Broadview celebrates 50 years in business
A name synonymous locally with patio covers, outdoor structures, awnings and blinds, Broadview is this year celebrating fifty years in business.
Launched in 1969 by local businessman David Pratt, the company remains a family business some fifty years later with sons Mark and Ian Pratt at the helm having taken over in the late nineties. Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, David specialised in supplying timber, as well as venetian and roller blinds, to the people of Dorset from a small premises in York Road, Broadstone.
Establishing a base in Poole
The demand for blinds and awnings was clear as the business grew fast, so the timber supply side was ended to allow for more workshop space for the production of blinds.
Demand grew even more which led to larger factory premises and a showroom being acquired on the Nuffield Industrial Estate in Poole – the home of Broadview to this day – which meant manufacturing could be expanded to the trade as well as the public.
In addition to the Nuffield site, a new showroom in Broadstone opened and soon after another opened in Christchurch. The business went from strength to strength, establishing its position locally as the go-to specialist for window blinds and awnings, as well as a prominent leader in the shading industry.
Widening our scope
As well as internal shading, other products catering for niche markets were developed, including vehicle awnings for businesses such as Autoglass, who have over fifteen hundred mobile technicians who can now change glass 24/7 in all weather conditions under the cover of a Broadview awning.
The aviation and marine sectors have also benefited from Broadview’s expertise over the years. The business grew quickly to having thirteen showrooms open to the public across five counties in the South, in addition to the large production facilities in Poole – home to seventy plus employees.
In 2013, a decision was made that as the ‘high street’ was rapidly changing, a shift in focus and direction was needed to sustain Broadview as the number one shading specialists in the South.
Retaining the Nuffield Industrial Estate location as the head office, factory and showroom premises, company management took the decision to end their high street presence in order to concentrate on diversifying their product range into specialist blinds and shutters, as well as outdoor structures and specialist vehicle awnings, and into generating leads via online marketing.
Today, Broadview supply to homeowners and businesses, and have built strong business relationships with prominent property developers, architects and hospitality sector organisations who they supply on a regular basis. They also represent brands in the UK such as Brustor; Somfy motors and automation and Custom West Window Shutters, as well as Luxaflex high end interior window blinds.
2019 is a big year for the Broadview team and we will be celebrating this milestone with various ‘fifty’ inspired promotions and events. Watch this space! For more information on our indoor and outdoor shading solutions for homes or businesses, please call 01202 679012.
