American Drapery Systems, Inc (October 2023)
What is American Drapery Systems, Inc?
American Drapery Systems is a commercial window treatment provider in the upper Midwest. While American Drapery Systems provides measurement, fabrication, design, and installation services to our local market, we also have our own product line of commercial grade blackout curtains, cubicle curtains, and track hardware that we ship nationwide! Checkout our websites for more info!
American Drapery Systems | Blackout Curtains.com | American Track Supply | CustomCube
What is your business’ story?
We have been in business 46 years! Our founders, Sue and Sol Awend started it as a commercial workroom when draperies were hot in the 80's. They eventually evolved into manufacturing vertical blinds, cubicle curtains, and curtain hardware. As styles changed, the workroom was phased out and the business model transitioned to commercial window treatment sales and installation services, from large motorized projects to outfitting hospitals with cubicle curtains. However, this wouldn’t be the only pivot the Awends would make to stay viable in the marketplace.
In the late 90's, with some extra blackout curtain material in tow, Sue and Sol purchased the web domain blackoutcurtains.com and American Drapery Systems started shipping blackout curtain kits across the USA. But it wouldn’t be a family business without son Josh Awend joining the organization after college. Josh not only built curtain hardware out of a storage unit and shipped items from the home garage, but he continued to solidify and grow relationships with local contractors.
What’s better than one son joining the family business? That’s right, two sons! In 2008, Berek Awend joined the team to run the operations side of the business and support the products division. Sue and Sol happily retired in 2018, leaving Josh and Berek to claim ownership of American Drapery Systems. Since then, the brothers have seen consistent growth with an amazing team, and have increased product offerings to ship from coast to coast!
What is one obstacle you’ve overcome and what did you learn from it?
Our past accounting team almost blew up our business. They weren’t billing customers, paying bills, or essentially anything we hired them to do. Through that experience, we’ve learned that it is imperative to have a trustworthy accounting team- which we have found with Morgan and Serendipity. They are smart, engaging, and creative, and most importantly, have changed the way we do business for the better.
What advice do you have for other small businesses or someone wanting to start one?
Buckle Up! Start with the end in mind, and read all of MJ Demarco's books.
*Republished from direct communications.