50 Years In The Making

Swift Direct Blinds have been making quality, made-to-measure blinds in our factory in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, since 1969. The business has seen many changes in that time, but our commitment to producing the finest quality blinds, handmade by expert craftsmen has never changed.

Today our factory uses the latest technology and machinery, but there’s no replacement for the human touch. Every blind is measured and cut by hand by our team of craftsmen with over two centuries experience between them and is inspected and tested before being sent to customers. Swift Blinds was established with a reputation for quality that is as important to us in 2019 as it was 50 years ago.

Founded in 1969 by Alan Swift we are still family owned and run, with three generations of experience running through the company.

Our founder, Alan Swift, started the business as a small company at the back of the local Post Office, as a sister company to his existing carpet fitting business. Our growth to become one of the UK’s premier blind manufacturing specialists is an interesting story.

Swift Direct Blinds - Timeline

1969

Our story began back in 1969, when 36-years-old Alan Swift founded Swift Blinds and Curtains as a side-line to his existing carpet installation business, Aldon Carpets. The business was run from the back of the local Post Office, where Alan was also the postmaster.

1970's

Our story began back in 1969, when 36-years-old Alan Swift founded Swift Blinds and Curtains as a side-line to his existing carpet installation business, Aldon Carpets. The business was run from the back of the local Post Office, where Alan was also the postmaster.

1980's

As the 1980’s progressed Alan was joined in the business by his two sons and together the family established Swift Blinds as a national business, expanding into larger premises in Lockwood, in Huddersfield. 30 years later we are still based in the same building, although our factory has expanded several times since then.

1990's

Having joined the British Blinds & Shutter Association in 1988 Swift Blinds achieved British Standard 5750 Quality Assurance in 1993, becoming one of the first blind manufacturers in the UK to do so. Our products and services still meet these exacting standards today.

The 1990’s also saw the Swift Blinds brand develop internationally, with orders supplied as far away as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Nigeria, as well as throughout Western Europe, including France, Germany and Portugal.

2000's

The turn of the century saw further retail expansion, with additional concessions opening up throughout Yorkshire.

Expansion of our head office and factory followed, with unique product developments being made that kept Swift Blinds at the front of UK manufacturing, including development of the tilt and turn mechanism that is now commonplace in all Venetian blinds.

2010's

After 40 years of successful growth Swift Blinds was one of the first manufacturing businesses in the UK to recognise the opportunity that the internet offered and we launched our website, SwiftDirectBlinds.co.uk in 2010.

Further growth followed, including the establishment of a new service bringing high-quality hand-made blinds to Sweden under the name Max Gardiner.

This growth led to further expansion of our factory capacity, allowing us to further extend our range of wooden blinds and offering shutters for sale for the first time.

Today

Swift Direct Blinds now employs nearly 100 talented and skilled local people, making blinds and curtains to the same exacting standards that Alan did 50 years ago. We apply 50 years’ worth of expertise to every blind that we make, knowing every single detail of the products we sell.

We are proud to be rated 5 out of 5 by our customers on TrustPilot, with over 3,000 different window dressing options on our website, over 1/3rd of which can be handmade for customers today and delivered tomorrow.

We’ve got big plans and ideas for the future, but our main aim stays the same – to continue to supply high-quality window coverings that delight our customers. For 50 years Swift Direct Blinds has stood for expertise and unbeatable customer service - here’s to the next 50 years!

We take great pride in still offering our customers the same high-quality, handmade finish that we have for the last 50 years.