Venture Window (Venture Window)
Longtime employees are key to this company’s success
Bruce Schulbaum and John Mills co-own Venture Window in Cranston, RI and have been in business for 38 years. The company installs windows, vinyl siding, doors and roofing and serves residential and commercial customers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
“My business partner, John, and I have been the owners since the beginning. And we are very hands on. We have about 17 employees here that are all hourly workers. So, we have infinite control over the methods and the quality, and we are very actively involved in all the projects that we do,” said Schulbaum.
The business owner also shared that Venture Window can accommodate historic properties.
“We have a very broad collection of products that could fit virtually any window or door requirements. Our product line is very diverse, and we represent over a dozen manufacturers. We sell name brands like Anderson and Harvey. We have other brands that are well known in the contractor world.”
What Schulbaum really enjoys about his job is being able to offer customers windows in a variety of price points.
“The various window manufacturers, some are known to the public because of heavy marketing, and others are not. It typically means that you can spend less on a window and get the same quality just by not buying brand name. Sometimes store brands, such as the ones we carry, are actually made by major manufacturers and sold under other less-advertised brands. The generic window may not be any different than the name brand product, but the price is better. So, Venture Window offers all of them. If somebody is hooked on the Anderson brand and are willing to pay the additional cost, we’re happy to install it. But many times, we can offer other options of brands that we are very familiar with. And these are companies who've been in business for decades as well. They're not newcomers. So, we can offer people good options for less money.”
Schulbaum also provided insight into window manufacturing. “Window products are all rated with both energy efficiency ratings and structural ratings. In our industry, it's typically referred to as a design pressure, which is basically how the windows perform in a windy situation. And these are all clinical tests that the window manufacturers perform based on industry standards. And that's probably number one in terms of picking a window. But anything else, even the best window, if not installed properly, may not provide the desired results in insulating and caulking. And that sort of thing is just as important as the window product.”
Venture Window’s showroom is located in Cranston, RI, where a variety of products are in full-size display. Customers are welcome to visit the showroom or request an on-site consultation.
“Either a customer comes to our showroom to peruse the various products we offer, or we're happy to do an in-home presentation. At some point, we have to visit the home because the price of the project depends a lot on the conditions of the home and its construction. The visit is no charge. We spend a little time discussing people's needs and where they would like to be in price, so we can show them products that fit in their budget. Generally, within the same appointment day or within a few days, we will give them a firm price quote, which we would honor for at least 30 days,” said Schulbaum.
The business owner also shared Venture Window’s sales philosophy. “Our salespeople are very well versed in our products and offer expert advice with no high pressure. We don't give people discounts to make an on-the-spot decision. We offer a good price, and we give people time to consider their options before signing. Our sales process is very consumer friendly, very informative and has a lot of substance without any pressure. People really enjoy the way we handle our business and the quality of the service we offer.”
When asked about Venture Window’s installation staff, Schulbaum explained, “Our window crews are our own employees. They're not subcontractors. In the window installation business, subcontracting is almost the norm.”
The company’s employees are a source of pride. “We have 12 installers on the windows. Windows, doors and skylights are done by our in-house, full-time employees. And the approach there, because they are paid by the hour, is to ensure high customer satisfaction. They're very cordial and very careful about protecting people's homes during the project. They're never in a hurry, because if the job takes an extra day, they get paid for an extra day. Most of my window installers have been with us for over ten years, some are over 20. So, we have very dedicated and loyal workers. We treat them well. Our workforce is very stable and very loyal to the company, and they always take care as they work,” Schulbaum said.
The company does use a subcontractor for its roofing and siding services, which Schulbaum discussed.
“We have one subcontractor we use, and he works for us on an almost continuous basis, depending on our workload. But both our sub and salesperson are on-site almost on a daily basis to supervise the work that the subcontractors are doing because Venture Window ultimately guarantees the customer’s satisfaction.”
Another source of pride for Venture Window is their record keeping, especially when it comes to warranties. “In terms of warranties, we do maintain records going back to the 80s for all the products we've sold with detailed specifications. So, if I get a call from a customer from 1994 and they have a seal failure, which means moisture got inside their window—in a matter of minutes, we can pull up scanned copies of their paperwork with all the details we need, and we can help people maneuver through the warranty process. And that's a biggie in the window business because these products have very long warranties.”
For more information about Venture Window, LLC, check out their BBB Business Profile. To learn more about BBB and read more stories like this, visit Behind the Business Stories.
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