A family-run interiors business that started life from a market stall in Wellington is expanding its footprint in Shropshire with a new showroom in Shrewsbury, creating three new jobs and doubling customer viewing space.
New base in the town centre
FRO.blinds will open the doors of its St Mary’s Street showroom on 23 July, complementing the company’s existing shop in Market Street, Wellington. Owners Andy Simpson and his sister Ness Ebanks say the new site will make it easier for people across Shropshire to see fabric samples and get design advice.
“It is a very exciting time for our business and we are delighted to be able to open a showroom in the heart of another wonderful town,” said Andy. “We can’t wait to welcome people and have a good chat about their needs.”
Growth rooted in local history
The enterprise traces its origins to the 1990s, when the siblings’ mother ran a curtain stall at Wellington Market before later opening a shop in town. Andy launched FRO.blinds in 2021 with help from Wellington Town Council’s Pride in our High Street grant scheme. Since then the business has developed a manufacturing facility and a customer base across Shropshire.
- Opening date: 23 July (showroom); public opening event 25 July
- New jobs: three positions being created
- Current workforce: five full-time staff, which includes a family member, Andy’s nephew Bobby
Local impact and services
The St Mary’s Street premises will offer double the viewing space compared with the Wellington showroom, according to the owners, and provide local customers with appointments and face-to-face design consultations. Andy said the team had taken care to choose a location they believed would work best for shoppers and would meet the standards clients already expect.
| Location | Facility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Market Street, Wellington | Existing showroom & manufacturing base | Opened 2021; grew with council grant support |
| St Mary’s Street, Shrewsbury | New showroom | Public opening event 25 July; extra display space |
The expansion promises a modest local employment boost and greater choice for homeowners and businesses in the county seeking made-to-measure blinds and interiors advice. Customers will be able to attend the public opening on 25 July to meet the FRO.blinds team and view the new showroom.
For shoppers in Shrewsbury the move adds another independent option to the town’s retail offer, while the continued growth of a Shropshire family business highlights how small, locally rooted firms can scale up from market stalls to multi-site operations.
