When Nothing Goes Right… Go Left: Window Coverings Success Tips for 2026

A New Year Note from the Field – Trading Up Academy

Hey there, fellow window covering pros!

It’s January, and if you’re like most window treatment professionals, you probably didn’t leap into the new year feeling totally refreshed. Maybe you’re facing those familiar installer headaches: unfinished window treatment projects, pricing decisions you wish you could take back, or business goals that feel just out of reach.

I have a sign in my office that says:

“When nothing goes right… go left.”

It reminds me that in the window coverings industry (and in life) sometimes the best move is to change direction.

Realistic Resolutions for Window Covering Pros

Every January, installation professionals and small business owners make big resolutions:

• “I’ll work less, but earn more.”
• “This is the year I grow my window covering business.”
• “No more burnout!”

But by February, reality sets in. Here’s what I’ve learned as a window coverings installer and business coach:

Big, dramatic resolutions rarely survive in the fast-paced world of window treatment installation. But small, strategic adjustments do.

What Does “Going Left” Look Like in the Trades?

For window covering installers and business owners, “going left” means making smart, sustainable changes:

• Raise your installation prices or start charging for it if you offer “free installation”.
• Say no to jobs that don’t serve your business goals.
• Implement simple processes like taking before-and-after photos of every window treatment project. Trust me on that! Your memory and guessing will thank you later.
• Protect your time (set boundaries with clients and vendors).

Same business – just a smarter, more profitable approach.

Three Simple Goals for Business Growth in 2026

If you want to grow your window covering business this year, keep it simple:

1. Set one clear financial goal

Instead of just “making more,” get specific:

“I’m pricing every installation for profitability.”

2. Tweak one business process

Choose something that streamlines your workflow:

“Every window covering install gets documented with photos and notes.”

3. Establish one personal boundary

Prevent installer burnout:

“No work calls after dinner, unless it’s an (true) emergency.”

The Real Reset for Window Covering Pros

True business growth comes from adjusting what’s not working. Not from giant, overwhelming changes.

If last year was tough, or if your installation team, clients or vendors feels stuck, don’t give up.

👉 Just go left.

Make a small, strategic adjustment. Charge what you’re worth. Build a business that supports your goals and your sanity.

Ready to take your window covering covering career to the next level?

Trading Up Academy is here with training, resources, and a supportive community for installers and pros who want more in 2026.

Here’s to a smarter, calmer, more successful year ahead.

— Roger Magalhaes