Anne BildArthur James Jr., founder and president of Progressive Screens, has forged a successful career building on his entrepreneurial roots, passion for innovation and unwavering resilience
Arthur James Jr.’s lessons in entrepreneurship happened close to home at an early age. At 20, he was already running the production operation of his father’s screen door business, learning every aspect of the organization—from sandblasting and fabrication to painting and shipping. “My father was my mentor and best friend growing up in the business and he instilled in me that failure is never an option,” James shared.
With a self-made entrepreneur as his guide, it was only natural that he’d start a few businesses of his own. “I began in the exterior screen business as a distributor in 1995, only the third U.S. company in this market,” James said. He attempted to buy the company he was distributing for but was outbid. So, he ended the distribution contract and founded Progressive Screens, offering high-quality motorized screening solutions. Father and son then went on an entrepreneurial spree—purchasing Arthur Sr.’s previous outdoor furniture company together; merging the screening solutions, furniture and screen door businesses under a 110,000-square-foot facility; and acquiring a corrugated box company.
Triumph from Adversity
When the Great Recession hit, James’ businesses felt the repercussions as acutely as most other companies. “Once the economy took a turn for the worse in 2008, it was rough times,” he said. The death of his father in 2009 proved devastating, but he kept moving forward. In 2010, he started Sentry Protection, offering an Australian stainless steel mesh security and storm protection product for doors and windows. But with the economy still floundering, in 2013, he made the difficult decision to file for bankruptcy and sell every business except Progressive. “I had to find a new vision,” he said.
That quest led him into the hospitality sector, where he recognized an untapped market for exterior screening. As he made inroads in this channel, James was simultaneously working on a new product he hoped would take Progressive Screens to the next level: MagnaTrack. MagnaTrack is a patented, self-correcting system that uses opposite polarity magnets to allow the inner track to free float within the housing for a constant, secure hold, compensating for out-of-square or unlevel surfaces and keeping the fabric taut.
“We launched MagnaTrack in July 2017, and that marked the rebirth of Progressive Screens,” James said. The product’s growth has been phenomenal, with sales increasing by a factor of 15 since the introduction.
A New Era
In late 2020, Hunter Douglas purchased Progressive Screens, building up an outdoor business that now encompasses leading brands like Universal Screens, SunPro and Azenco (known for its motorized pergolas). The acquisition came at a perfect time, according to James. “With the rapid growth we were experiencing, and working on limited cash flow, Hunter Douglas provided the capital to sustain our growth, expand our facility, invest in manufacturing equipment and hire the right people for the right seats,” he noted.
MagnaTrack is thriving as a Hunter Douglas brand and is now sold in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. “We’ve been categorized as the disruptor of the industry, setting the bar for innovation and design,” James commented. “Our product is in a league of its own.”
As one would expect, this driven leader isn’t satisfied to rest on his laurels. “Our plan is to continue to innovate, dominate and provide world-class products with world-class support through all factories under the Hunter Douglas brand,” he said. Leveraging a strong leadership team and talent base, he envisions a time when clients won’t need to look anywhere else to fill their exterior screening requirements at their desired price point.
The Recipe for Success
James credits an amazing team as critical to his success in driving the business forward. “They allow me to be a visionary,” he said. “And I find it especially rewarding to see my vision come to reality.” As a leader, he focuses on tapping the right talent for each role, and then ensuring they have the capacity and support to succeed. Rather than micromanage, he leads by example.
“I encourage and empower our employees to be innovative, confront conflict with curiosity, and do what’s best for the betterment of the company!” —Arthur James Jr.
He’s also a big believer in the power of relationships, which he constantly builds by remaining accessible, responsive and visible with employees and clients. “Our clients are our family, and our team is the means to produce and support our product for the end consumer,” James explained.
Though he’s led businesses through tough times, James truly enjoys his life’s work. “I love what I do, and I’m so passionate about our products that work is fun for me!” he said. But he also lives by the “work hard, play hard” philosophy, pursuing high-adrenaline hobbies like skydiving, flying and speed boating. Though he’s traveled across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Australia, as a husband and a father of two young children, he now prefers to spend time with family at home in Sarasota, Florida.
Throughout a journey fraught with twists and turns, James has remained fearless and optimistic. “I’ve learned not to be scared of change because beautiful things can blossom out of the darkest circumstances,” he said. “Developing a product that was a game-changer for the industry, and creating the following we have with our dealer base, was a monumental and amazing task. And we’ve just begun to scratch the surface of where Hunter Douglas and our multiple product offerings will take us!”
