Case Study - Home Stylz Limited
Tuesday 30 June 2026The Gorleston shop that reinvented itself, one window at a time
When I took over Home Stylz back in 2014, the shop was already a familiar face on Gorleston High Street, with more than thirty years of history behind it selling budget home furnishings and fabrics. I could see the bones of something better. Over the years since, we have steadily reshaped the business around what our customers actually kept asking for: properly made, made to measure blinds and curtains, fitted in their own homes by people they could trust.
That meant opening accounts with new suppliers so we could offer high quality blinds, curtains and bespoke window dressings to both local homeowners and commercial customers. As demand grew, so did we. We took on more staff, both in the shop and out on the road, invested in two company vans, and redesigned the shop layout around a dedicated made to measure showroom so people can see and feel the fabrics before they decide. Alongside that we gave the whole business a complete rebrand, built a website and grew a strong presence on social media, which has helped us reach a wider and younger audience than a high street shop normally would.
Today we are proud to be a genuinely trusted local name on Gorleston High Street, and we are still full of ideas for where to take the business next.
Why being vetted matters when you work in people's homes
Ours is a business that lives or dies on trust. We are invited into people's homes to measure up, and again to fit, so the people choosing us need to feel completely comfortable before they ever pick up the phone. That is exactly why we joined Norfolk Trusted Trader. We wanted to give our customers real peace of mind when they choose Home Stylz, and to show, in a way that is independent of anything we say about ourselves, that we are committed to quality products and proper customer service.Being a Trading Standards Approved Trusted Trader was the perfect fit. It is a clear, public signal that we have been checked and vetted by a recognised authority, which matters enormously in a market where homeowners are right to be cautious about who they let through the door. The scheme also helps good local businesses stand apart from the rogue traders who can give a whole trade a bad name, and that is something we are proud to stand behind.
A thorough process, and rightly so
The vetting itself was thorough, professional and straightforward to follow. There was a fair amount of detail to provide about the business and the products and services we offer, but every one of those checks felt worthwhile. If anything, that thoroughness is the point. It is what gives the badge real value in the eyes of a customer, and it is what helped us build trust and recognition locally as Trusted Trader members.
The difference it has made
Honestly, membership has exceeded what we expected. It has helped us earn customer trust and loyalty in a very competitive industry, which is not easy to do. The badge gives people that extra bit of reassurance, particularly because we work inside their homes, and it has strengthened our brand through the signage and the accredited member's badge we now display everywhere.The most tangible change has been in enquiries for our made to measure blinds and curtains. Demand has grown to the point where we have taken on two additional made to measure specialists just to keep up with home measuring and fitting appointments. The verified reviews and feedback that come through the scheme have been valuable too, and not only the glowing ones. You can read them on our Norfolk Trusted Trader profile, where customers return again and again to the same themes: punctual appointments, friendly fitters they were happy to have in the house, and a clean, tidy finish. The constructive comments help us keep improving the products and the experience we offer, which is the whole idea.
We make a real point of promoting our membership. When we have fitted a customer's blinds or curtains, we leave them a Trusted Trader feedback form so they can share an honest account of how it went. Our accredited badge appears across our advertising, our website and our social media, and our certificate is on display in the shop. We want our accreditation front and centre for every customer, old and new.
“Being part of a scheme our customers trust has made a real, positive difference to our business.”
Where we go from here
Our focus for the future is simple: keep building strong relationships with local customers through exceptional service, quality products and honest, expert advice. We want to grow our loyal customer base through repeat business and recommendations, and remain a trusted choice within the community.Beyond that, we plan to widen our product range so there is something to suit every home and budget, and to extend our reach into the surrounding areas while keeping the personal service that makes us who we are. We are also keen to develop more partnerships with commercial clients, local businesses, schools and community centres, providing high quality made to measure window solutions for larger projects and contract work.
Whatever comes next, being a Norfolk Trusted Trader will stay at the heart of it, because it reflects exactly the kind of business we have spent the last decade building.
Jason Howell
Director, Home Stylz Limited
- View Home Stylz Limited's Norfolk Trusted Trader profile.
- Read Home Stylz's verified customer reviews.
- If you would like to become a Trusted Trader, you can apply here
- If you are a Trusted Trader and would like to leave a case study either as text or as a video, get in touch.