APRIL NEWSLETTER 2026
Highlights
April has brought brighter days and a noticeable lift in pace and energy across the business 🌿🌞
As we close out April, we’re seeing continued progress across the business, with teams maintaining strong focus and building steady momentum through the month.
Here’s a round-up of exciting updates, highlights, team wins and competitor insights from across the business throughout April.
What’s Happening: Installations
Update from Rich Jones
📐 Long and Wide
This month the team took on a seriously impressive installation, a single-piece roller blind measuring over 14m², all housed neatly within a 120mm fascia.
The window itself stands at 5 metres high, and to keep the look clean and seamless, it simply had to be one blind. Taylor, one of our newest sales people, secured the order, and James carried out the installation with his usual precision.
The customer was absolutely over the moon. They found us online after struggling to find anyone else who could manufacture at this scale and offer a full 5‑year guarantee. A great win and a brilliant showcase of what sets us apart.
🛜 Zigbee
This month we’ve had several orders requiring Somfy Zigbee motors, and it raised a good question: what exactly is Zigbee?
Zigbee is a protocol (a type of language) used for smart‑home communication. Unlike RTS or WT, it’s typically only used when a customer has a specific requirement or need their blinds to integrate with an existing home automation system such as Home Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Crestron, or Control4.
One of the key things that makes Zigbee different is that it creates its own mesh network. A mesh is a system where all connected devices communicate with each other, passing signals along the chain until they reach the hub. Because each device acts as a repeater, the overall range can be extended far beyond what a single hub could normally achieve. In simple terms: the more Zigbee devices in the home, the stronger and more reliable the network becomes.
Another major benefit is that Zigbee networks are self‑healing. Should a motor or device in the chain go down, the system will automatically find another device in the mesh to route the data back to the hub. This keeps the network stable and ensures communication continues without the customer even noticing an issue.
At present, Somfy has only released a limited range of Zigbee‑compatible motors, but interest is growing. Seb will be completing his first Zigbee installation this week, and Jeff has a separate Zigbee order scheduled for early June.
This could be something we expand into our product range in the future if demand continues to rise.
If a customer requests Zigbee, please speak with Ian and me before agreeing the sale. This ensures we can price it correctly and confirm the setup will work with the customer’s system.
🧠 Quote of the Month
All the best – Rich.
Installation of the Month
Timeless Craftsmanship in a Georgian Gem
Not only installation of the month but certainly the oldest property of the month or more likely the year!
This stunning Georgian detailed, Grade 2 listed property, dates back to the late 18th century, with records showing that by the early 19th century the building essentially remains the same to this day.
Paul Herrington met with the client’s interior designer towards the end of last year and pinoleum was the look they were aiming for and after a meticulous selection process, where it was queried if we could use a braid edging tape of their design and different cleats, a scheme was finally agreed on – our French pinoleum in Corde (String) finish with Natural Braid.
Dan duly surveyed and returned to install these truly amazing looking blinds. The colour of the pinoleum and matching wooden headrail, enabled by the client’s choice to go with traditional cord and cleat operation, perfectly compliment the décor of the room and the millimetre perfect fit ensures total coverage to deal with the glare across the large area of glazing.
A fantastic installation in a stunning property. Well done Dan and Paul.
What’s Happening: Sales
A Historic Backdrop for Classic Blinds
Ok so the installation of the month’s claim for oldest building may fall flat here! The area we are supplying blinds to though, is not that old, but first records of the castle (yes castle), where the building is, date back to 1119!
The castle in question is Leeds Castle in Kent, a few miles up the M20 from the factory in Ashford and we were tasked with supplying coverage for the propagation conservatory, to protect all the seedlings and cuttings as they form young plants, prior to being moved to the stunning castle gardens.
Arnaud has sold Pure pleated solar design roof blinds, in a large, simple layout, which takes us back to our roots (sorry!) of perfectly fitted conservatory roof blinds. Watch this space to see how this job germinates (last pun, honest!).
What’s Happening: Marketing
Social media influencer / content creator
We are very excited to announce that we’ve embarked on our first social media collaboration with ‘ThehomeofJade | silver.grey.home’.
Jade has 189k followers on her Instagram and 42k on TikTok, which will give us excellent exposure to other homeowners and renovators across the country. Jade has been filming the process with our team so far, and will post the finished install next month, along with other seasonal posts throughout the year. Importantly, Jade is also allowing us to reshare her content in our own advertising.
We’ve had many discussions with influencers over the past couple of years, but it can be a bit of a minefield finding the right ones to work with. A lot of so called ‘influencers’ have a VERY low number of followers and are just looking for free blinds, so we’ve been very careful when it comes to deciding who we want to work with.
That said, working with Jade has been an absolute pleasure so far – she’s down to earth and Paul H had a lovely long chat with her 4 year old when he visited for the consultation a few weeks ago. Dan has just visited to survey the blinds, and an excited Jade shared this on her story…
We will continue to discuss collaborations with other potential content creators, only choosing to work with the best ones for our business. We already have another one in the pipeline, so watch this space…
URGENT request for ‘before / after’ shots
You’ll probably all remember Martin’s inspired video showing a competitor’s blind before he finished his install. We’ve used this in various ads across socials which has achieved A LOT of interest and enquiries. Thank you Martin!
