Quick Summary

Andy Gorstein has led The Blind Spot since 1987, continuing a window covering business his family started a generation earlier. In this interview, he shares how grassroots marketing and a chance encounter in Wyckoff led to the mobile showroom the company still uses today. His son Jack has since joined him, carrying the family tradition and personalized, in-home service into the next generation.

This interview was originally conducted for a magazine profile on family-owned businesses in North Jersey, and we wanted our readers to have the full conversation, not just the highlights. Andy Gorstein has run The Blind Spot since 1987, continuing a trade his father and grandfather practiced before him. In this Q&A, Andy talks about how he built the family-owned window-treatment company one doorknob at a time, the moment that led to the mobile showroom, and why his son Jack is now doing the same work Andy once did. For more on who we are, visit our About Us page, or head back to the homepage anytime.

Building The Blind Spot: From Family Business to Local Brand

Q: When and how did you get started in the business?

A: I started in 1987, working for my father’s company, which my grandfather had originally built. I was there from 1984 to 1993, but the real turning point came when I noticed how much new construction was happening in Mahwah. I asked my father if I could start bringing in business from that area, and he agreed. Our Englewood store already had plenty of customers nearby, so expanding into Mahwah made sense.

Q: What was it like working for the family business?

A: I grew up in it. On Saturdays I was at my grandfather and father’s store doing glass and screen repairs, and that shaped a lot of how I think about this trade. When my father passed away in 1993, I knew I wanted to build something a little different, for myself and for my customers. A storefront meant six days a week, nine to five, and I wanted another way to do this.

Growing Through Community Connections

Q: In the early days, you employed a lot of grassroots marketing. What did that entail?

A: Every day after work, I’d drive through new developments and drop off welcome letters introducing my company. I also made a sticker that I’d attach to a twelve-inch vertical blind slat, which was a popular style at the time, and hang it on doorknobs when nobody was home.

Q: Compared to today’s multi-media world, it’s hard to believe this would work. What was the outcome?

A: It sounds almost too simple next to today’s marketing, but the calls started coming in. I’d finish my day with my father, go home to my condo in Mahwah for dinner, then head back out to give estimates and handle installations. That’s how the business got built, one doorknob and one dinner break at a time.

How the Mobile Showroom Was Born

Q: Where did the concept of a mobile showroom come from?

A: It happened during a home visit in Wyckoff back in 2013. I walked in, and a woman was already excited about wood blinds before I’d even set anything up. She put her coat on right away, and I asked if she wanted to reschedule since she seemed like she was in a hurry. She said no, she just wanted her coat to go look at samples in my truck, because she thought the truck was my store. I had to explain it was just a box truck with my books and samples on shelves. She apologized for the mix-up, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I called my wife that same day and told her what had just happened, and that’s where the idea came from. Today, that same idea shows up every time we pull into a driveway for a free in-home consultation, bringing the full showroom right to your door. It’s still one of the things that sets The Blind Spot apart from a typical storefront visit.

Window Covering Trends Homeowners Should Know

Q: What are the trends today in window coverings?

A: Right now it’s all about home integration and motorization. Our most popular product by far is the Duette honeycomb shade, because of how much energy efficiency it packs into such a compact design. It keeps a home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, which homeowners notice on their energy bills as much as they notice the look of it in the room. Whether someone’s asking about shades or looking at blinds for a whole house, that’s usually where the conversation starts.

What Makes The Blind Spot Different

Q: What is the unique selling point compared to budget window covering companies?

A: The biggest difference is that we come to you with a truck full of actual Hunter Douglas product, not just a catalog. Compared to somewhere like Amazon or one of the budget blind companies, we’re still a local, family-owned business, and we back an American-made product with a lifetime warranty. On top of that, we can usually deliver and install for less than what those bigger companies charge, which surprises people sometimes. That full range of what we offer, from measuring to installation, is on our Services page.

Passing the Business to the Next Generation

Q: Is the family tradition continuing to the next generation? If so, why is that important?

A: My son Jack has worked with me since he graduated college, though honestly he’s been helping with installations since he was five. He’s turned into a huge part of this business, and he’s good at both the installation side and the sales side. I don’t plan on doing this forever, so I’m trying to give him what he needs to take it further. He’s already developing his own style, and I think he’ll take what I started back in 1987 and build on it. You can read more about both of us on our About Us page.

Beyond the Business

Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of running a business?

A: Landscaping, motorcycles, and time with my family, mostly. My wife Stacey works as an administrator at a school in Verona, and we’ve got a small hobby farm in our backyard, so there’s never a shortage of things to do around the house. I’ve also got a man cave where I keep old pinball machines and motorcycles. Stacey and I have been married almost twenty-eight years, and she’s been behind this business the whole way.

Editor’s Note:

Nearly forty years after Andy first began serving homeowners across North Jersey, that commitment to personal service remains the foundation of The Blind Spot. His son, Jack, has since taken on a central role in the business, and together they continue to bring expert guidance and the company’s signature mobile showroom directly to clients’ homes.

Ready to Experience The Blind Spot Difference?

If you’re ready to see the mobile showroom in person, schedule a free in-home consultation and let Andy or Jack bring the store to you. Explore our blinds, shades, and shutters, learn more about us, or head to our homepage to get started. You can also reach us directly through our contact page.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What areas does The Blind Spot serve?

We serve homeowners throughout North Jersey, including Ridgewood, Wyckoff, and Kinnelon, along with the surrounding towns. Because we operate a mobile showroom, we can bring our full selection of window coverings directly to your home rather than asking you to visit a storefront first.

Q: How does the mobile showroom work?

When you schedule a consultation, we drive our showroom truck right to your door, stocked with Hunter Douglas samples, books, and product options. You get to see how different blinds, shades, and shutters look in your own lighting before deciding, all without leaving your home.

Q: Does The Blind Spot only carry Hunter Douglas products?

Yes, we specialize in Hunter Douglas window coverings, which allows us to back everything we sell with an American-made product and a lifetime warranty. Focusing on one trusted manufacturer also means our team knows the full product line well enough to guide you toward what fits your home.