How We Used Our Blinds in a Box

We were recently contacted by one of our customers who bought some temporary blinds from www.blindsinabox.co.uk. Keep reading to find out our blinds helped them and one of the many ways you can use BLINDSINABOX.

‘I have attached a couple of photos of our blinds in use in our kitchen/diner. We needed to stop people from looking into our kitchen and had been completely stuck on how to achieve it. The blinds in a box have given us the perfect solution as they stick directly to the frame and are so easy to cut to size. We also think they look great clipped into this butterfly shape.

Many thanks.

Linda’

Thanks Linda! Here are the images of Linda’s blinds – we agree! We also think they look great clipped.

You can buy our blinds here – from as little as £7.15 for one!

Blindsinabox – Featured by Egertons Estates

BLINDSINABOX were recently featured by Egertons – an independent estate agent in Cheshire. Below you can read a copy of the blog article on our temporary blinds as well a link to the original. Thank you, Egertons!

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As an independent Estate agent we pride ourselves on the relationships we have with our clients and we go that extra mile to make the sale or purchase of your home as easy as possible.

We have recently completed on a sale for Sue. She came into the office quite giddy and happy, to thank us for all our help and to say how happy she is in her new home. She wanted me to share her experience and asked me to do this blog to be a help to all of our clients.

One of the things that have made her move smoother was the discovery of BLINDSINABOX.

As featured on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den programme.

They are paper blinds that you stick up on your window and cut to size. Quick and easy to fit and look smart from the inside and out, giving you instant privacy and time to choose you window dressings.

“The service was excellent. Even though it was Christmas the blinds came in a couple of days.”

In September 2008, the BLINDSINABOX team pitched their product to the Dragons on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den.

BLINDSINABOX were pleased to accept the offer of investment from James Caan and Duncan Bannatyne.

We think this is an excellent find and are more than happy to pass Sue’s experience.

Original: http://egertonsestates.co.uk/2012/01/cor-blindy-what-an-estate-agent/

Staying Safe When Looking for a Flatshare Online

If you’re a Blindsinabox customer who’s a flat-sharer, our friends at EasyRoommate, the UK’s leading site if you’re in need of a flatshare in London, Manchester, Birmingham or rest of the UK, have a few words to share on avoiding the perils of surfing online for accommodation which sadly do exist. Caution, though, is always the best approach, and here’s a few tips on staying safe:

Firstly, never ever send money to anyone without seeing a property. You may be in need of somewhere to live in a hurry, but that’s what online scammers thrive on. They’ll pressure you into sending money immediately to secure a place, but chances are, when you arrive to move in, it’s in no way yours to occupy. One really common way they’ll ask you to send money is via Western Union. Despite what they say, no matter how convincing someone may be, never use this service! It allows scammers with connections to receive your money and disappear without a trace.

Be very cautious as well about what personal details you send to someone before even meeting them. Online fraud is a major issue, and scammers can use your details to ill effect.

If you’re unsure of who the person is, don’t be afraid to ask for references from them, too, like proof of ID, a bill of theirs, just something to prove they are who they claim to be. It’s also been known to happen that a scammer has access to a property, shows the prospective tenant around, takes the deposit but actually is in no way legally affiliated to the property, and thus, after paying the deposit and initial rent, it’s certainly not yours to rent. They’ve taken your money and run.

Lastly, once you’re moved in, don’t forget to sign some form of tenancy agreement. It protects you as well as the landlord, and sets guarantees that your deposit will be protected, that you won’t be kicked out without the right length of notice, and that there are certain expectations to be fulfilled by both the landlord and you.

Blindsinabox – Now even more affordable!

Blindsinabox are proud to offer customers a further £5 discount on our box of 6 brilliant temporary blinds.

This offer applies to both our white and blackout blinds.

Blindsinabox are always trying to improve the competitiveness of the product and price is a key part of this. Our product is already much cheaper than the average window blind because of our unique design but by negotiating a seasonal discount with our suppliers we have been able to reduce the price with a further £5 discount.

Having received investment from James Caan and Duncan Bannatyne of BBC’s Dragon Den, Blindsinabox are putting into practice everything we learn. We value our customers and always strive to improve our product – and that includes making it as cost-effective as possible!

This is a limited time-only offer available from the website.

Shopping habits respond to changing economy

The economic uncertainty over the last couple of years has had a huge impact on some many things for so many people. Disposable income has become much more valuable and there is plenty of research to suggest that the credit crunch will have a lasting effect on the way people think about spending their money.

