A week of ‘First Timers’

A week of First Timers I have been installing window treatments for almost ten years. In that time frame I have seen many situations from modest homes all the way up to the million dollar ones. Some people may think that windows are all the…
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New Year’s Resolution-ish

In case you are not aware, today is the 39th day of the year. By now most likely your New Year's plans to quit smoking, lose weight and get along with your brother-in-law  all those wheels have fallen off the wagon. Yeah, me too... For instance,…
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It’s time to get resourceful

I simply learn so much from my virtual mentor Harvey Mackay. Being resourceful should be the mindset of any professional - specially window treatment installers like myself. Hope you'll get inspired by his blog Home: www.HarveyMackay.com Email:…

Best Of Houzz 2015 Award

Shades In Place Inc. of Franklin,MA receives Best Of Houzz 2015 Award Boston, MA - January 28, 2015 – Shades In Place Inc. of Franklin has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Customer Satisfaction by Houzz, the leading platform for home…

Don’t let success breed complacency

Although this post is not directly related to window coverings, it is truly related to how I think and  run my company. The takeaway for me is "Never stop learning..." Hope you will enjoy it too. By Harvey Mackay www.HarveyMackay.com [email protected] -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- Looking…

From the oven to the freezer

Hello and Happy New Year! After a fantastic 2014 I took a few days off to relax and enjoy time with my folks back home in Brazil. The weather was great - about 85 to 90 degrees for the most part and the food.... mmm.......the food! But…

Giving Thanks

We are here today simply to say "Thank You".... Thank You for supporting us all these (eight) years in business. Thank You for passing our name to friends, family and neighbors. Thank You for trusting us entering your home. Wishing a wonderful…

The Auto Response Email

I don't know about you, but I only have 24 hours in a day to do all the things our modern society suggests I should do: sleep 8 hours, work, respond emails on time, eat healthy, exercise, play with the kids, pay bills, take a vacation, keep…

A nice entry

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Sharing the Cake

Happy Birthday Again Believe it or not I am entering my 8th year in business this June.Without a doubt it has been waaaay better than any of my wildest dreams of what my company would look like 8 years ago.Since many of you…

High Tech Shady Solutions

Don't know about you, but last month was big for me: I was invited to teach Installation Techniques at Custom Home Furnishing Academy  in Roswell, GA. Before you start thinking about how the heck someone in GA knew about me here in Boston,…
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Entry with Audio

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Getting the Confusion Confused

If you live in the Northeast part of the country I am pretty sure you are ready for some warmer weather. We simply had a longer than normal winter with temperatures way beyond "acceptable". Some days were so cold that I was confused....was I…

Entry without preview image

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Create a Fabric Romance

It all started last summer while I was repairing a shade at one of the local Starbuck stores. The phone rang and the male caller asked "do you service residences too? I just saw one of your vans at Starbucks." The following week I…

The Likable Shady Guy

Every January I embark on my time machine and travel back in time to analyze what I did right and what I should do better for the coming year. Despite the fact that 2013 was the best year ever at Shades In Place, I still feel there is room for…

Crazy…I Know

By the time you read this I will be on the road driving my Toyota Prius to Florida for a well deserved vacation. That's right: driving! Crazy? Yes, but as you know me, I do other crazy things too such as: EMAILS - I reply to emails at…

Regular Touch Ups

  The other day while waiting for my mechanic Jim to do an oil change and rotate tires on my van I came to realize that everything around us needs a little maintenance. Some things require less maintenance like visiting your dentist…

Naked Windows

I just replaced my cell phone last month. Not that I was looking forward to it, but because I had to. My older Samsung Droid Charge was acting up, freezing for no reason and really making me frustrated. So, shopping for a new phone…

I Wanna Be Julie Murphy

You may or may not recall that last month was my 40th birthday. If you don't I won't blame you. I too have things more import to remember. Because the BIG day was on Friday the 13th I decided to test my "lucky day" at Fox Wood Casino…

Bruce Willis 4.0

In a couple of days (that’s right, it will be Friday 13th I will be celebrating my 40th birthday! No kidding, life goes by F-A-S-T. Recapping those many moments, I have come to the conclusion that I have a lot in common with Bruce Willis.…

Regular touch-ups

The other day while waiting for my mechanic Jim to do an oil change and rotate tires on my van I came to realize that everything around us needs a little maintenance. Some things require less maintenance like visiting your dentist every six…

An Old-New Tradition

Years ago families would gather in the back yard or on the lake for a cookout. The only way your friends or co-workers would know about your drunk uncle's fiasco was if you shared a photo or was brave enough to tell your friends the next day.…

Mixed Feelings

Hope you are doing well. My feelings and emotions last month were just like a roller coaster ride. If you ever been on one, you'll know what I mean. It started with the anxiety of the "tax ride" - gathering  information, W2's, mortgage…

The Wild Card

Remember those good times in college playing card games at the dorm on a Friday night? Today's newsletter is all about cards! Well, at the least about one of them: The wild card... I would not consider a card "shark" but I know at least…

Oh…You Do That Too?

Have you ever watched one of those TV shows where a team of designers / contractors comes to a home and within a matter of 48 hours everything changes? Sometimes I feel like my business is the same way. Okay...not exactly like that...But…

New Website

Two years ago, I went to a car dealership looking to buy a hybrid type to save a few bucks on gas. At the showroom, there was a floor model L-O-A-D-E-D with every single gadget available. Obviously I fell in love with that particular one. Even…
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A small gallery

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Use It With Caution!

If you know me well enough to remember my first name (hint: look at the end of this email) you will know that I am not afraid of working hard. But I must say that December was a little hectic - ok a lot hectic!  Between Ana's surgery (she is…

Ana’s Follow Up and My Gift to You

The surgery went well and Ana was released from the hospital yesterday @ 4pm. She's now home sleeping and a little sored - which is normal. There is a follow-up visit with the doctor next Monday @ 10am. Please keep your prays coming... I'm…

Please Pray for Ana Tomorrow!

Hope you had a nice and peaceful Thanksgiving with family and friends. I know this is supposed to be a "business" email. However I share so much of my personal life with you - like my recent wedding and visits from my sister Carolina from Brazil…

Word of Mouth on Steroids

We all trust friends and family for recommendations when we are looking to buy a product or service for the first time.  I even had a client that came to my shop and said "Roger, FIVE of my friends told me about you. Just tell me what I need." But…

Four More Years

Without getting into too much political conversation, I'd like to ask you for your vote. That's right! I am running for office.   I want to be the president of Shades IN Place for another four years.   Here is my platform: a-      I…