Duo Franchise Window Fashions

After spending years selling items such as window blinds and shutters and working with countless nationwide businesses, Mark Barone had an ambitious business idea ---- to create a window-coverings franchise before opening his first store.

The longtime Fallbrook resident said that Today's Window Fashions, which he established in 1999, specializes in selling a variety of blinds, verticals, shades and shutters. The first franchise opened in 2000 in the Midwest, and now 32 franchises operate in 15 states. Barone's own store recently relocated from Fallbrook to Bonsall.

He and co-owner Armand Gagnon manage the corporate office for Today's Window Fashions, a company that allows franchise owners to work from home. It also benefits customers because demonstrations take place within their homes, and include a mobile display with eight samples of products.

"It's that mobile showroom idea that gives the customers an idea of what it will look like in their home," Barone said.

The corporate office, located at Barone's own store at 5256 S. Mission Road, is where new franchise owners train and corporate policy is set.

Barone said franchise owners pay an initial $49,000 investment fee as well as an annual 4 percent royalty to use the company's name. He said the corporate office grossed approximately $700,000 in 2006, which includes the franchise royalties.

For the fee, Barone said the franchise owners receive the company's promotional materials, training and working samples, including functioning blinds and shutters, from the corporate office.

Among the products demonstrated are vinyl, faux wood and motorized blinds made by such national companies as Alta, Horizons and Hunter Douglas. The samples, which include blinds that are controlled by a radio frequency, help people to visualize how the products will appear.

He said he believes that owning a franchise appeals to people because it allows them to set their own schedules. They also have no inventory or receivables since they demonstrate the products in customers' homes, and then have the items sent directly from the retailers.

He said company also has a Web site at www.todaysblinds.com where people can also buy the products, and sells its own brand of window fashions.

Barone said he believes the hands-on approach of the owners is essential to the business' success.

"We really give full-time support to franchises," he said. "It's a good feeling to help them to be successful." Barone understands that need to want to be successful. He briefly owned a window-blind store in Carson City, Nev., and then spent years working in sales for the national retailer, Hunter Douglas. Now, Barone's stores are distributing the products he once sold.

Since part of his job at Hunter Douglas was teaching people the basics of window-fashion sales, he said "a light bulb went off" that he had the experience necessary to open his own company.

He said he initially teamed up with his father, Norm Barone, to open the first store under the name of Factory Discount Blinds in 1998. After having the company's name trademarked and getting approval for franchise status, it became Today's Window Fashions in 1999. While the company operates under that name, it also holds trademarks for three others, including Today's Blinds.

He said he used the word "Today's" in each of the trademarked names to symbolize that the products "are always current." Contact freelance writer Shannon Wingard at [email protected].

Name: Today's Window Fashions Owners: Mark Barone and Armand Gagnon Phone: (877) 998-6329 Barone's store and corporate address: 5256 S. Mission Road, Suite 809, Bonsall Web site: www.todaysblinds.com Established: 1999 Services: Franchised business that sells a variety of blinds, verticals, shades and shutters Number of corporate employees: Four full time Estimated gross for 2006: $700,000

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