In most cases luxury items or services will be the first to be cut down. Many people will go to restaurants less frequently and even the type of food we make at home is affected. For example perishable food such as fresh meat, seafood and fruit is consumed less. People are more likely to eat more non-perishable food such as canned food and pasta are much more likely to be consumed more.

In the UK the recession also had a big impact on the holiday industry. People were less likely to go on wildly expensive holidays. However, as with most things, there are winners and losers in times of economic difficulty.

Although luxury holiday companies may have suffered, people were more open to the idea of short city break holidays, which didn’t involve long and expensive flights. In addition the UK holiday market experienced an increase in demand. The reduced travelling time and lower costs are very attractive in harsh economic times and when there is a good summer in the UK, the beaches and tourist towns tend to receive a major financial boost.

The recession also had a major impact on house prices and for anyone that was looking to sell their property during the economic downturn, anything to add a little extra value would have been more than welcome. As a result the amount of DIY work carried out by homeowners increased. However for companies which do more than just DIY the performance was never going to compensate for losses in other departments.

Nevertheless it did demonstrate the passion for DIY is still strong in the UK and people always want to add value to their property. Even though you might be hopelessly over-optimistic about your DIY ability, often little touches like a fresh coat of paint can have a big impact on appearance and value.

Furthermore consumers are thinking much more about the impact of the way they spend their money. For example buying products from recycled sources such as temporary blinds made from paper or cheap window blinds generally are much more attractive compared to expensive wooden venetian blinds.

How to have a successful home renovation

Renovating a home or apartment can be a disruptive process to say the least. Even with the very best planning and consultation there can still be unforeseen errors which can have quite a big impact on the project.

There are however ways of reducing the stress and hopefully the cost of a renovation project. The first thing which should always be done when carrying out a home renovation project actually starts well before anything any physical work happens. The planning stage needs to be thorough and well in advance and must include worst case scenarios. The internet gives you the ability to conduct a massive amount of research so there really is no excuse.

For households with children safety must be a consideration because any worksite which has power tools and sharp objects is dangerous for children and in fact adults. It is therefore imperative that you ensure for example nails and chemicals are not aimlessly left lying around. If the project is going to be a case of DIY then extreme caution is advised, especially if you try to bite off more than you can chew. Only do what you are capable of doing.

There is no question that DIY can save money but it can also cost money because if you do make big mistakes, the likelihood is that they will have to be corrected professionally which will cost you even more money. The reason there are companies which specialise in say window fitting or home insulation is because they know what they are doing and they have done it hundreds of times before.

The majority of people do realise that there are many things which are beyond their capabilities but what’s equally important is to get at least several estimates from different companies.

Perhaps the biggest reason for this is because you will see that the prices can vary dramatically. It also a good idea to ask the different companies for contact details of previous customer in order to get a testimonial. Decorating and building companies should take pride in their work and therefore be happy to pass on details.

It is also important to plan specifically for during the renovation because it could have a big impact on how the home runs. For example if the lounge is being worked on it could leave you with exposed windows which can remove all or any privacy you have. This problem can easily be solved with some cheap blinds or perhaps temporary blinds that can easily be installed and removed.

What window-blind is best for you?

Deciding what the best type of window blind for you is not always an easy decision. Some people might have their mind made up early on and for others it can be a really difficult decision. With summer all but over, things are made harder because a warm sunny day is the ultimate test for a window blind.

One group of people who probably have little interest in blinds besides their functionality are students. After a night binging on alcohol, being woken by the sun is the last thing they want. A good set of blackout blinds, or temporary blinds is more than adequate.

If you are in the process of decorating house temporary blinds can be handy, but what’s more important is that you have thought through your decision to get whatever blinds you decide. Changing blinds can be a challenge which may require specialist help, so do go through the process again and again should be avoided.

With window blinds one of the main differences found is their direction. Some choose horizontal and some choose vertical. You might be asking, what is the difference? Actually there is a difference. Horizontal blinds are the best for controlling the level of light whereas vertical blinds are excellent at providing privacy or complete darkness.

If perhaps you live in a colder climate then insulating blinds are going to be best for you. Typically these types of blinds have a honeycomb structure which then trap air and provide insulation. Air is after all one the best conductors available, weird as it may sound, so by harnessing this in your window blinds you are creating extra insulation for the home at a cost of nothing.

When it comes to choosing you window blind there are several things to take into consideration. Arguably the most important is your location, and therefore your climate. If for example you live in a very hot climate that you want blinds which will help keep the room cool. The interior design of the house which includes the colour schemes is also important and finally how much you want to spend. If you know all this information you are ready to find the best blind for you.