LOCAL COMPETITORS - Ayrshire
It is impossible for the general public, using Newspapers, Yellow Pages, Thomsons, or even web-sites, to differentiate between window blind suppliers.
Hopefully this page will help.
Allshades
Factory/showroom in Kilmarnock. A sound, middle-of-the-road local company.
Ayrshire Blinds
Factory/showroom in Main St Dreghorn. A sound middle-of-the-road local company
Apollo Blinds
This is a "Franchise" operation owned by Hunter Douglas, the largest window blind company in the world. The chairman of the Franchise division went on record recently stating that Franchisees should not be too price-conscious. This may be why their prices are about 30% higher than ours for comparable blinds.
Blind Design
2 companies have recently appeared with the same name “Blind Design”.
Blind Design - Company 1: A shop opposite Hourstons in Alloway Street, Ayr.
No manufacturing facility but buys in good quality blinds for re-sale. Decent
– honest.
Blind Design - Company 2: This young lady after many years with Sovereign Blinds
left their employment, converted her garage to business premises, and named
her business Blind Design. Similar manufacturing capability to 'Florida Blinds'
- see below.
British Blinds
Commission sales agent for large manufacturer based in Hull.
Chris Craft
Commission sales agent for large manufacturer based in Brechin.
Classique
Factory/showroom in Kilbirnie. A sound, middle-of-the-road local company.
Express Blinds
Sorry - daren’t comment.
Florida Blinds
A fireman who makes vertical blinds in his garage at his house in Troon, and buys all other kinds in.
Fresh Look
Sales person from Crosshouse who buys in blinds and re-sells them to the public.
Hillary's
The biggest national-selling company. Manufacture in Washington, Tyne and Wear, and distribute via commission-only salesmen who earn 15% of the sale value for selling and fitting. Product quality is excellent. The commission-only salespersons' fitting can be iffy. Prices on a par with "Apollo" ie about 30% higher than ours for comparable blinds. Disappointingly, they seem to use misleading advertising i.e “50% off summer sale” which still leaves their prices 30-40% higher than ours for comparable blinds. See our '3 for 99 - The Myth' page.
Shades Blinds
Famous for their TV advertising featuring three mice. Their corporate philosophy is "Use an attractive appearing low price offer to gain access to someone's house, then switch-sell to medium quality at top quality prices." It must work, for Star Blinds is following exactly that pattern. See our '3 for 99 - The Myth' page.
Sovereign Blinds
Factory/showroom in former Monsanto plant in Dundonald. A sound middle-of-the-road local company.
Star Blinds
Burst onto the scene from nowhere about May 2007, with huge adverts. Turns out they are a new subsidiary of Hillary's, aimed squarely at the bottom end (ie the gullible end) of the market. They are reportedly Hillary's response to "Shades Blinds" taking a share of the cheap, low quality end of the market. And, although their adverts are huge, are they honest and truthful? For example, they say "Star Blinds of Ayrshire." The nearest Star Blinds employee to Ayrshire is in Nottingham! Typically, their agents who are all self employed get a one day “training” in a hotel in Glasgow, they are then let loose on the public. See our "Three for £99 myth" page.
V B S
Vertical Blind Specialists. Factory/showroom in Hurlford.
If you have any experience of any of the above companies, or indeed any others not mentioned, and you feel it would be helpful to prospective buyers for you to share the experience, please use our feedback form. We will need a phone number for verification purposes before posting any comments on our web-site.