Blind faith
Jason Terry talks about his business The Sussex Curtain & Blind Company
When we needed new blinds here at Latest Homes, we had no hesitation in going to a small local company for quotes. It was a big job, but we were pleasantly surprised by the quote from Jason Terry at The Sussex Curtain & Blind Company.
The Sussex Curtain & Blind Company has been in business for 11 years. Latest Homes met Jason to find out how the last year has been for a business that could have been affected by recession. “Last year felt unsteady, but in fact it turned out to be good,” says Jason. “Perhaps because people who had wanted to sell decided to wait out the recession and started to look at improving their existing property.
“The core of our business is making curtains and blinds. All of our making is done in-house at the workshop in our Seaford branch. My father, Paul Terry, [owner and founder of the company] runs the shop there and leaves me to run Brighton. Their business is more corporate. He does a lot of contract work in the health sector: hospitals and care homes, and also in the hotel and leisure sector. The range is from the practical and economical to the luxury end of the market.
“We do more domestic work here in Brighton, although we do commercial work, too,” Jason continues. “As well as curtains we specialise in Venetian blinds, roller blinds, and fitting poles and tracks. Right now, blinds are our biggest area. The biggest trend is for blinds fitted to uPVC windows without drilling holes.’’
The Sussex Curtain & Blind Company operate out of Sussex, but much of their business in on a nationwide scale. “In Sussex we have worked for lots of A-list names,” says Jason. Will he divulge who? “That would be a breach of confidence… I have been asked to sign confidentiality clauses for some very high profile local clients.”
So what are the current fashions in window dressings? “Right now, lots of bright reds and plain bright colours. There are still a lot of safe choices, popular with developers who recognise that a finished window looks better and will help sell a home.”
What advice would Jason give to someone moving with a tight budget? ‘‘Privacy and security is the first call, but on a tight budget I would suggest roller blinds. They’re cost effective as you can keep the blinds when you later add curtains. Safety is also important and our blinds conform to the highest standards. Electric tracks are a great option for older clients and work with timers, day and night sensors or remote controls, making them very easy for the less able.”
“We are proud to offer a better local and personal service than national brands”
How does The Sussex Curtain & Blind Company compare to national brands and online services? “We are proud that we are cheaper than most national brands and offer a better local and personal service. We also do repairs; most things can be repaired, and we carry parts for most brands. We like to advise people in that way; it’s that kind of service that has given us our success.’’
So what’s next for the company? “We are launching an out of hours service that includes evenings, Saturdays and Sundays,” says Jason. “We use a mountain bike to travel around and do consultations, to be more eco-friendly. We also recognise that clients need to see us at a time that is convenient to them. At the end of the day it’s all about service and quality.”
Sussex Curtain & Blind Company Ltd, 29 Coombe Terrace, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 4AD, 01273 689417, www.curtain-blind.com
