Window treatments biz changes ownership

Ownership of a longtime Springfield window treatments business has changed hands.

Andrew and Kara Richart are the new owners of Carney’s Window Coverings, a home-based venture that specializes in window treatments such as blinds, shades and draperies, primarily for commercial projects. The husband and wife closed May 30 on the purchase of the company for undisclosed terms from Mike and Sherry Carney. The Carneys started the home-based business in 1997. Joe Howard, managing partner of the Kingsley Group, facilitated the transaction for the business.

Andrew Richart said he and his wife became first-time business owners through the purchase, noting they had no prior connection with Carney’s Window Coverings. The couple are the company’s lone employees and own it via AK Ventures Group LLC, according to the Missouri secretary of state’s office.

Richart, who was an industrial equipment salesman for the past 12 years with Southwest Pumps and Filters Inc., said he’s always been handy with repairs and construction work outside his job. He was looking for a business ownership possibility and said a coffee meeting with Howard led to the opportunity to purchase the window coverings company.

“He’s like, ‘I got a pretty unique business here that would potentially be the perfect stepping stone for you,’” Richart said of the conversation earlier this year with Howard. “He was helping Mike and Sherry list their business to sell because they’re finally trying to retire.”

The purchase was preceded by a 60-day period of due diligence, Richart said, adding Mike Carney is training him for the next couple of months as part of the ownership transition.

“We’re finishing up certain jobs that he started,” Richart said, noting the company’s service area is generally within 100 miles of Springfield. “So, he’s going to be around for a while.”

Richart said he welcomes the nearly 30 years of experience Carney has to impart to him, as he begins a new chapter in the company’s history.

“Mike and Sherry have made a living out of it for this many years, and he’s just kept it very simple, just very customer oriented and does what he said he’s going to do and has just really taken care of them over the years,” he said, adding he plans to maintain the company name.

The business website will soon be updated, but Richart said adding employees isn’t a short-term plan. His wife, who is a project manager for the Missouri Department of Transportation, will maintain her full-time job with the organization.

“My wife’s helping me with quotes and a lot of administrative work and is kind of the boss behind the scenes,” he said.