Blinds lead way for internet retailer

A Yorkshire-based online retailer is creating jobs by cashing in on consumer demands for faster deliveries.

247 Blinds, which sells made-to-measure blinds across the UK, yesterday revealed that its annual sales were on target to reach almost 12m.

Established at the end of 2005 by directors David Maher and Jason Peterkin, 247 Blinds has developed rapidly into a business which sells almost 20,000 blinds a month.

The company, which recorded sales of 1m in its first full year of trading, expects annual turnover to reach 8m by the end of this month.

247 Blinds has a 22 per cent share of the UK market and is predicting that revenue will grow by at least 45 per cent between April 2010 and March 2011. The business has also recently added an online curtain division.

To support its rapid growth, 247 Blinds has invested 250,000 in buying and renovating new premises.

It also plans to recruit more customer service staff over the next few months to increase numbers from 14 to 20.

Mr Maher said: "The market for online blinds has been extremely robust during the recession.

"There are some big players and a large number of smaller enterprises. We have managed to take customers from across the board.

"Getting the mix between price, choice and good customer service is crucial, and I'm confident that following significant investment, we have it just about right.

"With the online market for blinds continuing to expand, growth within our business of anything less than 20 per cent would be like treading water.

"We are very ambitious and expect to expand by another 45 per cent over the next 12 months.

"Selling blinds is at the core of what we currently do.

However, the online curtain business is taking off and doing very well.

"It is a very traditional market place but we are confident that there will be demand for our fresh approach."

Steve Brown, a partner at the Saltaire, near Bradford, office of accountants and business advisers Baker Tilly, who has advised the company, said: "Being nimble in such a fast-paced sector is hugely important."