Buying Your Blinds

Where to Buy Your Blinds?

Mom & Pop Store – 

  • Often have extensive experience selling and installing which can save TONS of grief.
  • Generally have showrooms which can be a good place to start your research.
  • Typically have a very high end line and a lower priced option if you ask.
  • Follow up your store visit with an in home consultation.
  • Reputation, good or bad, precedes them.
  • Tend to be expensive

Independent designer/decorator

  • If you find one you like, their decor guidance can be invaluable.
  • Tend to have limited knowledge of the full spectrum of products available  and might recommend the same products to all or most clients.
  • They often call in a window treatment pro as a sub which adds to the expense.
  • Many are VERY attentive to customer satisfaction – most of their business coming from referrals.

Retail Franchisee

  • They receive brief but thorough training at headquarters before becoming ‘experts’.
  • They have excellent and continuing mentoring from the franchisor as well as dedicated forums with their more experienced colleagues.
  • Generally have preferred pricing and enhanced warranties with major manufacturers through private labeling.
  • Will have strong online customer resources.
  • Frequently employ their own installers.
  • Because they are independently owned & operated, pricing will not necessarily be consistent in all areas. 

Dedicated Retail Chain Store

  • These stores originally targeted the DIY customer but generally offer measure/ install services through subs.
  • They only sell window treatments so are generally fairly knowledgeable but the job can be a short term prospect for many employees.
  • Prices through special offers can be very reasonable. 
  • Will have good online customer resources.

Box Store 

  • Great prices through special offers.
  • Generally very accommodating when problems arise, even if they are not at fault.
  • Many products are on display.
  • They are NOT specialists – you might find a very knowledgeable associate but don’t count on it.
  • Great source for skilled DIY’ers.
  • If you are not doing the work yourself, there will be significant delay and confusion and possible disappointment because the box stores  do not have in-house measure/install people. They use subs who might be really good or … not. Plus, a lot of confusion can arise because the person selling has never seen your home.
  •  Always choose your product BEFORE the subcontractor comes to measure and be on site to answer questions.
  • If the sub does not know exactly what product will be ordered, the measurements can be WAY off.

Online Retailer

  • Great source if you know what you are doing and don’t need to see a working sample.
  • Generally good pricing.
  • Can refer measure/install services through local sub-contractors.
  • Some offer in-home consultation via commissioned sales reps.

‘Trunk Slammers’

  • A not so complimentary nickname the industry uses for generally part-time independents.
  • They might be your cousin’s spouse or a friend of a friend.
  • Many people cycle in and out so make sure they have a few years experience.
  • Not always prompt at returning calls or handling issues.
  • Their low volume means they pay more so they may not be enthusiastic about your complaints.
  • Probably won’t have a great selection.
  • You might find a hungry entrepreneur in it for the long haul who can address all of theses concerns. So, don’t write them off.

Window Treatment Descriptions

Horizontal Blinds – Window covering with louver/slats/vanes running left-to-right or parallel to the horizon. Also known as Venetian blinds. Sub-categories includes Wood, Faux Wood, Vinyl, Aluminum(mini, micro). 

Vertical Blinds – Window covering with louver/slats/vanes running top-to-bottom or perpendicular to the horizon.

Shadings – These are hybrid roller shades with internal, tilting fabric louvers. Originally released as the  Hunter Douglas Silhouette but now available from many brands.

Banded Shades – Also known as Zebra shades. They are rollers with alternating strips of varying opacity which can overlap for full privacy.

Vertical Sheers – A hybrid of a traditional vertical blind and sheer drapery.

Roller Shades – A traditional product familiar to many as a cheap vinyl covering from a home center or hardware store but custom rollers are available in a dizzying array of fabrics.

Solar Shades – A sub-category of roller shade featuring ‘screen’ like fabric of varying transparency expressed as a percentage ‘openness factor’.

Pleated Shades – A simple, traditional fabric shade formed by creasing fabric in increments from 3/4″ – 2″. The predecessor of the cellular shade.

Cellular (Cell) Shades – Also known as honeycomb and accordion shade. Based on pleated shades but have two or more layers creating a thermal barrier which is an effective insulator. Popular with a ‘top-down/bottom-up’ feature which provides direct light while maintaining partial privacy. 

Vertical Cellular – A cell shade with cells (pleat lines) running top to bottom. Ideal alternative to vertical blinds for sliding patio doors.

Roman Shades – A decorative traditional fabric shade available in several styles. 

Austrian Shades – A traditional fabric shade typically made with sheer fabrics. Privacy comes through the ‘gathering’ effect. They are not particularly practical but are valued for the decorative street view they provide.

Woven Wood – A rustic sub-category of Roman shade available in natural wood and grass woven materials.

Louver Drape – Another sliding door option, these are generally woven wood shades with a drape-like appearance drawing side-to-side. 

Panel Track – Also known as a sliding panel. Typically used for sliding patio doors, these feature 2 or more fabric, solar or woven wood panels which stack in parallel, one over another. Great companion to matching roller, solar or woven shades. A clean, modern look but partially obstructs the view outside.

Phrase
Definition
Louvers
Also known as slats or vanes. These are the tiltable components in blinds.