The Fermanagh sun is shining through the shop front of Charisma Blinds despite their plentiful selection of covers on the Sligo Road in Enniskillen.

Sharon Shaw has continued the family legacy after taking over from her parents, Roy and Wendy Cuthbertson, and is now a joint owner of the business alongside her husband, Russell Shaw.

Her father, Roy, saw the light about a potential gap in the market for a blinds shop in the Lakeland county and the business has been flourishing ever since.

“I think my dad was never afraid to start something; I think he saw an opportunity,” Sharon said.

“He was always involved in the clothing business before, whether it was making things like uniforms or other things for people, and I think he saw an opportunity and thought, 'There’s a lot of demand, there’s a lot of people, a lot of homes'.

"He would have been used to a factory environment, and thought ‘Let’s give this a go and see.’ My mum left her job and joined forces with him, and here we are, 30 years later.

"He was brave. It’s a big leap to take; Russell and I know that as well. This is our livelihood, it’s a big thing to take on. I would say it's more rewarding than anything else.”

It’s very much a tight-knit family affair at Charisma, with Sharon managing proceedings in the office, and Russell manufacturing and fitting the blinds alongside Sharon’s cousin, Scott, in a team of three.

“I think the business is open about 30 years this year. I would have been in it on and off since I left school, and depending on the hours I was working, I was always able to come out and work.

"The joys of the family business, whenever needed, you were always there,” Sharon added.

“I have always been involved in the business, from when I left school, and then my parents retired. I’d say my dad retired about 10 years ago, and my mum retired maybe about seven years ago.

"Russell, my husband, joined the business about 10 years ago. It’s a lot of work but I couldn’t do it without Russell. He’s a great partner in the business, he’s fantastic with customers.

"I’ve actually seen him grow in confidence the longer he’s been with me. He’s so good with people and, on the side, has learned to make blinds and fit them.

"It’s nice that we’re able to do a bit of everything.”

The business manufactures and fits blinds and has delved into the booming market of shutters for residents and homeowners of Fermanagh.

The Erne County’s housing development in recent years has been a plus for Sharon, whose warm and friendly personality has seen Charisma retain a large percentage of customers along with the quality handiwork of Russell and Scott.

“We manufacture quite a few, not as many as we used to,” she continued.

“All of our suppliers are Northern Ireland-based, whether it’s through buying fabrics, or some of them offering a ready-made system that we are comfortable buying.

"We manufacture a lot; Russell is actually in the showroom this morning making.

"We do try and make as much as possible; it gives us more control over the quality of what we’re providing as well.

"There's a lot of new-builds going on; it’s fantastic to see so much building going on in the town.

"A lot of our [business] is return customers, whether they’re renovating their house or if their family has grown up and their children are now moving out buying their own properties.

"People just see the van on the road and give us a ring or come over when we are at somebody’s house, and say, ‘Would you mind coming in here?’

"A lot of [our business] is returning customers and we’re very grateful for that.

"Even when I was in the doctor’s yesterday, there were two previous customers sitting either side of me and, even though I looked terribly ropey, they still remembered my name and said 'Hello'.

"That was really nice and that’s what it’s all about for me. So long as my customers are happy, I’m happy, and that’s as simple as it is.”

There have been drawbacks in the industry following the pandemic, as Sharon revealed gaining supplies became an issue at one stage.

As the company was not deemed an essential business during lockdown, it was closed for large parts of 2020, just like suppliers across the globe were, with deals and orders slowly taking time to pick up again.

“We noticed just silly little things we couldn’t get as a manufacturer; essential little pieces that we needed for making, whether it was head rails for vertical blinds, or some kind of pieces for shutters.

"There were problems getting things into the UK. A lot of the stuff was maybe being manufactured in the US, or whatever the excuses people were coming up with [for why supplies were difficult for a while].

"The industry at the minute seems good. There’s a lot of activity, a lot of building, renovating and decorating. It’s nice to see people out and about and spending their money locally; it means everything to us.

"It’s trying to have something for everybody, whether that’s something traditional, very neutral or something to blend in, or if people want to be a bit more daring, and go for a bit of colour because we are not blessed with the sunshine!

"We’re trying to bring a bit of colour into people’s houses.”

With Charisma Blinds built on a strong family ethos, Sharon is hoping the establishment's tradition can maybe come full circle with her own children one day.

“Our oldest son has just left school, and I say to him, ‘Charlie, there’s always room for you here if you want’,” she said.

“The children have always helped us in the business, during Christmas holidays from school or summer holidays from school.

"They have grown up helping us in the business, even in the summertime, if I’m in the showroom and have either of them with me, they’re able to answer the phone and take messages.

"They’re able to come out and introduce themselves to customers and say ‘Hello’.

"It's lovely to be able to see them do that. You never know, we might snag one or two of them in the future to help maybe bring it on into the next generation.

"That would be amazing.”