Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Mandel.
Hi Erika, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Six years ago, I took on my family’s now 50-year-old business, Creative Blinds, as a consulting client under my company, Leap Intuit. Within weeks, I realized I wasn’t just consulting- I was falling in love. What started as a project quickly became a calling.
Before coming “home,” I’d worked with the biggest of corporations- KPMG, News Corp- and the scrappiest of startups (where I learned the most, by far). Running Creative Blinds has become the culmination of all those experiences: a blend of business acumen, creativity, and heart. It’s about honoring the values my dad built the company on while leading it into the future with innovation, technology, and design.
Creative Blinds isn’t just blinds- it’s beauty meeting function, automation meeting artistry, and craftsmanship meeting care. We elevate homes through custom shades, drapery, and smart solutions that simplify life and enhance daily living. And for me, as someone who’s always loved home design, this work feels deeply personal.
What I love most is the reconnection- helping clients I’ve known from different chapters of my life make their homes feel like their truest version of “home.” Just as meaningful is knowing that, together, we’re building a culture rooted in integrity, empowerment, and genuine care…where our team members can grow, thrive, and take pride in what they create every day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I officially came on board at the end of 2019, and- wham, bam- come March 2020, COVID hit. For a business built on going into people’s homes and working closely with them, it was a gut punch.
Creative Blinds had weathered plenty of economic ups and downs over the decades, but nothing could’ve prepared us for a pandemic. So, we did what entrepreneurs do best- we pivoted. Fast.
We got savvy with Zoom and FaceTime consults, dropped off samples on doorsteps (sprayed with disinfectant between each one), hosted one-on-one showroom visits when it was safe, and completely reimagined how we served clients. We personalized our marketing to remind neighbors that we were right here- ready to help make “home” feel as good as possible at a time when home meant everything.
Most importantly, we made sure every employee felt secure. No layoffs. No panic. Just people taking care of people.
In the end, that period made us sharper, more agile, and more creative than ever. It tested us- and ultimately made us better.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Creative Blinds?
Founded in 1976, Creative Blinds began as a small family-run retail store in Houston. Five decades later, our reputation for exceptional customer service has made us the leading retailer and trade partner for custom window treatments across the Greater Houston area and beyond.
We offer personalized design consultations, expert installation, and premium products from top manufacturers including Hunter Douglas. With multiple Houston-area showrooms, nationwide installation capabilities, and a team of seasoned design professionals, Creative Blinds has spent fifty years helping homeowners, designers, and builders bring beauty, safety, and comfort to every room.
What truly sets us apart is our people. At Creative Blinds, we believe people do business with people. Our collaborative, family-rooted culture is the foundation of everything we do—and it shows in every client interaction.
We’re proud to have been recognized by the Houston Business Journal as a Top Family-Owned Business (2024) and an HR Impact Award honoree (2025)—honors that reflect the heart, integrity, and innovation that define our team and our legacy.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was always doing projects- always. If I wasn’t building something, I was inventing it, selling it, or recruiting a friend to join whatever “business” I’d dreamed up that week. I had endless energy and a wild imagination. Gymnastics, ice skating, drama, softball- anything active or expressive, I was in.
I loved lemonade stands, crafting “companies,” summer camp, and spending entire days outside chasing ideas and adventures. Looking back, it’s funny…everything I do now traces back to that same kid who couldn’t stop creating, connecting, and imagining what could be.
Pricing:
- As part of our “Go Cordless” initiative, we’re offering unprecedented savings to help families make their homes safer and eliminate hazardous cords that have tragically claimed young lives.
