If things have seemed a little quieter than usual from us online recently, it certainly hasn’t been because things have been quiet behind the scenes!
The last few months have probably been some of the busiest we’ve had at The Norfolk Shutter Company. Alongside our usual day-to-day work of surveying, supplying and installing shutters, blinds and shading products across Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, we’ve also been putting a huge amount of time into our new premises.
Our New Showroom & Workroom
The new unit is a big step forward for us as a business and something we’ve been planning for a long time.
Rather than simply creating another office, we wanted somewhere that could bring the different sides of the company together properly. We now have our new office space, a dedicated workroom and, most importantly, what will become our new showroom.
There has been a lot more involved than we probably first imagined!
Over the last few months we’ve had different trades coming and going, walls going up, flooring being laid, internal glazing fitted, electrics, lighting, decorating, signage and plenty of other jobs that you don’t necessarily think about until you start a project like this.
It’s gradually coming together though, and we’re really pleased with how it’s looking.
Creating a Showroom That’s Actually Useful
One of the things that has been important to us is making the showroom somewhere customers can properly see and experience the products we offer.
Choosing shutters or blinds from a photograph or small sample can be difficult. Being able to see a full-size product, operate it and compare different options makes a massive difference.
The aim is to create a relaxed space where customers can come in, have a look around and talk through the different options with us without feeling pressured.
We’ll have a range of shutters, blinds and other shading products on display, allowing people to see the differences in materials, colours, styles and operating systems for themselves.
Still Busy Out on the Road
While all of this has been happening, the main business certainly hasn’t stopped.
Our team has continued to be out surveying and fitting across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas, with everything from straightforward shutter installations through to shaped shutters, blinds, motorised products and some of the more unusual jobs we get involved with.
We’ve recently completed some lovely installations, including shutters fitted to beautiful shaped windows in an old chapel – exactly the sort of job that shows what can be achieved when something needs to be made specifically for a property.
It’s one of the things we enjoy about what we do. No two houses – or windows – are quite the same.
A Big Six Months for Pergolas
Another area that has really grown for us over the last six months has been our outdoor living products, particularly aluminium pergolas.
In fact, we’ve sold more pergolas in the last six months than ever before.
It’s been really interesting to see just how popular they’re becoming. More and more customers are looking at ways of making better use of their gardens and creating an outdoor space that isn’t completely reliant on the British weather.
Modern aluminium pergolas have come a long way. With adjustable roofs, integrated LED lighting and optional side screens, they can create a genuinely usable outdoor living area and completely change the way a garden is used.
We’ve completed some fantastic pergola installations recently, with plenty more happening, and it’s definitely becoming an increasingly important part of what we offer.
As our new showroom develops, outdoor living will be something we’ll be putting even more focus on, giving customers the opportunity to see the products and different options available before deciding what would work best for their own garden.
The Next Chapter
The new premises represent quite a big change for The Norfolk Shutter Company, but we’re still very much the same family business behind it.
It’s about giving us the space to grow, improving the way we work behind the scenes and, importantly, creating somewhere our customers can visit and properly see what we have to offer.
As the showroom continues to take shape, we’ll be sharing more updates and showing some of the products and displays as they go in.
We’re not quite ready to announce everything just yet, but we’re getting closer.
For now, it’s back to the installations, finishing the unit and probably adding another job to the list every time we tick one off!
Thank you, as always, to all of our customers for keeping us so busy and to everyone who has been involved in getting the new premises to where they are today.