Pieter Plokker: Things I didn't know about blinds and window coverings

Last summer I started my new job; it meant an entrance into the shading industry. I come from Dyson®, a completely different line of business. But ... a brand with strong name recognition. So I thought there would be a lot of similarities in the way I work, but now that I've been ‘on the road’ in the solar shading business for about eight months - with great pleasure, by the way - I've discovered a lot of new things. Most importantly? I didn't know that blinds could make so much difference. 

For me, it was always something practical. Something you put down when the sun shone in. Against prying eyes. Against heat. Period. Curtains? Same thing: open or closed. So that image is wrong. Curtains do not turn out to be the final piece of an interior, but often the foundation of the atmosphere. They determine how a space breathes. How light enters. How sound behaves. How color spreads. I saw and felt the difference. Linen, cotton, velvet. Transparent, semi-transparent, blackout. Each fabric has its own character and appearance.

And then there are the acoustics. In rooms with lots of glass, concrete or hard floors, sound can sound sharp and hollow. Once curtains are added, the sound changes. They absorb sound waves, reduce reverberation and make conversations more pleasant. The effect is subtle, but clearly noticeable. Fascinating

Versatile for the window

I also thought blinds were mostly aesthetic choices. But there's much more to that, too. Blinds that you tilt rather than fully close provide controlled light. No harsh rays of sunlight, but filtered daylight that brings calm.

In addition, what struck me was the effect on comfort. In particular, textile window coverings have an insulating effect and can actually save on heating costs. A discovery! Not to mention UV damping and the protection of interiors from discoloration.

Exterior blinds add an extra dimension. By blocking solar rays even before they reach the glass, you prevent heat from entering. Better for the environment and your wallet, too. Never knew.

Professionals

Last but not least, perhaps the most striking thing I find is the customers, our valued retailers. All of them professionals with an eye for color, material, advice and customization. We ultimately deliver a semi-finished product that only really comes into its own when the right advice has been given at the time of purchase, measurements have been taken accurately and, after delivery, it has been assembled with an eye for detail. This requires knowledge of taste and atmosphere, but also of technology and functionality.

For me, this was a world to discover. For many readers here, it's cut and dried. But for consumers, it often isn't. Who stands where I stood a few months ago. That brings me to the question I have to keep answering in my work, together with colleagues and customers: are we telling our story and the benefits of our products clearly enough?