Sunburst Shutters opened for business in the early 1970s, when CEO Dix Jarman and founder Ron Swapp believed they could create a better shutter than any other on the market. Since then, the company philosophy has been to offer better products and better service--and they are made in the U.S.A.
In the Beginning
Sunburst Shutters was founded in Phoenix. Within a few years, a second store opened in Las Vegas, the current headquarters. Initially, the company offered wood shutters exclusively, although top quality wood has inherent weaknesses, including warping, cracking and stain finishes that fade over time. Sunburst set out to create the ultimate shutter—one that would eliminate potential quality issues, provide superior energy efficiency and look beautiful for many years.
Even with the demands of opening new stores in Dallas, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, Dix led the effort to fashion the ultimate shutter. Sunburst reviewed numerous material possibilities, evaluated various compounds and visited manufacturers and trade shows around the world to find the perfect shutter material. After extensive research, sampling and testing, Sunburst announced the Polywood Shutters.
What Makes Polywood Superior?
Polywood is a synthetic material that will not warp, crack— or split. The paint is baked onto the material for a more durable finish. This process ensures the paint will not fade, even in climates with triple-digit temperatures. Polywood was also designed with insulating benefits, including weather stripping, solid core components and heat reflective paint. The result was a game-changer for Sunburst Shutters, as Polywood fueled the company’s growth. In just two more years, Sunburst opened stores in San Antonio, Miami, San Diego and Orange County. As shutters gained popularity in the ’90s, Sunburst opened in 21 other cities, dominating the market.
The Durability Tests
John Barnes, chief marketing officer of Sunburst Shutters, rigorously tested the durability of his company’s shutters—inside, outside, in the blazing sun, in the snow and cold and in extreme humidity. Traveling to every Sunburst store and performing tests, John witnessed the indestructibility of the product for himself.
A third-party thermal test (forward looking infrared) showed the Polywood Shutter Insulating System blocked as much as 30 degrees of temperature coming through a window, creating a reduction in air conditioning costs for the consumer.
Other tests demonstrated Polywood maximized R-Value—over six in a double-pane window— the highest thermal resistance rating of insulation material of any shutter. Tests also showed Polywood offers a 45.96% reduction in heat transfer compared to other shutters. Further testing showed Polywood is up to 70% more energy efficient than wood shutters and up to 1600% more energy efficient than aluminum blinds. The test results are unparalleled.
The St. George Connection
Since 1990, Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions in St. George has been associated with the Sunburst family, bringing true workmanship, innovative design, and custom-oriented service to satisfied clients. The company offers the St. George area the cream of the crop of energy-efficient, beautifully functional plantation shutters and other window treatments.
The Customer Service Assurance
According to consumer ratings, a top-quality shutter is matched by excellent customer service.
“Sunburst Shutters has always been a family-owned business. From an early age, I learned the commitment we had for the customer — not just to do the job right, but to make it the best experience possible for every customer,” says Dix.
With stores and dealers servicing more than 80 national and foreign markets, coupled with its continued focus on offering better window treatment products and service than the competition, Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions is poised for the future.
St. George store manager, Kasey Udy, says the focus of Sunburst Shutters St. George is providing the best window treatments to southern Utah communities. “Sunburst is dedicated to crafting and installing the most beautiful and energy efficient shutters for your windows and doors. From Tonaquint Nature Center to Ancestor Square, we’ve been proudly serving the greater St. George area for many years.”
