The inclusion of motorized shades into an integrator’s repertoire has long been viewed as a necessary path of progression for the one-stop shop that has become the custom integrator. As someone who grew up in the window treatment business, Wolf Drapery Founder Jazz Almanla knows this well – but also that it’s only a partial solution.
Almanla experienced the progression of the category’s upward trajectory in recent years as he made his way up the ladder as an integrator and “met the amazing people who make up this very small and tight-knit community,” he says.
“I found myself helping other integrators gain access to the drapery workroom I played in as a child,” Almanla adds. The company has assisted local integrators and now is branching out in the custom channel.
In a recent chat with CE Pro, he explains the genesis of launching Wolf Drapery, the various solutions and accessories offered by the Miami-based company, ordering and installation steps, types of fabrics, integration with popular automation systems, and more.
Wolf Drapery Works with Control Companies, Offers Online Ordering Platform
The company’s workroom is a second-generation family business with a support division for Control4, Savant, Crestron, and Nice drapery integration. Wolf Drapery also supplies Lutron and Somfy motorized tracks if needed, Almanla says.
The Future of Digital Lighting & Control
As a custom integrator, lighting is in demand. Effective communication, education and showcasing the value proposition of LED light fixtures in conjunction with integrative control systems are the keys to overcoming challenges and closing sales in this specialized market. Join us as we discuss the future of digital lighting and control with David Warfel from Light Can Help You and Patrick Laidlaw and Mark Moody from AiSPIRE. Register Now!“What we’re doing is helping the local integrators finish that final part of the window treatment, where they’re already buying Lutron or Somfy or Crestron shades, and the client or designer comes to them and says, ‘OK, but how can we pick fabrics, how can we get the drapes made,’” Almanla explains. “And everybody looks at each other and shrugs their shoulders and says, ‘I have no idea.’ You’ve got to figure that out on your own.”
With Wolf Drapery, he says, now the local integrators know where they can source these key pieces to finish off an installation and boost revenues and margins on that project.
“We’ve made it super easy, we spent two years developing this online platform where all you have to do is just plug in your specs online and we can get this for you fairly quickly,” Almanla enthuses. “We have guys here who are buying $100 grand in curtains. All these multimillion-dollar home where you have 30, 40 curtains in a house, you’re able to add good profit margin to your bottom line.”
Draperies are shipped ready to install simply by snapping them into the track, are easier to measure and install than a motorized shade, and represent another potentially fruitful option in the broader spectrum of shades, window treatments and lighting fixtures/controls, he stresses.
“Everybody knows window treatments is the next frontier for everybody to really start making margins on their projects,” Almanla states.
Hear more specifics about Wolf Drapery from Almanla by watching the video interview above. Call 305-977-WOLF or contact at info@wolfdrapery.com to set up an appointment.
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