- May 4, 2024
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After operating a home-based business since 2010, Mike Bono, of Tropical View Plantation Shutters, now has a showroom in Palm Paint and Wallpaper, 1010 S. Nova Road.
Bono said he has always believed in growing one step at a time in his business, and the right step now is to have a place to display his product line.
“The showroom allows homeowners, real estate agents, home builders, interior decorators and more to see exactly what type of shutters, shades and blinds there are to choose from,” he said.
He offers custom-made window and door shutters in solid vinyl or hardwood that can be factory painted or stained. He also offers vertical blinds, horizontal blinds and panel track blinds in various colors and sizes.
Shutters have been used on houses for hundreds of years, and Bono said they are more popular than ever because they are energy efficient and reduce heat gain and loss.
Bono got into the business after noticing that shutters in his neighbor’s house still looked good after many years. They are installed on the inside of the window, and the louvers are opened, like blinds, when desired.
Bono wants to grow his company but has decided to do it at a slow pace.
“People sometimes take a big loan and then you’re just working to pay off the loan,” he said. “When I can afford to, I take the next step.”
He decided to locate in Palm Paint and Wallpaper, with the notion that customers who are remodeling or renovating will see his products.
Opening the showroom has taken more work and costs than he expected. His advice for anyone moving up from home-based to a permanent location is to carefully plan the expenses.
Tropical View Plantation Shutters can be reached at 566-3288 or online at tropicalviewshutters.com.
QUOTE
“People sometimes take a big loan and then you’re just working to pay off the loan.”
MIKE BONO, of Tropical View Plantation Shutters
