Blackburn firm keeps business in the family with 4th generation

BLACKBURN family firm Graham and Brown has welcomed its fourth generation into the business as a 26-year-old International Business graduate takes over as Community and Social Manager.

Iona Graham, 26, is the eldest daughter of chief executive Andrew and granddaughter of fellow director Roger.

The 78-year-old company manufactures and sell wallpaper, paint, interior decorations and home furnishings.
Iona studied International Business at Loughborough University, focusing on Marketing Strategy and Planning and Economics and Global Brand Management.

During her placement year, Iona studied at City University of Hong Kong and worked at Tesco’s fashion brand F&F in the buying team.
She then secured a job with a London-based fashion start up, before moving on to luxury women’s fashion brand, Rixo.

Iona said: “I’m so excited to be joining Graham and Brown & to be working in an area of the business that I’m truly passionate about!
“I’m excited to bring my experience and work alongside an incredible team to help continue to grow the brand & build our community!
“I’m starting with launching our London pop-up showroom from the September 5 to 14 at Noho Studios where we’re excited to reveal our new ‘Design and Colour of The Year’ 2025. ”

Her father Andrew said: “Iona joins us at an exciting time in our company’s development.
“Super Fresco enjoys its 40th birthday as the best-loved DIY wallpaper range and the Graham and Brown brand continues to grow strongly as we help our customers create loving homes with wallpaper, paint, and fabrics.
“Most of all she joins an incredible team of colleagues who love helping and supporting each other day in and day out.
“Like all our new starters our team will make her feel very welcome so she can bring new ideas and experience gained in the retail fashion industry to help us continue to put our customers at the heart of our business.”

Founded by two friends – Harold Graham and Henry Brown – the business has been family-run from its headquarters in Stanley Street Blackburn, since 1946.

Graham and Brown products are created by the in-house design studio and drawing on an archive with over 50,000 pieces.
Its award-winning collections include paint, murals, soft furnishings, bed linen and wall art to offer customers a perfectly partnered, full room solution.
In August last year the firm announced plans to close its manufacturing site at India Mill in Blackburn to increase investment in digital capabilities at their new low carbon production site in Padiham.

The switch could lead to the loss of approximately 100 jobs