Universal Windows Direct Joins Pinterest!

We did it.   We joined Pinterest.   I couldn't resist.   I love the idea of infusing our personalities, and our company culture into marketing windows, siding, and doors.   I resisted for a long while because I couldn't fathom why anyone would visit a board full of pictures of windows.   Furthermore, would anyone actually re-pin a window?   Or siding? For heavens sakes no.

But - I recently read a great article  about marketing small business with Pinterest and it made sense to me.   We live in a city that is overflowing with home improvement companies.   If you pay attention, you can  literally see 10+  ads every single day from companies selling windows siding and doors.  (I am working at the library today and one was sitting on the table next to me!)

So people matter.   When you buy from Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities you aren't buying from a big corporate giant or box store.   You are buying from Melissa and Steve Brager.  You are supporting small business in your community.   And....  you are getting a superior, energy efficient product at a factory direct price.  That is the beauty of it.

So who are Melissa and Steve?  What are they all about?   Do you share any interests with them?  Maybe.   We have lots of different ways you can find out.  Subscribe to our blog for valuable information on our products and the buying process - as well as a behind the scenes look at our business.   Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get up to the minute updates on what we're up to.   See what articles we have found interesting and view pictures of jobs we have done recently.

Then check out Pinterest.    We have boards that feature our product, yes.   We also have boards that show:

• Us out working at home improvement fairs

• Pictures of our life as small business owners

• Burger Friday recipes

• Front Door Decoration Ideas

• Pumpkin Fun - because I LOVE seasonal decorating and holiday traditions

• Inspirational Quotes

• Small Business Marketing

I'm excited to grow our boards and keep on pinning.   What kinds of things should we add?  Would love to hear from you!

Melissa Brager

Recent Blog Posts:

Community Involvement

Tips on Visiting Home Improvement Shows

Replace just a few windows at a time

Community Involvement: Pinewood Fun Run

Most weekends you will find us at a home improvement shows or remodeling expos.    But some weekends we get to participate in events that are even more fun...   like the Phantom Fun Run for Pinewood Elementary  in Inver Grove Heights.  The Phantom Fun Run is a family activity the benefits the Pinewood Elementary school.  Every year families come out to support their school by running in this fun event.   Not signed up yet?  No problem!  You can sign up on race day!

Here is the schedule for the morning:

8:00 AM     Race Day Registration.  Sponsor tables available for viewing.

8:15-8:45     Eagan Police Dog, Badger, will be providing a demo.

9:00 AM     Kids ¼ mile race

9:15 AM     Kids ½ mile race

9:30 AM     5K Run/Walk

Universal Windows Direct is a platinum sponsor this year so we will be there at a with a table set up with product samples and brochures.  Since it will be a cold morning, we will be with the other sponsors inside the school gym.   Stop out to meet me and the baby, get a quick product demo or get any questions answered that you may have.   Of course we will have coupons as an incentive for in home estimates for window or door replacement as well.

Interested in participating in the run?  Click here for more information

Author:  Melissa Brager

Universal Windows Direct, MN

Shop Replacement Windows at a Home Improvement Show

Windows, Siding AND Doors!

Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities works home improvement shows and expos throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul Metro area.   It doesn't matter if we are in a huge convention hall, driving in a parade, or sitting in a tent at an outdoor event.   We love to display our great product!

Here are just a few examples!

Hey Steve!

Looking for a new Entry Door?

Universal Windows Direct offers Wood Grain Vinyl Interiors

Wave at us in a local parade!

Entry Doors and Patio Doors? You bet!

View all of our available colors in windows, siding, and exterior wraps.

Dreaming of a bay window?

Home Improvement Shows: Visit Universal Windows Direct at a home show!

It's Fall Home Improvement Show time! Ready to start that project you've been putting off?  You aren't alone!  Every fall when the weather cools down homeowners all over the Twin Cities get serious about their home projects like window replacement, door replacement, and home remodeling. Stop out and visit with our reps at any of these upcoming Fall Home Improvement shows: Home Improvement and Design Expo:

• October 20-21 at the Minneapolis Convention Center

• October 27 at the National Sports Center in Blaine

• November 3 at the Maple Grove Community Center

These shows offer a unique opportunity to visit with Home Improvement Companies and Remodelers to showcase their work, demonstrate their product, and answer your questions.   If you are ready to start a project, or just want a chance to pre-shop quality of products, this is the place for you.   Not only that, but the promoter of these shows, MediaMax, has filled the show with vendors, attractions, seminars, and all sorts of cool stuff.