However, we urgently need more shots like this please! So whenever possible, please film the old blinds before you start the installation and then film the new blinds as a comparison. Extra bonus points if you can film the blinds side-by-side as Martin did 😊
Alternatively, we received this enquiry from a customer earlier this week, clearly using a parasol indoors to protect their plants from burning. @salesteam @installteam: If you see any other improvised solutions while customer’s wait for their blinds, please send them over to us (with the customer’s permission of course).
@Howard, you have this enquiry so it would be great to get some daytime shots please…
April Reviews Showcase
We’ve received some fantastic reviews this month, and we wanted to share a few standouts:
First class service and quality
⭐10/10 Checkatrade™ – (Alan Dawes & Rob Drummond)
The first consultation to the installation everything was absolutely first class. The lantern blind was fitted perfectly and we are really pleased with it. It’s just what we needed in time for the summer and I’m really looking forward to using it. I would highly recommend this company and the professional job they do. Well done Specialist Blinds xxx – Linda Stonehouse
Happy Customer
⭐5/5 Trustpilot™ – (Grant S Johnston & Richard Turner)
Grant measured and gave quote for conservatory roof and windows. He answered all my questions and gave advice. Richard fitted the blinds. They look amazing. Excellent customer service. Really impressed from start to finish. I would definitely recommend 👌 Thank you 😊 -Ms Antonietta Iaciofano
Fantastic EXPERIENCE
⭐5/5 Google Review (Grant Johnstone & Ryan Keegan)
I had a fantastic experience with Specialist Blinds and wanted to give a particular shoutout to both Ryan and Grant.
Grant, who handled the sales side, was brilliant, he came out twice to help us choose the right options and gave really helpful, honest advice so we felt completely confident in our decision. Nothing felt rushed and we really appreciated his guidance.
Ryan, who fitted the blinds, was equally impressive, professional, friendly, and efficient. He made the whole fitting process smooth and stress-free, took the time to explain everything clearly, and made sure we were absolutely happy with the final result.
It’s not even properly summer yet and we’re already noticing how much cooler our kitchen is with our new pinoleum blinds, which we’re so pleased with.
Overall, such a positive experience from start to finish – we’re so happy with how everything turned out and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. Thank you! – Sarah Johnston
Superb Quality and Service
⭐5/5 Trustpilot™ – (Colin Lewis & Andy Robinson)
We made our first purchase of motorised Duette honeycomb-style blinds 5 years ago in our south facing extension. They still look lovely and we were so impressed with their cooling properties in the summer and their insulating properties in the winter that we added the same to the main front window two years later. In January of this year, we added three further blinds upstairs. High praise, indeed.
They are not cheap but, as home improvements go, they make a difference every day in whatever season. Supported in no small part, in my view, by great staff. Five years – same Sales Advisor (Colin) and same fitter (Andy). That actually says an awful lot. These people know their stuff – knowledgeable, professional and no pressure. Nice people who seem to care about doing a first-class job. And, on the odd occasion when I have needed their customer service, same high standards. No hesitation in giving them my highest recommendation. – Mr & Mrs Robert & Shirley Demarco
Customer Email – (Jeff Cox)
Yesterday Jeff installed my ceiling blind at 15 Green Lane, Frome.
He kindly suggested that he would work on a Sunday as I had been let down with dates before that.
He has done a fantastic job for me. I’m very pleased with the smart appearance of your product which is easy to use and already has made a difference in temperature to my room.
I am happy to recommend his work and your company to my friends.
Best wishes
Janet Jopson
Staff News
How long have you been with Specialist Blinds?
Just over 10 wonderful years.
What’s your favourite thing to do when you’re not working?
In the winter, just being cosy by the fire with a good film. In the summer, BBQ’s and G&T’s in the garden. I’m getting on a bit now so not so much of a party animal anymore! 😉
Tea or Coffee?
Coffee ☕
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
India, I’ve always wanted to go there and explore.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
To buy property sooner.
If you weren’t working for Specialist Blinds, what other profession would you be in?
I’d probably start up my own dog walking business or something like that, I love dogs. 🐶
What’s something on your bucket list that you’re determined to cross off?
To move to a warmer climate when I retire.
If you could have dinner with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Difficult question! I think it would have to be someone like Tom Davis or Bob Mortimer or Dawn French, just because it would be a good night out! 🤩
WeLCOME TO OUR NEWCOMER
Welcome to our new team member! 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!
Nick Whitehead – Sales Team
🎉Congratulations🎉
Factory Employee of the Month
Our employee of the month for April is
Charles Rush🥳🥇
Charles has had an immediate positive impact since joining the company in February. Being that our pinoleum department is a small but busy department, we couldn’t be happier to have his skill and dedication here. It is testament to Charles’ excellent work ethic that he has won this award in just his second month with the business – Ellie Smith-Anderson
APRIL Birthday Celebrations
Happy Birthday to all our wonderful colleagues who celebrated their birthdays in April! Wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with happiness, success, and good health. Here’s to many more celebrations! 🎉🥳🎉
Specialist Blinds Staff Blog 