People. Planet. Prosperity. VBSR-Lake Champlain Chocolates and GWD!
Last night’s VBSR event was SO MUCH FUN at Lake Champlain Chocolate’s new production facility right around the corner from us, here in Williston!
We’re so proud to be a sponsor of such a GREAT networking get-together! Kelly, our president spoke about all the great projects we’ve been working on, and streamlining our crafting facility! Oh and GWD’s made in Vermont EcoSmart Roller Shades grace the windows of the new chocolate-making magic mecca! OH and other cool peeps were there like co-founder Duane Peterson of SunCommon (We did their window coverings TOO!)
Yay for businesses working together! Yay for for People!
Yay for the Planet! Yay for Prosperity!
Kelly Conklin explains the business of window treatments to Peter Welch Darcy Carter, TJ Donovan and her dad, Gordon Clements. VBM photos.
SBA week features super Vermont executives
Gordon’s window treatments are fancied halfway across the globe in Australia and New Zealand (a blogger Down Under recommended them a few years ago, showing the influence of social media on modern marketing). Upwards of 20 percent of their approximate $3 million in sales are exported outside the US. While continuing to do retail at their facility in Williston, their future success lies with commercial sales, solar shades and secure shades. Already, they’ve installed secure shades at schools in Williston and Essex Junction. With the flick of a button, all the shades at a school could be lowered in an emergency, or when it’s simply hot and sunny.
Gordon Clements started Gordon’s Window Décor in 1986 by building shades in his basement. He moved into Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester in 1987 and called that home for 25 years. The business has grown steadily and now has over 26 employees supplying shades and comprehensive window treatments to businesses, schools, and homeowners all over the world.
Clements’ daughter, Kelly Clements, has been working for the company since 2003 and is now president and ready to take the company into the next generation. When asked how being a film student at Syracuse University prepared her for manufacturing and selling window shades, without hesitation she answered: “None.”
Clements said not only is Gordon’s the only manufacturer of shades in Vermont, “You’d probably have to go all the way to Boston to find another one.”
Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. The 2018 National Small Business Week is from April 29 to May 5 with events planned in Washington DC and across the country.
Gordon's Wins Small Business of the Year!
We believe that being an active participant in the community should be a priority for businesses. We try to stay involved in the community through donations as well as taking part in community events.
Gordon’s Window Decor was named Vermont Family-Owned Business of the year in 2015 by the Small Business Administration.
Kelly Clements was acknowledged as of the Emerging leaders in 2016.
Green up day 2015!
Doing our part to clean up our neck of the woods!
Whether we’re dancing in a parade, answering phones at Vermont Public Television, or walking for COTS or American Heart Association and in holiday season we organize a food drive to benefit Williston Food Shelf. We are out there having fun and staying connected!
Earth Day Shenanigans!
American Heart Association HEART WALK team!
ATTENTION CRAFTERS!
We encourage crafters, quilters and teachers alike, to pop into our factory showroom for fabric swatches and scrap cell fabric for future projects. We seem to always have fabric books that need new homes. And let us not forget scrap cell fabric!