I recently caught up with Scott Stephenson, Director of Product, Motorization for Hunter Douglas to talk about the Hunter Douglas Custom Integrator Program, the new partnership with ProSource, and what he sees as the future of automated window treatments. Part 2 (Part 1 here.)
Maureen Jenson: Tell our readers about Hunter Douglas’s technology solution?
Scott Stephenson: PowerView® Automation is our operating system for our window treatments. PowerView Automation gives dealers a variety of ways to offer smart shades. They can either offer it as a standalone solution for homeowners new to the smart home, or they can integrate the shades to enhance other experiences in an established smart home.
Our smart shades are compatible with a wide range of control devices, including voice control with Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, and Siri, as well as professionally installed and do-it-yourself smart home systems including Apple HomeKit, Control4, Crestron, Elan, IFTTT, Logitech Harmony Home, Universal Remote Control, RTI, and Savant.
MJ: How do the Hunter Douglas Custom Integrator Program and your new partnership with ProSource help dealers take this opportunity?
SS: Automated shades are uncharted territory for many home technology professionals, with a learning curve for style, color, fabrics, and measurements. Last year, Hunter Douglas introduced its Custom Integrator Program to streamline the process and support dealers in taking on the category, with new training, resources and demo materials, quoting tools, and support from their local rep.
Measuring and installing window shades is not something that most integrators do every day, so Hunter Douglas also made this process simpler and less risky by making the Hunter Douglas Installation Service (HDIS) available from our nationwide network of independent installers.
Dealers have the option to engage HDIS for a flat fee per window to handle shade measuring and installation, which guarantees that the order is placed correctly and includes a one-year guarantee on the installation itself. Of note, there’s a five-year warranty on PowerView and a lifetime warranty on our shades. We also recently partnered with ProSource, making the CI Program and our expansive portfolio available to their dealer base.
MJ: Do you have any dealer success stories?
SS: We’ve had great momentum in the CI Program over the last year, and some great success stories. Integration firm Hive, located in Tampa, doubled their revenue in the smart shades space since joining the program. They serve the luxury market, and Hunter Douglas shades were the right quality and style options to suit their expectations.
MJ: What do you see for the future of automated window treatments?
SS: Smart shades are a unique category for home technology professionals to master, with a technology and design component. To succeed, customization is a necessity. We have exciting new things coming in the pipeline, and we’re seeing new and interesting smart home integrations growing. There are more use cases emerging, for example like light-filtering for open concept homes with large windows for natural light, biophilic bedrooms with room darkening capabilities, and luxuriously integrated AV systems for home theaters, they all continue to rise in popularity. Every home needs window treatments, and smart shades bring something extra to every room. The future will bring more use cases and opportunities for integrators and homeowners.