PEOPLE: It’s curtains for family business
The doors will shut this weekend at Curtain City – a landmark in Waterdale Rd, Heidelberg Heights.
Curtain City’s leader Linda Jenkins (pictured) is still working at 81.
Linda reflects back to Melbourne in 1965, when new homes, with bigger windows, were being built.
The previously popular venetian blinds were lacking in insulation and aesthetics. Lined drapes were necessary for a comfortable home.
As a new mother, Linda made her own drapes, then some for her brother-in-law and, one evening, the professional business, Richinda, was devised.
“I used to cut fabric on my knees on the floor with my eight-month- old on my back,” says Linda.
“The Yellow Pages used to be the Pink Pages and there was only one other curtain maker listed.
“It wasn’t long before industrial machines and machinists were needed – as the wholesale curtain making business grew in reputation and demand.”
The family also grew with the arrivals of daughters Sandra and Lauretta.
Linda, an experienced comptometrist, had an old manual comptometer. Her husband, Richard, wrote a formula for sewing pinch pleats and Linda was easily able to calculate perfect pleats and spacings for their custom made drapes.
There were no calculators back then, let alone computers – which Richard later wrote his formula into.
The business moved to Market Court, a small shopping strip in Reservoir, circa1969. It expanded to offer retail haberdashery and a dry cleaning agency – Linards.
“We did many men’s zippers and other repairs. We still did wholesale curtains and added made-to-measure curtain tracks.”
It was thanks to Richard’s ingenuity and foresight that ground-breaking methods were created and led the business to great success and brought about industry standards.
His career in education and sky-writing was no match for his enthusiasm for a quality product.
The business grew further and moved to 633 Waterdale Rd, West Heidelberg, in 1972 becoming Curtain City. It was here the full retail service was offered.
“I worked many nights and weekends as the business continued to grow,” Linda recalls.
Frustrated with available curtain tracks Richard designed and developed his own – Artrak. A versatile, durable, Australian made track that was produced and wholesaled around Australia.
In 1977, with the growing success of Artrak, more space was needed so Artrak was operated from across the road at 620.
Communication between both sites was done with walkie talkies as phone calls were expensive.
“We got our first computer soon after – a major investment.”
Early 1980s saw Curtain City and Artrak both settled and operating from 620 Waterdale Rd. The quality of manufacturing and machinist’s wellbeing were improved due to Richard designing innovative workroom machinery and methods.
It has been a real family affair with children, grandchildren and friends, as well as local students, earning pocket money assembling brackets after school.
Son Rick and local girl, Leanne, stayed on and became valuable long term employees. Many adult staff stayed on for over 20 years.
Customers have known, trusted and loved Curtain City and Artrak for decades. Return customers and third or fourth generation orders are not unusual.
Linda still works five days a week in sales, admin and overseeing: “I never imagined that we would still be going after 60 years. I wouldn’t have started without Richard’s support and managed to keep going so long without my daughter Sandra’s help and support over the last few decades. It’s time for me to retire”.