of 68 blinds!
Martin assisted Ryan on installation and as you can see from the attached video, an exceptional standard has been achieved. The parchment Duette fabric along with our exclusive Pure parchment rails ensure the tightest fit possible and makes the blinds a seamless addition to the roof area. A truly stunning installation.
What’s Happening: Sales
Elevating a Welsh Countryside Home
Sale of the month goes to Kevin Rogers for February, for this stunning property in Llandevaud in Wales.
Surrounded by rolling hills and farmland, the position of this property is truly amazing; the owners are very blessed!
They contacted us to offer shading solutions for various rooms across the property, where the previous occupants hadn’t been able to find blinds big enough to cover the windows and to replace some existing manual rollers.
Kevin proposed Duette fabrics paired with our Pure 10 12v motors to give the best coverage and provide optimum insulation, including a dimout model for the cinema room.
Our Supreme Hub was specified to give the client Smart control of the blinds throughout the property and with the order secured for £14840.00, survey is already booked for end of the month, so let’s look forward to seeing the difference the Duette blinds will make to this beautiful property.
Spotlight on Innovation
Precision-engineereD NORDIC DRAPES MACHINE
The factory has achieved another industry first in the UK with the introduction of the cutting-edge TST 3000, a fully automated solution dedicated to the production of our Nordic Drapes.
As the only machine on the market capable of manufacturing sheer vertical blinds in a completely automatic cycle, the TST 3000 sets a new benchmark for efficiency, precision, and product quality. From start to finish, the system seamlessly manages each stage of production — cutting fabric to size, applying stiffening tape to the upper edge and, where required, to the lower edge for enhanced compactness and rigidity.
Precision-engineered for exact alignment and consistency, the machine delivers a clean hem finish at both the top and bottom of every vane. Its advanced ultrasonic welding technology ensures superior strength and durability, while slimline hangers are welded discreetly inside the vanes to create a seamless, invisible appearance when installed.
Designed for performance as well as quality, the TST 3000 can produce complete fabrics in under thirty seconds, offering exceptional speed without compromising on craftsmanship.
With this latest investment, this reinforces our commitment to innovation, manufacturing excellence, and delivering premium Nordic Drapes to our customers.
What’s Happening: Marketing
Current Performance
We’re pleased to report that the number of leads issued to the sales team this February is up 25% compared to Feb-25. As always, we will continue to monitor where our enquiries are coming from and swap/increase advertising budgets accordingly.
SPRING IS ON THE WAY
As we head into Spring and hopefully the start of warmer, sunnier days, we’re busy preparing our Spring messaging and google/social ads. We’ll be reminding potential customers that they need Specialist Blinds to help reduce glare and keep their homes cooler in the months ahead.
VIDEOS FROM THE INSTALLATION TEAM
We mentioned last month that we’ve asked the installation team for their help in obtaining more videos that we know works across our social channels and website.
We’re pleased to see that they’ve started to deliver! Huge thanks to Dan for several videos that he’s sent over that are exactly what we asked for – great video skills, thanks for listening Dan! They’ll be posted on socials in the next couple of weeks, so watch this space…
AI Overviews
As you know from previous newsletters, we’ve been working on our website content writing short snippets that we’re hoping will be picked up by Google’s AI Overviews. We’re visible for a growing number of questions each month but we’re particularly proud to get a mention within the result for ‘Best blinds company UK’. You’ll note we have 2 links here mentioning us for custom and electric solutions 😊
February Reviews Showcase
We’ve received some fantastic reviews this month, and we wanted to share a few standouts:
Excellent service from Specialist Blinds
⭐10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Alan Cester & Jack Wesson)
Great experience with this company fitting roof and side blinds to conservatory. Everything went as planned and when a remote control stopped working (possibly because dropped by a child) a replacement was brought quickly. 100% satisfied. – Anne Holden
Great Customer Service. Helpful and friendly
⭐10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Arnaud Keat & Jack Wesson)
Absolutely perfect. I was looking for an electric smart blind. Specialist blinds arrived quickly to take me through all the options. They then turned around the delivery and installation ahead of schedule. I love the blind and would recommend them without question. – Steven Radford
Really pleased with our blinds
⭐5/5 Trustpilot™ – (James Alexander & Lex Allan)
The salesman was very polite, not at all pushy, we were happy with the quote so went ahead. The surveyor/ installer was also very polite and very knowledgeable. The installation was mess free and very quick, we were very pleased with the whole process and would highly recommend. – Beverley Parker
Lantern Blind
⭐5/5 Trustpilot™ – (Aaron Sparks-Carolan & Rob Scott)
Customer service excellent, everything was as promised – time wise. Quality of product excellent. Would highly recommend – Sharron Price
Lovely email – (Aaron Sparks-Carolan & Rob Scott)
My Blinds – I just had them fitted today. I would like to commend Aaron, His product knowledge, sense of style, ideas about the colour, (what would and would not go with my existing decor).
