Donna Godwin didn’t know her house was missing something, not until she and her husband installed custom window coverings to their house in St. Andrews. That’s when everything changed for Donna. Just the slight act of optimizing the light and privacy by using trendy shutters, shades and blinds made her house feel like home.
“I just loved it so much, they changed the whole feel of my home,” Donna said. “My husband and I have done a lot of renovations over the years, and nothing we did made that big of a difference in our house. I immediately began thinking, ‘How can I get into this business?’”
After launching the Destin franchise of Made in the Shade Blinds & More in 2019, Donna set out to ensure that every customer not only knew the value of window coverings, but also knew their personal style and what options would work best in their homes.
“This is the reason we bring our showroom to you,” Donna said. “It’s easy to pick something you like in the showroom, but once you get it into your home it doesn’t always fit your style. I can visit your home and tell what window coverings are going to fit the room, reduce glare on your T.V., optimize light and just make your home a lot nicer to be in.”
Customer satisfaction is the top priority for Donna, as she said window coverings are an investment in her client’s privacy and enjoyment of their home. With that in mind, Donna said she spends ample time talking to each customer and walking them through options for every room and takes pride in following up with her customers after installation.
“We have 5-star reviews because that’s what we work for,” Donna said. “Customer experience is important to us. We want to make sure that our clients are getting the best service and product that the industry has to offer. That’s what they deserve and that’s what we would want for ourselves, so we work hard for that.”
What started as a small business run out of her home, has slowly grown to a multi-location window covering business serving the Emerald Coast from Panama City to Fort Walton Beach.
“Made in the Shade really has helped us to get to know the people in our community and learn how we can better serve them," Donna said. "With this business, I really feel that I have found a job I can love; it’s not always easy but it’s worth it.”
Questions with a window professional:
DCL: What is trending in the world of shades, shutters and blinds?
Donna: Around here we always have requests for large plantation shutters. The four-and-a-half inch size really optimizes a larger view on the shutters. Also, roller shades have really gotten popular due to their easy motorization with smart homes.
DCL: Why choose custom blinds over other traditional window covers?
Donna: We always educate our customers as to why you would or wouldn’t want this investment for your home. We really listen to our customers and truly take the time to discuss every option and whether or not it will work for their unique desires for light, view, shade and privacy.