Stop by and see Steve!

Stop out and visit the Universal Windows Direct booth and take advantage of our free triple pane upgrade as well as additional show discounts!

You like free, right?   Please visit our booth at any of these shows as our guest.   You can print free tickets at http://www.mediamaxevents.com/vip

See you there!

Author:  Melissa Brager

Tips for Visiting Companies at a Home Improvement Show

Finding a Contractor you Can Trust

What to Look For When Buying Vinyl Siding

Window Wrap Up: Universal Windows Direct Bi-Weekly Wrap Up

It seems the older we get the faster time moves.  Gone are the days when we were kids and summer vacation stretched on from one endless day to another.   These days summer is gone in the blink of an eye and just-like-that we are full on into the mania of fall.    If you have school aged kids you have homework and school buses, activities and conferences.   If you have teeny kids at home you have fun Halloween costumes and treat bags, fall portraits and Christmas planning to think about.   If you own a replacement window company you are full on busy in fall home shows, completing installs from the summer, preparing for the slower months and thinking about planning for the coming year.   No matter who you are or what you have….   Time is moving faster.   The to-do list is getting longer.  The pace of our beautiful glorious life is faster.   The potential of us missing information is what keeps us glued to our phones, our computers and our television screens.

Well, not to worry.   Here at Universal Windows Direct, MN we will do a regular wrap up of all our great content that you may have missed.   Ready to get started?

Factory Direct?  Aren’t all windows factory direct?

Tips on preparing for your window installation

Time Management tips from Entrepreneur Magazine

Burger Friday Recipe – Pumpkin Burger!!

Fall Yard Clean up Tips from  About.Com

Before and After pictures from our Dealer partner in Pittsburgh

Our Fall Newsletter has been sent to all of our past customers!

Baby in the office!!  Beware of one cute infant “doing paperwork”

That is all for now..  thanks for visiting!

Melissa Brager

Operations Manager, Universal Windows Direct, MN

Window install: How to prepare for your window install

Getting your windows replaced can be really exciting.   My favorite phone calls to make are the “your windows are here!  Let’s schedule your install date!”  phone calls.  Often, the next question is “How do I prepare?”

Top 5 ways to prepare for your new window installation:

1)        Clear a path for the installers to get to the  windows.   I am not calling you a hoarder.  But most of us have piles.  And once in a while those piles end up in the basement or in the corner of the bedroom.  Right under that drafty window.    If that happens to be the place at your house,   just move the piles somewhere else so the guys can have easy access to the window without worrying about disrupting your things.

2)     Take down any blinds, curtains or window treatments.  The goal is to have a clean working space for the installers.   If they have to stop and take down your window treatments,  it is an unnecessary delay and  an additional charge will be assessed to you.

3)      Do you have a home alarm system wired to any of your windows or doors that we will be working on?   You will need to call your alarm company before the install to have those wires disconnected  (and then re-installed after the windows are in).

4)     Clear the walls and shelves around the work area.  This includes pictures on the wall, as well as trinkets or collectibles on shelves near the window.    It is just better to be safe than sorry.

If you care about your items, protect them.   That may sound harsh, but it is also common sense, right?

5)     Dogs and Cats.    Oh the stories we have.   Window installation is loud.  There are tools, there are strange voices, there are strange men in and out of the house.    Dogs and cats can get skittish.  They can bite.  They can try and escape.  Sometimes they do escape.   And they RUN.   So kennel them up during the install and don’t worry.

Sound easy enough?

Melissa Brager

Operations Manager, Universal Windows Direct

Check out these other great blogs:

Factory Direct Pricing

How a home improvement can be small

Finding a contractor you can trust

Factory Direct Windows: Aren't All Windows Factory Direct?

Window replacement can be a tricky business.  We work a lot of different events and home improvement shows to show our product and talk to homeowners.   I am always surprised when someone walks up to me and says “Universal Windows Direct…. What does that mean?”.  “Well,  it is the name of our company.   We are part of a national group of dealers that offer an exclusive product.  We buy directly from the factory and pass the savings on to you.”   Then the next question comes.  “Doesn’t everybody buy direct?”

Actually, no.   I mean, every window is purchased from some place, but each time it moves from the factory and touches someone else’s hands, the price goes up.   When you buy windows you are involving yourself in one of a few different scenarios.

