Check Out Amy Walker’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Walker

Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
I’ve been in the window treatment business for 17 years now. I grew up in Montana, watching my mom who is an incredibly talented seamstress, and she also taught me how to sew. When I left Montana at the age of 18, my mom gave me one of her sewing machines, which I still have to this day, and that old Singer machine has thousands of hours on it. Literally.  

When I was first married, my husband and I bought our first home and got a quote from a local workroom for window treatments. I couldn’t believe the cost involved in having custom window treatments. Still, I knew I had to have them, so I went, bought some books on do-it-yourself drapery, and sewed every drapery and shade for our 3,500 sq ft home. My friends and family who came over couldn’t believe how beautiful they were and insisted I needed to have my own business. So, I started taking small jobs for friends and family, and then the referrals started, and it certainly kept me going.  

Interior Design has always been my absolute passion. I also went to school for it, but after graduation, I decided to be a stay-at-home mom and help my husband, who was in real estate, flip homes and stage them for resale. I always sewed a few window treatments for each property, which the new potential homeowners loved. Fast forward to the great recession of 2008. We lost everything, and by 2010, I decided it was time for me to get back to work. I was offered a job at The Shade Store, and I opened their LA showroom in 2010. I worked for them for a few years, learning every possible thing I could about window treatments. I then left The Shade Store and became an Architecture & Design Rep (calling on Interior Designers and Architects) for ten years with a high-end leather manufacturer, all while having my window treatment business on the side. I found a seamstress that I’ve used for 17 years, and she’s done all my sewing for me so I can focus on design and my clients. I also have a much-respected installer who handles all of my installations. In 2020, I decided to make AW Workroom official. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with my job as a rep during COVID and post-COVID, and I knew that I needed to be prepared for the worst, so I decided to make it official. My now husband helped get me set up, and I created my website, started the social media goals, and created my LLC. I’ve been fortunate enough during the last ten years to have a few builders who have given me quite a bit of business, and now I also have a few handfuls of interior designers who are using me as their workroom, as well as my repeat clients and referrals they’ve provided for me. By working as a rep for the last ten years, I’ve established many great relationships with Designers who are now using me for their window treatments. I left my life as a rep in 2023 because I had finally gotten to the point where I was busy enough with my “side hustle” to make it my now full-time hustle and couldn’t be happier. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ha! Of course not! It’s super scary. I no longer have a 401 (k), benefits, and health insurance provided to me. As a business owner, I must provide those things for myself and my family, which is expensive, but it’s a necessary evil.  

It’s also scary not knowing when your next job will come and making sure you have enough capital to get you from job to job, but that’s one of the things that makes me work harder. I must ensure I have enough in my pipeline to keep AW Workroom afloat. 

The smooth part is doing my own thing on my own time and not being micromanaged by sales managers. At the end of the day, the only person I have to answer to is myself. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
AW Workroom is a full-service workroom that offers creative custom window treatments servicing all aspects from conception to installation with incomparable service and impeccable design. We transcend the extraordinary by creating unforgettable living spaces that are beautiful and practical. Amy Walker leads our creative team with 17 years of experience in interior design. She collaborates with national and international fabricators, builders, and technicians to create your custom living environment from fabrics, soft goods, woven woods, trimmings, hardware, and unique drapery accessories. Amy’s commitment is to do everything possible to ensure her client’s guaranteed satisfaction. 

I specialize in window treatment design and am known for having an incredible eye and an excellent ear for listening to what my clients need for their homes. I’m most proud of my work with Mode Manage Builders. They are great guys with fantastic tastes, and build the most beautiful houses ever. They hire amazing photographers for each of their projects, always recognize the vendors they use for their spec homes, and share their photos with me, which is great for my design portfolio. 

I think what sets me apart from others is that I listen to my clients and make them share photos and Pinterest boards with me so that when I meet with them, I can bring fabrics, hardware, finishes, and design recommendations with me so they fall in love from the beginning.  

I don’t have a showroom (yet), so my overhead isn’t as high as it is for my competitors, so I don’t have to charge the extremely high price that my competitors charge. I’m not cheap, but I’m not out of reach expensive. I also don’t feel comfortable taking advantage of my clients and price-gauging them. 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I listen to my clients’ needs so I can provide them with a high-quality window treatment that they will love for many years.  

The design I put into each of my proposals is high quality and personalized for each client, which helps ease their worries and is transparent and to the point. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.awworkroom.com
• Instagram: @awworkroom
• Facebook: awworkroom