The Story of ABC Blinds WA
Since introducing the concept of vertical blinds to Australia back in the early 70s, the Brice brother (and ABC Blinds) have come a long way!
When the Brice brothers, Ernie, Eric and Albert, immigrated to Perth in 1969 and set up shop as registered builders, they swiftly noticed a gap in the market. When it came to window dressings, curtains were all the rage (it was the 60s, after all), but blinds? They were nowhere to be seen!
Introducing Kresta Blinds
A year later, Ernie and Eric Brice formed Kresta Blinds, introducing the exciting concept of vertical blinds to Australia. With a commitment to using the best materials and componentry and providing the latest products, it didn’t take long for Australians to get on board. Business boomed and Kresta soon became one of the largest blind retailers in the country, cementing its place as an iconic Australian household name.
Vista Blinds was born
Two decades on, after going public on the stock exchange and selling their Kresta shares, the entrepreneurial Brice brothers started up another retail blinds company. This new business venture was called Vista Blinds, which went on to operate successfully in four Australian states over the next twelve years.
In 1999, Ernie and Eric re-acquired Kresta Blinds, and Vista became part of the Kresta Group. Three years later, the duo felt ready to retire and sold their Kresta shares. But retirement, it seemed, wasn’t quite ready for them yet...
A new era of ABC Blinds
In 2002, Ernie and Eric seized an opportunity to build yet another company, this time calling it ABC Blinds WA. Never faltering on their commitment to quality and service, it took just one year for ABC Blinds WA to establish itself as a leading Australian blinds retailer, with a unique focus on sourcing and offering the most innovative, world-class products to the Australian public and overseas market.
Back then, Ernie and Eric employed over 80 staff in ABC Blinds WA’s retail, wholesale and manufacturing operation, and they showed no signs of slowing down!
ABC Blinds Today
ABC Blinds’ commitment to staying ahead of the pack means they can continue to offer the very best in blinds, curtains, awnings and shutters to the Australian public.
20th Century Innovation
From safety to tech, here are just a few of the many ways that ABC Blinds are offering innovation in the blinds industry.
ABC Smart Home Hub: As smart home technology has evolved, so too has ABC Blinds. Nowadays, a vast majority of indoor and outdoor products are available with the ABC Blinds Smart Home Hub: an innovative device that allows you to control motorised blinds from any location. Built with the latest technology, the hub talks back to your personal devices to offer complete ease of use.
Designer Products: ABC boasts the widest range of made-to-measure products in WA, with the range including everything from classic blinds (think roller blinds, vertical blinds and Roman blinds) to more modern styles. Over the years, ABC has introduced some of the most innovative blinds products to the market, including designer products such as vertisheer blinds, ares blinds and tricoshade blinds.
The growth of a WA-born blinds company
At the time of writing this article, ABC Blinds employs over 160 local West Aussies, and continues manufacturing in WA, operating out of five Perth showrooms.
As ABC Blinds continues to grow and thrive, one thing remains exactly the same: our dedication to the original vision of the Brice brothers. Their vision was, and still remains, to offer outstanding products and service, and continuously reinvent the window furnishing industry in Australia. And we think they’ve done an outstanding job of that so far!
Interested in buying blinds, curtains, awnings or shutters from the leaders in the industry? Give us a call us on 13 13 15, visit one of our Perth showrooms or arrange a free measure and quote with a highly-trained consultant in your own home.