Hamleys, the famous Regent Street toy store, celebrates their 250th anniversary this year.

As part of the celebration Deans Blinds and Awning were asked to refurbish the traditional Deans Victorian awnings which they had installed some years previously.

Mike Holden, of Deans Blinds and Awnings, was briefed by Keane Herman, Facilities Manager, at Hamleys to work with the Hamleys Design Group to produce a design for the awnings which combined the well known Hamley's logo with the spirit of fun which is associated with everything the famous store does.

Hamleys and Deans share a number of common themes through their joint histories and, though Deans are much younger only having been around for a mere 116 years, both businesses were started by individual men, William Hamley and John Dean, with a vision and both businesses have survived and thrived through the ups and downs of commercial life through two world wars, the advent of the motor car, commercial air travel, the internet and the cabbage patch doll.

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It was decided to stay with the bright red previously used on the awning but Deans were required to decorate the fabric with the Hamleys Logo with small pictures of traditional toys alternating with stars set in a garland around 250th celebration motif. The result is eye catching and fun.

This challenging task has been successfully achieved with an eye catching result which makes a bold, yet tasteful, exclamation mark on the Regent Street landscape.

The awnings at Regent Street were installed many years ago by Deans and have been developed over time to incorporate the latest remote electronic controls so that, whilst traditional Deans Victorian awnings in all outward appearance the awnings are actually sophisticated mechanical devices just like the many high tec toys sold in the store.

The technical specifics of the awnings include the use of Somfy electronics for the motors and control systems and Swela fabric for the awning covers. The graphics were produced at Deans in-house facility and applied by their master sign writer with all other parts manufactured by Deans.

For more information contact Deans Blinds and Awnings UK Ltd on Tel: 020 8947 8931 or visit www.deansblinds.co.uk or email [email protected]