What Do All the Badges on Our Shirts Actually Mean?

I was measuring for blinds at a customer's home in Desford when they made a comment I wasn't expecting.

They'd already had two other blind companies out to quote, and mentioned that both had turned up in jeans and T-shirts.

Then they commented on our uniform and how professional it looked.

That started a conversation about why we wear one at Barlow Blinds.

And then came a question I don't think anyone has ever asked me before.

“What do all the badges on your shirt actually mean?”

I looked down.

There are quite a few of them.

I've worn that shirt goodness knows how many times, but I don't think I'd ever stopped to consider what all those little logos might look like to somebody who doesn't know what they represent.

So I started explaining them.

And as I did, I realised they're actually a pretty good way of telling the story of Barlow Blinds and what matters to us when somebody invites us into their home.

The Barlow Blinds Logo

We'll start with the obvious one.

Barlow Blinds. Leicester Blindmakers Since 1887.

We've been making blinds in Leicester for 139 years.

That's something we're incredibly proud of, and we don't take it for granted.

Very few businesses get to survive for that long. Generations of people before us have worked incredibly hard to build the reputation that comes with the Barlow Blinds name, and today it's our responsibility to protect it.

That doesn't mean pretending we manufacture everything we sell, either.

We don't.

We'll always be honest about where our products come from, but we still manufacture all of our roller, vertical and Perfect Fit blinds right here in Leicester.

So when we put the Barlow Blinds logo on our shirts, vans and products, it's more than just branding to us.

It's our name.

And after 139 years, that name comes with a responsibility.

BBSA Accredited Specialist

Next is the BBSA Accredited Specialist badge.

BBSA stands for the British Blind and Shutter Association, who are the authority on UK shading.

This isn't simply a logo we've paid to put on our shirt.

Being a BBSA member means meeting professional standards covering areas such as insurance, health and safety, child safety and its Code of Practice.

It also gives our team access to current industry information, guidance and training.

And that matters because our industry doesn't stand still.

Products change. Regulations change. Guidance changes. Our understanding of issues such as overheating, energy efficiency and child safety continues to develop.

If we're going into someone's home and recommending a product they're potentially going to live with for many years, we think it's our responsibility to keep up.

“I think that's right” isn't really good enough.

That's why we're proud to display the BBSA badge.

There has been work involved in earning it and there's work involved in continuing to live up to what it represents.

For more information about the BBSA click here

Which? Trusted Trader

Then there's our Which? Trusted Trader badge.

We've been a Which? Trusted Trader since 2017.

For us, this badge represents something slightly different: independent scrutiny.

Every blind company can tell you it's professional.

Every company can say it offers great service.

We can tell you we're trustworthy until we're blue in the face.

But ultimately, we're talking about ourselves.

That's why having an independent organisation look at how we operate matters.

Which? is also a name that many homeowners already know and recognise, so seeing that badge gives customers another layer of reassurance before they've even got to know us themselves.

We're happy for somebody independent to scrutinise the way we work.

We think good businesses should be.

To find out more about Which? Trusted Traders click here

Blue Light Card

The Blue Light Card badge has a different story behind it.

This one isn't about accreditation.

It's about our community.

We offer a 10% discount to Blue Light Card holders as a small thank you to people working across the NHS, emergency services, social care and other eligible services.

We're a Leicester family business.

Most of the people we work for live in Leicester, Leicestershire and the surrounding area too.

They're our customers, but they're also the people working in our hospitals, looking after people in our communities and providing services all of us rely on.

So offering something back simply feels like the right thing to do.

That's why we're happy to have that badge on the shirt too.

To find out more about Blue Light Card click here

Then There's the Badge Around Our Neck

There's one final badge, although this one isn't actually embroidered onto the shirt.

It's our BBSA identification card and lanyard.

And in some ways, this might be the most important one of all.

Think about what happens when you book somebody to measure for blinds.

A person you probably haven't met before arrives at your front door.

Then you're inviting them inside.

We do this every day, so it's easy for us to forget what a big thing that can be.

Sometimes we're visiting a family home. Sometimes it's an elderly person living alone. Other times we're entering a school, care setting or workplace.

A branded shirt and van tell you which company somebody says they're from.

But you should also know who the person standing in front of you actually is.

That's why our identification includes our name and photograph.

It's a very small detail.

But when you're opening your front door to a stranger, small details like that matter.

So, Do We Really Need All Those Badges?

What struck me afterwards was that the customer noticed the uniform before they asked about any of the badges.

And perhaps that's the point.

Professionalism isn't one big thing that a company can write on its website and simply expect you to believe.

It's lots of little things.

It's how somebody turns up.

It's whether you know who they are.

It's whether they keep their knowledge up to date.

It's whether they're prepared to meet recognised standards and let independent organisations scrutinise the way they work.

And it's whether the name on their shirt actually means something to them.

I've worn our uniform hundreds of times without giving much thought to how all those badges might look to somebody else.

But the customer in Desford gave me a different way of looking at them today.

Barlow Blinds represents 139 years of history and the reputation we've inherited.

BBSA Accredited Specialist represents the professional standards we're committed to maintaining.

Which? Trusted Trader represents our willingness to be independently scrutinised.

Blue Light Card represents our connection to the community we've been part of for generations.

And the photo ID around our neck tells you exactly who you've just opened your door to.

So no, the badges aren't there just to make our shirts look more official.

They're little signs of something much bigger.

The work that's gone into earning your trust before we've even measured the first window.

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.”

Article Review & Accuracy

Reviewed by: Phil Coleman, Managing Director, Barlow Blinds
Last reviewed: September 2026

Our promise

If new evidence, products or British Standards change our advice, we'll update this article. If we make a mistake, we'll correct it.

This article forms part of the Barlow Blinds Knowledge Centre and is written or personally reviewed by Phil Coleman, drawing on more than 35 years' experience, guidance from the British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA), British Standards where applicable, manufacturer technical information and real customer feedback.

Major updates to this article are shown at the top or bottom of the page.