NOVEMBER 2003 e-newsletter
www.DWCONLINE.com

Is there any question on the popularity of shutters? After what may have been a slow year for many businesses, the demand for custom interior shutters has grown significantly since this time last year. In fact, some suppliers are expecting double-digit growth in the years immediately ahead.

This month we take a closer look at one of the hottest products going: shutters, in all their variations.

This newsletter is sponsored by Trimland (http://www.trimland.com) and Shutter Smart (http://www.shuttersmart.com)

Shutter Outlook 2004
Our panel of experts—manufacturers and suppliers of shutters made of solid wood, composites and vinyl—have seen the market grow and expect it to continue. Here’s what they have to say.

Tradition of Excellence
D&WC readers say shutters have returned to a prominence not seen in recent years. In our latest attempt to quantify the market we learn that consumer interest in shutters is up, but so is competition.

Frame of Reference
Shenandoah Shutters, Richmond, VA, is a manufacturer, retailer and installer of custom plantation shutters. That's it. But that's a lot, too. Owner Jim Imbur has made a decision that might raise an eyebrow or two among window coverings retailers-especially those trying to be all things to all customers. Instead of adding products to his business in a whole-room or whole-house decorating approach, Imbur has narrowly focused Shenandoah Shutters' product line. "We have a crystal clear concept of what our goals are," Imbur says. "We focus like a laser on them, and we are willing to sacrifice business opportunities that are not compatible with those goals-that includes other products and lower-end shutters."

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