Louver Shop is proud to announce we’ve reached our 50th year! It’s a long time to consider and for five decades, some things remain constant: our commitment to beautiful and lasting custom window treatments and delighting
our customers. It’s in our DNA and we’ve made the most of this time by learning everything that we can about what you want in your home
We remember our friends and family along the way who helped turn a small, scrappy start up into today’s Louver Shop.
From Humble, Homespun Beginnings
Marion Guess founded Custom Installations in the early 1970s as a store for window coverings and drapery while her husband Jim had a knack for assembling and installing shutters. He could source quality materials as well as cut and fabricate them into finished shutters. With a new product line for the store, in 1972, the seeds of Louver Shop were planted.
There were many nights spent hunched over the kitchen table as the young family shaped and sanded louvers. This dedication would be important for powering through long days of hard work, which would soon pay off. In 1979, Jim’s longtime friend Bill Rieves joined the business. Bill would focus on operations, while Jim prioritized sales and growth. It wasn’t long before word started to spread.
To Strong and Steady Progress
And spread it did: a larger facility was soon needed, and the company moved to its first factory in Pine Lake, GA, outside of Atlanta, with expanded machinery and tooling.
As a family affair, there was always a scattering of neighborhood kids and cousins involved in the process. The young helpers were paid by the shutter, but only once finished shutters were installed for satisfied customers. Many of these children, now grown, are still part of the Louver Shop family with their families as market owners, sales, operations, and installers.
Meanwhile, Marion, Jim, Bill and the growing team gave back to the community as often as they could with regular company food drives, donations, and volunteering.
Thanks to Honest, Hardworking Staff
Louver Shop strived to help improve the lives of all staff. Bill and Jim were a unique, unbeatable combo, mentoring new employees according to core values. Jim was always checking in with sales and delivery teams each morning to stay up to date on where and how the business worked best. Bill navigated and managed the operations of a growing manufacturing company. With their hands-on approach, Louver Shop held on to the things that first helped us get off the ground.
Now, We Look Toward the Next 50 Years
Louver Shop moved to our modern 50,000 square feet Gainesville, GA plant in 2016. While our range of products and services continues to expand across shutters, blinds and shades, our commitment is the same as it was when born in a small Georgia kitchen in 1972.
We couldn’t be more excited to see what the next 50 years has in store for Louver Shop and our exceptional community of team members, and our valued customers.
If you’re considering beautiful custom window treatments, why not schedule a free virtual or in-home consultation? You can meet with one of our design experts and find the perfect shades, shutters or blinds for your windows. Request a consultation today online or over the phone at 888-249-5655 to find out what 50 years of quality could look like in your home.
Try Before You Buy with Our Visualizer Tool
A great way to get a sneak preview of our custom shutters is with Louver Shop’s visualizer tool. You can choose from a selection of sample photos or upload a picture of your own home, comparing shutter styles and colors to find your favorite options. In minutes you can discover what a pair of high quality Louver Shop shutters will look like for your home’s windows.