Eco-businesses are Making Green-money!

Eco responsible life styles are fast becoming part of our culture and as a result the companies offering them are cashing in on the green. Some experts report that by the end of the decade, more consumers will be demanding companies disclose just how eco-responsible their products are and they will most likely help usher in the change. Consumers have pull, like in the 1990’s, they demanded, overseas factories not make products using children and companies responded. Consumers will increasingly demand products not only be made of green materials but more importantly that companies use ‘global warming pollution reduction’ (GW-PR) technologies that uses less packaging and fabrication energy consumption.If you’re looking to start an Eco-responsible company you will also need to be competitive, man cannot survive on eco-alone. Consumers will demand durability, competitive prices and should be considered if a business has what it takes to succeed. To meet these demands a leading innovative window covering product developer borrowed technologies from the flooring and cabinet industries. A 3rd generation inventor from Pasadena California was issued three patents for an innovative laminate DuraShutter® that features a low cost laminate material, quick fabrication technology that is winning over both consumers and fabricators. The pricing is low enough that the laminate shutter can be purchased for about the price of a premium wood blind. The fast cut laminate shutter materials and snap-in shutter components require only a few hand tools enabling an installer to measure and install in the same day. Plantation shutters can substantially reduce energy consumption and upgrade a homes design while being the only window-covering product to increase the homes overall value. Seeing is Believing! Even houses which appear to be well insulated may not be as energy efficient as one may think. This house was photographed during the winter using thermal photography, a process which exposes higher temperature zones as indicated by the color transitions. You will notice that the areas around the windows are particularly "hot," proving that a significant amount of interior heat is escaping from these portions of the building. Information provided by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Thermography/Photography copyright 1997. Infraspection Institute Inc, Burlington New JerseyThe DuraShutter® WeatherGuard™ triad-design with patented solid core laminate material; flat louver design and dual tilt controllers has resulted in a superior insulative, noise, and light reduction properties. The technologies are available to any shutter manufactures company. • T-Cap design covers space between Louvers and Stile, providing improved insulating, light and noise reduction • Removable louvers design has no staples, tilt pins or tilt bar attachments.• Dual self-lubricating tilt controllers provide smother louver operation and tighter closure.Super Tilt Controllers™ can be easily mounted to either the back or front of panel to offer a discreet operating system that is barely visible from the front of the product and integrates discreetly into the shutter. To operate, simply tilt one louver to the desired position and the rest will follow. The rear tilt operating system offers a sleek contemporary look, expansive views and easy cleaning.The ‘shutter’ category is the fastest growth in recent years. Shutter’s popularity continues to grow and sales growth in this category has been better than 10% per year for the last 5 years. When you compare this to blinds, which have been in a decline for years, you can see that the best money making opportunity is in shuttersThe window covering shutter market offers a tremendous opportunity for the small to large business owner. There are 3 main channels of sales. • Retailer –Buy from factory• Factory- Sell to retailer• Home builders- Buy from FactoryMost window covering companies specialize in one of these channels, most being retail. One company is offering a Build-A-Shutter certified training program and a licensing agreement to buy DuraShutter® materials at price points, that empower a Build-A-Shutter fabricator to compete/sell into all three channels. This is done by the way of an exclusive DuraShutter® products that offer a patented Eco laminate material with a 5-Star Eco Rating.Other window covering franchise opportunities offer blinds as their chef product and don’t offer any fabricator program, and receive rebate from most all the factories they set up to buy from. Budget Blinds has done very well, offering a good opportunity however, the blinds category in window coverings is in decline and so are Budget Blinds prime territories.Homeowners can now afford to replace out dated blinds and the smaller companies can compete with low cost import and build a business making an exciting business opportunity.Today’s Home Products Inc. (dba DuraShutter®) CEO David Blachley is a third generation inventor with 25 years experience in cost reduction technology and product development innovations.United States Patent No.6,854,211, No.6,622,433, 7,055,231durashutter.com buildashutter.comPrime areas available! Build-A-Shutter is offering a 'Better-than-blinds business model' with start up cost and a factory direct DuraShutter Store model option for about the cost of a Budget Blinds franchise
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An Inside Look At Do It Yourself Plantation Shutters

Do-it-yourself plantation shutters are semi-opaque window coverings that normally hinge on either side of a window opening. These shutters are relatively attractive to end users looking to not only improve the appearance of a room, but also enjoy controlled access to light.

Do-it-yourself plantation shutters can come with louvers (horizontal and vertical slats) as small as 1 7/8-inch to 5 ½ -inch. The average sizes for interior plantation shutters include 2 ½, 3, 3 ½, or 4 ½-inch movable louvers and comes in elliptical and flat options. An elliptical louver is thicker in the center and tapers to the front and back. It is considered a more durable alternative to the flat louver. Usually, when getting plantation shutter kits, manufacturers rely on an elliptical louver. It is noteworthy to keep in mind that plantation panels are normally 1 1/8-inch thick - anything narrower is discouraged.

