A Brief and Unremarkable History of Tech-Styles Window Covering Products Inc.
Tech-Styles was incorporated in California in 1993 in Oxnard California a rural town named after the famous Sugar Beet Baron who so generously donated his name to the town.
In the beginning TechStyles designed and developed 3.5" vertical and 2" horizontal PVC products for distribution to wholesale fabricators and retail manufacturers in the Western United States. As our business grew we began converting fabrics for ready made vertical and drapery programs nationwide.
In 1998 we designed a new type of ladder system for making routless 2" horizontal blinds. The new ladder was called the Loop Ladder System and allowed the lift cords to run outside the venetian slats. This innovation allowed much tighter closure for venetian blinds which today many manufacturers use for their 2", 2.5" and 3" privacy blind options.
In 1999 we developed a new type of sheer vertical covering product called IllumaSheer™. This new innovation combined the function and light control features of vertical blinds with the soft sheer features of custom draperies.
In 2002 we launched a new type of Roman Shade hardware system called RomaTrack that was designed to eliminate the need for unsightly valances on romans while still having access to the lift cords from the front of the shade. Our unique RomaTrack system has over 7 different patents covering the unique features of the system.
In 2004 we launched our PanelTrack system. We are now one of the largest suppliers of PanelTrack hardware in North America. Panel Tracks are an excellent alternative to conventional vertical blinds and we have developed several unique Patent Pending features that allow Panel Tracks to control light in more ways than previously possible.
Most recently we launched RomaSheer the first Dual Layer Roman Shade in the world that does not require a valance. The amazing thing about this revolutionary product is the way it controls light. It also perfectly coordinates with all the fabrics in the IllumaSheer™ collection.
In the beginning TechStyles designed and developed 3.5" vertical and 2" horizontal PVC products for distribution to wholesale fabricators and retail manufacturers in the Western United States. As our business grew we began converting fabrics for ready made vertical and drapery programs nationwide.
In 1998 we designed a new type of ladder system for making routless 2" horizontal blinds. The new ladder was called the Loop Ladder System and allowed the lift cords to run outside the venetian slats. This innovation allowed much tighter closure for venetian blinds which today many manufacturers use for their 2", 2.5" and 3" privacy blind options.
In 1999 we developed a new type of sheer vertical covering product called IllumaSheer™. This new innovation combined the function and light control features of vertical blinds with the soft sheer features of custom draperies.
In 2002 we launched a new type of Roman Shade hardware system called RomaTrack that was designed to eliminate the need for unsightly valances on romans while still having access to the lift cords from the front of the shade. Our unique RomaTrack system has over 7 different patents covering the unique features of the system.
In 2004 we launched our PanelTrack system. We are now one of the largest suppliers of PanelTrack hardware in North America. Panel Tracks are an excellent alternative to conventional vertical blinds and we have developed several unique Patent Pending features that allow Panel Tracks to control light in more ways than previously possible.
Most recently we launched RomaSheer the first Dual Layer Roman Shade in the world that does not require a valance. The amazing thing about this revolutionary product is the way it controls light. It also perfectly coordinates with all the fabrics in the IllumaSheer™ collection.
Who Is Rory McNeil? (And who cares?)
Well the truth cannot be printed here but here is a brief synopsis, edited, censored and exaggerated for your reading pleasure.
My family began in the window covering business about 30 years ago in Scotland, UK. The company at it's peak had 140 franchisees in the Apollo retail division and the largest market share of wholesale supply products through Eclipse Blinds (now a Hunter Douglas company), to the independent blind manufacturer.
I started making blinds when I was about 10 years old (thanks to lax child labor laws,) and gradually worked though all the departments in the company. My favorite job was in the Export department where in the short space of 3 years we were selling 36 countries around the world.
One of my favorite missions during this time was to set up a manufacturer of Venetian and Vertical Blinds in Cairo, Egypt. Once production had been set up I trained 20 Egyptian women to make blinds.
In 1989 Eclipse exhibited for the first time at the Draperies and Window Coverings show in Orlando. As a result of some of our early successes with sales in the US my family thought it would be a great idea to ship me off with my cousin (Robert McNeil) to set up the US subsidiary in Miami. It seems we were quite the trouble makers back home!
The first few years of Eclipse in the US were a lot of fun as we built Castles at the industry trade shows and offered whisky tasting on the trade show floor.
In 1993 my wife Rosa (then financial controller at Eclipse) and I decided to leave the company to move to California and start our own business, namely Tech-Styles.
My wife and I have a total of 6 children, 26, 24, 11, 9 and twins at 16 years old (circa 2006). We live in the beautiful county of Ventura, where we try not to work too hard!
I started making blinds when I was about 10 years old (thanks to lax child labor laws,) and gradually worked though all the departments in the company. My favorite job was in the Export department where in the short space of 3 years we were selling 36 countries around the world.
One of my favorite missions during this time was to set up a manufacturer of Venetian and Vertical Blinds in Cairo, Egypt. Once production had been set up I trained 20 Egyptian women to make blinds.
In 1989 Eclipse exhibited for the first time at the Draperies and Window Coverings show in Orlando. As a result of some of our early successes with sales in the US my family thought it would be a great idea to ship me off with my cousin (Robert McNeil) to set up the US subsidiary in Miami. It seems we were quite the trouble makers back home!
The first few years of Eclipse in the US were a lot of fun as we built Castles at the industry trade shows and offered whisky tasting on the trade show floor.
In 1993 my wife Rosa (then financial controller at Eclipse) and I decided to leave the company to move to California and start our own business, namely Tech-Styles.
My wife and I have a total of 6 children, 26, 24, 11, 9 and twins at 16 years old (circa 2006). We live in the beautiful county of Ventura, where we try not to work too hard!