Couple finds calling keeping homes, businesses storm-ready

A Thibodaux couple saw a need for a window protection company in the Tri-parishes and opened Nu Code Shutters in Thibodaux.

Former paralegal Linda Eschette and her husband Greg, a professional dog handler, opened Nu Code Shutters in April 1998. Eleven years and 12 hurricane seasons later, Nu Code Shutters is still providing residents with certified hurricane storm shutters.

Nu Code has clients across the Tri-parish area. It offers hundreds of different style shutters for residents to choose from. And the family-owned business offers free estimates.

The idea to open the business came from one of Greg Eschette’s clients who owned a hurricane shutter manufacturing facility in Florida. The shutter company owner and his family came down to Louisiana in 1998 for Mardi Gras.

During a conversation, the owner said Thibodaux should have a shutter company to service the area. The Eschettes agreed. In April of that same year, Linda Eschette went to Florida and the owner took her through his factory.

In a week, she got a crash course of shutter making, maintenance and assembly. Linda Eschette said she came back from her Florida trip ready to meet with an accountant and legal counsel to see what it would take to open a shutter business.

Linda Eschette was familiar with storm shutters because her mother had them installed on their home 40 years ago. She said she felt more protected with them.

“I can remember my dad putting up boards during hurricanes,” she said, “but then we got shutters put on the house and it made me feel safe. Hurricane Andrew came in 1992 and I can remember feeling safe inside of the house because she had them.”

Hurricane season began June 1, and southern Louisiana tends to see activity around late July, August and September. Eschette said in order for residents to have the protection that they need. She advises them not to wait to purchase storms shutters.

“Many people wait until hurricane season affects this area, which is around August and September, to buy their storm shutters,” Eschette said. “But our shutters are custom made so it takes a while for them to come in.”

The delay for custom-made storm shutters can be anywhere from 6 weeks to 16 weeks (four months).

“Think about it, if you order your shutters in May and you won’t get them until September,” she said, “that’s not good. We need for people to think about it earlier so that they can have that protection should a storm come.”

Eschette suggests that residents began purchasing their shutters in February or March to allow time for them to be order and installed.

“That since of urgency will be gone,” she said. “The hardest thing is the wait for the shutters to come in. Installation takes about a day depending on the house.”

This is Linda Eschette’s first business venture. Though, she spent only a week at the manufacturer in Florida, she has continued to educate herself on shutter making, assembly and maintenance.

One of the style shutters Nu Code sells is a plantation style shutter similar to the wood ones that have been on the market for years.

The only difference, Eschette said, is that Nu Code’s made of aluminum.

“I’ve seen these woods shutters on people’s houses for years,” she said. “So I knew that our style of shutter would fit the style of houses we have here today.”

She is also on the board of directors for the International Hurricane Protection Association. She is the only board member from the state.

Eschette said one of the importances of the agency is that it has a trade show every year where sellers can go and see what the new invention for hurricane protections are.

“We feel that Nu Code has the best product on the market as a result,” she said. “We are confident that we are selling the best. It’s going to provide the protection that its design to provide.”

Linda Eschette and her husband Greg opened Nu Code Shutters in April 1998. Eleven years and 12 hurricane seasons later, the business is still providing residents with certified hurricane storm shutters. * Photo courtesy of NU CODE SHUTTERS