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ON-SITE OPENS EAST COAST CAMPUS On-Site Drapery Cleaning & More, Hayden Lake, ID, has opened an East Coast campus in Groton, CT, for its On-Site[TM] University. Weekend and weekday classes will be offered beginning in June. The new facility is billed as the company's flagship university. Attendees will attain in-depth, hands-on training in using the On-Site wet- and dry-cleaning system on a wide variety of window treatments including techniques for cleaning the newest in window fashions and specifically for several Hunter Douglas products. Additional training covers top treatments, cornices, valences, box pleats, swags, cascades and balloons. Attendees also learn how to clean lampshades, upholstery and Oriental rugs. (See D&WC, March 2000.) On-Site currently operates a training facility at its company headquarters in northern Idaho. Both programs are open to original On-Site system owners and new purchasers. GCABC HOSTS INSIGHT FAIR Gulf Coast American Blind Corp. (GCABC), Naples, FL, will host Insight, a Hunter Douglas Products & Design Fair, May 25 at the Marriott Marco Island Resort, Marco Island, FL. The one-day event offers flexible registration so attendees may sign up for a single session or for the full day. Insight features exhibits as well as educational sessions covering measuring, selling, designing and marketing for window coverings professionals at all levels. An Insight pass entitles attendees to explore the Hunter Douglas Show Place to learn about marketing and support programs including its Dealer Sales System, Window Fashion Designer, Web page and Hunter Douglas Institute. US POLYMERS EXPANDS SHUTTERSMART PROGRAM US Polymers, Commerce, CA, has expanded its ShutterSmart Panel Express program to include fabrication of frames. "Our new program allows customers to stock various frame and tilt rod profiles that complete the custom panels they receive," explains Viken Ohanesian, director of marketing. The program is more efficient and more affordable and allows the company's customers to enjoy greater profits with a small investment, he adds. ShutterSmart is an award-winning vinyl clad wood shutter extruded and fabricated by US Polymers. HARMONIC DESIGNS OFFERS SKYLIGHT MOTOR SYSTEM Harmonic Design, Inc., Valencia, CA, introduces SensorShade® for Skylights motorization system and says it is available for worldwide distribution. The system was developed to give consumers the capability to automate skylight window fashions more easily and affordably. Using a patented design technology, the system fits completely inside the headrail and operates smoothly and quietly. Running on six AA batteries, the system eliminates the need for electrical wiring. Using lithium batteries, customers can expect the shade to operate for up to three years before battery replacement. The SensorShade system can operate by manual button, remote control or light sensor.

SKANDIA HOSTS SALES CONVENTION Skandia Window Fashions, Tallahassee, FL, hosted the annual Blind Guys Sales Convention in West Yellowstone, MT, in January. Business planning sessions were held and Pete Stewart of Skandia conducted a sales seminar. With a little bit of snowmobiling mixed in, Jayme Simkins, Blind Guys president, said a good time was had by all. COMPONENTS, COLOR OPTIONS ADDED TO MIKRONWOOD LINE ITA, Inc., St. Augustine, FL, has added two new components and a new assortment of stains to its MikronWood[TM] product line of two-inch horizontal blinds. The new bottomrail and decorative valance in matching colors create an attractive look at the same price points, the company says. The trapezoid bottomrail can tilt with the blind when resting on the window frame for a tighter closure and cleaner appearance. The sculpted valance adds a touch of elegance. Both new components are available in MikronWood's seven original colors plus 10 new surface stain choices. Ranging from neutrals to subtle shades of blue and green, the new stains use a proprietary finishing technique that creates a realistic wood grain look. INSOLROLL INTRODUCES WIDE-WIDTH VERTICAL VANES Insolroll Window Shading Systems, Louisville, CO, introduces a new vertical blind fabric selection featuring 3 1/2- and five-inch wide fiberglass vanes. The five-inch vanes are especially desirable in large window areas where they scale proportionally and stack more tightly than smaller width vanes. The fiberglass vanes are noted for excellent colorfastness, dimensional stability and inherent flame resistance and can be cleaned easily. The vanes are sampled in a set of seven waterfalls featuring solar screen in two densities. VINYLBILT EXPANDS LINE WITH OPTIONS Vinylbilt Shutters, St. Augustine, FL, has added two new design options: the Vinylbilt Arch System and the Vinylbilt Finished Louver Shutter. The arch system allows consumers to use shutters on arch-top windows of any size. They are available in white, ivory and almond colors and coordinate with Vinylbilt frame options. The finished louver program eliminates cap lines and provides the smooth transition featured in wood shutters. SOMFY RELEASES MOTORIZATION VIDEO Somfy Systems, Inc., Cranbury, NJ, has released Window Coverings in Motion, a new videotape illustrating the features and benefits of motorized window coverings. The video incorporates new footage of beautiful residential applications as well as new products. It covers many of the advantages of motorized window coverings including protecting furniture and carpeting and reducing energy bills year round. The video presents the simple operation of the company's motor systems, which provide push-button security and designer styling.