Barlow Blinds Limited

Barlow Blinds Limited is a British window-furnishings company based in Leicester, England, that has supplied and installed bespoke blinds, shutters and awnings for homes and businesses for well over a century. The business was established in 1887 by Mr E.A. Barlow, initially making shop awnings from a small factory unit in Stanley Street, Leicester. After roughly four decades of growth, Mr Barlow retired and sold the company to one of his employees, Frank Coleman; it has remained in the Coleman family ever since. That continuity of ownership underpins the company's long-standing positioning around three values it says have not changed since 1887: quality, value and service. Today Barlow Blinds operates as a made-to-measure specialist rather than a mass-market retailer. Its core offer covers interior window blinds — including energy-saving honeycomb (cellular) blinds, blackout blinds for bedrooms, roller blinds for glare control, and motorised blinds controllable by tap or voice command — alongside plantation shutters and external products such as awnings. The company emphasises a full-service, end-to-end process: consultation, expert measuring, local manufacture and professional installation, with the promise that customers deal with one team from first call to final fit. A distinctive feature of the business is its mobile shutter showroom, which the company describes as the UK's first (and, in its own wording, only) mobile shutter showroom. Rather than asking customers to decide from small swatches, Barlow Blinds brings full-size, full-height working shutter samples — including bay window and blackout bedroom designs and track systems for patio doors — directly to the customer's home. The company also positions its advice as commission-free and pressure-free, telling customers honestly if shutters are not the right choice for a particular window. Barlow Blinds serves both the residential and commercial markets across Leicester and the wider county of Leicestershire, working with homeowners, businesses and partner companies. Its operations remain regional and privately held, with no public listing. The brand's identity rests on its unusually long local heritage — more than 135 years of continuous trading — combined with modern manufacturing methods and contemporary product lines such as motorised and smart-controlled blinds.

Barlow Blinds was established in Leicester in 1887 by Mr E.A. Barlow. At the outset the company made a single product — shop awnings — working from a small factory unit in Stanley Street, Leicester. Over time it became known locally as the go-to supplier for external blind needs, building a reputation that allowed the business to grow steadily through the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. After around forty years of running the business, Mr Barlow decided to retire. Rather than selling to an outside buyer, the company passed to one of his own employees, Frank Coleman, who purchased the business. That transaction began the Coleman family's ownership, which has continued ever since. A letter written by Mr Coleman to his suppliers following Mr Barlow's retirement is preserved by the company as part of its heritage. Through the twentieth century the business evolved from its awning-making origins into a broader window-furnishings specialist, adding interior blinds and, later, plantation shutters. The company describes its manufacturing approach as a combination of modern mechanised processes with centuries-old manual skills, with attention paid to materials, components and fine detail. By the 2020s Barlow Blinds had been trading for more than 135 years, a continuity it foregrounds in its marketing. Its modern offer spans energy-saving honeycomb blinds, blackout bedroom blinds, roller blinds for glare control, motorised blinds controllable by tap or voice command, and made-to-measure shutters. A notable innovation was the introduction of a mobile shutter showroom — described by the company as the UK's first — which brings full-size, full-height working shutter samples, including bay window and blackout designs and patio-door track systems, to customers' homes instead of relying on small swatches. The company continues to serve homeowners, businesses and partner organisations across Leicester and Leicestershire, handling consultation, measuring, local manufacture and professional installation in-house. It remains privately held within the Coleman family and is not listed on any stock exchange.

• 1887

  Barlow Blinds founded in Leicester by Mr E.A. Barlow, making shop awnings from a factory unit in Stanley Street.

• After about 40 years, founder Mr E.A. Barlow retires and sells the business to employee Frank Coleman; it remains in the Coleman family thereafter.

• Company expands beyond awnings into interior blinds and made-to-measure shutters.

• Introduces a mobile shutter showroom, described as the UK's first, bringing full-size shutter samples to customers' homes.

Heritage, family-owned, made-to-measure window-furnishings specialist offering honest, commission-free advice and a full consultation-to-installation service across Leicester and Leicestershire.

• Made-to-measure blinds

  Custom interior blinds measured, made locally and professionally installed.

• Plantation shutters

  Full-height and bay window shutters, with blackout options and patio-door track systems.

• Honeycomb (cellular) blinds

  Energy-saving blinds designed to help retain heat.

• Blackout blinds

  Bedroom blinds designed to block light for better sleep.

• Roller blinds

  Sleek blinds for controlling glare on screens.

• Motorised blinds

  Blinds controllable by tap or voice command.

• Awnings

  External shading products, the company's original 1887 product line.

1. 1Barlow Blinds | Top Window Blinds and Shutters in Leicesterbarlowblinds.com
2. 2About | Leicester's Blinds Specialists | Barlow Blindsbarlowblinds.com
3. 3Shutters Leicester | Window Shutters | Barlow Blindsbarlowblinds.com
4. 4Barlow Blinds Limitedwikidata.org