Two former Bristol Grammar School students have gone on to launch another new business in pursuit of growing their business empire. OBs James Taylor and Ryan Pasco, who left BGS in 2009 and set up AngelBerry, the frozen yogurt company, have now moved onto their second venture together, www.makemyblinds.co.uk.
James tells us that the website started as a side project, but following its early tests the pair have subsequently invested heavily, with aims to grow the largest online blind retail company in the UK. This follows on from the success of AngelBerry, which has grown from two stores in Bristol to more than twenty worldwide.
It may seem like a strange move, but James tells us that while the domestic blind market was worth approximately £1.2 billion in 2014, online sales made up less than 10% of that. As with many business ideas their new website was born out of a frustration with the current market and online offering. In a world where you can buy your sofa and bathroom online, the lack of blind websites made it an obvious choice for the pair. Seeing a gap in the market and room for improvement, the pair set out researching and developing their own site. With their previous business experience of growing AngelBerry into a multi-national franchise, the duo have a wealth of experience and contacts on which to draw.
Their site specialises in made to measure blinds, ranging from roller blinds through to wooden venetians. They currently have over 500 fabric or wood options available for customers to choose from and are made to their exact requirements. With an ever expanding team and website, and with more blind options added every month, James and Ryan certainly seem to know what they are doing.
Their website can be found at www.makemyblinds.co.uk
Congratulation to Ryan and James on their continued success; we look forward to hearing more about your ventures in the future.