When looking through the many styles of plantation shutters, a collection of factors will influence your ultimate decision. The louver width, shutter size and color will all play an important role. For a more fine look, the shutters should have a narrow width louver, while a more traditional look comes with wider louvers. While the most in vogue color of shutters is oak or white, more customers are dabbling with the colors beige, gray, black, grayish green and cherry.

Nowadays, an expanding number of developers are producing homes with enormous rooms and open windows, making plantation shutters a fashionable option in window coverings. This category of shutter is more current than traditional options. The ability to darken a room and enjoy privacy makes this type of shutter is big plus. The flexibility of do-it-yourself plantation shutters continues to impress, as they are used to spruce up kitchens, kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms and even dining rooms.

One of the biggest reasons that a homeowner outfits their household with plantation shutters is to improve the general appearance of their house. The shutters have a way of creating a more refined look. Another popular draw behind installing do-it-yourself plantation shutters is to obtain the capacity to adjust the amount of light in a room. With the easy adjustment of the louvers, a great amount of light may enter the room just as easily as allowing only a small amount.

Moreover, plantation shutters are much different than curtains or blinds, as they do not come with the gaps that allow light to seep through when closed. Once plantation shutters are closed, not only is light kept out, but also noises taking place outside of the home. While curtains may fade and become soiled, shutters require a low level of maintenance, with uncomplicated dusting to revamp their appearance.

When considering the pros and disadvantages between window treatments and plantation shutters, it is important to note the initial cost of shutters. The average price of do-it-yourself plantation shutters is a possible disadvantage that many end users face.

The price of plantation shutters is normally based upon a per square meter system. Keep in mind that elliptical widths often cost more per square meter than the flat blade. Calculating the cost of do-it-yourself plantation shutters involves the width and drop of window dimensions. To come to a base price for a kit, multiply the width and drop to assess the total square meters. Although the overall cost of plantation shutter kits is sometimes a setback, the long-lasting qualities are well worth the investment.

A few sample costs include café (or single) golden oak shutters measuring 34 ¼ inches wide and 50 inches tall for $386, while double hung pure white shutters measuring 44 ¼ inches wide and 24 inches tall may cost around $246. Also, remember that the hardware coupled with plantation shutter kits are sometimes bought separately, such as the hinges and magnets that keep the unit steady.

Plantation Shutters are a Good Long Term Investment for your Home Sublime

Plantation shutters, also called window shutters or interior shutters, are the classic wood shutters you’ve seen in those majestic Southern homes; just to give you a reference. That’s not to say that they are not popular all over. Plantation shutters are the classic window treatment, offering good looks, long life, good insulating properties and more.

Plantation shutters should not be confused with Bahama shutters which are actually a type of external shutter, hinged at the top of the window, and can be lowered to protect windows from flying debris from tropical storms and hurricanes.

Shutters are not cheap; let’s get that out of the way right away. There are, admittedly, many cheaper window treatments options available. Shutters are a long term consideration. But, they are worth the extra money. They look good with just about any décor and even add to a home’s curb appeal. A house for sale with plantation shutters will usually list them as a feature so they add value to a home.

You can find less expensive plantation shutters made from vinyl, or faux wood (composite). The cost savings between real wood shutters and vinyl shutters is approximately 25% and about 20% for composite wood. Plantation shutters also come stained or painted, the latter option being the least expensive. An additional benefit of vinyl or faux wood plantation shutters is that they won’t warp, crack or split in hot or humid areas, like kitchens and bathrooms. When planning your order, you may want to keep that in mind.

Shutters are highly versatile. They can block light very effectively or let in plenty of sunshine just by raising or lowering the louvers, which range in size from 2 ½” to 4 ½”. If you are covering a large picture window, I recommend the larger louver size as they allow greater see-through. You can custom order them to fit windows of just about any size or shape. Shutters offer effective insulation, a real plus in almost any climate.

One limitation of plantation shutters is that the color choices are somewhat limited. Generally, the painted shutters come in white, off-white, alabaster, and similar shades. These are colors that won’t clash with any décor. The stained shutters come in colors from natural to dark walnut. One reason for the limited painted colors is that shutters are a very prominent addition to a room or home and bright or dark colors would tend to dominate the color scheme.

Real wood shutters usually come in premium hardwoods and are hand-sanded for a smooth finish so they are like fine furniture. And just like fine furniture, wood shutters make a statement about the home and the homeowners – that they care about their home and want only the best. If you are going to purchase real wood shutters, you may want to consider the stained variety as opposed to the painted ones. Why waste all that beautiful wood if you are going to paint over it? Then you may as well save money by purchasing the vinyl or faux wood shutters.