meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design  Business Podcast

479: Power Talk Friday: Kirsch: Breathing New Life into a 112 Year Old Company

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

LuAnn Nigara

Arts, Design, Business

4.9810 Ratings

🗓️ 1 November 2019

⏱️ 63 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Welcome to another episode of Window Treatment Friday! Today, we're introducing you to Kirsch, our newest sponsor for A Well-Designed Business. Kirsch has been an industry leader in drapery hardware for more than one hundred years, and they also have a custom window coverings program. For today's episode, we have Matt Johnson and Sarah Frost with us to talk to us about the latest innovations that Kirsch is bringing to the design and window treatment community, so tune in, to find out more! Kirsch was started in 1907 when Charles Kirsch invented the first curtain rod and telescoping rod. His goal was to connect with people around his fantastic products. Soon after inventing his innovative curtain rods, Charles published his first style book,  to guide purchasers of drapery hanging specialties.  The first Kirsch patented lace curtain rod was created in 1923, and then Charles designed the deluxe cut-to-measure drapery, which was one of the most important developments in drapery hardware history. For the next fifty years, the Kirsch brand continued to incorporate many more innovative advancements that would change our industry forever. Matt Johnson is the National Sales Manager of Kirsch Drapery Hardware. He leads a team of experienced sales professionals representing over 100 years of the Kirsch brand. Over his 22 years in the window coverings industry, Matt has sales experience in multiple channels of business including National Retailers, Independent Retailers, Builders, Contract and Commercial Accounts and Distributors.  His rich background and understanding of the window coverings industry have allowed him to apply his passion for working with business owners and designers to develop sales and marketing strategies to improve sales and service. Sarah Frost is the Brand Manager for Kirsch Drapery Hardware. She oversees a talented team that creates conceptual designs and implementation of the marketing initiatives for the drapery hardware launches and projects. Sarah has experience in hard window coverings as well as drapery hardware from her previous positions as a product manager and in sales. Listen in today to find out what Matt and Sarah have to share about our newest sponsor, the Kirsch brand. Show Highlights: Matt gives us a synopsis of Kirsch, and it's long and rich history in the window coverings industry Sarah has lots of fresh, new ideas for the Kirsch brand. Breathing new life into the brand through engaging with the trade. There are currently so many new and improved drapery hardware options available. Kirsch provides great resources to educate the design community about their complicated product. Sarah discusses how she and her team are revising and revamping the way their products are produced and presented. It all starts with the numbers. Keeping abreast of the latest trends. Creating a digital price list has made all the difference. The new styles and colors that Kirsch is coming out with are very different from what people are used to seeing in their Buckingham collection. The texture of natural wood products is really beautiful. The craftsmanship of their new finishes is really impressive. Matt explains the features of their new and improved motorized drapery tracks. Sarah discusses all the aspects of the business that have been redone. Their brochures have been redone for the designer to the client. What the resource library is all about. You will be able to see Kirsch's new products at the IWCE Expo in Charlotte in March 2020. Links: Website: Kirsch Instagram: Kirsch Twitter: Kirsch Facebook: Kirsch

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Are you looking to build an exceptional team? Our hiring toolkit bundle at Luannigara.com

0:06.6

forward slash store is your comprehensive source for success. Craft compelling job descriptions,

0:13.8

know the right interview questions to ask, and implement a thorough evaluation process so you

0:19.0

get the right person. These were developed in collaboration

0:22.0

with my cousin Eileen Hahn and based on her 40 years of experience in building exceptional

0:27.2

teams, plus my insights from 1,000 plus interviews, our toolkits are tested and proven. Whether you're

0:35.0

scaling from 1 to 3 or from three to ten or from ten to

0:38.5

twenty, the hiring toolkit bundle provides the guidance that you can use to plan your

0:44.5

hiring strategy effectively. Go to Luannigara.com forward slash store and invest in your success

0:51.7

by investing in the success of your team.

1:07.1

Welcome to a well-designed business. My name is Luann Nigara, and I'm so glad you found this podcast.

1:13.3

Together with my husband Vince and our partner, Bill, we have grown our company Window Works from the ground up.

1:19.2

So I know and I understand the challenges you face in running your interior design business.

1:24.8

I also know that your talent alone isn't enough to ensure your success.

1:30.3

So on this podcast, we talk about strategies and practical steps to help you grow your business.

1:36.8

But make no mistake about it, we have our share of fun here too, mixed in with those aha moments that I love so much.

1:43.9

This isn't fluff.

1:45.0

Nobody has time for that.

1:46.7

Whether you are a new interior designer or a season designer, I am here to help you create

1:52.1

and to manage the kind of interior design firm that you dream of.

1:56.1

It's straight talk and it's action.

1:58.2

Are you ready?

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from LuAnn Nigara, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of LuAnn Nigara and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.