Events of the Past: Stories & Flashbacks

Oh my goodness, looking back at all the events we have put together sure makes me appreciate all our great clients that continue to come and celebrate with us, and ooooh how young we were!

When I look back to our very first event photo, back when cameras were film and it was a one-shot-deal, I ponder how scared I was to speak in public, and what would I say that would be of interest to the audience. My biggest mentor was our HunterDouglas sales rep, Sharon Moonlight, who said, “Yes you can do it, just talk from the heart and speak of what you know best—-it will be like talking to a friend”. My sister Helen and I showed all kinds of drapery styles, the latest trends, and examples of our “Sensational SEAMS” that we had created in real life.

Fast forward to 2011, it was our biggest year full of 25th business anniversary celebrations. I remember my Mom helping me install one of our first ever projects, and later my brother Len helped with installations when Jamie worked shifts at GM. Kasia and Tamara were also working in the business and my sister Helen and one of our former sewing ladies, Joan all came to help us celebrate. I had the honour of having my HomeEc teach, Mrs Mitchelajko come to celebrate with us as well. I spoke about her in previous features how she recognized a sewing and creative skill in me back in Grade 9 at Bowmanville High School, so it was amazing to re-connect with her again. Bonnie from Bethany Hills Interiors, who I had the pleasure of creating all her window treatment projects and worked for since 2006, also enjoyed time with our HunterDouglas rep Sharon Moonlight as our Keynote Speaker. Our workroom was packed with former clients and guests, a wonderful endorsement of the friendships we created over the years.

At one of our many training events, I met Sally Morse who spoke at one of the HunterDouglas events and talked about “Room of the Month”. I ran with her ideas, putting a “Sensational SEAMS” twist on them, and wanted to bring one of them to real life. We had created and made all of the window treatments for the home of Bill & Brenda, one of our dear clients. I was blessed to have them be as excited as I was for my idea to invite people into their home to get a closer look at our craftsmanship along with the great styles, designs and functions we incorporated and selected together. Their home included all things “Sensational” of bedding, drapery, trim embellishments, HunterDouglas blinds and shades, valances, and decorative rods. We decorated their home for Christmas by adding all types of fabrics and trims, pillows and throws that created a welcoming Christmas sparkle to their home. With the help of Joan from Village Card & Gift Shoppe in Bowmanville, we decorated their entire home with Christmas accents that Joan was a specialty at. Also, with the help of Tracy from Rekker Gardens, they decorated the outside of the home with beautiful live planters and greenery, giving the home a welcoming curb appeal for our first ever House Tour, “Add a Sparkle to Christmas” Event in November of 2011. Young and old alike came to enjoy Christmas cheer and be inspired for decorating for the holidays.

We always have so much to be thankful for and our Customer Appreciation Events around Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to show that. These faithful and loyal clients pictured here have had us provide window treatments for their homes over many years, through moving to new locations, updating styles, or renovating their entire home. They are always up for an adventure, some were even up to taking a ride on Tamara’s horse, Amiga, back at this event in 2014. We have changed this event up over the years, with “Thankful Pumpkins”, and other ways to show appreciation to our clients.

Like every home and every growing business, new ideas and inspiration are what keeps us up-to-date and growing. After 29 years of refreshing client’s homes, it was time for Sensational SEAMS to refresh its look and unveil a “Unique Showroom Experience”, not in a plaza, nor a mall, but in our home, a captivating location nestled on the country roads of Newcastle. In 2015 we decided to convert our Workroom Studio into a Design & Idea Showroom. Fresh paint, new window treatments, vignettes of drapery and bedding, showcases of shades and blinds, a PowerView Motorization Centre – a real live-working area to show clients how things work and move and look in an actual window setting. We celebrated our Grand Opening with local councillors, Willie Woo, our faithful family, and an evening Seminar featuring Sally Morse, the renowned Decorator & Interior Designer from HunterDouglas.

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You never know what we are up to next, and Tamara, Jamie and I are super excited to invite you to our event on June 11, celebrating……40 YEARS of Making Homes Sensational. It’s going to be another great event with prizes, food, special promotions and giveaways.

If you have been following us on social media, you will see how we have been busy renovating our Design & Idea Showroom, with all new luxury drapery window treatments, embellishments, next-level hardware, detailed upholstery, all uniquely crafted and styled with the new upcoming designs for the next decade. The Sensational SEAMS Design Experience will be an area to invite our clients and decorators in for personal attention to meet their individual taste and style for their homes. You will get a chance to see the workmanship of the trades people and teams we work with for our design projects. Please click the link below to register. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Next time we will take a peak and pull back the curtain on how we keep pushing ourselves on the latest trainings and techniques, competitions and awards to make sure we are bringing you our ultimate best every time with every new client and every new project.

 

Elevating Your Windows with a Sensational Touch

Wilma…Your Decorator for Life Sensational SEAMS