| Author |
Message |
David E Lorenzini
Senior Member
Username: deloren
Post Number: 50
Registered: 04-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 10:20 pm: |    |
Does anyone know if Levolor had stopped supplying the contract market with 1-inch mini-blinds? We have a large project and would not want to specify them if they are out of the market. |
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat
Post Number: 94
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 09:37 am: | |
David - Good question. I've suffered this dilema myself and could never get a definitive answer.
I'll check with my interiors dept. |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 389
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 09:42 am: | |
Dave,
Levelor has not stopped supplying - but, you can't get what you want typically. This has been going on for some time. They were purchased by a company that decided that the construction market was more bother than placement in 'big box' consumer market.
They used to hilight that some of their blinds had no plastic parts. They started putting plastic parts in them before they even changed their literature. Nothing wrong with quality plastic parts, but not a good way to go about it.
Over the course of 12 months from the time we specified a color, it had to be changed 3 times. Each time the color that we wanted was confirmed as available. Then a few months later, it was no longer available.
I have not specified them now for over a year.
William |
George A. Everding, AIA, CCS, CSI
Senior Member
Username: geverding
Post Number: 33
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 11:08 am: | |
Confirmed with an interior designer we use, yes, Levolor is into “big box” and out of contract sales. Rubbermaid, who purchased Levolor, also purchased wire shelf manufacturer Lee Rowan a few years ago, and used the same strategy with them. Both Levolor and Lee Rowan were specified and used extensively in the multi-family and light commercial markets; now they seem to be exclusively geared toward homeowner sales. |
Susan McClendon
Intermediate Member
Username: susan_mcclendon
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 05:47 pm: | |
Who else would you specify to take the place of Levolor? |
George A. Everding, AIA, CCS, CSI
Senior Member
Username: geverding
Post Number: 35
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 06:27 pm: | |
Susan-
My unnamed source mentioned in the above post tells me she currently specifies either Hunter Douglas or Springs Window Fashions. |
Susan McClendon
Advanced Member
Username: susan_mcclendon
Post Number: 5
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 06:32 pm: | |
I have those listed too. For those of us who need to list at least 3 manufacturers, any other ideas? |
Susan McClendon
Senior Member
Username: susan_mcclendon
Post Number: 6
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 06:35 pm: | |
I have those listed too. For those of us who need to list at least 3 manufacturers, any other ideas? |
Robert E. Woodburn
Senior Member
Username: bwoodburn
Post Number: 36
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 07:51 pm: | |
Bali and Graber appear to be separate divisions or subsidiaries of Springs; Nanik is a Springs blind brand too, but apparently wood only.
I don't know whether those would count as one or two (or three) for statutory competetive purposes. Could one list Bali, Graber and Hunter Douglas? |
David E Lorenzini
Senior Member
Username: deloren
Post Number: 52
Registered: 04-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 10:59 pm: | |
I changed my master from Levolor to Bali Classic series.
I found a distributor that carries several major brands, and the following have commercial grade 8 gage 1" slats:
American
*HunterDouglas
*Bali
M&B
Prestige
Barrington
*Kirsch
The web site address of the distributor is: http://www.decoratetoday.com/products/blinds/default.asp?zjxj=000F0B6A20A3&adc=XGOA&sdf=n
Unfortunately, most do not have good web sites, if at all, and it is difficult to determine the quality of each company. I am leaning towards the three listed with an asterisk. |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 401
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 09:35 am: | |
Dave, et. al.
Bali is not a manufacturer - it is a line of Springs Window Fashions, LP.
Bali, Nanik and Graber all used to be separatre manufacturers. Springs bought them up, or ended up with them anyway. They consolidated the lines so that each has its own specialty. The 3 are now simply names indicating seiers of blinds that don't have duplication of product. So you can't list Graber and Bali separately as they don't make the same product. You can't list Bali as the manufacturer either as the name has devolved simply into a brand recognition name for a category of product...part of the model number.
That is why you may have a distributer that carries the Bali line and not others from Springs - because they don't have an interest in distributing the Graber product or the Nanik product. But it is still Springs that is the manufacturer.
Also, just saying Bali Classics might not get you the specific blind model that you want. They also have model numbers.
The duplicate of the Riveria Contract Blind by Levelor is ...
Bali Classics 3621 by Springs Window Fashions, LP. |
David E Lorenzini
Senior Member
Username: deloren
Post Number: 53
Registered: 04-2000
| | Posted on Friday, June 03, 2005 - 09:57 am: | |
William, Your clarification is well taken. I apoligize for my outline comments, since I did list Springs Window Fashions as an acceptable manufacturer, but used a descriptive format to specify the blinds instead of referencing a specific product or model number.
It appears that most mini blind products are promoted by brand name and handled by distributors, and that the manufacturers seem to stay in the background. My choice of acceptable manufacturers was based on those who provided easily accessible and informative web sites. It didn't feel right starting Part 2 of my section with "Acceptable Distributors:". |
phil babinec
Senior Member
Username: pbabinec
Post Number: 7
Registered: 09-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 03:15 pm: | |
According to Newell Rubbermaid website, Levelor was purchased in 1993 and Kirsh in 1998.
Has Kirsch followed Levelor into home sales or is it still a reputable commercial line? |
Niki Koplowitz
New member
Username: nikitk
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 09:53 am: | |
I spoke at length with a couple of Levolor Contract reps. According to them, it is naught but a vicious rumor that they no longer supply for contract. Apparently, they will supply for contract from their Levolor, Levolor Contract, or Kirsch lines. Kirsch wouldn't be used for most larger projects as they apparently don't do bid quotes for Kirsch, so you'd have to pay set pricing - it's higher quality custom stuff - but they can supply and ship in quantity. |
William C. Pegues, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: wpegues
Post Number: 407
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 11:22 am: | |
Levelor reps can protest al they want. I have had 3 major projects, one using their higher end perforated blind where the colors had to be reselcted multiple times due to colors from their current color chart suddenly being removed from the market. Their perforated blind originally in 2 gages, suddenly being available in only 1 gage.
Perhaps now there has been a change of direction at Levelor, but for me and the trouble it has caused, they have to prove themselves all over again. Levelor used to be the only thing that I specified, single source, no options.
Now its not in my book at all. When we see them supporting the market again and not hearing problems with color choices disappearing after the sub had even received confirmation for an order, then I will reconsider them.
William |
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