House & Home

BUDGET BLINDS OF SOUTHWEST MANITOBA TEAM

Your local window covering expert

Find stylish and functional window treatments at Budget Blinds of Southwest Manitoba

BY LISA CRESS PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78

What goes on your window should do more than just look good. At Budget Blinds of Southwest Manitoba, Sue Swarbrick and her team take the time to understand you and your unique needs to deliver the best custom window solution for the way you live.

“We can provide what we call an in-home shopping experience. We’ll come to your home, evaluate your window and ask you questions about your space,” explains Sue Swarbrick, Owner and Style Consultant, Budget Blinds Southwest Manitoba. “Is it about privacy? Is it about heat? Is it about glare? What do you need these window coverings to do on this window?” Budget Blinds style consultants come to your home well-equipped with all kinds of treatments and colours, allowing you to test those colours and styles in your space and lighting. If you find something you like, they then take measurements and provide on-the-spot pricing.

“Our vans carry about 14 of our vendors – and that’s really where our true magic is - our vendor alliances. We have access to over 27 vendors and it keeps building every year,” Swarbrick says. “We have access to prices, programs, options and functions you won’t find anywhere else. It makes us very unique in the marketplace.”

Budget Blinds of Southwest Manitoba is family-owned and operated. This year, they are celebrating 10 years in business and undertaking some big changes to their warehouse.

“We’ve been at our current location for seven years and have become a destination where people come and talk windows,” Swarbrick says. “This was the year we decided to spruce up our own space. While we’ve painted our walls and replaced our floors with a more neutral, natural pallet, our end goal is to give customers a showroom where they can see and test products before their in-home consultation.”

The updates to the Budget Blinds warehouse will include product displays, a pillow wall and places customers can view a portfolio of completed projects for ideas and inspiration for their own space.

“I’m taking my time and putting a lot of thought into our showroom,” Swarbrick says. “I want to incorporate the latest in window automation and show people how different treatments work and function on larger windows. We want our showroom to showcase solutions. Everything we do here is customized – our end goal is to make sure your window treatment is right for your windows, is aesthetically pleasing and will work well for you for a long time.”

As the name implies, Budget Blinds of Southwest Manitoba can work with your budget and backs their products and services with some pretty stellar warranties. “Our staff is incredibly knowledgeable. We’re all very conscientious and strive to provide the best experience possible to everyone who shops with us,” Swarbrick says. “We’ve built an incredible clientele and relationships within this business – we wouldn’t be here today without our customers. Our repeat clients and referral rate is very high – so we are so grateful to everyone who has kept us busy in the community for 10 years.”

If you’re in the market for a new window treatment that is both beautiful and functional, get in touch with Sue Swarbrick and her team at Budget Blinds Southwest Manitoba for a free in-home consultation. 

GORD SWARBRICK SUE SWARBRICK

Budget Blinds of Southwest Manitoba 381 Park Ave E, Unit B Brandon, MB R7A 7A5 (204) 727-4766 sswarbrick@budgetblinds.com budgetblinds.com/southwestmanitoba/

The Backyard on Aberdeen

From professional functions to romantic weddings, this full-service venue is the perfect place for any event

BY LISA CRESS PHOTOS BY MANDY WARK PHOTOGRAPHY AND STUDIO 78

If you have a vision for an upcoming event, The Backyard on Aberdeen has everything you need to bring it to life. With endless décor options to customized catering, the indoor and outdoor venue is ready to transform to whatever your heart’s desire. “The Backyard on Aberdeen is a blank canvas to create a beautiful and personalized event,” explains Aida Harrison, Owner. “The great thing about The Backyard is there’s no running around to different vendors. We do everything in-house; the planning, food, venue, bar - it’s all included and easily customizable to fit your preferences and needs.” The indoor and outdoor spaces of the venue can each host approximately 150 guests – and Harrison is optimistic that number will grow in the future. The event sites boast crystal chandeliers, rustic wood tables, an enchanting outdoor canopy, custom bar and gorgeous granite-top bathrooms. The venue is also wheelchair accessible.

“While the space can be transformed with our in-house décor options, our menu is also absolutely fantastic. I am passionate about food and have brought on some incredible, talented chefs,” Harrison says. “We only cook with locally-sourced quality ingredients to create incredible homemade dishes. We can offer a Middle Eastern menu, which means we have a number of delicious options for vegan and vegetarian diets.”

The Backyard on Aberdeen is the amalgamation of a renovated venue, décor company Black Tie Events and Harrison’s own catering business. With over 22 years of experience teaching, cooking and working in the culinary industry, Harrison knows good food.

“What I hope to provide Brandon and all the Westman area is a wonderful experience and quality services they can count on for their event needs,” Harrison says. “We can host anything - and we do provide catering and food service outside of our own facilities, too. Since we’re also a rental business, people can also come to us to rent our décor to use at a different venue.” What The Backyard on Aberdeen offers doesn’t stop there. Once the doors to the business fully open, Harrison and her team are eager to offer a meal subscription service. “Once our website is updated and ready to go, we’re going to offer a meal subscription service where people can subscribe to fresh and healthy homemade meals weekly or monthly,” Harrison explains. “We’ll have different meal plans and packages people can pick from. The meal will come fully prepared – all subscribers will have to do is heat it up and enjoy!”

Harrison and her team also have wedding and event packages customers can select and then customize in the works. “We’re very excited to share this beautiful venue, our décor services and catering options for anyone looking to plan a perfect, memorable event,” Harrison says. “We even have an onsite event planner to help you put your special day together. The Backyard on Aberdeen has everything you need to make event planning easy.”

If you’re on the hunt for a beautiful venue that takes the stress out of event planning, visit thebackyardonaberdeen. ca to lean more. 

The Backyard on Aberdeen & Event Rentals Aida’s Catering 1624 13th Street Brandon, MB (204)-520-0812 thebackyardonaberdeen@gmail.com