It wasn’t a surprise when home renovations soared last year.
With residents told to stay put in their houses or condos during the pandemic waves and having to work remotely, many people saw the lockdown as an opportunity to give their living and new working quarters a refresh.
Walls were painted, carpets were replaced and even entire rooms got gutted for the lifts.
New window coverings finished the modernized looks, too.
For Clay and Lacey Tierney, the owners of four Budget Blind franchises, the lockdown kept the couple and their staff on their toes.
“Home renos were hot during the pandemic,” Lacey says. “Since everyone was stuck at home, dreaming of ways to improve their environment, window coverings were definitely an item on people’s lists.”
And they were happy for the business as well, meeting and serving new and returning clients — physically distanced — at their places of residences to help them find what they were looking for. And for a great price.
Budget Blinds has a range of top-notch products from North America and Europe for customers to choose from, offering cellular/honey comb, solar and roman shades; blinds, shutters, drapery and screen doors; home automation/motorization.
Best of all, Lacey says, “all products are custom fit. We come to measure your windows and professionally install them for you.”
Their most popular product? Cellular shades.
Not only are cellular shades energy-efficient, Lacey says, “but they also have a sleek, modern design. Cellular shades help provide cooling in the summer and help keep the heat in the winter.”
The owners and operators of the New Westminster franchise since 2017, the Tierneys added their Surrey business two years later. Recently, the couple took over the Tri-Cities/Ridge Meadows region from the previous owner who had run it for 15 years. That means their four territories span from east Richmond to Mission.
Currently, they have eight staff members meeting the demand: two in administration, three sales consultants, two installers and a bookkeeper. Clay also handles the sales calls while Lacey is the head advertising and marketing coordinator.
It’s a business that stands behind its work, Lacey says.
Budget Blinds is the only window coverings company that offers a five-year No Questions Asked warranty. In other words, “if anything happens to your window coverings within five years of purchase, we will replace it,” Lacey says.
As for its future in the Tri-Cities, the family-owned company says staff are eager to meet clients in the new showroom in Port Coquitlam (open by appointment only). There — or over the phone — customers can discuss the products available, find out about monthly deals and book a free in-home consultation for staff to measure the windows and give a detailed quote.
“We are so excited to branch out to the Tri-Cities/Ridge Meadows area as we have grown up and live in the area ourselves. We look forward to serving these communities with our great service and products,” Lacey says.
To learn more about Budget Blinds, visit budgetblinds.com/tricity/.