1)          You are buying from a contractor who is buying from a supply house who bought them from the factory.   The factory just made a bunch of windows and if the supply yard or big box store happened to have them in the size you needed the contractor bought them and resold them to you.   And the price reflects his markup as well as the supply yard markup.   You can see the price getting higher, can’t you?  (Cha-ching!)

2)     You are buying from a big box store because they have a great sale going on.  I bet.   It is no secret that retail markups to consumers are extraordinary.  Constant sales and deep discounts only prove this to you.   Not only that, but even a brand name at a box store can be a lower end version of that brand.   It’s like buying brand name women’s clothing at a low end retail outlet.   The tag might be the same (or close) but you the quality just isn’t there.

3)     Or, you could buy your window from a brand representative who does work directly with the factory.  Every.  Single.  Day.   That’s how it works at Universal Windows Direct.  Not only do we have an exclusive product that no one else in the Twin Cities offers, but over 90% of our business is selling that product.   The volume of work we do, combined with the volume of our group  of dealers throughout the country allows to keep the  costs way down.   The price reflects when you buy direct. Seriously.

So how do you know?   Ask where your new window is right now.   If it is somewhere stacked up with all the other windows just waiting for you to choose it  (like the last Christmas tree on Christmas Eve)  it isn’t factory direct.   It’s warehouse direct.

The price reflects when you buy direct!

When you buy windows from Universal Windows Direct our sales representative discusses the styles, colors and options that you want in your home.   Once the decision is made, we have a trained installer come to your home to get an exact measurement of the size of your replacement window, and then the window order is sent to the factory to be built for you.    It literally has your name put on the window the second it comes off the line.   Here is a window recently made for the Peterson family.   Personally, I think that is very cool.   Higher quality, exactly what you want, the perfect size for the opening in your home.   At a lower price.   What more do you want? Get started today.

Melissa Brager

Operations Manager, Universal Windows Direct, MN

Other Articles you might find interesting:

Why all windows are the same, and different

Why your windows may be fogging up

Why customers love Universal Windows Direct

SALE on Windows: MN State Fair Specials from Universal Windows Direct

It's MN State Fair Time!!!    How many times will you go out there?   Do you go out there for the food or for the great specials you get?   Be honest, do you sometimes go to the Fair just to see your favorite window company?  GREAT!

This year we'll be at the Fair offering great specials on all of our replacement windows, siding, and doors.    Stop out to see us, visit with a salesman, and see the quality of our windows for yourself.     Schedule a time for a free in-home estimate and see how much money you can save with our factory direct pricing.   Give yourself the peace of mind knowing that when winter gets here your home will stay as warm and cozy inside as you want to!

PLUS... we've partnered up with one of our favorite companies, Custom Drapery & Blinds by Michael Esch for the fair.   They offer the best pricing in town on all of the biggest names in custom draperies so you can dress up your new windows with brand-new window treatments!   Sounds good, right?

See you at the Fair!

Weekly wrap up: Universal Windows Direct, MN

There is just something wonderful about a Friday, isn't there?

It doesn't matter if you work in an office, if you work at home, or even if you have to work all weekend, Friday's just feel different. This Friday feels especially good, as it has been a long week!  Here is a taste of what we've been up to!

• We received a huge shipment.

• A Door install is completed

• Siding tear off on a job in St. Paul

• Four huge window jobs are wrapped up

• Installers on one of those jobs enjoyed a visit from Mom that included cookies!

• Dakota County Fair schedule all set  - including our babysitters for the hours I'll be out there

• We had a  super meeting with a marketing firm.

• The ever popular baby enjoyed personal visits from (2) Grandpas, (2) Grandmas  - 2 different days, (1) Great Aunt, (1) friend of Grandma.   We also enjoyed some spontaneous weeknight trips to visit with (2) Aunties, (5) cousins, and (4) second cousins.

• Part time daycare for the baby secured starting this fall

• Our past customer newsletter is finalized and will be mailed next week.

• We signed on for 4 new events to exhibit at in the coming few months - in fact we're headed out to set up for one shortly.  It never ends!  If you're in the area stop by and see us at Lakefront Days in Prior Lake!

Whew!  I'm tired just thinking about it all.   How has your week gone??

