VISION Industry E-Newsletter: AUGUST

NEWSROOM

VISION Magazine in Search of the Greatest Window Covering Treatment Designs

Entries are now being accepted for the interior design industry’s most prestigious competitions recognizing the best design and craftsmanship of custom window treatments.?Read more >>

IWCE 2023 Calls for Education and?Seminar Presentations

We are looking for exceptional professionals to present seminars and workshops at IWCE on April 19-21, 2023, in Charlotte, NC. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, August 31, 2022.?Read more >>

Somfy Releases a New Digital Motor Interface to Enrich the Smart Home Environment

Somfy has announced the launch of its Control4 to Digital Motor Interface.?Read more >>

Enter Your Best Projects to Win a 2022 Lutron Excellence Award

The Lutron Excellence Awards program recognizes the world’s best projects using Lutron lighting and shading control solutions.?Read more >>

Somfy North America Secures Two Products Awards

Somfy announces that two Somfy North America products have been awarded by Commercial Integrator in the 2022 BEST Awards.?Read more >>

UEI and?Hunter Douglas Release the New PowerView Gen 3 Gateway +?Remote Control

The new system is completely reimagined to make automated shading simpler, more reliable?and more scalable.?Read more >>

Bond Bridge Pro RF-to-WiFi Control Platform Now Extends to Interior Window Shades

Functionality plays to the very heart of what consumers seek in smart shade control. It is the only way to wirelessly control Nice powered window shades natively in North America.?Read more >>

Springs Window Fashions Wins 2022 AIA Wisconsin Design Award

Springs Window Fashions recently completed remodeling its corporate headquarters in Middleton, WI, and was recognized as a 2022 Design Award Winner by the American Institue of Architects (AIA) Wisconsin.?Read more >>

Gotcha Covered Named One of the Best Franchises for Women

Leading window treatment franchise recognized by Franchise Business Review for excellence among female franchise owners.?Read more >>

SPONSOR

Build a?Better Window Treatment Business. You Don't Have to Do It Alone!?

As a window treatment professional, you know that generic business advice does not always apply to you. You have specific needs and unique challenges. You’ve wished for industry-specific resources. You’ve wished for people who “get you” and know what you face every day. Sometimes wishes do come true!?Welcome to Exciting Windows!

Exciting Windows! is a community for window treatment professionals of any level or stage of business. On August 18, we’re hosting a free Zoom seminar with great industry speakers including Mark Richardson, LuAnn Nigara?and William Hamilton on the topics of forecasting trends, designer trade relationships?and video marketing. This is one of the few times we allow non-members to join our workshops and seminars. Come get your front-row seat and witness the secret sauce that makes Exciting Windows! such a valuable resource.

This is your window of opportunity … don’t miss out!

Register today and we’ll see you on August 18.

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Price Inflation’s Effect on Small Business, Plus 8 Tips to Adapt

A reasonable rate of price inflation is expected, but when it rises too quickly, it can create challenges—especially for small businesses and consumers who see a sudden drop in their purchasing power.?Read more >>

Welcome to Drapery Street’s Newly Renovated Showroom

Step inside the doors and you’re met with full-size interactive window treatment displays, advanced design technology?and a team of experienced experts waiting to help.?Read more >>

Economy Headed Toward Recession? NRF Says No

Despite two consecutive quarters of decline, the informal indicator of a recession, the National Retail Federation’s Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said that the U.S. economy still does not appear to be in a recession and remains unlikely to enter one this year.?Read more >>

Q2 2022 Big Box Financials Roundup

Several big-box retailers released second-quarter financials. Read on to see how these companies performed.?Read more >>

Well-Crafted: Q&A With Industry Innovator Lance Keziah, CEO, Crypton

Despite the fact that half his?time as CEO has been during a pandemic, Keziah has not flowed down the execution of strategy for Crypton's growth across existing verticals.?Read more >>

Aqara’s Curtain Driver Drags Your Drapes into the Smart Home Era

This retrofit gadget automates your curtains and works with Alexa, Google Home?and Apple HomeKit.?Read more >>

