Hillarys Blinds

Hillarys is a manufacturer and retailer of made-to-measure window blinds, window shutters, curtains, awnings, carpets, vinyl flooring and awnings. It sells via a network of approximately 1200 self-employed advisors across Great Britain and Ireland. The company’s head office is in Nottingham, England, while manufacturing facilities are located in Nottingham and Washington, Tyne and Wear. Approximately 1100 people are employed by the company in roles including sales and marketing, ICT, customer services, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.

History

Early history

The company was established in 1971 by Tony Hillary. He originally made blinds in a converted garage at his home in Nottingham. As well as selling and fitting the blinds, Tony Hillary looked after advertising and manufacturing. Initially only two products Venetian blinds and vertical blinds were available. In 1974, roller blinds were introduced to the range.

The company grew steadily over the following years and in 1978 production moved to a factory, where 100 people were employed. Four shops were opened in Nottingham, Leicester, Workington and Spennymoor.

In 1982, a second factory opened in Washington, Tyne and Wear making blinds for customers in the north of England and Scotland. 1000 blinds per week were now being produced and sold.

During the 1980s, Austrian and festoon blinds were added to the range of products. These were discontinued in the early 1990s. Curtains were also introduced – they remained in the range for 20 years before being discontinued.

In 1985, a new factory and head office opened in Nottingham. The following year, company sales reached £10million a year. By 1990, 5000 blinds were being made each week.

During the 1990s, more shops opened throughout the UK, bringing the total number of outlets to 18. The Hillarys product range increased again with the introduction of roman blinds and wooden blinds. Pleated blinds were also launched, reflecting the increased popularity of conservatories. Awnings for the outside of the home were added to the range in 1996.

Recent history

By 2000, 20,000 blinds were being produced each week. Tony Hillarys sold Hillarys to a management buyout team backed by Close Brothers Private Equity.^[1]

Under the new management team, the marketing strategy changed. The company updated its logo and advertising tactics. The customer services team at head office was strengthened, as well as the structure of the sales team. In 2002, 1000 people were employed by the company and sales reached £70 million.

To mark the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Washington, Tyne and Wear in 2003, Hillary's manufactured the world’s largest vertical blind. It measured 20.1 meters wide and 8.3 meters tall, which is 75 times larger than the average blind manufactured by Hillary's.^[2]

In 2004, Hillarys announced a second management buyout, backed by Change Capital Partners.^[3]

In 2005, a programme to close the Hillarys shops took place. Woodweave blinds were introduced into the range. Interior shutters followed in 2006. A specialist products division was established in 2007 to concentrate on the company’s higher value products – conservatory blinds, shutters and awnings. European Capital became financial backers of Hillarys in 2007. In the same year, sales reached £100million.^[4]

In 2008, a new production facility opened in the Bilborough area of Nottingham, on the Glaisdale Drive Industrial Estate. The reintroduction of curtains to the Hillarys product range began in Nottinghamshire in 2010, followed by counties in the south of England. Curtains are now available across Great Britain and Ireland.

Recent News

In 2011, Hillarys celebrated its 40th anniversary. The full product range now includes vertical blinds, venetian blinds, roller blinds, pleated blinds, roman blinds, wooden blinds, skylight blinds and Perfect Fit blinds. There are more than 850 blind fabric choices. Window shutters, awnings and curtains are available nationwide. Carpets are also available across most of Great Britain.

In 2012, Hillarys opened its first concession in Highcross Leicester. This was followed by concessions and pop-up shops opening in major shopping centres across Great Britain and Ireland. Hillarys regularly appears at the Ideal Home Show.

In 2013, Hillarys launched the Country Retreat range. This blinds and curtains collection was developed with Victoria Robinson, an upcoming fabric designer and then recent graduate from Nottingham Trent University.

Hillarys was named Nottinghamshire Company of the Year in the Nottingham Post Business Awards in 2014.^[5] The judges praised Hillarys for its continued investment and growth, despite the difficult trading conditions following the financial crisis of 2007-08.

Hillarys collaborated with House Beautiful, an interior decorating magazine, on a blinds and curtains range in 2015. Also in 2015, Hillarys sponsored the UNESCO International Year of Light, a year-long event that aimed to raise awareness of the achievements of light science and its applications. Meadoway, a Tony Hillary designed fabric that was originally released in 1974 and stayed in the range until 2010, was revamped and re-released in 2015. 1300 employees work at the company’s three sites at Colwick and Glaisdale in Nottingham, and Washington, Tyne and Wear. 950 self-employed advisors sell products throughout the UK. More than 850,000 customers are visited in their homes each year. 21,000 blinds and shutters are made and fitted each week.

In May 2016, Hillarys was taken over by the Dutch blinds company Hunter Douglas for £300 million.^[6]

References

External links

• Official website