Some kudos are in order for a few of the great vendors in Budget Blinds' Vendor Alliance who were honored at the 2011 Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) Product Awards. Ask your local Budget Blinds franchisee about how to get these winners in your home!

The 2011 WCMA Product Awards, the annual competition showcasing the window coverings industry’s best products and merchandising programs, were announced at the Las Vegas Convention Center on April 27, 2011. The winning products, selected for their technical achievements, style concepts and overall designs, were toasted at a reception held in conjunction with Vision 11 (International Window Coverings Expo).
 

Last week the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) announced the winners of the 2010 WCMA Product Awards. We're thrilled that a number of our manufacturers received recognition for their excellent work.  

 One product worth an extra look is DSC Window Fashions' HiTech Ultimate Roman Shade, which received honors for Most Innovative Overall Design in the "Green" Products -- Health and Environmental Safety category.  When we saw this product up close we were impressed by the thought that went into the design.

 The side facing the room is a beautiful Roman shade, which lets homeowners get the look of a soft treatment with the ease of operation of a blind; the side facing the exterior of the home is a white cellular shade. The design completely conceals any internal cords, which offers a sleeker look to the homeowner and makes it less tempting for children to play with the window treatment.  This treatment can be motorized by Somfy to completely eliminate exposed cords. 

 This is also a good option for homeowners who want to stylishly conserve energy.  According to the manufacturers' website the cellular shade offers a 62% reduction in heat or cold transfer.

Other benefits of the HiTech Ultimate Roman Shade:  

• Customers can choose from a wide fabric selection or send in their own fabric -- though plaids and sheers are not accepted. 
• The window treatment comes with a 4 1/2" valance for added panache.
• Blackout or sateen lining can be added to the to the face fabric if desired. This option will stabilize light-weight fabrics and silks as well as enhance room darkening. (Excellent for media room and bedrooms.)  
• Widths up to 96” in one piece are available or order two shades and butt them together to go even wider.
• Home owners can enhance the beauty of this shade with contrasting valances or by adding decorative trims or bandings.
• The metal headrails are sleek and modern in design and easy to install.
• The HiTech Ulitmate Shade is manufactured in the USA.

When choosing window treatments for your home, consider HiTech Ultimate Roman Shades!

April 22, 2010 marks the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day, so you’re probably hearing a lot about eco-friendly products and practices on the various news channels this week.  It is possible to make eco-friendly choices that are budget-friendly, too.  Case in point: Signature Series by Budget Blinds®.

Budget Blinds private label product, Signature Series® is made using practices that are not only eco-friendly, but make sound business sense, too. What this means to homeowners is that they can get window coverings that are budget-friendly, eco-friendly and look great!

Manufacturing practices in the facilities where Signature Series by Budget Blinds® products are manufactured are designed to prevent as much industrial waste from reaching the landfill as possible. These practices:

• Save 90 million gallons of water annually by recirculating water in cooling systems.
• Will divert 43 million pounds of waste from landfills over a 10-year period by recycling 75% of solid waste.
• Use sawdust to fire kilns, heat the factory and make pellets for wood stoves.
• Prevent nearly 100% of plastic waste from reaching landfills by recycling, regrinding and reusing scrap.

The products that are made at these facilities also help homeowners live a bit eco-friendlier and budget-friendlier, too.

• Window coverings help cut energy costs and reduce UV damage in the home.
• Several solar shade fabrics are made with Greenguard-certified fabrics and emit low volatile organic compounds (VOC’s).
• The entire line of natural shades is made using renewable materials like bamboo, jute and grasses.

If you’re in the market for new window coverings this home improvement season, put Signature Series by Budget Blinds® on your consideration list.

Signature Series by Budget Blinds® woven wood shades are made using renewable resources like bamboo, jute and grasses.