What the Las Vegas blinds and shutters trade went through
Shipments that never arrived, workers who never came back, costs up 50 percent and installers leaving for Texas and Florida. The pandemic story of the Las Vegas window covering trade.
Key takeaways
- Shutters ran out first, then blinds, because materials come from China
- Unemployment paid up to $4,000 a month, more than an installer earned
- Costs for many companies are up about 50 percent
- Installers left for Texas, Wyoming and Florida
Since the pandemic began, the Las Vegas blinds and shutters trade has had a rough ride. The first sign was shutters that simply did not arrive. Some materials still come from China, whether people like to admit it or not. Shutters felt it first. Then blinds shipments stopped too. Shutters ran short first because more people buy blinds, so there was more blind material on hand in the United States.
The workers did not come back
As businesses reopened, both trades struggled to get employees back. It was nearly impossible to staff even half a crew. People who were hired did not show up on their first day. Owners point to unemployment benefits of up to $4,000 a month. A shutter installer in Las Vegas earns about $3,200 a month and a blind installer about $2,800. Staying home for a year was a raise. One owner worked out that a couple who stayed home that year collected $96,000. Another said the benefits stole his employees.
A trade that may never be the same
Many owners believe the trade has changed for good. Products cost them much more than before, and labor costs more too. Window shutters and window blinds in Las Vegas can cost a company about 50 percent more today than two years ago.
Workers leaving the state
On top of that, experienced installers are relocating. Some moved to Texas, Wyoming and Florida. Those states have no state income tax, like Nevada, and some people see that as a bonus while they try a new place.
Will they come back?
I believe most of these blind and shutter pros will be back in Las Vegas within five years. Some of us, like me, never lived or worked anywhere else. They want to see if the grass is greener. I guess we will see.
