By Bonnie Mason
Are you ready for a new look in your home or office this year? Custom window coverings from Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa, now located on W. Fletcher Ave., will transform your space into a room you will be excited to show off to family and friends. From blinds, shutters and sliding panels to solar shades and a full line of custom draperies, Budget Blinds’ in-home and showroom design consultants are happy to work with you to bring new life to your space.
From its new showroom, located near I-275, Budget Blinds serves homes and businesses in the Tampa Bay area, including Wesley Chapel and all of Pasco and Hernando counties, as well as eastern Hillsborough (including all of New Tampa), Brandon and even into Manatee County. Owners Jim and Elaine Trotter have been married for 28 years and Jim spent 20 years in the corporate world while Elaine stayed home to raise their two boys, James (now 26) and Tanner (24). After several moves, Jim’s work brought the family to the Tampa area, where the couple began dreaming of settling down and running a business together.
In October 2008, despite the fact the U.S. economy was in the midst of a downward spiral, the Trotters took a leap of faith and purchased Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa, then located on U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes, from its previous owner.
And, according to Elaine, it has taken faith, hard work and determination to help the couple grow their business. Jim and Elaine complement each other’s strengths. His sales skills, in particular in commercial sales, are strong, while she has more of the financial and bookkeeping skills needed to successfully run a business. Elaine also manages much of the marketing for the company. And, less than five years into their ownership of the business, Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa today boasts a staff of two full-time designers who bring the products to your home or business, as well as two full-time design consultants to assist customers in the showroom design center on Fletcher Ave. that opened in November 2012.
“We’re excited about our move from Land O’Lakes to the Fletcher Ave. location,” says Elaine. “The new showroom gives us a larger space to display more of the window covering choices our customers desire.”
The good news for Budget Blinds customers is that the business literally has your windows and walls covered — whether you prefer to visit the company’s showroom (where you can chat with in-store design consultants Tracey and Derenda) and see the products on display before you make a decision to purchase — or you prefer to be visited by one of Budget Blinds’ traveling consultants, where you can see all of the available styles, colors and textures in the rooms where the treatments actually will be installed.
Many Treatment Options
Customers can choose from industry favorites such as Hunter Douglas, Signature Series, Enlightenment and more. Budget Blinds’ large selection includes blinds made from sheer, woven and room-darkening fabrics, as well as from vinyl, faux wood, premium hardwoods and aluminum. And, if energy efficiency is one of your goals, Budget Blinds has window coverings to insulate the home and provide solar heat control as well as enhance lighting in a room, which reduces the need for electrical lighting. Jim says honeycomb shades are a good choice for the energy-conscious consumer, as their construction traps air near the window, adding a layer of insulation.
Blinds and shades are not the only products available at Budget Blinds. Jim and Elaine offer a full line of custom draperies and cornices, and soon will offer a line of area rugs to accentuate any décor. Whether you want an enriching, sleek new design for your living space, more privacy in your bedroom, safety and security for a baby’s room, or creativity for your office, Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa will provide you with the highest quality window covering products, as well as the personalized service you need.
Because Budget Blinds is the number one window covering franchise business in North America and Canada, with more than 850 stores, Jim and Elaine are able to secure the best fabrics and manufacturers, as well as offering many exclusive products available only to Budget Blinds customers. A large percentage of the business is residential, however, Budge Blinds also works with any number of commercial building clients, medical facilities and apartment complexes. Commercial space often requires heavier tracking systems due to building codes and other requirements, but Budget Blinds has the experience and product that the commercial industry has trusted for nearly 20 years.
Budget Blinds backs its products with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. The company also provides a one-time, no-questions-asked free replacement. So, whether your dog eats your blinds or your child decides to take his scissors to your shades, Budget Blinds will replace the product at no cost and without question.
‘Butterflying’ In Soon!
Elaine and Jim recently returned from a Budget Blinds franchise convention and vendor showcase in Las Vegas, where the couple learned of an exciting new product — butterfly blinds. This versatile innovation, exclusive to Budget Blind franchises, is a horizontal fabric blind that transforms to a privacy blind when it’s closed. Also new to the company is a roller shade exclusively designed in Europe for Budget Blinds customers in North America.
February is customer appreciation month and Budget Blinds’ Grand Opening celebration. Various promotions will occur throughout the month.
Customers can visit Budget Blinds’ Facebook page to get up-to-date promotions at Facebook.com/ BudgetBlindsGreaterTampa for the latest updates.
Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa is located at 1208 W. Fletcher Ave., between North Blvd. and Rome Ave., and is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment only. For more info, please call 968-5050, or visit BudgetBlinds.com/GreaterTampa.
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