Mini Blind - History

History

Blinds made of narrow, light-weight horizontal wood slats, adjustable to admit or exclude light, were developed in 1794, and called Venetian blinds. The blinds were often used instead of window curtains or shutters. In the 1840s, these blinds were held together by flat strips of cloth instead of by cords perhaps to shade the lift holes and like today they came in various colors. In 1966, a new pulley system was invented which afforded great improvement in the control mechanism. Over time, narrower slats became more common, as they were easier to clean and they reduced glare at certain settings and their appearance was pleasing to many. In 1946 Henry Sonnenberg and Joe Hunter developed technology and equipment for the production of lightweight aluminum slats (50 mm) for Venetian blinds, and by 1979, 25 mm slats were popular.

The window coverings industry underwent many changes and consolidations from 1981 to 2001. Many products and brands came and went because of technology, trends, consumer tastes and population shifts. Most of the big names in the industry are old companies being run by second- and third-generation family members. The '70s began the era of the mini-blind and it continued through 1981. People were moving into new homes and apartments. They provided the homeowner a window covering of moderate cost, which could be installed soon after purchase. In 1981, mini-blinds were 70 to 80 percent of the U.S. market in window coverings. It was the middle of what became known in the window coverings industry as the mini-blind era. Then, there was a recession in the late '80s. It reduced mini blind sales drastically. Many mom-and-pop retailers that sold window coverings from a storefront began to be replaced by the large home improvement warehouses. The number of manufacturers also diminished. One leader in window covering production machinery downsized. As a result, another company had to shift its focus from component sales to machinery development. The companies that survived the recession were innovative and learned new avenues of marketing rather than lowering prices. The mini-blind's lead in sales gave way to the other shading systems and by 1996 wood blinds grew in popularity and began catching up with the Venetian blind and the mini-blind.