From Budapest to Bowral…… meet Adam and Tamara.
How did meeting on the steps of the Opera House after a Blondie concert turn into a successful window furnishings company in the Southern Highlands?
We’re glad you asked! Cos, we’ve got the answer…..
Meet Adam and Tamara Kormendy, the husband-and-wife team behind East Blinds, a window furnishings and installation company, going from strength to strength in the Highlands.
1 // Now, obviously we’ve spoilt the surprise but we’re curious to find out how a boy from Hungary and a girl from Robertson met in Sydney?
Tamara :: I was born in the Highlands – my parents owned a hospitality business locally and once I finished school I went abroad for a number of years before coming back after a stint in Japan.
Adam :: I’m from Budapest and as part of the Economics Degree I was doing in Hungary, I had to spend a year studying a foreign language. Some friends and I chose Australia and that’s how I ended up meeting Tamara on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.
Tamara :: Adam returned to Budapest to finish his degree and I decided to follow him a few months later. We stayed there for nearly 4.5 years before deciding to head back to Australia when we were ready to raise a family.
2 // You started East Blinds in Sydney, is that right?
Tamara :: Yes, we had moved to Sydney and I fell pregnant with our first child. Adam had been doing a few different things and I was teaching at Cranbrook but starting our own business was always in the back of our minds as something we wanted to do.
Adam :: My family owned a windows and doors company in Hungary, so I’d grown up in the industry and worked in the family business for a while before we came to Australia.
Tamara :: Because I had grown up working in the family business in Robertson, hospitality and customer service was in my blood, so we thought starting a window furnishings company would be a great way to use the different skills and experience we already had.
Adam :: And the hot sun and weather in Australia means that blinds and shutters and curtains are mostly in high demand, so we factored that in when started East Blinds too.
3 // And how has your business grown over the years?
Adam :: In the beginning, it was just us two running the show for the first few years. I handled all the quoting, sales, and installations, while Tamara took care of all the admin, marketing, and customer service. As the business grew so has our family, we’re now blessed with two kids and are a family of four.
Tamara :: Now that both our kids are in primary school, they’ve been right there with our business as it has evolved.
4 // Now, it’s a team of five.
Tamara :: That’s right, our fantastic team has been by our side for quite some time now, and it feels like they’re part of the family.
Adam :: Every member of our team brings so much valuable experience and shares a deep dedication to providing top-notch customer service. We just click so well together.
Tamara :: Now that the kids are in Primary School I’m able to get involved even more as well and we just all gel so well together. We’re very lucky with the team that we have.
5 // And you’re still loving Highland’s life, right?
Tamara :: Of course! We made the choice to move back here all those years ago because I grew up here and my family is here. But just like the people we work with, I feel like the Highlands community has become part of our family as well, especially since the kids started school.
Adam :: I wasn’t keen initially. I’ve always lived in big cities but when we finally did make the move a few years ago, I said to Tamara, “why didn’t we do this earlier??”
6 // And you’re well and truly a Highlands business now, aren’t you?!
Tamara :: Yes! Adam’s and the rest of the team’s expertise, the quality instals we do, and our high level of customer service means we got a lot of business through word of mouth, which happens a lot in a place like the Highlands.
We are truly a Highlands company because we live here, work here and work with local builders, interior designers, real estate agents and the council in the area. Also we deliver a premium Highlands standard and we’re proud of it.
Adam :: We have many repeat customers who often refer us to their friends and family. Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships, and we’re always grateful. It’s truly rewarding to see how satisfied locals are with our work.
7 // So, tell us a little more about the types of window furnishings you install.
Adam :: We sell and install window furnishings for both indoors and outdoors-
- High quality blinds like roller blinds, sunscreen blinds, venetian blinds and more.
- Plantation shutters
- Awnings
- Curtains
- Open roof systems
- Roller shutters
- Shade sails
- We also install fly screens and security doors.
Our website has all the information about each of the types of products, their benefits and which space they work best for.
8 // What’s your most popular product?
Tamara :: Definitely plantation shutters are very popular. They have such great curb appeal. They also allow you to control the light really well and are good for privacy.
Adam :: Technology is becoming more popular too. Our motorised blinds and shutters are a hit. We can put motors on pretty much anything these days, which allows customers to set up voice control capability or to schedule when blinds or curtains or shutters go up or down.
Tamara :: A customer can walk out of the bedroom in the morning and say ‘Google Home, open the kitchen blinds’ and up they go. It just adds such a touch of luxury to a home too
Adam :: Another customer installed lights and blinds that he can operate using a home automation system on his iPhone. Smart home automation and our products integrate really well, and it’s the way people are living these days, using technology for convenience.
9 // What sort of experience can people expect when they engage East Blinds?
Tamara :: Adam has years of installation experience, so when he does the initial site visit and quote and measures up, he can tell just by looking at a window or a door what is and isn’t going to work there.
You get his expertise from the very beginning and right through the installation process.
Adam :: I run through all the options with the client, let them know what’s possible and what isn’t, what can look really good and what is practical.
I give them options and let them know the pro’s and cons and then it’s up to the client to decide. At the end of the day, it’s their home, they live there and it has to work for them.
Tamara :: And we mentioned it before, we really pride ourselves on our customer service, and want to make sure every part of their experience with East Blinds is positive.
10 // And what do you love about living and working in the Southern Highlands?
Adam :: It’s so beautiful here. We both love being part of the community. I love to spend time kayaking down the river
Tamara :: We love going for bush walks as a family, we love catching a movie at the Empire Cinema. There’s also so many great places to eat here, we’re spoilt for choice.
My absolute favourite thing to do is to go to Hearth By Moonacres with the kids and have morning tea. Then afterwards head over to Retford Park and do the art-trail. The kids love using the map to find all the different sculptures. It’s a wonderful adventure for the whole family.
Locally owned and operated, East Blinds is a family business dedicated to providing clients with a positive customer service experience, and the professional installation of quality window furnishing products.
Get in touch with the team on 1300 40 40 70 and head to the East Blinds website to have a closer look at their range of products and finishes.
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