December’s cooler weather and increased family gatherings could be just the excuse for new window coverings that bring holiday cheer while complementing your home decor year-round. 
According to Academy Window Coverings’ in-home sales technician, a popular item this time of year is plantation shutters. 
“They are like furniture made for your windows," Richard Valadez Jr. said. “They are made from wood composite and vinyl and are absolutely fabulous, very beautiful and sophisticated.” 
Established in 1959, Academy Window Coverings is a family-owned and -operated business with more than 57 years’ experience in interior and exterior window covering designs. Everything at Academy is custom-made, so it takes a few weeks for delivery and installation. 
“You want to get it ordered in advance before your celebration or gathering,” Valadez said of those shopping for the holidays. 
As a full-service, year-round window treatment company, Academy provides a broad spectrum of products for both homes and businesses, specializing in all types of repairs and installations. 
“We provide in-home consultations,” Valadez said. “Products that we install include plantation shutters, draperies, custom blinds and window shades, hurricane shutters, awnings, carports, storm doors and windows, solar screens and more.”  
The company only uses high-quality products from trusted manufacturers, including Hunter Douglas, Graber, Norman, Kirsch, Texton and Levolor. In fact, the store has a showroom dedicated mostly to window coverings by Hunter Douglas.
“We usually use Hunter Douglas, a tough, quality brand with durable components made from high-quality metal and plastic, because the products hold up well in the heat, cold and all kinds of weather changes,” Valadez said. “As an interior product, the brand provides good insulation. During fall and winter, interior coverings tend to have higher sales for insulation and decor purposes. "
The company is co-owned by the family’s 81-year-old matriarch, Ernestine Valadez, who makes sure staff members keep up to date on the latest innovations and trends in the window covering industry.
“We send our sales people and installers regularly to seminars to stay updated on popular designs and products to keep them knowledgeable,” Ernestine Valadez told Corpus Christi Business News. “We do not subcontract our installation; we do our own work.”
Not everyone has the knowledge for this specialized type of service because a set of blinds that are not installed properly can fall down later on, she said.
Academy Window Coverings also specializes in exterior coverings, which are more popular in the summer. Exterior coverings help with privacy and burglar protection. Manual roll-up or push-button shutters protect against the hot sun and high winds and hurricanes.
Window dressing can be important energy savers, keeping the glass from getting too hot, Ernestine Valadez said. 
"We do have products that reflect the light and heat back outside to keep the home cool,” she explained. “Not only do window coverings beautify your home, they also provide privacy and energy savings.” 
Two current popular products — Silhouette and Pirouette — have sheer fabric vanes that help diffuse the harsh sun while enabling users to adjust lighting as they maintain privacy.
Customer satisfaction is another priority for Ernestine Valadez. 
“Every customer that comes in can feel how excited and happy the staff members are to assist them when they enter the showroom,” she said. 
Customers also like the wide variety of product on display. 
“We have the latest trends of products in the showroom,” Valadez continued. “Whatever the customer imagines, most likely we carry. If not, we can custom order.”
Co-owner and patriarch Richard Valadez Sr. believes quality work and commitment to customers playes a role in the company's success and longevity.
"After being around 57 years, we feel that Academy Window Coverings is a name you can trust," he said.
Academy Window Coverings is located at 4303 South Padre Island Drive. For more information, call 
(361) 852-6088 or visit academywindowcoveringstx.com.