Silver anniversary for Texas Sun & Shade

In 1987, retractable awnings were a tough sell for Ben and Gudrun Skoldeberg, a Swedish husband-and-wife team trying to expand their business to a hot new market: Austin, Texas. They sold only one miniblind during the company’s first five months in business. Fast forward to August 2012, as Texas Sun & Shade celebrated its 25th anniversary in Central Texas, boasting a new 5,000-square-foot complex in Bee Caves, Texas, to accommodate its expanding business and staff. Retractable sun-control systems have become popular among homeowners, builders, architects and designers, and the Skoldebergs attribute Texas Sun & Shade’s success to continuous education, endurance and a strong business philosophy.