From the BBSA Openings Magazine Archives: How Barlow Blinds Has Served Leicester for More Than 135 Years
In an industry where companies come and go, surviving for more than 100 years says something important.
It says customers trusted you enough to come back.
It says generations of homeowners recommended you to others.
And it says your business adapted as the blinds industry changed around it.
That was one of the topics discussed when Barlow Blinds was featured in BBSA Openings Magazine, the official publication of the British Blind and Shutter Association.
For us, it was a chance to reflect on just how much both the company — and the blinds industry itself has changed over the decades.
Where Barlow Blinds Began
The story of Barlow Blinds starts back in 1887, when Alexander Barlow began manufacturing timber-framed canopies and external roller blinds in Leicester.
At the time, the blinds industry looked very different from today.
Products were handcrafted.
Most work came through word of mouth.
And local reputation mattered enormously.
Long before websites, Google reviews or social media existed, businesses survived purely on the quality of their workmanship and customer trust.
By the early 1900s, the company had already developed a strong reputation across Leicester and Leicestershire for manufacturing and installing blinds.
The Coleman Family and the War Years
In 1927, ownership passed to Frank Herbert Coleman, beginning the Coleman family’s long connection with the business.
Like many British companies, the Second World War brought major challenges. During the war years, the company focused heavily on blackout blinds and curtains while members of the family served in the armed forces.
After the war, Alfred (known as Alan) and Peggy Coleman rebuilt the business together.
Peggy manufactured the blinds.
Alan measured and installed them.
In many cases, installations were carried out using a motorcycle and sidecar something almost impossible to imagine in today’s blinds industry.
How the Blinds Industry Changed
Over the decades, the blinds industry evolved dramatically.
What once focused mainly on traditional roller blinds and awnings gradually expanded into:
- made-to-measure blinds
- Venetian blinds
- vertical blinds
- conservatory blinds
- motorised blinds
- electric blinds
- external shading systems
- smart home integration
Modern blinds are no longer just decorative products.
Today’s products are often highly technical systems involving:
- motorisation
- heat control
- energy efficiency
- child safety compliance
- specialist installation requirements
And as products became more advanced, product knowledge became more important than ever.
Why Experience Still Matters
One of the reasons we were proud to be featured in BBSA Openings Magazine is because experience still matters enormously in this industry.
Anybody can sell blinds online.
But understanding:
- which blinds work best in different rooms
- how motorised blinds should be installed
- suitable fixing methods
- blackout limitations
- moisture resistance
- long-term blind performance
comes from years of real-world installation experience.
We regularly visit homes across Leicester where blinds were technically fitted correctly but were completely unsuitable for the room itself.
That’s why honest advice matters just as much as installation quality.
More Than a Century Later
Today, Barlow Blinds remains proudly independent and family run.
Although the products and technology have changed dramatically since 1887, the core principles behind the business remain exactly the same:
- honest advice
- quality workmanship
- proper blind installation
- long-term customer trust
More than 100 years later, those values still matter just as much as they ever did.
And in an increasingly crowded online world, they probably matter even more.
How long has Barlow Blinds been serving Leicester?
Barlow Blinds has been supplying and installing blinds, awnings and shutters in Leicester and Leicestershire for more than 135 years, with the company’s roots dating back to 1887.
Was Barlow Blinds featured in BBSA Openings Magazine?
Yes. Barlow Blinds has been featured in BBSA Openings Magazine a number of times discussing the company’s history, industry experience and the evolution of blinds and shading products over the decades.
Why does experience matter when choosing a blinds company?
Long-term experience helps companies properly advise on products, installation methods, blind safety, room suitability and long-term performance.
Here is the full BBSA Openings Magazine Article from Spring 2019
They’re Still Going Strong More Than a Century Later
Leicestershire-based Barlow Blinds has been part of the industry’s landscape for more than 100 years. Current boss Phil Coleman takes a look back at the company’s rich history.
Barlow Blinds is the quintessential family business that has evolved from one man with his motorcycle and sidecar to a professional and modern multi-product blind maker.
The history of the company is long and distinguished and can be traced back to 1887. It was in that year that Alexander Barlow took the bold decision to open his own business.
He named the fledgling company E A Barlow and began manufacturing timber-framed canopies and exterior roller blinds from a factory in Leicester. It was not long before the firm began to flourish and by 1920, E A Barlow was operating as a general blind manufacturer offering such services as “revolving shutters made and repaired” and “old blinds repaired and repainted on the shortest of notice, with new covers available in many gay colours”.
In 1927, Alexander decided it was time for him to retire from the business and pass it on to someone else’s capable hands. The capable hands belonged to Frank Herbert Coleman.
During the 1930s, the company continued to grow and moved to larger premises and the workforce increased to five and included Frank’s son Alfred (known as Alan).
With the advent of the Second World War, the company was forced to alter its focus. Alan was drafted into the army, his wife Peggy took charge of the business and its sole task now was blackout curtains.
Frank sadly died during the war years and at the cessation of hostilities Alan returned and he and Peggy began to rebuild the business. Peggy made the blinds, with Alf measuring and installing the blinds from his motorcycle and sidecar.
Unlike today, in the 1950s we were very much a local business built almost entirely on reputation and word of mouth. Customers knew the Coleman family personally and many homes across Leicester still contain blinds fitted by the company decades ago.
As the years passed, the business continued to evolve alongside changes within the industry itself. Materials changed, fashions changed and customer expectations changed, but one thing remained consistent the company’s commitment to quality products and proper installation.
During the 1960s and 70s, the popularity of internal blinds increased dramatically and Barlow Blinds expanded further into made-to-measure products for both domestic and commercial customers.
By the 1980s, the business had firmly established itself as one of Leicester’s best-known independent blind specialists, offering an increasingly wide range of products including vertical blinds, roller blinds, Venetian blinds and conservatory shading systems.
As technology moved forward, so too did the company. Motorised blinds, integrated systems and external shading products all became part of the modern Barlow Blinds offering, while the company continued to invest heavily in product knowledge, installation standards and customer service.
Current owner Phil Coleman believes that adaptability has been one of the key reasons the company has survived for more than a century.
“The industry has changed massively over the years,” he explained. “Products today are far more technical than they once were and customer expectations are much higher. But the principles of good service, honest advice and proper workmanship have never changed.”
Phil also believes the company’s long-standing support of the British Blind and Shutter Association has played an important role in maintaining professional standards throughout the business.
“Training and product knowledge are incredibly important in this industry,” he said. “Anybody can sell a blind, but understanding how products perform, how they should be installed and what is right for the customer is what really matters.”
Now more than 100 years since Alexander Barlow first started manufacturing blinds from a Leicester factory, the company remains proudly independent and family-run.
And although the motorcycles and sidecars may have disappeared long ago, the same focus on quality, service and craftsmanship still sits at the heart of the business today.
About Phil Coleman
Phil Coleman is the fifth generation of his family to run Barlow Blinds, a Leicester business that has been making blinds since 1887. With over 30 years of hands-on experience, Phil has played a leading role in shaping industry standards including being part of the team that wrote the only NVQ qualification for blind and shutter installers. He also serves on the Management Committee of the British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA), helping to set best practice across the trade. Under his leadership, Barlow Blinds has remained true to its founding principle: “It’s not our job to find customers for our blinds, it’s our job to find the right blinds for our customers.”
