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Company: Blinds.com
Company Description: Blinds.com is the largest online window covering store in the world. At our heart, we are a passionate customer service and marketing company that connects our community to home decor trends and high quality window coverings. Blinds.com has been featured in numerous magazine, newspaper, and radio publications.
Nomination Category: Sales Awards Team Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Telesales Team of the Year

Nomination Title: Blinds.com - Where Innovation and Experience Delight Customers

Tell the story about what this nominated team achieved since the beginning of July 2012 (up to 525 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

The Blinds.com Sales team struck out in bold and exciting ways in 2013, incorporating many skill development initiatives as a major priority to make this year our best ever. Sales Performance jumped 30.57% smashing our goal of 15% growth from 2012 and posting a 50.03% conversion rate to inbound sales with an average sale value of $529.18 (first time in company history). This is the best performance in the company history as overall revenue moved from $86MM to $112MM.

The sales team had 14 of 38 salespeople reach the “Million Dollar” club with results ranging from $1.013MM to $1.464MM individually on a product with an average sale value of $475. In 2012 only 7 salespeople achieved this award. One individual achieved $1MM in sales in 9 months setting a company record for the fastest time to the $1MM Club.

When it comes to skill development, what sets us apart is our ongoing commitment to “skill development” on the part of our management team. We have found that people are more motivated and enthusiastic about their jobs when their skills increase which has a corresponding increase in their own performance. Daily coaching (using a methodology based on self-discovery) coupled with ongoing “drill for skills” sessions have provided necessary skill development to our design consultants. Conversion rates have increased substantially from 17% four years ago to over 50% this year with a noticeable increase in both motivation and company morale.

To complicate matters, the Blinds.com team moved offices in early 2013; but, with construction still under way in the new building as the old lease came to an end, we were forced to work remotely (all 160+ employees!) for 3 weeks as we awaited its completion. Our customers had no idea that our entire sales team was working remote as we maintained exceptional sales and service levels. Not only did the remote working experiment succeed from a customer perspective but the company enjoyed a record-breaking month for revenue with no sales or service interruptions. This innovative approach to remote working earned Blinds.com national media attention and teaching opportunities for other organizations to implement a similar strategy.

We were rewarded on the national front as Internet Retailer ranked Blinds.com as #219 on the 2013 Top 500 Guide for its fast-paced sales growth and service innovation.(

Later in the year, Internet Retailer once again recognized Blinds.com as maintaining one of the Top 100 world’s best e-tail websites, citing the company’s sales innovation and 2013 Silver Stevie Award winning face2face video design consultation service as best in class. This consultative approach and the first of its kind in our industry achieved over $1.5MM in sales while achieving an impressive 78% conversion rate with an average sales value of $734.21.

In October 2013, Blinds.com was honored as ‘Best and Brightest Company to Work For Overall Medium Business’ in Houston. This annual award recognizes Houston-area top businesses that provide employees with a positive, exciting and growth-oriented workplace. (11)

Blinds.com once again won a Houston Best Places to Work Award for 2013 for the third consecutive year in a row.

Provide a brief (up to 125 words) biography about the leader(s) of the nominated team:

Our Award winning Design Consultation Sales Team is led by Stephen M. Riddell, CSO and managed by Sean Graham and Chris Blair. Their success is built upon a combined total of over 40 years of experience and their genuine care for their staff. Their willingness to mentor their team to succeed and coach to skill is exhibited in their everyday behaviors. They willingly go above and beyond to show their appreciation for their staff’s dedication and their willingness to constantly and continuously improve themselves and the customer experience. This commitment is the reason why Blinds.com is the #1 provider of Blinds and Window Coverings online.