SPONSOR

7 Reasons Why MotionBlinds Smart Technology Is a Cut Above the Rest

We all know that smart technology is the future, and the smart home trend is having a huge impact on our industry and our daily lives. But are you ready for it? Blinds and shades can be set to open and close any time you require, they can adapt to changing temperatures inside and outside your home and move to the rhythm of your daily life, creating the perfect atmosphere at any time of the day. Find out why MotionBlinds smart technology is a cut above the rest.TRENDS & INSPIRE

The Aboveground Pool Is Chic Now

Stock tanks, container pools?and other backyard solutions are finally getting their day in the sun.?Read more>>

BeautiTone Launches Barbie Dreamhouse Color Collection

In celebration of?the 60th anniversary of the Barbie? Dreamhouse?, BeautiTone partnered with Mattel Canada to release a curated collection of Barbie-inspired paint colors.?Read more>>

Designer Nadia Watts Teams Up With Kravet for a?Vibrant Line of Textiles

Evoking the spirited work of Louis Comfort Tiffany—the designer’s great-great-grandfather—the Gem Collection features two dozen jewel-tone?fabrics.?Read more >>

Here’s Your Sneak Peek: See All 12 Colors of the Year for 2023

The 12 colors offer comfort, acceptance?and joy, according to Valspar.?Read more >>

Design and Remodeling Industry Bullish on Voice Control in the Home

More than a third of Americans own a smart speaker—that’s about 100 million users—according to National Public Media’s 2022 Smart Audio Report and 86% agree that they “allow for a more convenient living experience.”?Read more >>

Performance Fabrics Continue to Push Fashion Boundaries

Long since evolving from its outdoor-only roots, the performance fabric category continues to innovate and marry color, texture?and design with the ability to withstand the everyday wear and tear of life.?Read more >>

SPONSOR

JOB BOARD: NOW HIRING

Outside Sales Representative, Forest Drapery Hardware, Cartersville, GA?View job >>

Customer Service Liaison, J-Star Motion Corporation, Cedar Springs, MI?View job >>

Customer Service Representative, Blindster.com, Houston, TX?View job >>

Human Resources Generalist, Rollease Acmeda, Stamford, CT?View job >>

Production Manager, Hunter Douglas Inc., Mexico?View job >>

Vice President of Business Development, Carole Fabrics,?Augusta, GA?View job >>

WINNING DESIGN

"Our client asked us to design window coverings for her reading room that would provide light control, create uniformity on the exterior of her home and add softness to the room. The base layer is Hunter Douglas Silhouette shadings, which are unique because they can be tilted to allow the perfect amount of light to enter the room. We installed them throughout our client’s home to create a uniform look. We then designed flat-fold roman shades to add softness and depth to the reading room while hiding the Silhouette headrails. When the Silhouette shades are open, you do not even know they are there. To add more softness and visual interest, we designed euro-pleated drapery panels…"?Read more >>

EDUCATION

Design | Let's Talk Fabrics With Ronica VanGelder

There are several things you should consider beyond color and transparency when choosing your fabric, such as how much it might wrinkle and how well it will drape.?Read more >>

Branding | 3 Steps to Define (and Leverage!) the Personality of Your Brand

Nicole Heymer, the founder of Glory & Brand, dives into why a brand’s personality matters and what to do about yours.?Read more >>

Motorization | The Invasion of Integrators?

If you are involved in selling motorized window coverings,?you will soon notice?the impact of audio-visual integrators on the window treatment industry.?Read more >>

Installation | Mounting Options

A silly small mix-up between "I" and "O" can cost you thousands of dollars and lots of aggravation between you and your client. Understand why.?Read more >>

EVENTS: SAVE THE DATE

Future of Home?- September 12-13, 2022, New York City, NY

Fall Market?- September 19-21, 2022, Atlanta, GA

Design Edge?- September 21-22, 2022, Chicago, IL

High Point Market?–?October?22-26, 2022, High Point, NC

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show?-?January 30–February 1, 2023, Las Vegas, NV

NAHB International Builders' Show?-?January 30–February 1, 2023, Las Vegas, NV

International Window Coverings Expo 2023?–?April 20-21, 2023, Charlotte, NC?