Growth is on the horizon as Gordon’s Window Décor, a local family business that has been manufacturing custom window treatments in Essex Junction for 25 years, transitions to the next generation..
‘I think our growth is due to the fact that we manufacture insulating window shades that save substantial amounts of energy- a vital component in our country’s efforts to cut our dependence on fossil fuels’ Explains Gordon Clements, owner of Gordon’s Window Décor.
And grow they have. With distribution now well established in Ireland, as well as across the US, similar interest from Russia and recent sales in Japan Gordon’s has been hiring and just bought a larger factory/showroom in Williston. They will be moving at the end of March. That is a lot of change for any company especially combined with serious succession planning. It has truly been a busy year for Gordon’s.
‘It is all really exciting’ says Kelly Conklin, Clements’ daughter and successor, ‘Buying the new building was a huge step, but we are bursting at the seams in our current building and with our growth we need more space.’ The succession planning is equally as exciting’. ‘We’ve been working with the Vermont Family Business Initiative to help with the planning’ Conklin adds.
It is well known that transitioning a business from the first generation to the second generation is no easy feat. But Clements and Conklin have been working vigorously to avoid common pitfalls of succession;with resources like the Vermont Family Business Initiative it looks like Gordon’s Window Décor will be going strong for another 25 years.
‘My first child, Silas, was born in August and if all goes well I hope that he’ll be the third generation to run Gordon’s Window Décor’ Smiles Conklin.
Photo: Kelly, Silas and Gordon.