National corporate companies have come to be known for having to import labor or export their manufacturing to gain the profit they desire for shareholders and to put more products in the hands of more numbers of consumers.
This means that there can be communication issues.
A picture speaks a thousand words.
Numbers are pretty much the same universally, another of the beautiful things about the language of Math.
Arrows and asterisks can imply many things but usually get right to some point. Usually something like, “pay close attention here” ***.
It has been estimated that a custom drapery order can go through 12 – 15 different hands. (sometimes more)
(1) First, the Designer measures the windows and often does all the calculations to come up with an initial estimate for the client to approve for the sale.
(2) Sometimes she will need an installer to revisit (with her) the client to involve his special expertise. A window can be too tall or wide for one person to measure accurately. Some Designers just prefer not to take the risks involved for taking responsibility or haven’t been adequately trained on all of the nuances of the smallest detail issues of placement and installation.
Every company has their own way of doing things. Very often, Designer’s haven’t gone through all the standards of measuring, established rules and regulations (as well as the “exceptions to the rules”). Details, for instance, such as how far above the opening the rod or top of the drapery should be placed.
(3) From that point, it usually needs to be put into a computer system to initiate the order. (There may still be companies who have a paper system, most are computer.)
(4,5,6,) Vendors are then notified for the fabric and lining, hardware, and fabrication orders to be started processing. Someone in each of those entities will input them according to their standards.
(7,8) Someone else in rods and fabrics will manage getting the orders packaged and ready to ship.
(9, 10, 11) Top treatment, panels, accessories….etc will all be fabricated, sometimes traveling through several hand each in their specific areas. One person may construct a wooden box for a cornice and someone else in that department will apply the fabric(s), trim(s), etc.
(12) Someone will then get the completed order ready to package and ship to the Designer’s location.
(13) Someone at the Designer’s location will inspect and receive and locate that order and then
(14) The data person will notify and schedule the order to be installed.
(15) The installer will take the order out and install the treatment. It is highly advisable for the Designer to be on the job at the same time as the installer. We will get into the details of that at a different time. (each of these hands can misinterpret data in any number of ways. Open dialog and effective communication methods are critical to minimize confusion and errors.)
A picture speaks a thousand words.
The work involved in measuring and articulating this amount of detail for the workroom and installer’s is excruciating. It is a true sense of accomplishment when the end result turns out perfect, exactly as imagined and the customer is ecstatic!!!.
This order was produced many years ago as is evident by the technology; but the old adage prevails, “Measure twice, cut once.”
It doesn’t hurt if a talent for drawing can help the visualization process as well. Designers, especially, function pretty exclusively in the right brain hemisphere. That is why the number and analytical procedures can be so excruciating; however, it is well worth the pain.
It was installed in the early 1990’s. It was a simple “casement” fabric, with a simple, loose weave that managed to look like raw silk. The “heavy brush fringe trim” and the gorgeous “tassel ties” doubled the cost of the treatment. The casement offset the overall cost as it prices at the lower scale of fabric choices. The marriage of the two produced a treatment that stands the test of time.
Don’t you think?
(there is a better picture of this somewhere…where did that pack-rat put it…?! hmmmm…check back, we’ll find it.)
Writing Spool 