The Finishing Touch

Five Questions with… Dixie Dalton, Blinds.com Design Consultant

Dixie is more than just a fantastic Blinds.com team member, she is a barista extraordinaire, a fabulous photographer, and someone whose joy is infectious. Meet Dixie:

1.       In your free time, what do you love to do?

Wow…  Well, since tv and movies don’t exist in the land of Dixie, taking photos and going to concerts would have to be my top two!  I run a photography business out of my home, in addition to working here at Blinds.com….  www.dixieanndalton.com       

2.       If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Well, because I love my dog (Arley Madoc Dalton) so much, and he is so smart, precious, affectionate and spoiled…  I would have to say that I would want to be a German Shorthaired Pointer J  How great it would be able to sleep in the bed, be a vegetarian, only go outside when I wanted to, and have tons of love from all around!

3.       What is your favorite food?

Hmmm…   my favorite food….  Saturday through Thursday I eat extremely healthy so I would say either Salmon or Falafel…   On Fridays, however, I splurge to all extreme, so I would say Chocolate Ice Cream or Italian Cream Cake!!

4.       What are some tips for being a sales representative?

Tips that I would pass on to someone in training on how to be a successful sales representative would be:

a. Product Knowledge is the key…  Learn the products because the less time I have to spend looking something up, the more I can sellJ

b. Asking the Right Questions!

c. Confidence

e. Positive Outlook

f. Setting Goals

5.       What do you love about working for Blinds.com?

a. I love the casual atmosphere (especially with the move to our new office)

b. I love the presence of our CEO Jay Steinfeld, he is usually pretty refreshing to be around and always promotes self worth, improvement and change…  (He even pays for my gym membership)

c. I love my night crew, they are the best!

d. I love my hours (1-9pm CST)

e. I also love the culture and that they give back to the community, and do special things like this interview!

Home Insulation – How Window Treatments Keep Your Home Warm in the Winter

If you think all you need is a Snuggie to keep you warm in the Winter, you are sorely mistaken. Window treatments are an critical part of home insulation. Home insulation is a topic on everybody’s minds these days, but most people don’t really understand their options. There are plenty of super expensive ways to help keep the heat inside your home (aluminum siding, attic insulation), and you should most likely do those things too, especially if you live in colder climates. But window treatments, believe it or not, do a great job of insulating your home. Certain blinds and shades trap expensive heat in, just as they block solar heat in the summer. Plus, there are some new, exciting, and innovative products on the horizon that you’ll want to know about for even better insulation!

First, take stock of what you already have. A good rule of thumb is that shades, which are made from a single piece of material that can’t tilt open and closed, are better insulators because heating and cooling can’t escape through the slats.

There are a few shades that I highly recommend for home insulation:

1. Blinds.com ComforTrack 3/8” Double Cell Blackout Shade: The ComforTrack products at Blinds.com are approved for federal tax credit, meaning that because they are so energy efficient and help reduce energy spending so much, the government is actually going to give you a refund for putting them in your home. They are Energy Star approved. The system consists of side tracks that attach to your window frame with magnets. They have specially fitted end caps which, along with the notched sides of the shade, minimize energy loss. They are available in Light Filtering too, but the Blackout version will provide total light blockage and privacy when you need it.
2. Blinds.com One Day ¾” Single Cell Blackout Shade: This shade will not only be made for you in record time (one day! seriously.) but the cells are lined with mylar. Mylar is a strong but thin polyester that lines the wall of each cell, creating a real and noticeable barrier between you and the frosty outdoor air. If you’ve ever stood by a window that has no covering on a cold day, you know that air can and will seep in through little cracks. This shade will prevent that from happening.
3. Bali DiamondCell 3/8” Midnight Double Cell Blackout Shade: Another great insulating honeycomb shade from one of my fave brands, Bali. This shade comes in more colors than you can imagine.

Join Blinds.com in the Fight Against Homelessness

Every once in awhile, I take a break from the world of window treatments to talk about a great cause. Today is one of those days. We at Blinds.com are BIG supporters of Habitat for Humanity. We donate all blinds sent back to us and extra product to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a resale home improvement store that new Habitat homeowners can buy from at heavily discounted rates.

October 5, 2009 is World Habitat Day, a day for citizens of the world to come together to fight for decent, affordable housing for everyone. As homelessness increases – it is estimated that over 100 million people are homeless – we need to raise awareness of this problem more than ever. If we’re standing idly by, we’re part of the problem.

You can donate to the cause online. It’s easy and safe. Your small donation will make a big difference in the life of someone less fortunate. Take a look at the photos below of the people that need your help:

Diego Manasyan is six years old. He lives his deserted and crumbling Soviet-era building. 

Future Habitat homeowner Linet Gesare Maroko with her son, John. They are pictured in front of the makeshift tent she and her family, including children orphaned by her sister’s death, currently occupy.

Please help out, raise money, and raise awareness for World Habitat Day, October 5, 2009.