Fifty Years of Trust, Innovation, and People: Erika Mandel on the Legacy of Creative Blinds

Hi Erika, thank you so much for taking the time to share this milestone with our readers. Congratulations on 50 years of Creative Blinds — it’s an incredible achievement, and we’re excited to dive into the story behind it. Let’s jump right in. Creative Blinds has grown from a small retail store in 1976 into a leading Hunter Douglas retailer in Houston. Looking back over five decades, what do you think has been the biggest factor behind the company’s longevity and continued success?
Without question, it’s been our unwavering commitment to people- both our clients and our team. From the very beginning, Creative Blinds was built on trust, relationships, and doing things the right way, even when it wasn’t the easiest way. Trends change, products evolve, and technology advances, but when you consistently show up with integrity, expertise, and genuine care, people remember that. Our longevity isn’t about chasing growth for growth’s sake… it’s about earning loyalty, one home and one relationship at a time, for 50 years.

Remaining family-owned and operated for 50 years is no small feat. How have you balanced honoring the company’s roots while evolving with changing design trends, technology, and customer expectations?
We’ve always believed that honoring your roots doesn’t mean standing still. Our foundation- personalized service, deep product knowledge, and accountability-hasn’t changed. What has changed is how we deliver that experience. Each generation has brought a willingness to listen, learn, and adapt, whether that meant embracing new design aesthetics, expanding into automation, or rethinking how customers want to engage with us. We see evolution not as a departure from our legacy, but as a responsibility to protect it.

Creative Blinds is known not just for beautiful window treatments, but also for expertise in motorization, home automation, and technical support. How has embracing innovation helped you better serve customers while staying true to your service-first philosophy?
Innovation, for us, has always been in service of the customer and never the other way around. Motorization and automation allow us to solve real problems: safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and ease of living. By investing early in technical expertise and support, we’ve been able to guide clients through increasingly complex systems with confidence and clarity. Technology changes fast, but the goal remains the same: make our clients’ homes work better for them, seamlessly and reliably.

You place a strong emphasis on culture, with long-tenured employees and a “Power of the People” mindset. How have you intentionally built a workplace where employees feel valued and motivated?
Culture doesn’t happen by accident.  It’s built through consistency, respect, and trust. We invest in our people, listen to them, and empower them to grow. Many of our team members have been with us for decades, which says more than any mission statement ever could. When employees feel seen, supported, and trusted to do their best work, that energy naturally carries over to the customer experience. The “Power of the People” isn’t a slogan for us… it’s how we operate every day.

As you celebrate this milestone year, what excites you most about the future of Creative Blinds, and how do you hope to continue impacting Houston in the years ahead?
What excites me most is that we’re just getting started. Houston is constantly evolving, and so are the homes, families, and communities we serve. We’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of design, technology, and service while remaining deeply rooted in our values. My hope is that Creative Blinds continues to be known not just for what we install in homes, but for how we show up: as trusted advisors, great employers, and a business that genuinely contributes to the fabric of this city for generations to come.