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David Howarth has been on a mission to create the perfect tidy for vertical blinds. And with a new product that will fit 99 per cent of blinds, he’s on his way there
 It’s a small product with a big ambition: “to be used by any vertical blind, in any setting, anywhere in the world.”
That’s the stated aim of David Howarth, inventor and managing director of Louvretie UK Ltd, and with a new product in the offing he’s one step closer to it.
With the enthusiasm of the young entrepreneur, David and his niche product might not look out of place on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Has he ever considered it?
“Invested cash from a ‘Dragon’ would really only go towards publicity, and if I work to budget there’s no reason why I couldn’t get those results myself,” says David. “I would still have to convince the big players in the vertical market to secure any real investment anyway and at the moment they think it’s a good idea but not a big enough market for them.”
 Besides, David’s not doing too badly on his own. Since Louvretie was registered in 2008 and the first website went live, the product has sold in a number of countries, racking up more than 10,000 sales in the first two years. It has been, in David’s words, a continual “quest” to perfect the product; two patents have been granted and a third is under way. The new product, due out next year, has been designed to fit 99 per cent of blinds. David explains:
“The new product will be called the Louvretie Funky. That refers to its functionality. This is the third product I have developed and is the most universal. It can be used for both face-fixed and top-fixed fitted verticals, and has an adjustable holding arm so that it can support as many louvres as is necessary. The holding arm can then be readjusted so that when not in use it is flush with the wall, meaning that there are no gaps around the window, and when it is in that closed position it contains the cords and chains safely, restricting the amount of loose handing cords but maintaining control.”
 This versatility has been one of the main issues addressed during the product’s development. “There are different sizes of blinds with different quantities of panels, and blinds that are top-fixed or face-fixed, so providing products for each of these variables or working on a more universal tieback has been the main issue. I feel that now we have different products to fit any blind anywhere.”
These include a vertical blind-holder with matching safety device, although David stops short of giving it the official ‘Childsafe’ stamp. “The second (Louvretie Cordsafe) product was really designed for larger blinds and the compartment was added to house the cords and chains. This is much safer as it limits the amount of free-hanging cord to such an extent that it would be virtually impossible for someone to harm themselves with. But even the smallest risk is still a risk and so I still offer free cord safety clips with this.”
 So committed is David to the perfection of the product that he welcomes feedback from both end users and trade customers – visit the Contact Us page on the website to fill in a comments form and receive information on becoming a Louvreties stockist.
“Public response is always positive,” says David, “and we have received some genuine reviews from customers all over the country – which to be honest kept the project going in the early stages.”
He is however confident that the product offers what he set out to achieve, including:
- Damage limitation and protection for blinds
- A safety-conscious step in terms of child safety
- A product large enough to hold any number of louvre panels yet narrow enough not to be obtrusive in a window setting
- An excellent added value product for the trade.
Singles, packaged pairs, countertop and showroom display options are available, as are free samples – call David on 07757 654140 or email
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