In case you’ve never heard of it before, KAIZEN, the Japanese word for constant improvement, is a concept referring to business activities that continuously improve all functions and involve all employees from the CEO to the assembly...

In the service industry, reviews can 100% make your business!

Referrals are a huge source of leads and when your current clients trust you enough to share their experience with your company publicly, your chances of standing out among the...

Did you know that your van setup can help you MAXIMIZE your profits?

As an installer, time is money and when you can save time, you can increase profits!

I have rounded up some of the best van setups from window treatment professionals all over...

Here's what a good testimonial can show about your business:

1. That your work was TOP NOTCH : Quality work is always worth shouting out.

2. Shows your customer relationship building skills: When a customer talks about your personality in a...

You shouldn't learn how to install automatic shades if you...

1. Don't want to increase your revenue $$$
2. Don't want to add more clients/leads to your schedule
3. Don't want to keep up with the trends

Truth is, motorized shades are here to stay and...

At Trading Up Academy, we are training window treatment installers to become TOP NOTCH through education, networking and hands on experience.

Here are a few mottos we follow to ensure our installers are on their way to becoming the BEST!

1. Always...

This time of year is very special to me. There are several reminders to celebrate life. But first, let me bring you up to speed…

At age 5, I drowned for the first time in a family friend’s swimming pool. 

At age 16,...

Just starting out in the window treatment industry? Then this blog is for you (Head over to our Instagram and you can save these tips for future!)

Here are just a few ways you can get experience if you are trying to break into this great...

Want to know what your most important tool is an installer?

You might think it's another tool in your toolbox, but in reality, your most important tool is your body!

Making sure you are taking care of your body so it can get the job done day in...

Unless you are trying to avoid being discovered by the FBI or by the IRS, your name should be all over the place. 

Confused? Don’t be. I will explain in detail what I mean by that in today's newsletter below.

This week I received a very...

In a world where everything changes so rapidly, you and I can get old really fast. I love to use the car analogy to compare the fast changes we are seeing nowadays.


In a car, the windshield is much bigger than the rearview mirror because the...

I attended the International Window Coverings Expo a few weeks ago where I got a chance to speak with a lot of industry professionals. 

Professionals who are interior designers, manufacturers, fabricators and more! 

Do you want to know...