Bed, Bath & Drapery: Smart Shades, Trusted Service
From app-controlled shades to energy-saving designs, Susie Kleist and her team help homeowners navigate the latest in window treatment innovation
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. At Bed, Bath & Drapery in Eau Claire, that idea still applies to the way the business serves customers. But the window treatments themselves? Those have changed quite a bit.
Over nearly 30 years, plenty has evolved for this family-owned Eau Claire business, now run by owner Susie Kleist. While the shop’s commitment to service has stayed consistent, one area has changed dramatically: the technology behind modern window treatments.
When most people think about technological innovation, window shades probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. Yet today’s window treatments are far more advanced than many homeowners realize.
From app-controlled motorization to energy-efficient designs, modern shades have become as sophisticated as many of the devices people use in other aspects of their lives. And while the products have evolved, the people behind the counter remain the same familiar, friendly team customers have trusted for decades.
Susie has owned Bed Bath & Drapery for three years after returning home to Eau Claire from a career in corporate America.
“I said ‘no’ when my dad first asked if I’d take over the business,” she recalled with a laugh. “Then COVID happened.”
“I was doing back-to-back video calls every day from 8am to 5pm,” she said. “At some point I thought, why am I doing this? So I sat down with my dad and said, remember how I wasn’t interested? Maybe I am.”
Returning meant stepping into a business deeply rooted in the community and supported by a staff with decades of experience.
Most people don't think of blinds and shades as technology, but the industry has made huge leaps even in the last decade. –Susie Kleist, owner of The Bed, Bath & Drapery
“When I took over the business, the entire staff stayed on, so we have a very tenured team,” Susie said. “I’m actually the least tenured, unless you count my high school years working here. Our service, provided by our amazing team, has remained unchanged.”
The shop’s south side showroom also offers lifetime warranties on Hunter Douglas products, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of custom window treatments. As the Eau Claire area’s only Hunter Douglas gallery showroom, Bed, Bath & Drapery provides access to one of the most trusted brands in the industry, along with expert installation and service.
“One of our specialties is local service of window treatments,” said Susie. “We are the area's only authorized Hunter Douglas service center and regularly respond to service requests or folks dropping in to take advantage of Hunter Douglas’ lifetime warranty.”
It's not just for people with fancy houses. It's for the average homeowner simply investing in their space, looking for convenience, or using (motorized window treatments) as a means to live in their home longer as they get older. –Susie Kleist, owner of The Bed, Bath & Drapery
While service remains central to why customers work with Bed Bath & Drapery, for many, visiting the shop means discovering how much window treatments have changed.
“Most people don’t think of blinds and shades as technology,” Susie said. “But the industry has made huge leaps even in the last five or ten years.”
Inside the showroom, displays allow customers to see and test different options. Bed, Bath & Drapery's best-selling Duette Honeycomb shades feature insulating air pockets that help regulate indoor temperatures and improve energy efficiency.
Other displays showcase remote-controlled shades, allowing homeowners to adjust light levels, privacy, and comfort with the touch of a button or an app.
Motorization has quickly become one of Bed, Bath & Drapery's fastest-growing categories and now accounts for roughly 40% of the business.
“It’s not just for people with fancy houses,” Susie said. “A lot of homeowners choose motorized shades for convenience, or because it helps them stay comfortable in their homes as they get older.”
At the same time, the shop continues to offer options across a wide range of budgets.
“When you look at our product line, there’s a range in pricing,” she said. “We always say we can work with anybody within any budget.”
The staff also spends time on the road around the Chippewa Valley, offering free in-person consultations to measure windows, demonstrate products, and show how different colors and fabrics look in each home’s lighting. The result is window treatments designed, selected, and cut precisely to fit each space.
Customers receive estimated pricing throughout the consultation process and a final estimate once they have locked in their selections.
“Just like a house, window treatments are an investment,” Susie said. “You should have all the information before you make a decision.”
While the technology behind today’s shades continues to evolve, the philosophy behind Bed, Bath & Drapery has not. After nearly three decades serving Eau Claire, Susie Kleist and her team remain focused on helping customers find the right solution for their homes.
Some things change. Some things stay the same.
But when it comes to great service, there’s no reason to fix what isn’t broken.
Test out app and remote-controlled shades and window treatments at Bed, Bath & Drapery (3475 E. Hamilton Ave., Eau Claire) today • Browse the shops’ products online at www.bedbathanddrapery.com • Chat with the team by calling (715) 839-9000 during open hours: 9am-8pm, Monday-Thursday; 9am-5pm, Friday-Saturday, 11am-4pm on Sunday