http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/business/eco-businesses-are-making-green-money.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/eco-businesses-are-making-green-money.html Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500
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 Jersey

The 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 shutters

The 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 Factory

Most 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, 7,055,231
durashutter.com buildashutter.com

Prime 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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David Blachley is a third generation inventor with 20+ years product development experience, engineering multifaceted vertical integration systems with an emphasis in cost reduction technologies. It’s the on-line www.Build-A-Shutter.com training programs that make it easy for consumers and dealers to become a DuraShutter Crafter for less than the cost of a lawn mower.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/can-a-window-covers-improve-a-homes-value-and-its-%91curb-appeal.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/can-a-window-covers-improve-a-homes-value-and-its-%91curb-appeal.html Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500
More than ever before, homes with shutters are recognized as substantially upgraded and thus shutters are the number one window covering all other products. The ‘shutter’ category is the number one window covering product in recent years. Surveys have shown that 7 out of 10 consumers prefer shutters over any other type of window covering, however only 2 out of 10 can afford them due to the high price.

Shutters offers many advantages over blinds and curtains. Shutters offer superior insulation and control of light entering a room, varying from opening the shutters all the way for a full view to fully closed for an almost blackout control.

Shutters in general are lower maintenance than most other types of window covering. Older style shutters with staples require replacement every few years and special cleaning and upkeep. Synthetic and vinyl materials can withstand wet environments such as outdoor use and saunas. In recent years a laminate DuraShutter material with snap-in non staple construction provides durability and low cost alternative advantages.

Shutters can provide a better insulation value than any other type of window covering. Since 10 times more heat can pass through a glass window than through wall adding a shutter to your window will lower your heating and air conditioning bills.

Shutters are commonly made from 3 different types of materials. Each type has it’s own strengths and weaknesses as well as environmental effects. Traditional shutter manufacturers use wood and then spray paint or stain them to just about any color you desire and they perform well under most conditions. Like any wood product they are subject to warping over time and the paint can peal and crack over time. Unfortunately, some woods are imported and the harvesting of some trees causes harm to the environment. In addition most shutters are painted using lacquer based primers and or finish paints that release VOCs into the atmosphere. VOC’s have been proven to increase green house gases.

Vinyl and other synthetic material shutters were developed as an alternative to wood shutters. For certain applications such as outdoors, high humidity areas like saunas or poolrooms vinyl and other synthetic material shutters are an excellent choice. The plastics used in these types of shutters can fade, change color or yellow over time with exposure to the sun. Unfortunately, vinyl and other synthetic material shutters are made with oil products and the drilling, transport, refining and storage of oil based products are a concern to many as their use increases our dependency on oil, and when painted, the use of VOC is also harmful to the environment.

Many shutter fabricators are now, as flooring companies do, are offering Eco friendly lower cost laminate alternatives to wood. Many American and foreign shutter fabricators now offer all three choices, Vinyl/Synthetic Material, Wood and Laminate materials. Laminate materials are designed to overcome the disadvantages of wood, vinyl and synthetic material shutters. Laminate DuraShutter material is a dense, solid engineered composite that is an Eco friendly recycled wood and paper product. Its density gives it a better insulation value than wood and the Eco friendly laminate coating material provides better resistance to fading or yellowing than vinyl/synthetic material. Laminate shutters can be made into an excellent product that is indistinguishable from wood shutters. Since laminate DuraShutter is primarily made from recycled materials and the finish from Eco friendly laminates, it has a significantly lower impact on the environment.

Shutters are often referred to as "the ultimate window covering" but costly until the introduction of shutters made of lower cost laminate DuraShutter materials that many shutter fabricators are now offering as a lower cost alternative. So once you've added indoor shutters, just stand back and admire them, both from within your home and from your curb. Drive by any home with interior shutters across the front and you'll see why so many people swear by them.

By visiting the author’s web site at www.Durashutter.com you will find all kinds of useful window covering information.

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David Blachley is a third generation inventor with 20+ years product development experience, engineering multifaceted vertical integration systems with an emphasis in cost reduction technologies. After 10+ years in development DuraShutter™ is my greatest achievement. It’s the lowest cost, most maintenance free, Eco friendly shutter brand on the planet.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>