Celebrating 30 Years of Design, Innovation & Expertise!
For 30 years, Budget Blinds has been leading the way in the custom window covering industry through Innovation, Motorization, and Customization. What began as an entrepreneurial dream of five young colleagues in Orange County, California, has grown to become the largest window covering franchise in North America. The story and longevity of the brand, combined with its growth and success, are worth celebrating!
The Early Days: Budget Blinds Begins
It was the early 1990s when both Google and Facebook did not exist, nor did smartphones or digital cameras. The Yellow Page phone books were the primary form of advertising for local businesses. Window coverings were sold in mom-and-pop retail stores, and mini-blinds filled most windows.
It was in this environment, in 1992, that five entrepreneurs took a leap of faith and started Budget Blinds. They saw an opportunity to bring quality window treatments and customer service directly to consumers. The five founders decided it was time to change the window covering industry, and change it, they did. They revolutionized the window covering industry through customer service, convenience, and customization.
Their desire to help homeowners by providing a full-service window treatment purchasing experience, from consultation to installation, was contagious. In 1994, Budget Blinds began franchising. By empowering each new franchise with the best products, in-depth training, and an outstanding customer service model, the Budget Blinds brand grew quickly. It spread across the US, later expanding throughout North America into Canada and Mexico.
Expanding Through Global Sourcing & Worldwide Manufacturing
With the vision to bring homeowners the best products featuring innovative design and on-trend style, the owners hired sourcing powerhouse Tracy Christman in 2002. Christman travels the globe going directly to the source to ensure Budget Blinds has the best product offering with the most on-trend styles, innovative features, and exclusive options.
In addition, Christman has created exclusive product lines for Budget Blinds, including the Inspired Drapes Collection, the Inspired Roller Shade Collection, and the Natural Shades product line.
Each program features the innovation and customization Budget Blinds strives for. Elevating roller shades with unique, exclusive patterns, textures, and colors. The natural shade program offers softer weaves, creating a more sophisticated shade fabric for today's homeowners. Both sustainable and on-trend, they feature colors that match the customer’s home and style.
The Inspired Drapes Collection features exclusive European fabrics and options from decorative drapery panels to fully functioning custom drapery. Budget Blinds also offers an array of drapery hardware with the option of motorization for ease of operation and convenience.
Leading in Technology and Motorization
A lot has changed since 1992, especially in the arena of technology. Google search and Facebook have replaced Yellow Page phone books, and consumers walk around with mini computers in their hands in the form of smartphones. Now homeowners operate lights, door locks, and window treatments with apps on their phones while at home or away, something that seemed futuristic to homeowners in the early 90s.
Since its beginning, Budget Blinds has embraced innovation, bringing motorized window treatments to consumers in 2004. Today, with the use of smartphones and new technology, Budget Blinds is leading the way with our exclusive Smart Home Collection. By featuring the same motor in a variety of products across vendors, this collection allows homeowners to choose from a range of products and operate them together via the Budget Blinds Smart Home app. Once again, Budget Blinds is leading the way by giving homeowners the latest in Smart Home technology, providing convenience, safety, energy efficiency, and light control with the simple touch of a button or tap of an app.
Adding Pattern and Color with Customization
Budget Blinds is not only a leader in product sourcing and technology, but as Tracy Christman puts it, “Your window treatments can be a work of art.” With Budget Blinds’ exclusive DesignINK program, homeowners and designers can create one-of-a-kind fabric, match the colors in their home and choose a pattern that fits their style and personality.
As an essential design element in houses, color conveys a homeowner's personality and style. Custom fabric is just one way to add color to a room. At Budget Blinds, window treatments can be designed to complement a homeowner's color palette and design style through a range of products, including shades, blinds, and shutters.
Every window covering designed at Budget Blinds is as individual as the room it fits in. For that designer touch, Budget Blinds offers a custom paint match program. The colors are not limited to shades of white and gray or a few standard stain colors, Budget Blinds can paint shutters and blinds in ANY color. This gives the homeowner a custom look that matches their wall, trim, or room’s accent colors.
The reality is that everything Budget Blinds does is custom! Each blind, shutter, shade, and drape is made to fit the precise measurements of a homeowner’s windows and customized to fit each window, not just any “standard” window. From custom shapes like round or arched top windows to angled windows and unique shapes like octagons, Budget Blinds custom designs and installs a window treatment that fits perfectly with each window's size, shape, and style.
Providing Local Personalized Service
Customization and personalization are what Budget Blinds was founded on and what local franchisees continue to bring to homeowners today. Each local franchisee carries on the Budget Blinds mission by providing personalized in-home consultations while customizing the product to fit the homeowner's window, design style, and budget. By continuing the mission of the five founders, local franchisees provide the most convenient window treatment shopping experience backed by the #1 franchise in North America, offering the best products and an industry-leading No-Questions-Asked-Warranty.
Covering Homeowners with an Industry-Leading Warranty
Offering an exclusive No-Questions-Asked-Warranty means Budget Blinds has homeowners covered. From your furry friend chewing on your blinds to your child coloring on a new roller shade, Budget Blinds will repair or replace qualifying window treatments, no questions asked. Just one more reason Budget Blinds leads the way in the window covering industry!
Celebrating 2022 and Beyond
As Budget Blinds celebrates its 30th Anniversary and the over 1,400 local territories throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico, we can assure homeowners of one thing; Budget Blinds will continue to be a pioneer in the industry, leading with innovation, motorization, and customization by offering homeowners the best products, the most convenient shopping experience, and outstanding customer service for the next 30 years and beyond!
