Home Is Where Mom Is

Well actually for many Budget Blinds franchisees, work is where mom is too! Many of the “kids” that grew up in their parent’s franchise now work for them.

So, here’s what we admire about the moms of Budget Blinds from some special people who know them well, their own sons and daughters.  

Alex Shaw, started working for his mom, Pam Shaw with Budget Blinds of South Orlando doing bookkeeping while in college. He was majoring in Accounting, so it was also good experience for him. After college, he realized he did not want a 9-5 desk job at an Accounting firm. His mom’s franchise was growing and he quickly realized the potential. He has been working with his mom for 8 years now. “I admire my mom so much because of how hard she works and how good she is with people. She is an amazing, kind person, and I truly admire her work ethic”.

For Jill Strickland, watching the two people she admired the most, work hard and succeed made her want to follow in her parent’s footsteps and be just like them. She has worked for her parents at Budget Blinds of La Vernia and Alamo Heights off and on for the past 6 years. Being a working mom herself, it helps when your boss is also the grandparent! The flexibility of working with family helps when you are trying to raise your own children and hold down a job too. “ I admire my mom’s faith and love for family. She is beautiful inside and out. I admire her honesty, her strength to stand up for what she believes in, and how hard she works to take care of all of us.”

Courtney Stoddard Laufketter from BB of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, has been working with her family off and on since 2002. She is grateful for the “together time.” “I am so close to my family and we spend so much time together. They are my friends and my family. I know how lucky I am to be able to say that!” Courtney’s mom Debbie runs the daily franchise operations, as well as serves on a wide array of community boards and coordinates family activities. “I admire her balance. Especially this year, she has balanced being a business owner, being on different community boards, being mom, and Deb-Deb ( we don’t say grandma). She finds a way to get it all done and to do it well. She amazes me and I hope to one day be as good a mom as she has been to all of us.”

For brothers Shane and Riley Swarbrick who both work with their mom, Sue, at Budget Blinds of SW Manitoba, they appreciate their mom’s sense of freedom, her spontaneous joy, her quick wit, and sense of humor. She is very caring, hardworking, always smiling and has a positive attitude every day.” Sue’s enthusiasm and their parent’s franchise success attracted both sons to join the team.

Team Parkhurst includes brother Josh and sister Alix who work with their mom Toni at Budget Blinds of Fairfield & Vacaville California. Alix began working for her mom “helping” in the office on weekends, as she got older she began working more out of curiosity, plus it was always her mom’s dream to have her kids working with her. “ My mom and I are best friends and luckily our work relationship benefits from that! I admire her leadership and strength as a business owner. This is a tough industry, and navigating it as a single woman business owner is not always easy. She has worked hard and is the go-to blind lady in our area!”

Josh Parkhurst began working for his mom in the warehouse at the age of 16, inventorying daily deliveries and assisting installers. He now works on the install crew and has worked for his mom for 10 years. “I absolutely admire how my mom looks out for the best interest of our employees. We all work hard, but she always makes sure we are rewarded, acknowledged, and praised for keeping the business going. She has never given up on me, always believed in me, encouraged me, and has helped me in more ways than I can count!”

Cory Allen also helps his mom, Debbie Millikan, as a full-time installer at Budget Blinds of Champaign and Bloomington, Illinois. “My mom is one of the hardest working women I know. She is the glue that holds everything together. She truly cares about people , not only our employees, but customers as well. I hope to be as good as her someday and follow in her footsteps carrying on what we have started.”

At Budget Blinds we want to wish each of you a special day! We admire you for your strength and the joy you bring your families. From our family to yours, Happy Mother’s Day!