In the News
Back to Work After Charley
January 23, 2006
Creative Window Treatments Reopens in Punta Gorda
The Sun Newspaper – January 23rd, 2006
When June Amara and Maria Budd first opened Creative Window Treatments in downtown Punta Gorda in September 2003, business went well, even to the point where they expanded into an adjoining unit. On Aug. 13, 2004, the shop, located on the second floor of a building at 212 W. Virginia Ave. at the corner of Sullivan Street, sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Charley and was closed for the following seven months.
“We reopened March 10, 2005, and are glad to be back,” June said. “Charley took out the roof. We lost material and our machines. The building was gutted and everything was rebuilt. Our work tables had to be redone. We had the most beautiful shade of mold. I never knew mold could come in so many colors.” Creative Window Treatments produces cornices, valances, draperies, pillows, cushions and other accessories. It is a priority dealer for Hunter Douglas as well as and shutters. They also work with a reupholsterer off- site.
Question: Both of you have experience as seam- stresses and decorators. Tell me about your background.
June: I graduated in 1979 with an associate’s degree from the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in Manhattan, N.Y. Then I transferred to Marymount College where I earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising. I also studied abroad at the Polytechnic of the South Bank in England. In 1982, Lord & Taylor hired me as an assistant buyer for their Fifth Avenue store in New York City.
From there, my career shifted from buying to selling and I was hired as the sales representative for a New Jersey-based sweater manufacturer. After five years, the Phillips Van Heusen company hired me to run its Dallas, Texas, office. I other worked for Van Heusen for more than 10 years. Then I was contacted by Supreme International (the parent company of Perry Ellis International) and was hired as the national sales representative for the J.C. Penney account.
I have always loved designing and sewing my own window treatments. After settling in Florida in 2000, I opened a home-based business producing window treatments with the intention of one day opening a retail window treatment shop such as this one.
Maria: I am a native of the Dominican Republic. As a teenager, I started a sewing career as a seamstress producing men’s suits and dress shirts. In 1978, I came to the United States and worked for the garment industry in Manhattan while attending business school. While working for the Depository Trust Company (DTC) on Wall Street, I enrolled in community college but still found time to sew window treatments for friends, neighbors and family.
After 15 years, I left the DTC and opened a home-based business producing various types of window treatments and accessories. The business grew so successfully that we decided to move to Florida where much of our family live. While working from my home, my business continued to grow and I realized I needed more space and some help.
June and I were introduced by a mutual acquaintance and we decided to start Creative Window Treatments.
Question: What sets your business apart from others in this field?
June: What is unique is that, because Maria and I are both seamstresses and decorators,- we have a greater knowledge of window decorating.
We know first-hand how to take a few yards’ of fabric and turn it into a beautiful window treatment. We also know what will not work, which can be equally important.
Our shop is both our showroom and our workroom. Customers are welcome to come in and see their own treatments being made.
Maria: Many of our customers like being able to come in and see us working…that we are actually here. when a question comes up about what will work and what will not, we have the answer right here. In other shops, people have to go to the workroom, ask the question and come back to the customer with the answer. We don’t have to go to anybody else.