What 50 Years in the Same Workplace Says About a Company.
In an industry where staff turnover is normal and many products are mass-produced overseas, stories like this are becoming rare.
But at Barlow Blinds, they still matter.
Because behind every blind made in Leicester are people whose knowledge wasn’t learned from a manual or passed through a quick training course.
It was earned slowly.
Over decades.
And sometimes, those stories deserve preserving.
Two old Leicester Mercury features tell the story better than any marketing campaign ever could.
Not because they celebrate anniversaries.
But because they reveal something far more important:
Pride. Loyalty. Craftsmanship. And the quiet consistency of people who spent their lives doing a job properly.
Not for five years.
Not for ten.
But for generations.
“Ron’s Still Going Strong After 50 Years”
Back in 2007, the Leicester Mercury featured Ron Hipwell after an extraordinary milestone:
50 years working at Barlow Blinds.
Ron joined the company in 1957 after spotting a newspaper advert for a van delivery boy at the old Hartshorn Bakery site where Barlow Blinds was based at the time.
His starting wage was £12 a week.
He later joked that he thought he’d “struck oil.”
What began as a delivery role turned into a lifetime spent manufacturing blinds in Leicester.
And even at 76 years old, Ron was still working four days a week at the Brighton Road factory.
One line from the article says everything about him:
“The blinds are quite heavy. Climbing ladders with them on my shoulders is a bit beyond me now.”
No drama.
No self-importance.
Just someone quietly getting on with the job.
That generation built businesses differently.
They took pride in the details.
They stayed when things got hard.
And they cared whether the finished product was right.
Ron worked alongside founder Alan Coleman Phil Coleman’s grandfather and over time became far more than an employee.
He became part of the fabric of the company itself.
“There’s Not Many Who Can Do the Job He Does”
A few years later, the Leicester Mercury celebrated another remarkable milestone.
Tom Routledge’s 80th birthday.
And even then…
He was still coming into work.
Tom had spent more than 40 years at Barlow Blinds specialising in handmade blinds and traditional manufacturing techniques that are becoming increasingly rare today.
The article described how he still worked several days a week, helping preserve skills built through decades of hands-on experience.
Not automation.
Not shortcuts.
Real craftsmanship.
Phil Coleman summed it up perfectly:
“The work was seasonal and Tom was expecting to be laid off after six months. But they got busy and my dad offered him another three weeks and he’s still here.”
Then came perhaps the most important line in the entire article:
“There’s not many who can do the job he does.”
That matters.
Because real manufacturing knowledge cannot always be replaced quickly.
It lives in experience.
In repetition.
In knowing exactly how something should feel in your hands.
The tension of a blind.
The way fabric moves.
The tiny details customers may never consciously notice but absolutely benefit from years later when everything still works properly.
Why These Stories Still Matter Today
It would be easy to look at these articles and see nostalgia.
But actually, they say something important about modern business.
Longevity leaves clues.
Companies rarely keep people for 40 or 50 years unless:
- people are treated properly
- experience is respected
- craftsmanship matters
- and the work still means something
Today, many blinds are manufactured overseas, flat-packed, and fitted by subcontractors who may never see the product again.
But these stories reflect a different approach.
One where manufacturing knowledge stayed inside the business.
One where skills were passed down over time.
One where pride in workmanship was expected not advertised.
And although customers may never meet people like Ron or Tom, they still benefit from their standards every single day.
That’s the hidden side of quality most companies never talk about.
The Human Side of Manufacturing
When people buy blinds, they usually compare:
- colours
- fabrics
- styles
- and prices
Very few stop to think about the people behind them.
But businesses are built by people like Ron and Tom.
People who quietly turned up every morning for decades.
People whose hands helped manufacture thousands of blinds across Leicester and Leicestershire homes.
People who helped shape the standards the company still works to today.
And in a world increasingly driven by speed, automation, and short-term thinking…
There is still something incredibly powerful about that.
Because while machinery changes, one thing rarely does:
Experience matters.
Looking Back And Looking Forward
Barlow Blinds was founded in 1887.
The Coleman family took over the business in 1927.
And as the company approaches 100 years of Coleman family ownership in 2027, stories like these feel more meaningful than ever.
Because history is not really about logos, buildings, or dates.
It is about people.
And sometimes, the clearest proof of a company’s values is not found in its advertising.
It is found in how long people choose to stay.
FAQs
Why is staff experience important when buying blinds?
Experienced manufacturers and installers often spot problems, fitting issues, and product limitations before installation, helping products last longer and perform better.
Does Barlow Blinds still manufacture blinds in Leicester?
Yes. Barlow Blinds continues to manufacture many blinds in Leicester from its Brighton Road factory.
Why do long-serving staff matter in manufacturing?
Long-serving staff carry years of practical knowledge and craftsmanship that are difficult to replace through short-term training alone.
Is Barlow Blinds a family business?
Yes. Barlow Blinds is a fifth-generation family business. The Coleman family took over the company in 1927.
Why are traditional blind-making skills still important?
Traditional manufacturing skills help ensure blinds are made correctly, fitted properly, and built to last especially on bespoke or more complex products.
With many blinds now being manufactured overseas these skills are slowly being lost from our trade.
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.”
