by Heidi Riley
Budget Blinds sells and installs window blinds in commercial buildings and homes. Owners Cora Sutherland and Shaun Saulnier say there is quite a demand for blinds right now.
“With all the new builds and renovations going on, with people being home during COVID, and with more people moving to PEI, a lot of people are purchasing blinds.
“In this age of COVID, we had to change the way we do business,” says Cora. “During COVID, we offered virtual consultations. We set up a Zoom call, walked clients through how to do the measurements, and then discussed products and fabric options. We can do the installations while the owners are out of the house.”
Cora is a teacher and Shaun worked in the oil and gas industry in Alberta, and they combined forces to start a Budget Blinds franchise in Alberta. They fly back and forth to PEI to work on their expansion, which started in November 2021.
Hiring needs
Cora says in spite of the labour shortage on PEI, they have been lucky to have found a couple of well-qualified employees already, and are looking for more.
“We are looking for a Salesperson/Installer who likes home décor, is comfortable talking to clients, is handy and willing to learn how to install the product, and takes pride in what they do,” says Cora. “We have worked with people who have never held a drill before, and they have learned to install for us, as long as they are willing to learn.
TO APPLY
Send resumé to [email protected] or call 902-393-7545 or 902-201-5537
www.budgetblinds.com
“The hours are flexible, so this job would work well for someone who is retired or wants to work part-time on their own schedule.”
Shaun will be training new staff. “They need to learn how to install the blinds before they start to sell, because different styles of blinds work for different types of windows.
“We also have to be on top of new regulations. Blinds with exposed cords will not be allowed to be sold or installed after May 1. We go for training a few times a year to keep up with trends and new regulations.”