- July 7, 2025
- Jessica Harling
A Window Coverings Perspective
If you’ve worked in the window coverings industry long enough, you’ve probably heard the phrase “Follow the process” more times than you can count. And if you’ve worked with me, you’ve definitely heard me say it, because most of the time, it really is the answer to everything.
Measurements aren’t lining up? Follow the process.
Is the installer confused? Follow the process.
The fabric isn’t what the client expected? Follow the process.
When we actually follow the steps, the work flows.
Why Following the Process Matters in Window Coverings
In this business, one missed step can cost you hours, weeks, or thousands of dollars. It’s not just about systems, it’s about protecting your time, your profits, and your client’s trust. The process is there to keep you from scrambling when a shade comes in the wrong size, or when an order detail is missing.
When you follow the process, you make fewer mistakes. You avoid that panic moment when the workroom calls and says, “This isn’t what you ordered.”
You’re not relying on memory or guesswork, you’re moving with confidence because every step was checked, documented, and confirmed.
The window coverings industry is complicated. We deal with custom products, changing timelines, and a million tiny details that can slip through the cracks. The process exists so that those cracks don’t swallow us whole.
When the Process Doesn’t Work
But let’s be real, sometimes the process is the problem.
Maybe your sales volume has outgrown your quote system.
Maybe your work order template is missing the information your installer actually needs. Maybe your follow-up schedule doesn’t leave room for the human side of the relationship.
Processes that worked when you were a one-person shop might not hold up when you’re running three installation teams. What used to save time might now be slowing you down.
When following the process starts to create bottlenecks, mistakes, or frustration, it’s time to pause. That’s your signal to adjust.
Ask yourself:
- Does this process still work at the size we are now?
- Does this process help or hinder the team?
- Does this process support the customer experience?
The process should work for you, not against you.
Here’s the Balance
In window coverings, following the process is your best defense against chaos. But staying loyal to an outdated process? That’s how you get stuck.
- Follow the process when you need consistency.
- Challenge the process when you need growth.
The most successful window treatment companies I’ve worked with know when to do both.
So yes, when things feel stuck, messy, or off track…follow the process.
But when the process itself is what’s holding you back? That’s your invitation to build a better one.
Need help with your processes? Contact us today for a process overhaul and efficient worfkflows!
#windowcoverings #windowtreatments #design #process #operations
