yeah ... rip-off ... try buying direct on the internet. Buy a couple of pairs and see if you like them. Hillary's are expensive and no better quality, in my humble opinion
Shutters - there are two major manufacturers and most come from there. Buy from Hillarys and it could be £500, John Lewis and it could be £400, a local reputable tradesperson £300, or an agent who supplies them only £200 and maybe £50 to a friendly mate to put them up.
Curtains - they all come from the same factories, but it is far more fragmented. Shops will outsource to an importer who may source them direct from a manufacturer. Lead times from manufacturer might be 2-3 weeks. From tradesman 4-5 weeks and from John lewis 6-8 weeks. All come from the same place.
Basically, if you buy from a high street store, you have to pay their ridiculous rent that goes to landlords who squeeze every penny out of them, they do not have control as they are dealing with a middle man who sources from the factory so times can be much longer than dealing direct
Blinds UK are very good. Again, an importer, but lead times half John lewis, prices 1/2 Hillary's and 2/3rds John Lewis. Use this code t buy on a Sunday:
www.blinds-uk.net/?sunday-extra-discount=15 they must be christians because they do this every sunday
Graham Sanderson interiors - good. John Lewis just buy from him a set of blinds that cost me £250, and John Lewis wanted £410 for the same thing (they bought from him). You are basically paying John lewis sloane square rent contributions £160.