Melissa Brager

Operations Manager, Universal Windows Direct, MN

Other Articles of Interest:

Meet Universal Windows Direct

About us: Meet Universal Windows Direct, MN

Hi!  I’m Melissa Brager .   I spent over 15 years working for huge companies in Corporate America.   Then I quit.   My husband Steve spent 20 years working  for a construction company and doing  home remodeling on his own.   Then he quit.   Now we work together running Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities .

This is Me

If you’ve met me you know that I like a lot of variety and I feel really good when I feel all the right things are taken care of.   So while Steve is out running around I stay in the office managing all the behind the scenes details that keep us moving.

If you’ve met Steve you know that he works hard, I mean really really hard to  earn your business, to  provide the best customer service he can and to earn your repeat business and your referrals.   He is the type of small business owner that works on super speed all day every day.

This is Steve.

Several months ago we were blessed with a perfect baby girl.   So our days are more interesting and more fun and more complicated all at the same time.

This blog is a mixture of information on windows, siding, and doors;  with small business anecdotes, and my life as I balance growing our business, working from home, and caring for my baby.

Read, enjoy and connect.  We’d love to hear from you!

Melissa Brager

Universal Windows Direct, MN

Home Improvements: Why a Home Improvement Can Be Small

Small effort can mean big results.   As I sit with my newborn I think like this all the time.    I think, "If I only have 45 minutes during this next nap, what can I get done that I’ll feel good about?”  or “I’m exhausted but I have chores.   What is the smallest thing I can do to feel progress?”  or my favorite “Hooray, I took meat out of the freezer! Dinner is practically done!”    Silly maybe, but I’m guessing I am not alone there.

Making home improvements can actually be like this too. Too often people think that to make a home improvement they have to commit weeks and weeks to meetings and discussions and shopping and details.   I think people worry about the thousands of dollars it will cost to replace every single window in their house or to do everything they dream about all at once.   It really doesn’t have to be like that.  We have lots of customers that talk to us about their dreams and then we work together to figure out what part of that dream they can accomplish first.   Maybe it’s just the windows in the living room, maybe it’s the windows in the front of the house, or maybe it’s the whole first level.   My point is that it doesn’t need to be a huge overwhelming process.   It can short.   It can be focused.  And it can be inside your budget.

Not ready to replace your windows?  No problem.  There are a number of small home improvements you can make that will take very small effort or expense, but can make a big change in how a space looks and feels.   So get ready, I’ve put together my favorite ideas!

Top 5 ways to quickly brighten up a space

1. Buy a large flowering basket or plant a large pot of colorful annuals to put in front of your house for instant curb appeal.

2. Replace the hardware on kitchen cabinets.

3. Choose a bright lampshade to brighten up a dull space.

4. Switch up the linens you use in the bathroom.   A few bright hand towels and new rug will make small space seem new again!

5. Keep a centerpiece on the kitchen table, the dining room table, or any surface that you see a lot.   Fresh flowers, bowls of fresh fruit, or even a stack of books can make boring spaces seem completely different.

No matter what small change you make to your living space, just make sure you love it.    When you want to talk about replacing a few windows or doors, give us a call. We’d love to work with you!

Melissa Brager

Why customers love UniShield Windows

How are windows different?

Severe Weather: Universal Windows Direct MN can help after Severe Weather Strikes

Did you do it?

Yesterday when the severe weather sirens went off did you look at the sky? Or did you quickly try and remember what day and time it was? I did it. I heard the siren, I turned my head to the window, then back to the person I was talking to as I realized it was not 1:00 on a Wednesday. My very next thought was.. “It really IS spring!!”.

I don’t like severe weather.   Tornadoes scare me. 

I’m not one of those contractors that gets the glimmer in her eye when she sees a storm might roll in. You won’t find me devilishly rubbing my hands together in anticipation of serious damage in a neighborhood. I’m too soft hearted for that. I don’t want anyone’s home ripped apart or destroyed and I certainly don’t want anyone getting hurt or forced to move. It happened to me once and it was too stressful. I didn't like it one bit.

But I digress.

National Severe Weather Awareness week is an important right of passage into spring storm season. Cities check their sirens, school children practice their “duck and cover” and evacuation routes and families talk about what would happen if they were home when they heard the sirens or experienced bad weather. The best way to stay safe is to have a plan. Know where to go. Stock the freezer with popsicles so in the middle of the night when you hear the sirens and grab sleeping kids out of their beds to rush to the basement at least you can offer them an icy treat. Life is less scary with a Popsicle. (right, Mom?)

