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Fly Screens? What IS a Fly Screen?!

05/08/2008

"Fly Screens? What IS a fly screen?!" - a question that I must have been asked a million times in the last 10 years. But a good question!

In 1997, our family business, the Better Blind Company started manufacturing and selling roller fly screens as a sideline to our existing window blinds business. This was in reaction to a growing number of our commercial clients asking for the product because of Food Hygiene Regulations which made fly screens compulsory in any area where food is prepared.

I had just started University, studying for a degree in Business Management and noticed when I came back for my summer break that we'd quickly started manufacturing and selling a decent number of these fly screens.

My Dad mentioned that we'd even installed some on a house locally. The customer was thrilled - as it was a hot summer and she was petrified by the wasps that kept flying into her conservatory on summer evenings. She was now able to relax with the windows and doors open and enjoy her new conservatory but not bake at the same time!

We thought perhaps there was an opportunity! Was this something that would catch on? Unlike those framed contraptions that you see on the windows of school kitchens and food factories, which are bulky and ugly, our product was unique. It was a new spring loaded cassette roller insect screen which we sourced from a company called ASPLEX Super Insect Screens.

It was certainly discrete enough to be installed in the home, and easy to use. And when not in use in winter, it simply rolled away out of sight. No need to find somewhere for it to be stored away and gather dust!

My Mum and Dad suggested that the insect screen business would make a great project for me to run to gain some business experience and earn a bit of extra cash.
I have to admit it took a while for me to come round to the idea.

But I did... so much so, that In 1999, I decided to take a gap year to set up and run a new business promoting the product... BUZZSTOP Insect Screens.. catchy, eh!
People thought I was a bit mad - possibly deluded at the least!

-"See you next term mate!"
-"You won't actually, I'm taking a year out to start a business.. selling fly screens"
-"Fly screens? What's a fly screen?".
-"It's a mesh screen that goes over your window or door to keep insects out - you know like wasps and flies"
-"Oh right, like you get in America to keep out mosquitoes"
-"Yep, just like that... most homes in Europe have them actually.. Italy, Spain"
-"But those are hot countries! And we don't have mozzies! So, are you going to export these fly screens to Europe?"
-"No I'm going import them, and sell them in the UK"

And so it went on!

It was going to be pretty tough going, I thought!
However, the way I saw it, most people dislike insects! They are pests. They can sting. They poo on your lunch. They try and climb into your can of fizzy pop. They spread germs. They scare the kids and send them squealing out of the room!
Some people even hate insects, Some have phobias. Myself included.

But unlike in other countries where insects are around all year. We in the UK just put up with insects. We all love summer don’t we…? It's hot and sunny, well sometimes.... we hope! And when it's hot and sunny, insects are just a fly in the ointment, if you'll pardon the pun! We should just put up with them! There's nothing we can do about them!

Well, as my business was hoping to prove, it is possible to do something about the problem of flying pests and at a cost that didn't make having them installed a luxury. The problem was creating awareness of the product. As demonstrated by my conversations with friends, family and tutors, most either hadn't heard of the product or associated it with the US of A or summer holidays in sunnier climes than Greater Manchester!

So, I set up a website. I approached other blind companies and window companies, pest controllers. I attended home and garden and caravanning exhibitions. I handed out flyers by the thousand. Reaction was mixed... some people just laughed and I routinely had the same conversation mentioned earlier! Some people were slightly less polite - as some people can be when they aren't interested in a product!
However, some people reacted as if I was the man they'd been looking for all of their life... because I had a solution to problem that they'd had all their life!
…Fly screens.

We found such people in all corners of the country and they found us! Encouraging!
Be under no illusions, the first year of any business is meant to be hard, and this was no different, possibly harder than most - particularly in the winter months! However, when I returned to Uni to finish my final year, I knew it would continue to grow as a business.. and it did.

So, what has happened since… ?
Well, in 2000, we inherited the exclusive distributorship of the Roller Insect Screen product within the UK - which we now import and sell to many different types of company - window blind companies, window and conservatory companies and pest control companies.

In 2001, we started to sell fly screens over the internet to the public. A first in the UK, possibly the world!
We've since won exclusive rights to distribute new fly screen product ranges from top European manufacturers such as Windhager.

We've added new fly screen products to our range - mesh strip and chain link curtains for doors, framed insect screens and hinged screens for doors - traditional but effective, DIY kits and components, mesh on the roll!

And… people are buying fly screens!

Why...? Several reasons...

1) Hard work... ! Getting our message out there!

2) There is more of a problem… Global warming perhaps? Insects are appearing earlier and disappearing later than before and in some cases aren't disappearing at all. Some geographical areas that didn't have an "insect problem", now have. New species are finding their way into the UK.

3) People have become more aware that there is an affordable solution to flying pests.

So, if you're reading this still and haven't tuned out already, it's possible that this subject of fly screens has struck a chord with you.

Whether you are considering the product for your own personal use, or as a new product for your business to resell... have a look at our range of fly screens that are available to buy online from NewBlinds.co.uk.

We're always looking for new distributors of our products - So if that's of interest, please give us a call on 0161 367 9013 or contact us by visiting our Trade Blinds section.