Member Article

Caribbean Blinds rated one of the top 50 highest-growing businesses in the East of England

Outdoor shading specialists, Caribbean Blinds, have made it into East Anglia’s high-growth business programme for 2021: The Future 50.

The Sudbury based manufacturer has been deemed one of the highest-growing businesses in the East of England and consequently selected to join the prestigious business development scheme alongside 49 other deserving firms.

Organised by Archant and its partners for the 11th year, the Future 50 seeks to help an unrivalled network of companies at similar stages of development maximise their potential through providing a series of structured events designed to increase opportunities, all whilst granting access to expert insight from multiple trusted advisors.

This year’s partners consist of banking giant Barclays Eagle Labs, leading law firm Birketts, investment management experts Foresight, accountancy firm Lovewell Blake and innovation powerhouse, Norwich Research Park.

Stuart Dantzic, Managing Director at Caribbean Blinds, commented: “To have been named one of the top 50 highest-growing businesses in the East of England is a massive achievement for all of us here at Caribbean Blinds, and a status that we’re honoured to receive, especially during such an uncertain and difficult time for small businesses.

Our team works tirelessly to deliver exceptional quality shading systems (whether specifying, making or installing), so to make it into this renowned programme is great recognition of the amazing work that happens here every day. It has given us the motivation we need to power through this somewhat unpredictable period, and make 2021 just as successful as last year, if not more!“

The partners added: “Caribbean Blinds is a solid business that plays well into the living-well lifestyle – and good to see a family business continuing high growth. Clearly passionate about the product and service – Future 50 should serve it well.”

This announcement comes as another success for Caribbean Blinds after the business experienced a fruitful 2020 and grew 42% from the previous year, despite the ongoing global pandemic.

By pivoting its business strategy to align with the effects of the current crisis, the family-run firm celebrated eight consecutive record-breaking months (May through December 2020) with July sales almost doubling compared to 2019. In addition to this, Caribbean Blinds took home a number of awards including the ‘People’s Choice Award’ at the 2020 Family Business United Awards and ‘Best Garden Buy’ for their best-selling Outdoor Living Pod™ at the Real Homes Awards 2020.

In addition to the planned Future 50 events throughout the course of 2021, Caribbean Blinds awaits the completion of a 10,000 sq/ft expansion of its factory site in Sudbury. By more than doubling its current storage capacity, the firm will not only be able to increase productivity whilst keeping lead times short but employ more people locally for the manufacture and assembly of their bespoke products.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Ford .