It was his suggestion I have double width blinds instead of individuals. This was exactly the right thing to do to minimise gaps.
He listened to what I said, understood my concerns and was interested.
They look stupendous, superb, could not be better. They were made for my conservatory and anybody coming here can see that.
I would also like to commend Rob who came to see me before the fitting and who did the fitting today.
We spent a lot of time discussing which way to hang the Blinds, type of chain, which side to have the chain, how they would fit in the corner.
The details, the little things, all very important things. He arrived in good time, was very quick and very tidy.
Thank you for a job well done I would not hesitate to recommend your company to someone else in the future.
Yours sincerely, David Arnold
Competitor Watch
A Return Visit
Clare Walker originally visited the property in 2022, where she provided a quotation for two extra-large clear lantern blinds—one positioned at the kitchen end and the other at the dining end of the open-plan space.
At the time, the clients chose to proceed with an alternative supplier, Appeal, whose quotation was approximately £200 less than Clare’s final negotiated price. During her initial consultation, Clare had openly discussed considerations such as remedial rates, fabric quality, upfront payment terms, and the supplier’s track record. However, the clients unfortunately opted for the lower upfront cost.
In early January this year, Clare received a new enquiry from the same property. Initially, it was challenging to arrange a visit, as the clients felt familiar with the product, having already had blinds installed. Once on site, Clare carried out a thorough and detailed demonstration, carefully explaining the technical and quality differences between the systems.
Upon inspection, several issues were evident with the existing installation:
- Support wires had failed, likely due to the absence of grommets within the aluminium rails
- The kitchen blind was sagging, with the fabric showing signs of moisture absorption
- Battery packs were visible beneath the blinds rather than discreetly concealed within trunking
- Neither blind was operational – One retracted and other twisted/partially extended
The clients explained that they had experienced ongoing difficulties over the past four years. As payment had been made upfront, no refund had been secured.
While the initial decision had been based on a mere £200 saving, the long-term experience proved significantly more costly! Clare’s visit ultimately reinforced the value of investing in quality materials, expert specification, and reliable aftercare from the outset.
Appeal Lantern Blind
Appeal Lantern Blind
Staff News
How long have you been with us?
12 years
What’s your go-to snack or drink during a busy workday?
Coffee
What’s your favourite thing to do when you’re not working?
Play darts 🎯
What’s your guilty pleasure TV show or movie?
The Traitors 📺
If you could have dinner with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Eminem 🎤
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
That I have a diploma in Public Services
If you weren’t working at the factory, what other profession would you be in?
Professional Darts Player 😎
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Live life like there’s no tomorrow
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!
Kerry-Marie Hollingsbee – Fabric Department
Damiso Springer – Roller Department
🎉Congratulations🎉
Factory Employee of the Month
Our employee of the month for February is
Glenn Pheiffer 🥳🥇
“Glenn only joined the company last September but he has had a huge impact already. Pinoleum blinds are not easy to build, yet Glenn has picked up the process incredibly quickly. He is dedicated, efficient and meticulous, ensuring only the highest quality blinds go out the door. The pinoleum department is currently the busiest it’s ever been and Glenn has dealt incredibly well with the pressure of this. He is regularly nominated by his colleagues, and this month received the most nominations from the team.” – Ellie Smith-Anderson
FEBRUARY Birthday Celebrations
Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in February! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉
SHOUT OUT
AN AMAZING MILESTONE
Greg Hall, one of our longest standing members of the sales team has just passed an amazing milestone with the company, submitting his 1000th invoice!
Great to see such success, keep those orders and invoices rolling in!
Specialist Blinds Staff Blog 