Looking for a blinds supplier? There are a few great questions we always recommend that you ask a prospective supplier, before making a purchase.
During your research phase, there are lots of ways to find out whether suppliers source and manufacture their products locally and how this affects logistics and overall price. It’s a good idea to go local when it comes to buying your blinds, as it means you’ll save costs, avoid potential shipping delays and be supporting Australian businesses.
Asking the next three questions early on will allow you to gauge the quality of the product and service provided by a supplier, and help you decide who you want to work with!
What fabrics and parts do you use?
Ask about the types of fabrics and parts that the supplier uses to manufacture their blinds. Find out whether their parts are locally-sourced and easily accessible, as this will give you an indication of quality and ensure faster turnaround times for delivery.
Finding out what kinds of fabrics a supplier uses to make their blinds is really important for the overall function and aesthetic of your space. Different types of fabrics have different properties and also come in a range of colours. You might go for a fabric that creates a ‘total blockout’ effect, or perhaps you prefer something that allows sunlight to filter through? It just depends on how much light you want to let through your closed blinds.
The way the texture and colour integrates with the rest of your space should also be a deciding factor when it comes to speaking with your prospective blinds supplier. Talk to them about the vision you have for your space and confirm that they’ll be able to provide fabrics and parts that fit into your overall design.
Can I visit your workroom?
When speaking to blinds suppliers, ask if you can visit their workroom. This will give you a good indication as to whether the work they do is, in fact, performed locally. It will also attest to the quality of their products and their confidence in their brand.
When suppliers do not manufacture their own blinds locally, this can jack up the prices of the end product, as it’s passed through multiple hands. It’s more cost-effective to buy blinds directly from suppliers who make them, as it means cutting out any middlemen!
A good blinds supplier will welcome the opportunity to show you their workroom and any of the samples that they have in progress or on display. Seeing the craftsmanship first-hand is a great way to help you visualise how you want to style your space and what kind of blind technology is best suited to your needs.
Are you able to provide some pictures of recent installations?
Once you know you’re working with a high quality product, it all comes down to workmanship. Ask your prospective supplier to provide pictures of any of the recent work they’ve completed. See if they can show you their successes with things like blind concealment and electrical wiring planning.
These photos will speak volumes about the capabilities of the supplier and also give you a better understanding of how your blinds might look, once installed. They might even give you some inspiration for how to style your blind fit out!
If the supplier is unable to show you any images of recent work, this may mean that they don’t do the installation themselves – beware!
When you’re purchasing blinds, make sure you delve into whether suppliers source their materials and manufacture their products locally. Not only is this a great way to support Australian businesses, buying directly from local manufacturers is also more cost-effective and minimises logistical risks when it comes to receiving your orders swiftly.
To ensure quality of product, process and service, don’t forget to ask for real examples and photos of workmanship – it’s one of the best ways to help you visualise your design and choose your supplier!
Have questions about our Australian-made blinds? We’d love for you to visit our workroom! Get in touch with us today!