Today we’d like to introduce you to Betty Brandolino.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Betty. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Fresh Twist Window Treatments is a niche company that helps clients with all their soft textiles. We do privacy layers such as blinds and shutters, as well as custom drapes, pillows, upholstery, and rugs.
I have always had a passion for interior design. About eight years ago, my husband and I built a new construction home that we general contracted ourselves. I loved the process of being able to make all my own selections and give our home our own personality. Shortly after completing our home, I started thinking about starting an interior design business. I once owned a boutique, but took some time off to be a stay home mom. Building our home, sparked the fire of starting something new again.
So a few months later, I came up with a business plan, had a friend who is in marketing help me with a name and Fresh Twist Design was born. . As I was designing rooms, it seemed that each one of my design projects wasn’t complete until the window treatments were in place. This piece of the business took on a life of its own. Before I knew it, I had at least three calls a week specifically for window treatment design. Some of these calls were for entire new construction full of windows.
This made me stop and rethink my business. If I was going to do that many window treatments, I needed to learn that business. Although design is an important aspect to spec’ing window treatments, it is independent of the technical knowledge needed not to make costly mistakes. As a designer, it was easy to pick a color, texture, etc. that looked good in the room, but I soon learned there is so much more to learn if I was going to help clients with window treatment. . There are so many technical details that go along with making decisions. We must ask clients things like, do you want room darkening vs light filtering, how do you want to control your light, what kind of lifting system do you prefer, and so on. IF that isn’t enough, a true window treatment expert needs to take into account the depth of the window the cutbacks on fabric, and the placement of headrails, None of these sound very glamorous but are so necessary, if you want to have beautiful window treatments that complete your room.
So eight years later, my company is now called Fresh Twist Window Treatments, and we have a team of window treatment specialists that have design backgrounds, but can help you not make costly mistakes.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Fresh Twist is definitely going through growing pains. We are so blessed to work with such great customers, workrooms, and vendors. Our team has grown in the last couple years to help keep up with our referral business. We have lots of team meetings and constantly talk about new ways to streamline our processes to help keep up with demand. Customer service is number one to us, and that message is always in the forefront of conversation as we try to balance everything.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Fresh Twist Window Treatments story. Tell us more about the business.
Fresh Twist Window Treatments specializes in privacy layers such as blinds, shutters, and custom drapes. In the past few years we have defined our niche to be all soft textiles. This includes rugs, pillows, cushions, and upholstery. And all soft textiles.
Fresh Twist is set apart from other window treatment companies, because we are all certified in the technical piece needed to spec your window treatments correctly. But also have a design background, so we can be creative with helping the window treatment fit your surrounding elements in the room.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work, listening to your heart, and finding a mentor that can help guide some of your decisions. Owning a business is a lot of hard work, and sometimes there are doors that open and other times doors that shut. But don’t ever give up on your dreams.
Contact Info:
- Address: 111 E First St.
Elmhurst, IL 60126 - Website: Freshtwistwindows.com
- Phone: 630-651-0499
- Email: betty@freshtwistwindows.com
- Instagram: http://www.pictaram.com/user/freshtwistwindows/3215464555
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/freshtwist/fresh-twist
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