We are absolutely delighted to share some very exciting news. Just Blinds Ltd has been named a finalist for Best Family Business at the 2026 National Entrepreneur Awards!
Being recognised in any business award is something to celebrate, but this particular category means an enormous amount to us. Family has always been at the heart of Just Blinds, not simply in who works within the business, but in the way we have chosen to build it, grow it and look after the people who trust us with their homes.
The winners will be announced at the National Entrepreneur Awards Evening on Monday 7th September 2026, as part of the National Entrepreneurs Convention, and we could not be more excited to be heading there as finalists.
From a Small Cannock Business to Where We Are Today
Just Blinds began with a simple aim: to offer high-quality window coverings alongside genuinely personal service.
Clare Gill co-founded Just Blinds Ltd in 2010, growing the company from a small Cannock office into the business it is today. What started with a team of just two people has developed into a thriving independent company providing bespoke blinds, shutters and awnings for customers throughout Staffordshire and across the Midlands.
There have been plenty of milestones along the way.
We opened our first showroom, expanded our product range, introduced our own manufacturing operation and steadily grew the Just Blinds team. In 2024, we took another huge step by opening our current Cannock showroom, described as the UK’s largest dedicated blinds and shutter showroom. Today, we are also incredibly proud to have received more than 2,700 five-star reviews from customers.
The business may look very different from those early days, but the values behind it have remained remarkably similar.
Family Really Does Mean Family at Just Blinds
When we say Just Blinds is a family-run business, we really mean it.
Clare remains closely involved in the day-to-day running of the company as Director and In-Home Consultant, while Richard Gill oversees the manufacturing side of the business as Director and Production Manager.
Other members of the family are also part of the team. Clare’s sister-in-law Amy manages the company’s finances, while Clare’s father Frank works as an In-Home Consultant and Shutter Specialist. Alongside them is a wider team of brilliant people who have become an important part of the Just Blinds story.
Of course, working with family does not mean every day is effortless. Like any family business, there are challenges, busy periods, big decisions and probably more conversations about blinds outside working hours than most families would consider normal!
But there is something incredibly special about building something together.
Every decision affects a business that has been part of our lives for years. Every happy customer matters. Every member of the team plays a part in our reputation. That creates a level of personal investment that we believe customers can feel when they deal with us.
Why This Recognition Means So Much
The Best Family Business category feels particularly special because it recognises something that cannot simply be measured through sales figures or growth.
For us, building a successful family business has always meant finding a balance between moving forward and holding onto the things that made people choose us in the first place.
We have grown significantly, but we never want Just Blinds to feel like a faceless national company.
We want customers to feel comfortable asking questions. We want people to receive honest advice rather than a hard sell. We want our fitters to care about the finished result. We want the experience to feel personal, whether somebody is choosing one blind for a bedroom or window coverings for an entire property.
Our website describes Just Blinds as an independent, family-run business built around quality craftsmanship and exceptional customer service, and those principles continue to guide how we work today.
Growing Without Losing the Personal Touch
One of the biggest challenges for any family business is growth.
As a company becomes larger, it would be easy for the personal touches to disappear.
We have worked hard to make sure that does not happen.
Many of our blinds are manufactured in our own Staffordshire workshop, giving us greater control over the quality of the products we provide. Our team has more than 80 years of combined fitting experience, and customers can choose between visiting our Cannock showroom or arranging a consultation in their own home.
We have also continued to invest in the range of solutions we can offer, from traditional and contemporary blinds to shutters, awnings, motorised blinds and specialist solutions for more unusual windows.
Behind all of those products, however, there is still a team of real people.
People who measure, manufacture, answer the phones, advise customers, organise appointments, fit products, manage orders and make sure everything comes together properly.
That team is a huge part of why reaching the final of the Best Family Business category feels like an achievement worth celebrating.
Another Proud Moment for the Just Blinds Team
We have been fortunate enough to receive some fantastic recognition over the years.
Previous achievements have included local business awards, customer service recognition, growth awards and finalist positions at previous National Entrepreneur Awards. In 2026, we were also recognised by the British Blind and Shutter Association Excellence Awards.
Every award means something slightly different, but they all come back to the same thing: the hard work of our team and the support of our customers.
Being named a finalist for Best Family Business at the 2026 National Entrepreneur Awards is another incredibly proud moment to add to that story.
Thank You to Our Customers
Most importantly, we want to say a huge thank you.
Just Blinds would not be where it is today without the thousands of customers who have chosen to support an independent family-run business.
Whether you first came to us years ago, have recommended us to friends and family, left us a review, returned for another room or discovered Just Blinds only recently, your support has played a part in helping us reach milestones like this one.
We will be keeping everything crossed when the winners are announced on 7th September, but whatever happens on the night, being selected as a finalist in a category that represents such an important part of who we are is already something we are enormously proud of.
From a small Cannock office to a growing team, our own Staffordshire manufacturing operation and a showroom filled with more blinds and shutters than we could ever have imagined back at the beginning, it has been quite a journey.
And the best part?
We are still a family business at heart.
Thank you for being part of the Just Blinds story, and wish us luck for September!
