The next show must go on...

Top Drawer in London was really fun, but it feels barely over before we're plunging into the next, which is the British Blind & Shutter Showcase 2012 at the Ricoh Stadium Coventry, England.

Roller blinds & blind accessories have been important to New House since the 80's. To anyone outside the industry, blinds probably looks like one of those odd little niche industries that no one ever thinks about. Yet in the UK alone, there are said to be 30 million blinds and someone has to design, think about style, colour, innovation, and marketing, and New House contributes a lot to this.

It's true that the industry is internationally dominated by one huge company, Hunter Douglas. They do a great job and own many of the big consumer brands, so it means that in the scheme of things, New House is only a tiny family-run business that my granddad started back in 1921.

Yet we've always been quite influencial in our way, as by employing three brilliant designers, Melanie, Charlotte and Laura (all RCA or CsM trained), our creativity has made a name for ourselves, and despite having our items manufactured in England or Sweden (so we've a price disadvantage), we.export a lot to discerning markets overseas.

In Coventry next week, we'll be launching our latest roller & accessory collection, and it's something we've been working on for 2 years.

Here's the front cover - the print is by Charlotte Farmer (and the photo was styled by her and Melanie too) :

This is the accessory part (pom-pom braid by Laura Fletcher) :

 

I'd love to reveal more.... but that would spoil the surprise!

 

In true family-business style Mum and Dad have been helping with the launch and their garage is full of display boxes they've been repainting for the show!