When the storm has passed and you realize your home has seen some damage you don’t need to dread the onslaught of hungry contractors knocking on your door every 5 minutes. Just call Universal Windows Direct. We’ll stop out and give you our factory direct price on replacing your windows, siding, front doors or sliding glass patio doors. We can price the job with or without installation. Take that price to your insurance company or to your contractor and call us when you’re ready. We know you’ll love our prices and our non pressure sales after a storm. We also know you’ll love the solid construction and energy efficiency of our UniShield Windows, the construction of our doors that repel moisture from getting in to your home, and the hail resistant properties of our insulated backed siding products.

Here is to a safe and storm free spring!   (eat a Popsicle anyway!)

Melissa Brager, Universal Windows Direct

Related Blog Posts:

How Universal Windows Direct can repair your home after a storm

What to look for when replacing your siding

Spring has Sprung!

Home and Garden Show: Tips for Visiting Companies at the Home & Garden Show

Are you ready?   The Minneapolis Home & Garden Show starts today and extends through the weekend.    This amazing show fills up the Minneapolis Convention Center with hundreds of companies poised to show you their best.     It really is a massive sight and it can be easy to become overwhelmed...  especially if you have a specific project in mind, like replacing your windows, siding, or doors.

Visiting The Home & Garden Show is a fantastic way to talk with company representatives, see their products and determine who you want to get estimates from and work with.  But with so many different companies available how do you choose?  Fear not, dear reader, we have tips for you!

1. Evaluate their booth and display.   Think about that booth being your home during the project.    It is dusty, disorganized and cluttered?  Or is it clean, approachable and bright?   How has that company chosen to give you their first impression?

2. Is the booth staffed with knowledgeable and friendly staff?   Are they able to talk to you about the company and their products or does it seem they are just warm bodies working their hours?

3. When the booth staff is knowledgeable do they spend their time with you educating you on their product and the value they can provide or are they too busy pointing out flaws in the competition?   If it seems that the only way they think they can earn your business is by lying about the competition is that really the type of company you want to work with?  Consider how important professionalism and integrity is to you. 

4. Avoid signing up for "FREE" prizes or giveaways.   While there is a chance you could win the stated prize,  you know for sure you will win solicitation phone calls and emails from those companies for months or even years.  Unless you change your phone number.    Choose carefully who you provide your contact information to!

5. Do you LIKE what you see?  What better opportunity to view examples of work, or to touch and feel the various products side by side.  When shopping for windows, for example, you might think they all look alike...  but when you start opening and closing them and viewing the details in construction, you'll notice in a hurry what cheap feels like.    Don't you deserve quality?

Enjoy the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show and when you're there..  stop by and say hi to Universal Windows Direct.   We are located in Booth #3537...  not far from the kitchen stage at aisle 3700.    See you there!

Melissa Brager, Universal Windows Direct

Related Blog Posts:

How windows are the same, and different

Questions asked about windows

Love UniShield Windows: Reasons our customers love their UniShield Replacement Windows

Happy Valentine's Day!

You'll LOVE UniShield Windows by Universal Windows Direct!

Whether you love the holiday or you dread it, it happens.      You don't need to break the bank by buying overpriced flowers or purchasing a token gift.   You don't even need to choose the best of the picked over Valentine's Day Cards for your sweetie.    All you need to do is spread the love.   Be kind; and share the good that surrounds you.

So I think we'll do just that.   At Universal Windows Direct, MN we have been surrounded for years by customers that started out hating their windows.  They desperately wanted and needed a change.   And once they made their purchase of UniShield Replacement Windows, they were thrilled.    You might even say they were in love.    See what they had to say!

Reasons Customer Love UniShield Replacement Windows:

1. "We loved the direct sales approach with honesty and product knowledge.   The estimate given on site was appreciated and the install crew was nothing but professional."

2. "What other contractor actually cleans up after himself?"

3. "After receiving other estimates,   Universal Windows Direct offered the best product and the best price by far!  No hidden fees, no extra charges.  It was amazing how quick they were able to install windows in the whole house!"

4. "I'm so happy with the final product.   My new windows look amazing!"

5. "We  are extremely happy with our new windows!  Quality of the workmanship exceeded our own expectations.  JOB WELL DONE!   We love our new look!"

6. "I could immediately tell the difference.   My home is already warmer!"

