Made in the Shade Blinds and More, started by interior design veteran Cathy Morse, recently welcomed new franchisees Marlin and Anne Muylaert. The Muylaerts hail from the Durham area of Toronto and bring decades' worth of experience in coaching between the two of them. Marlin Muylaert coached hockey at college level for over a decade, spending eleven years with University of Guelph Gryphons and another seven years with University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks. Anne Muylaert was Canada's first female gold medalist in swimming, having won the gold in 1984. Her career also included a silver medal in the breaststroke and a bronze with the women's relay team.
According to Cathy Morse, who noted the high quality of candidates like the Muylaerts from the BetheBoss.ca website, the Toronto couple's ambition, passion and self-drive make them ideal for the Made in the Shade Blinds and More franchise. She cited the ability to speak to people and customer service skills as other desirable traits in a franchisee, with sales and marketing experience marked as helpful but not necessary. While candidates certainly must be motivated and capable of being their own boss, Morse also indicated they need to be able to follow the proven Made in the Shade Blinds and More franchise model.
Marlin Muylaert also spoke about joining the Made in the Shade Blinds and More team. He was connected to the company through the BetheBoss.ca portal and cited its user friendliness and organization as a significant help in his research. Key aides referenced by Muylaert included the ability to search opportunities by investment level, the thorough descriptions provided for the listed businesses and the contact form attached to each opportunity's webpage that allowed him to easily request additional information. According to Muylaert, the companies he contacted through the portal were professional and promptly responded to his requests for additional information. The unique structure of the portal allowed Muylaert to quickly hone in on his particular area of interest at an investment level he was comfortable with.
Muylaert decided to branch out on his own after his public employment ended and looked at around six opportunities closely before selecting Made in the Shade Blinds and More. According to Muylaert, it was the level of support and family values established and demonstrated by Made in the Shade Blinds and More founders Cathy Morse and her husband Robert that ultimately influenced his decision. Support and guidance was a strong concern for Muylaert in terms of being a new business owner. Other factors that played a part in his final selection included the high quality level of the company's product and the emphasis on putting the clients first as part of the sales process.
Made in the Shade Blinds and More is currently looking to expand into various parts of Canada. Currently, the locations are spread throughout the country, leaving a tremendous growth opportunity, according to Cathy Morse.
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