Franchisor's Efforts Recognized by Entrepreneur®, AllBusiness.com and Service Industry Advertising Awards Awards received: Entrepreneur®: Franchise 500 First in Category, Leading Homebased Opportunities and Top Global Franchise; AllBusiness.com: 2010 AllBusiness.com AllStar; SIAA: Innovative and Creative Design in New Media award to Aviatech for Budget Blinds advertising

Orange, CA (February 10, 2010) -- Budget Blinds, the nation’s largest window covering franchise, has been recognized for excellence five times within the first two months of the year by Entrepreneur®, AllBusiness.com and Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA).

 “Being recognized by these three outstanding organizations is a great way to start 2010,” said Chad Hallock, CEO and Co-Founder of Home Franchise Concepts, the parent company of Budget Blinds. “Our franchisees were thrilled to hear this news.”

The franchisor was ranked number one in its Franchise 500® category by Entrepreneur® magazine as it has been every year since 1996. Additionally, the franchisor was listed among the leading homebased opportunities and America’s top global franchises.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be ranked first in our category for the last 14 years by the folks at Entrepreneur®,” said Hallock.

Budget Blinds was also named a 2010 AllBusiness AllStar Franchise for the second straight year because of the company’s excellent financial strength and brand awareness rankings. The franchisor also was recognized for disclosing financial performance representations in Item 19 of its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Item 19 contains important information about the financial performance of certain existing franchises that prospective franchisees can use to help make informed decisions about a franchise opportunity.

Rounding out the early 2010 accolades, the seventh annual Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA) recognized Budget Blinds' advertising by Aviatech. The company’s online overlays and banner ads won awards in the Innovative and Creative Design in New Media category as judged by advertising agency executives.

With heating and cooling expenses accounting for nearly 60% of a home’s energy costs, it pays to conserve. (US Dept. Of Energy and Natural Resources Canada). But did you know that researchers at the US Department of Energy reports that windows can account for 10-25% of your home energy bill?

After weather stripping and caulking your windows, your window coverings are your next line of defense in keeping Old Man Winter outside.  Experts agree that the type of window covering you have on your windows can impact how much energy you’ll conserve; but how your window treatments are installed also impacts their insulating powers. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that appropriately installed window treatments can cut heat loss by as much as 25 percent! To ensure you’re getting the most from your window treatments ask your Style Consultant about these heat-conserving strategies:

• Snugly-fitted window treatments that are fitted inside the window frame are more efficient than those mounted outside the frame at keeping warmed air away from chilled glass. 
• Bundle window treatments – that is combine two classic window treatments like a cellular shade with a drapery panel and a cornice – to further enhance chill busting! 
• Add heat-conserving features like black-out lining to boost heat conservation.

Sources:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/commercial/hvac.html
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/eneene/effeff/resuse-eng.php
http://www.eereblogs.energy.gov/energysavers/post/Improving-the-Energy-Efficiency-of-Existing-Windows.aspx

If you’ve visited our About Style blog or our website or seen our Design Guide, surely you’ve seen bundling, the practice of layering two or more classic window treatments over one window to make a stylish statement in your home.  One of my all-time favorite photos from our archives is a shot we took in 2004. It features cranberry silk doupioni drapery panels and valance gracefully framing an understated roller shade for a grand pop of holiday glamour. We even puddled the drapery panel onto the floor for a richer, more sophisticated look.  You’ll also notice that the cranberry color is echoed in the chair covers and the tableware to tie the whole color story together.

Even if this look doesn’t fit your home’s style, here are some design tips you can use this season and beyond:

• Add some holiday elegance by swapping everyday fabrics for jewel tones that coordinate with your décor.
• Repeat colors three times in a room at three levels – low, waist height, and high – to draw your eye through the room.  This ties the look together and demonstrates that you had a plan going into this holiday decorating.
• Be bold, but stay balanced. See how the bold cranberry tone is balanced by the more neutral gold walls.
• Graciously accept the admiration of your friends and family.