Have You Met James?

This month, we’re pulling back the curtains and shining the spotlight on our very own James – Operations Manager, client whisperer, and all-round smooth operator. From behind-the-scenes magic to his top styling tips, we sat down for a one-on-one to uncover what really makes James tick (spoiler: it’s not just spreadsheets)

Keep reading to find out more…

1. You wear quite a few hats at The Shutters Dept! How would you describe what you do in a day?

As Operations Manager my workday can be a complete mixed bag! I step in to assist with customer general enquiries, Expert Reviews and Design Session. Sometimes I'm negotiating with suppliers to get discounts we can pass on with our sales. I could be having meeting with the marketing and advertising team, planning content or collaborations! I haven't (yet) had to jump in unloading and sorting the containers, but I have been out observing the process with the logistics tea, My days are always busy and exciting!

2. What’s your approach when helping customers choose the right shutters for their space?

Ooh! Functionality and fitting the shutter in with how you use your space/windows is always the first step! If you’re going to be opening/closing you windows often we want to make sure the shutter panel size is appropriate and not cumbersome.
I love to come up with solutions to help the shutters suit any window and to match what the customer is envisioning!

3. From an interior design perspective, what trends are you loving in window furnishings right now?

I’m not sure it’s a trend with window furnishings specifically, but I’m obsessed with introducing bold colours and patterns into a space! Think colour drenched rooms or big print pattern wall papers – the way our crisp shutters pop against these statement walls just makes the entire space feel elevated!
Stay tuned to see what I mean with our upcoming collaboration with @curiously.carter and the bold colour they’re introducing to their reno!

4. What advice do you give customers who are unsure where to start?

Honestly order the sample pack and just dive into the Instant Quote & Design Centre! The pack comes with louvers pieces of the three colours we offer – you’ll be able to touch and feel them, see how the colours look in person and match with your space, there are scale cross sections of the frame types and a super useful guide to how they fit into your windows. Our Design Centre is also super simple – we ask 5 questions about your windows and then will give you automatic recommendations of the shutter design.
You’re also welcome (encouraged) to give us a call! The team are all super chatty and happy to help! (You might be extra lucky and get me on the phone.

5. What's a common mistake people make when selecting shutters- and how can they avoid it?

Understanding how to manage obstructions is always going to be tricky! Window winders, shallow reveals, weird architraves, kitchen taps… these can all be challenging at first to work around. Luckily we’ve been doing this for many years and can give options for anything and everything!  (TSD has just celebrated 8 years! But we are also a spin off of a family owned window furnishing company that’s been around for double that! And that family has actually been in the window furnishings industry for generations – there’s quite a lot of knowledge and history behind your new shutters!).

6. Can you tell us about a recent project or customer experience that really stood out to you?

I have had a lot of fun designing shutters with @magnolia_house_  and their adorable reno in Tasmania! Watching how our shutters transformed some of their spaces has had us seriously in awe! That mudroom! We really wanted inside mounted shutters so I had to pull out many industry tricks to get the perfect result for this space. We had to navigate really shallow reveals, a corner, a bulkhead and these cute older style window locks – nothing like a challenge! They had a vision and we made it work!

7. What makes The Shutters Dept experience different from others in the industry?

There is often a perception that an online business (especially one selling a DIY product) will mean that you never talk to someone and are not supported. We strive to be the complete opposite of this! We put customer service absolutely at the front of everything we do – we want to make the process as easy and stress free as possible! You can call, email, online chat, or even zoom with us at any stage – we genuinely love to help get the best results for your space. We even have the reviews to back it up!

8. Quick-fire: Coffee order? Favourite weekend activity? Personal DIY project you've undertaken? 

Iced Latte! Wandering a farmers market or looking at antique stores! Over summer I built an impressive wrap around bench seating and planter for my terrace so I could make the most of enjoying being outside for a weekend morning coffee in the sun or hosting an evening bbq!
(I might be based currently in Melbourne, but I think you can get the vibe that I will always be a country Queenslander at heart!)