Aspire Shutters & Blinds

Aspire Shutters & Blinds, made-to-measure shutters in Manchester

Aspire Shutters & Blinds is a family-run business based in the Manchester area that designs, supplies and installs made-to-measure plantation shutters and window blinds. The company states that it has specialised exclusively in plantation shutters for more than ten years and that it covers all areas of Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool and the wider North West of England. Its range is built around shutters manufactured to each customer's specification, with a choice of colours and materials.

Shutter styles offered

The catalogue is organised by style, and each type is presented with a specific use in mind:

• Full height shutters, described as the most popular option for coverage, light and shading.
• Café style shutters, presented as a way to add a more cosmopolitan look to a room.
• Tier-on-tier shutters, which allow wider control of light and privacy.
• Solid panel shutters, intended for complete privacy.
• Track bi-fold and bypass shutters, aimed at wide openings such as patio, bi-fold and French doors.
• Special shaped shutters, for feature windows of almost any shape.
• UPVC waterproof shutters, suited to bathrooms and wet rooms.

The company also groups its installations by room, with references to living rooms (café, bay or flat), bedrooms (where blackout blinds are an optional addition), kitchens (window, track, bi-fold and door shutters) and bathrooms.

Blinds range

Alongside shutters, the company supplies several blind types: roller blinds, described as versatile for any space; Venetian blinds; vertical blinds; Perfect Fit blinds, presented as a practical solution for modern homes and offices; and Roman blinds. The warranty terms differ between product lines: the site refers to a ten-year guarantee on shutters and a one-year warranty on blinds.

Materials and window conditions

Aspire states that its shutters are made from high-quality timber, Hybrawood, Paulownia, Basswood, Ashwood and PVC. Waterproof shutters are offered for bathrooms and wet rooms, and the company notes that products can be mixed and matched where a window area suffers from damp or condensation. It also describes its materials as sustainably sourced.

Pricing examples and finance

The site illustrates shutter pricing by style, using its best-selling Paulownia, Basswood and Ashwood materials, and notes that the price depends on size and material. At the time of writing this profile, the examples shown were £1,136 for full height shutters, £764 for café style, £1,249 for tier-on-tier, £982 for solid panel, £2,069 for track bi-fold and bypass, £1,595 for special shaped and £690 for UPVC waterproof shutters. Discounts are also advertised for other materials, including waterproof aluminium-core PVC and a UK-made fauxwood range with ABS-treated wood, with delivery stated at two to four weeks.

Payment can be spread through finance: the company advertises 0% interest-free options over 0 to 24 months, or a fixed-rate arrangement over 36 months. Aspire Shutters Ltd identifies itself as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Ideal Sales Solutions Ltd, trading as Ideal4Finance, a credit broker and not a lender (FRN 703401), and states that finance is subject to status and that the rate offered is provisional.

Survey, quote and guarantees

The process described starts with an enquiry, followed by a home visit for a survey and design consultation and then a quote. The company presents the initial estimate as free and without obligation. It also advertises a like-for-like price match, promising to match a cheaper equivalent quote or beat it where possible, and a ten-year warranty on all shutters.

Reputation and coverage

Aspire attributes its five-star reviews, rated excellent, to its customer service and describes itself as a family-run operation that relies on recommendations between customers, friends and families. The areas named on the site include Manchester, Wigan, Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley, Worsley, Altrincham, Hale Barns, Northwich, Cheshire and Liverpool, with the North West of England given as the broader coverage area.