Rossendale Blinds' husband and wife owners say business is booming after opening their own showroom, following 30 years in market stalls.

The business started life as A & A Textiles in 1992 when it operated from stalls on Bacup, Haslingden, Todmorden and Accrington markets from Tuesdays to Saturdays.

Now the owners, Annette and Andy Upton, have opened their own showroom in Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, next door to Gerry’s Barbers.

Annette said: “Back in 1992, all the stalls that we ran were outside.

"You never got used to it, but you learnt to cope with it in winter – moon boots, ski suits and hot water bottles.”

The couple moved their business to an indoor stall in Rawtenstall 18 months later so they were then able to keep all the textile products dry.

Annette said: “At that time, we were also selling ready-made blinds; they were imported and they were rubbish, but the wholesalers didn’t have anything else.

“By chance, my husband saw an advert in a national paper for agents to sell made-to-measure blinds and the company was only in Rochdale.

“They trained Andy in measuring and we set up Rossendale Blinds. We then gradually transitioned from selling textiles to made-to-measure blinds as that market was really started taking off.”

When the shop next to Gerry’s Barbers became available, Annette and Andy decided to relocate.

Annette explained: “The shop used to be a beauty salon, but for was an ideal size for a showroom for us.

“We now have a shop front on a main road with plenty of room to display all the different products, which are now manufactured in Heywood, and we are only around the corner from the market where we have been for the last 30 years.”

The business deals with customers from all over East Lancashire, from Blackburn to Cliviger.

Annette added: “Feedback from old and new customers has been very positive. They all comment on what an ideal location this is for us and how much more space we have to display all our different products.

“I would like to thank Linzi Rawson and the team at Rawtenstall Market for allowing us to temporarily display our products inside the market.”