I am sitting up late here on Saturday, trying to think about what it means to own a business. You need to have passion and energy about what you do. And, you need to be able to move quickly with a sense of urgency. I decided to go into the blind, shade and shutter business. Why? I don't know. But it does seems like a good, honest, and noteworthy business to own. Start up cost are not that much (relative to...say starting a McDonald's). But, when it comes down to it, it is a business where you are improving peoples lives. You are making there home as livable as possible.
So, we go on in our business and try to provide the best customer service and best customer experience possible. You know everyone says that. But I mean it. Look, I have been in the corporate world long enough. I know what NOT to do. So, my philosophy is do everything opposite to what the big corporate company which is hard to do business with. And I think that is what is really about..trying to stand out from the competition and be different. And do it with honesty, integrity, forthrightness (is that even a word?) and...be passionate about it.
So, that is what you will get at Atlanta Discount Blinds. And, that is my promise!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Window Coverings Can Add Value to Your Home
A big question you may have is, "do window coverings, like Blind and Shutters, add value to my home?" The answer is YES! - Custom Blinds and Shutters can!
The key is custom. Going down to your local Home Depot or Lowes and buying what is on the shelf IS NOT a custom window covering. Custom Window Coverings are accurately measured, then cut down to the exact specifications of your window's opening. They are then professionally installed by an installer that has the proper equipment to adjust any of the pieces of the blinds, etc. to properly mount the window covering correctly and permanently the first time. An example of this would be cutting down the "return" (the return is a piece that goes on the end of the valence, and is perpendicular to the valence) to fit the depth of the distance from the edge of the valence to the frame or wall.
Now, you can get custom window coverings at Home Depot or Lowes (I do not want to knock the competition), but the experience can be painful. The process entails calling into their store phone number and getting their voice response unit which give you multiple department options to be transferred to.
Once you do get through to someone (assuming someone is available at the time you call), you provide them with a measure estimate and the type of blind you are looking for. If it is not one of the shades of white (usually the only inventory in stock) then they will have to go out and make a custom order. Once you have selected a type of blind, the retailer will schedule a person to come out and measure. Depending on availability of their contract installers in the Que will determine when they can come out to your house to measure.
When someone comes out and measuring is done, most of the time you have to go into the store to choose the colors, etc. Once this is done your order is placed with the fabricator. The scheduling for your install depends upon if the covering is in stock, or has to be ordered.
This over-all process is time consuming for you and inconvenient. An alternative is to buy from a shop-at-home service. These companies will come out to your home and bring the samples to you, and consult with you on your window covering needs. It is a much more painless process, and you are likely to get much better long-lasting quality for your money.
Now, let's get back to adding value to your home. Typically a Faux Wood (composite or pure plastic) or Real Wood Blind does not add value to your home because it is semi-permanent. However, if your goal is to match, let say for example, new - expensive Kitchen Cabinets. You probably will want to get a real wood product such as Bass Wood, Phoenix Wood or Poplar. These woods will give you the natural grain (and can be painted or stained virtually any color) to match kitchen cabinets, custom window frames that you already have, furniture style and color, and many other attributes of your home. In this case you have added a more expensive, custom wood product to your home where you are unlikely to ever replace it as long as you live in your home. If you have matched permanent kitchen cabinets or custom window frames, etc in your house, you are probably in a good position to have those blinds included in an appraisal on your home when you go to re-sale. The same goes for custom Plantation Shutters - they are permanently installed with a nail gun, and becomes a permanent component of the window and window frame itself.
In both cases, it becomes "Window Furniture".
The key is custom. Going down to your local Home Depot or Lowes and buying what is on the shelf IS NOT a custom window covering. Custom Window Coverings are accurately measured, then cut down to the exact specifications of your window's opening. They are then professionally installed by an installer that has the proper equipment to adjust any of the pieces of the blinds, etc. to properly mount the window covering correctly and permanently the first time. An example of this would be cutting down the "return" (the return is a piece that goes on the end of the valence, and is perpendicular to the valence) to fit the depth of the distance from the edge of the valence to the frame or wall.
Now, you can get custom window coverings at Home Depot or Lowes (I do not want to knock the competition), but the experience can be painful. The process entails calling into their store phone number and getting their voice response unit which give you multiple department options to be transferred to.
Once you do get through to someone (assuming someone is available at the time you call), you provide them with a measure estimate and the type of blind you are looking for. If it is not one of the shades of white (usually the only inventory in stock) then they will have to go out and make a custom order. Once you have selected a type of blind, the retailer will schedule a person to come out and measure. Depending on availability of their contract installers in the Que will determine when they can come out to your house to measure.
When someone comes out and measuring is done, most of the time you have to go into the store to choose the colors, etc. Once this is done your order is placed with the fabricator. The scheduling for your install depends upon if the covering is in stock, or has to be ordered.
This over-all process is time consuming for you and inconvenient. An alternative is to buy from a shop-at-home service. These companies will come out to your home and bring the samples to you, and consult with you on your window covering needs. It is a much more painless process, and you are likely to get much better long-lasting quality for your money.
Now, let's get back to adding value to your home. Typically a Faux Wood (composite or pure plastic) or Real Wood Blind does not add value to your home because it is semi-permanent. However, if your goal is to match, let say for example, new - expensive Kitchen Cabinets. You probably will want to get a real wood product such as Bass Wood, Phoenix Wood or Poplar. These woods will give you the natural grain (and can be painted or stained virtually any color) to match kitchen cabinets, custom window frames that you already have, furniture style and color, and many other attributes of your home. In this case you have added a more expensive, custom wood product to your home where you are unlikely to ever replace it as long as you live in your home. If you have matched permanent kitchen cabinets or custom window frames, etc in your house, you are probably in a good position to have those blinds included in an appraisal on your home when you go to re-sale. The same goes for custom Plantation Shutters - they are permanently installed with a nail gun, and becomes a permanent component of the window and window frame itself.
In both cases, it becomes "Window Furniture".
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