I love to watch The Food Network on TV. I'm always fascinated by the chefs who take food to a whole other level. One show that's especially interesting is Throwdown with Bobby Flay.
If you are unfamiliar with this show; chef, restaurateur, and media personality, Bobby Flay, profiles a chef who is the master of one particular food. He convinces the person they are going to have a show on TFN and then shows up to challenge them to a cooking throwdown. Guest judges taste both dishes and decide who's tasted better.

What I find so intriguing about this show, is that, although many of the chef's profiled, own restaurants or bakeries, that sell several different kinds of food, they have taken the time to focus on, and perfect, one particular item on their menu. In turn they are now considered to be the top in their field by their customers and peers. All for one single one food item.
For example one chef specialized in making the very best donuts. Another made a fantastic Chicken Cacciatore. And still another couple, had customers who raved over their blueberry pancakes.
All of these people are had become specialists in a field that is already segmented in multiple categories, such as pizzerias, bakeries and breakfast diners.

Drapery workrooms are are not that different from the food industry. By our nature, we are specialists in the wider field of interior design. We have already decided to focus on creating window treatments and other soft furnishings.
But within this speciality there is room for you to specialize even further. You can take one aspect of the industry you really like, and are really good at; explore it, research it and become the go-to person for this special item.

Take Ann Johnson of Sew Easy Windows. She owns a drapery workroom in which she does all kinds of window treatments. Ann though, is really, really, good at swags. So good in fact, that she has written two books that focus on nothing but swags. Books that others in the industry covet. Imagine that - 2 books on just swags. By specializing in swags, Ann has found a new niche for her business, giving talks and selling books about swags.

Kitty Stein was so good at the business side of the drapery workroom she has written numerous books and magazine articles about the business of running a workroom. She was even recently honored with a Lifetime Educator Award. Her speciality in the greater field of custom fabrications was to share her business knowledge.
Leslie Fehling of Leslie Fehling Designs is so good at embroidery techniques for custom furnishings, and making slipcovers she ran her own school, Summerhill Weekend Sewing Retreats, to teach others.

Merlyn Corcoran is so good at making Minutes Matter Studio renderings she now holds educational seminars for the company.

Finding what you're really good at doesn't mean you have to give up the general field custom furnishings. But, you can find real joy in discovering what you're best at. It could be cornice boards, or a certain type of valance. Maybe you are really good at drafting patterns and can sell them to other workrooms. Whatever niche you decide to focus on, learn how to be the best at it. By specializing in our speciality, of custom furnishings you could find a new way to make money, gain the respect of your industry peer, or maybe even win an industry throwdown at the next International Window Coverings Expo.