What will your reason be?  Contact us today to get your free, no obligation estimate and before you know it, you'll LOVE your new windows too!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Melissa Brager, Universal Windows Direct, Twin Cities

Angie's List Super Service Award: Universal Windows Direct earns Service Award for 2011

Universal Windows Direct, MN Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service

Universal Windows Direct, MN has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the businesses rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service and health providers.

“It is our goal to treat every customer of ours as if they are family.    Offering a fair price on a quality product and sending out the best installers are several aspects of our business we pride ourselves on.   We are honored to receive this award.PR”  says Stephen Brager, President.

“Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “The fact that Universal Windows Direct, MN can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clientsand abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2011 Super Service Award logo next to business names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick tour of Angie’s List and view the latest Angie’s List news.

Replacement Windows: 5 Reasons Why Choosing Replacement Windows is Like Choosing a Wedding Dress

Curious, aren't you?

Here is the thing. I am behind on my blogging because I have been caught up in the excitement of planning our wedding!!   We are celebrating with 200 people we love and are planning the whole big party in 5 weeks. Crazy, maybe, but fun.

As I get ready for my final dress fitting it comes to me.   Choosing replacement windows and choosing a wedding dress actually have quite a bit in common.

1. Choose your perfect look.   Are you thinking traditional, modern, or purely functional?    Do you want to stick with white or something more interesting like a color?  What options do you have to choose from?

2. Know your deadline and order in advance!   Wedding dresses can take up to 6 months to come in but you can get your custom vinyl replacement windows installed in as little as 6 weeks.   Family coming to town?  Hosting for the holidays?  No problem. Call today to get started!

3. Order the right size!   Doesn't it make more sense to order the exact size you need so you don't have to force fit the product, or worse, pay for the labor of unnecessary alterations later?  Our windows are all custom sizes for your convenience!  Not only that, but with a custom fit they are guaranteed to reduce drafts and keep your family  more comfortable in your home!

4. Think about how you want to complete your final look.   With your dress you think about shoes, jewelry and veils.  With your windows you consider trimwork, painting or staining, and new custom window treatments.   It's really the same.

5. Show it off!!   Once everything is decided and paid for and complete don't you want to show it to everyone you know?   Take pictures!!  Post them on Facebook!

See?   Replacement windows and wedding dresses actually have more in common than you think!   While we can't help you choose your wedding dress, we can certainly help you make a replacement window decision.   Quotes are always free and we'd love to visit with you.   Contact us today!

Busy Busy... What has Universal Windows Direct been up to?

It's been a month, dear reader.    Sadly we have allowed ourselves to get behind in our blogging but do not worry, we did not forget about you!    We are back at it and ready to get caught up.     Business has been good, our personal lives have been good, we've just been running like crazy. 

We have successfully finished our summer show and event season.    Gone are the days of hanging in the tent, hoping for good weather overnight, and searching out our next great meal from a food truck.   I think that Taco Cielo from the Dakota County Fair was my favorite this year!   Mmmmmm!!!

Our fall and spring home show season gets underway soon and we have all of our dates finalized.   Sometimes I feel like we're a rock bank booking our next great tour.   We always have free or discounted tickets for shows so definitely check our website or call us if you're interested in enjoying a home show and vising your favorite window company!

Speaking of home shows, we are moving forward with some awesome new displays for our larger products.   They will debut in 2012!

New product options!   Our UniShield siding has come out with new colors to provide you with even more options for customizing your home and creating the look you've dreamed of.     Our UniShield fiberglass entry doors have just release new styles that include 3/4 glass on the front.   A nice way to get the look on the front of your home "just right". 

We are growing!   We have brought on another installer and are currently looking to grow our sales department.   If you know anyone looking to get some sales experience, send them our way. 

All work and no play?  No way!!   We have a vacation scheduled in December and are looking forward to our annual sales meeting in January.    Not only that, but with fall TV underway, we are glad to "see"  all of our old friends.    Hey, there is nothing wrong with some quality couch time, right?

Beyond all of that, we are happily selling high quality, energy efficient windows, siding, and doors at factory direct prices to homeowners all across the Twin Cities.    To learn more about our products or to schedule a free, no obligation estimate, contact us today.

UWD MN at a Summer Events: A behind the scenes look at UWD working outdoor events

Raise your hand if you've been to a Fair or Outdoor Festival this year.    Raise both hands if you've been to more than one.   Now smile because you feel silly with both your arms in the air.

