The HeadRail blog
Practical guides for window covering dealers: pricing and quoting, selling in the home, ordering, commercial bids and takeoffs, and the software that ties it together.
- 12 24 13 roller window shades: what to read before you bidWhat spec section 12 24 13 Roller Window Shades contains, the clauses that add shades or cost, and how to read it with the drawings before you bid. · Commercial bids and takeoffs · 9 min read
- Blinds quote template: what every quote must includeA copyable blinds quote template for dealers, with every line a quote needs (sizes, mount, options, deposit, terms, cancellation notice) and a checklist. · Pricing and quoting · 8 min read
- How much to charge for custom blinds: a dealer's methodPrice custom blinds from the manufacturer's list price times your factor and multiplier, then add upcharges, install labor, trip charges and a job minimum. · Pricing and quoting · 7 min read
- How subcontractors price a commercial roller shade bidHow window covering subs build a commercial roller shade price: manufacturer quotes, labor, motors and power, work by others, bonds, retainage and freight. · Commercial bids and takeoffs · 7 min read
- How to close a blinds sale in one in-home visitA practical in-home process for blinds reps: prepare, measure with the customer, show it on their window, price it, and leave with a signature and deposit. · Selling in the home · 8 min read
- How to do a roller shade takeoff from the window scheduleA step-by-step roller shade takeoff: sheets to gather, scale check, window types and tags, sizes with sources, field-verify list, second count, GC questions. · Commercial bids and takeoffs · 9 min read
- How to start a window treatment business in the USA step-by-step guide to starting a US blinds and shades business: choosing a niche, registering, dealer accounts, insurance, measuring, pricing, first leads. · Starting a blinds business · 7 min read
- Margin vs markup for blinds dealers: formulas and tableMarkup is profit as a share of your cost; margin is profit as a share of the selling price. Worked blinds examples and a conversion table for dealers. · Pricing and quoting · 7 min read
- Ordering Graber as a dealer: prices, size limits, formsHow Graber dealers price and order: list prices and your factor, size limits that change by product and lift, and the Graber Direct order form, line by line. · Manufacturers and ordering · 7 min read
- Put a blinds visualizer on your dealer websiteWhat a blinds visualizer on your own dealer website does, how its leads reach you, what to check before you pick one, and how to add HeadRail's widget. · Marketing and leads · 8 min read
- Window covering takeoff services: deliverables and pricesWhat a window covering takeoff service delivers, typical turnaround, the pricing models published in the market, how to judge accuracy, and HeadRail's prices. · Commercial bids and takeoffs · 8 min read
- Window treatment business software: a buyer's checklistThe questions to ask any window treatment software vendor about price books, in-home quotes, deposits, ordering, CRM, website leads and cost per user. · Dealer software · 8 min read