FULL FRAME: Workroom Motorization Mindset Shift for the Workroom

Motorization Mindset Shift for the Workroom

BY KELLI VITARI

When it comes to motorization usage in the workroom, most of us fall on one of two sides: we either embrace it and use it at every opportunity or we won’t touch it with a 30-foot pole. For those of us who are less comfortable with the idea of integrating motorization into our regular offerings, let’s delve a little deeper into why now might be the best time to try to change your mindset.

Sandra VanSickle, a leading expert in roman shade fabrication, said, “Some of us may feel out of touch with the hard treatment end of the industry, so it’s natural we may fear some of the elements involved— such as the technology, electrical wiring and assembly—but when learning something new, sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone to best service our clients.”

What Do Today’s Clients Want?

Some clients may be very specific about what they want, but, generally speaking, most prospective clients need us, as industry experts, to educate them on product availability, safety, usage, expectations, cleanability and wear. This, of course, means that we ourselves must be educated on what’s available today, the pros and cons of each and when to use it.

More and more clients are making their way to motorization as it’s become glamorized on social media, more prevalent in advertising and more affordable and widely available. And who wouldn’t want the convenience of coming home from a long day and having the ability to say “Alexa, close the shades” to have immediate privacy?

My generation and younger grew up in the age of instant gratification. Why walk around the house lifting shades one by one with a cord loop when you can hit one button to accomplish the same thing faster? And then there’s the status symbol aspect of motorization: A million-dollar house and the cell shades still have cords? Pfft.

So, what do today’s clients want? Simplicity. Safety. Efficiency. Sleekness. Motorization can accomplish all those things.

Compatibility Between Hard Treatments and Soft

Many of the more mainstream motor companies, such as Somfy or Rollease, are common denominators in product offerings for both hard and soft treatments. What does this mean? Well, it means that your custom-made motorized blackout drapery a client uses in the bedroom at night could be operated with the same remote as the roller screen shades mounted beneath them that are used during the day.

It also means that in many cases (and the list is growing every day), they can be connected to the same smart home automation system, be controlled via voice control or cellphone and be programmed to operate automatically at certain times of the day. Simply put, the products can be integrated together. Motorization is a good way to bridge the gap between the hard and the soft treatment worlds. At the very least, we should know and understand the availability of the products available to us and which combination of the two is the best for the client.

Fabricating for Motorization

The two primary products that can be motorized in the workroom are roman shades and draperies.

Roman Shades: Most motor systems suppliers will have kits available for their products to make fabrication and assembly simple. This can be as complete as the entire headrail system, weight bar and other required components or as incomplete as just being provided a motorized tube and left to do some assembly on your own.

Motors do have weight limits as to how much they can lift before you must upgrade to a beefier system. There are also minimum and maximum widths and lengths you will need to consider. That information is all specific to the vendor and their reps should be able to help in identifying the right one for your project.

Much of the time, fabrication is exactly the same as it would be for any other lift system. Some systems come with their own cords, so you have to string it up in a reverse fashion, but other than that, you shouldn’t have to change the way you actually construct your shades. Often, the fear is in the controls and we’ll get to that later.

Drapery: Motorized tracks for drapery can be functional only or both functional and decorative. In either scenario, at present, the motor needs to be specified to one side and it tends to be on the bulky side. That is, it requires a larger span of fabric to cover it than a rod without a motor. Many of these motors now have little loops on them for which we can make additional pleats and the hooks slide right in, disguising the fact that there is a big motor behind them. Like roman shades, the drapery can be made practically the same as it always has been.

Overcoming the Fears of Motorization: What You Need to Know

Problem

You feel like you don’t know enough about motorization to sell it. Know what you need to

Solution sell. Is it a single shade, a whole grouping or will it be integrated with other products? Find a vendor that offers what you will need most often and learn their product. Make a sample or two. It’s easier to feel comfortable and confident when you’ve simplified your offerings and know what to tell your clients.

The resources are there for you. Vendors sell headrails in kits and those often come with great instructions. You can also be careful to purchase from someone who can walk you through it. Educational resources are also available. Physical classes are taught on the subject often. Even Facebook has workroom groups dedicated to helping fellow workrooms with troubleshooting and education.

Often, these things will concern the installer, contractor and homeowner more than you, especially when hardwiring is involved. As a workroom myself, I’d say 95% of my motorized romans are rechargeable (same effort as charging your cellphone, but only once every six months instead of daily). The other 5% are hardwired and never concern me more than knowing which side of the shade the wire needs to be on. As for programming and automation, these things are good to learn; however, your installer can help. The remotes have great instructions and setting upper and lower limits is usually an easy step-by-step process. Be patient, much like you would be with a computer (an essential part of your everyday life now, I’m sure). Automation can also be learned through classes and videos. Motor manufacturers offer certification courses in understanding their motors, programming and automation. Those classes are usually a day or two and can be done remotely.

Problem Solution

The technology is overwhelming.

Hardwire, transformer (plug-in), rechargeable, batteries, tube sizes, programming, automation —aah, help!

Don’t stigmatize motors

Problem Solution as too expensive. That

Motorization is should be for your client too expensive! to decide; don’t leave the extra profit on the table. As Rachel Lusk of Sugar & Spice Draperies and Shades in Houston said, “Motorization should be the starting point in the sales process, not the upgrade.” The industry is changing, and while that may force us out of our comfort zone, in the end, we will be delivering a more advanced, more efficient, child-safe product to our clients. Motorization is becoming more affordable, more mainstream and recognized more and more for child safety every day. V

Kelli Vitari owns the drapery and upholstery workroom Wild Fern Window Furnishings in Olympia, Washington. She has been in the industry and fabricating for the past 17 years in workrooms around the country. Her educational background is in architectural engineering, interior design and commercial interior design. » WildFernWindow.com » IG: @wildfernwindow » FB: @wildfernwindow