Summer in MN is the best thing on Earth.  Every weekend you can find a summer festival in a local city,   Celebrations center around everything from raspberries to potatoes to stock cars to just the city itself.   No matter what they are celebrating you are almost guaranteed to find yummy food, activities for kids, a midway, a live band, a car show and a business fair.

Show and event marketing is a huge part of our marketing plan at Universal Windows Direct MN.    Throughout the summer (June - August) we spend the majority of our weekends working in a booth to promote our business, and our awesome line of UniShield windows and doors.  Needless to say, we have it down to a science.

We can go from everything in the truck to "open for business" in about 20 minutes.

We have the perfect size cooler that ensures we drink a gallon of water a day.

We have perfected the "show food" shopping trip to keep us eating and snacking right in the midst of full on fair food temptation.

We have made events into networking and social events.  Building relationships and enjoying the connections with familiar faces and other local business owners.  Some days would get very long without our friends.

We have a section in our closets dedicated to UWD wear - which ensures that no matter how many days the event is, and no matter what the weather has in store for us...  we will be branded.  In layers.

Last but not least, we know that working these summer shows are different than working home improvement expos.  We know you didn't head out to the fair with a window replacement project in mind.   So we show you our windows, we give stickers to your kids, we answer your questions and if you don't want to schedule a free estimate, we'll give you a brochure to take home.   We know that when you're ready, you'll call us.

Thanks to every single person this summer who stopped by our tent to talk with us. Days can get long and we can get a little crazy.

Thanks to previous customers who made a point to visit.  Thanks to all the show sponsors who make us feel appreciated and welcome, and thanks to that girl at Pride with the pink and purple pigtails who bounced in to give us a smile because we looked lonely.   It isn't easy to work those events, but it's worth it.   We love our company and we  love offering such a great product at a factory direct price.

If you're looking to get a free quote on replacement windows, sliding glass patio doors, front entry doors or vinyl siding, contact us today.   We'd be happy to stop out.

Windows at the Fair?: Top Questions asked about Windows at the Dakota County Fair

How many replacement windows and siding companies are at the Fair?  If you are anything like me you're freaking out about the fact that its mid-August.    County Fairs mean that summer is coming to a close.   As much fun as we have looking at the animals, watching the demo derbies, eating the fried food and looking at all the cool stuff in the exhibitor buildings we can't deny that school is around the corner, and winter isn't far behind.

As a window girl the County Fairs mean that I basically leave home for a week.  I pack fruit, healthy snacks and sandwiches so I am less tempted by all the Fair Food.  (If you've ever met me, you know this doesn't work very well.)  I bring a book for the hours where no one is around, and I look forward to meeting my neighbors.    I also do my best to tell interested fair -goers about our awesome UniShield windows and doors and answer their questions the best I can.

After 5 days and 55 hours at the Fair,  I have compiled this list of Top Questions asked at the Universal Windows Direct Booth at the Dakota County Fair.

Q: Is that a wood window?      A:   No, the UniShield window is a vinyl replacement window.    We are excited to offer three different wood grain finishes that give you the look of wood to match your cabinets, floors or woodwork, but in a 100% maintenance free vinyl finish.

Q:  Are these replacement windows or new construction?   A: Both.   The majority of the windows we sell are replacement windows, but we do also do  also sell to remodelers and we can order any window you need with a nailing fin.

Q: What if I want to install the window myself?   A: We do sell windows directly to individuals and contractors.   However, installing windows isn't for amateurs.   If you're not totally comfortable installing a window please allow us to install it for you.

Q: What is your warranty?  A:   Universal Windows Direct offers the double lifetime warranty on windows.   This means that your new windows will be covered for as long as you are in your house, and 30 years to the next homeowner.   This is a non-prorated warranty.   We stand behind the quality of our windows!

Q: Do you make awning windows? A: Yes.   We can build any style window you need.  Double hungs, sliders, casements, awnings, hoppers, garden windows, bays and bows.

Q: Where are the cows?   A:  The did leave for a night for a barn cleaning, but no worries...  the next afternoon we had a huge cow trailer parade and they were all returned, safe and sound.

The cows are back!

Q: My window is  really weird size.   Can you do custom sizes?   A: Yes!  All of our windows are custom ordered to fit your rough opening.   So bring us your weirdest size window and we'll replace it.

To everyone who stopped by our booth at the fair, thank you.   I appreciated the chance to tell you about our great windows. If it was a particularly slow time of the day, I appreciate the visit.   If you have any additional questions, or are interested in a free quote, contact us today.