We talk to Caribbean Blinds’ MD, Stuart Dantzic, about the advantages of being a Made In Britain manufacturer.

Recent research exploring whether UK businesses prefer to purchase products made in or outside of Britain shows a rise in demand for items manufactured within the country.

In fact, almost 60% of businesses admitted they would much rather invest in British-made products rather than those manufactured overseas – which is a rise of 20% compared to last year’s results.

When investigated further, the findings also revealed that more than two thirds (68%) would rather buy British products to help support the economy and British jobs, whereas 62% made their decision for environmental reasons. Whatever the motivation behind these choices made by UK businesses, one company which strongly believes this surge in interest is fantastic news is external shading expert, Caribbean Blinds.

“We have invested heavily in a dedicated membership programme that helps us illustrate and promote that we are a credible and reputable British manufacturer so it’s refreshing to see an increase in the number of UK companies willing to buy products manufactured in Britain,” explains Stuart Dantzic, MD of Caribbean Blinds.

As a UK manufacturer dedicated to external shading, including louvered pergolas, Stuart adds that Caribbean Blinds is incredibly passionate about being a registered Made in Britain manufacturer and the many benefits it brings.

“We are fully committed to keep our manufacturing facilities within our headquarters in Suffolk and believe that doing so has a positive impact on our business and our customers,” he continues.

“Being responsible for the production of our louvered pergolas, external blinds and patio awnings gives us much better control over the final products so we can guarantee everything we manufacture is made to the highest standard.”

Quality and precision are said to be at the heart of the family-run business which has developed a reputation for supplying premium external shading solutions where every element of the product has been considered – no matter how big or small.

“At Caribbean Blinds, we perfect every last detail of our awnings, pergolas and external blinds to create a professional, sleek and modern finish. Not only do we want to feel immensely proud of our external shading solutions but we want our customers to feel confident they’re investing in a product that is robust and has been manufactured so that it’s built to last,” says Stuart.

“If our pergolas were made overseas, I’d be concerned that we’d lose the opportunity to precisely quality check everything we manufacture before it gets sent to our customers. We’re driven to deliver the best which is why we’re so committed to maintain our operations within the UK.”

UK manufacturing

Another advantage of being classed as a Made in Britain manufacturer for Caribbean Blinds, is the opportunity to welcome prospective customers to its production facilities and Dream Gardens Show Site in Suffolk.

“Keeping our headquarters embedded in the East of England means installers can see our warehouse and experience first-hand how our products are made. With the addition of our new show site, they can even see examples of the full range of louvered pergolas in situ,” adds Stuart.

Passionate about delivering a top service, Caribbean Blinds has even developed specialist training for its partners.

“We want installers to feel confident with the products they’re working with and so we’ve created a dedicated training room which allows us to educate and support those wanting to learn more. I believe this is something that wouldn’t be possible if our manufacturing was completed overseas,” comments Stuart.

“Manufacturing and designing everything ourselves creates the opportunity for our team to become specialists in external shading solutions. Plus, in the unusual event there’s a problem we can respond to any queries or provide replacement parts in a timely manner. We take pride in achieving incredible lead times but would worry this would be affected if we relied on companies based elsewhere.”

Premium solutions

Stuart adds that by keeping manufacturing within British borders, Caribbean Blinds can confidently guarantee the highest standards are applied in the production of all their external shading solutions.

What’s more, the team’s focus and commitment to British manufacturing allows them to control and directly oversee every aspect of the process from the order right through to the delivery and installation of the product.