Custom window shades and draperies expert Aron Lieberman recently sat down with Achdus Magazine for an interview. The weekly publication features content specific to the Jewish Community in Tom’s River where Mr. Lieberman has expanded his Hunter Douglas window treatment business Rockland Window Covering. Rockland Window Covering offers Hunter Douglas window treatments, custom curtains and drapery, upholstery, decorative wallpaper, and headboard services since 1990.

Toms River resident Aron Lieberman is a seasoned professional who has built a remarkable career spanning over three decades in the window treatment and home décor industry. With a legacy rooted in resilience, dedication, and a strong family foundation, he shares how his upbringing and values have shaped his approach to the custom window shades business and community life.

From his father’s miraculous survival during the Holocaust to his own journey growing up in Boro Park, learning in renowned yeshivas, and eventually establishing a thriving business, his story is one of perseverance and commitment. Moving from Monsey, New York to Toms River, New Jersey over 5 years ago, he continues to serve clients with unparalleled expertise and a personal touch that prioritizes relationships over transactions.

Mr. Lieberman has 35 years of custom window shades, drapery, curtains, blinds, reupholstery services, and custom headboards. Rockland Window Covering is a Hunter Douglas Centurion Showcase dealer serving Spring Valley, NY and now the surrounding areas of Lakewood, New Jersey. Read the responses below to his latest print media interview or click here to read the online article.

Custom Window Shades Expert Aron Lieberman Interview Responses

Let’s start with your family history. Where are your parents originally from?

First thank you for inviting me to discuss my journey. My father is originally from Hungary. His father, my grandfather, lived in Besermub where he served as a dayan. After the war, my grandfather remained there teaching boys and serving as the rav. My father’s family—his parents and four children were fortunate to survive the Holocaust. At one point, they were on a train headed to Auschwitz, but something unexpected happened, causing the train to stop. Everyone disembarked and miraculously, they all survived.

Your father was on that train?

Yes, he was. He’s still alive, baruch Hashem, and lives in Boro Park. Recently, at a family simcha my father shared this story for the first time. It was at the wedding of his very first great-grandson. After the mitzvah tantz, overcome with emotion he paused to thank Hashem and continued to recount this incredible story. He kept the history to himself for so many years. Interestingly, when we shared this story with others, we discovered at least 20 other families from the same area who had been told a same story by their parents or grandparents.

What happened after the war?

My grandfather received papers to come to America because a cousin had invited him to be a Rav in Arizona. However, he didn’t want to go there and instead settled in Chicago. He became a rav at a shul located on Trumbull Avenue, which was made up of Stoliner Chasidim, and taught the boys after Hebrew day school. Many well-known rabbanim, like Veitzner Rav and Eahal Rav (Maisels,) all the kids learned with him. The boys all ended up attending prominent yeshivos.

My grandfather was a masmid who learned 18 hours a day. If someone asked him how far his shul was from his house, his reply would be, “Two and a half perakim Mishnahis.” Despite everything he went through during the war, he remained loving and caring. He was a true role model for our family. Eventually, when the neighborhood changed my grandfather moved to New York. He continued his dedication to Torah and his family in New York.

What about your mother’s side of the family?

My mother’s family came from Hungary and Romania. After the war, her parents moved to Israel. At one point, they considered South America but eventually settled in Montreal. The Satmar Rebbe advised them to send papers everywhere and see who responded, and Montreal was the one that came through. My mother’s father was very active in helping other Jews, securing papers for them and ensuring they had what they needed to start over.

How did your parents meet?

My father moved with his parents to Chicago when he was around 12. He went to study in the Nitra Yeshiva. My father settled in Mount Kisco.
From there, he went to Satmar. He became very close to the Rabbi and later to Beis Medrash Elyon, where he learned under Reb Reuven. My mother grew up in Montreal and was eventually wed to my father.

After my parents got married, my father was in chinuch up to the family started to grow. He was forced to go to work. My father worked in the diamond industry for 25 years. He did so while maintaining a rigorous schedule of learning six hours a day. When the business closed, he transitioned to learning full-time. He went into chinuch and spent his days learning with chavrusos. If his chavrusos didn’t show up, he would approach anyone nearby and pull them in to learn together. My mother always supported his willingness to learn more.

Tell us about your own journey.

I grew up in Boro Park and attended the Satmar Yeshiva there. When I was 15, I went to study in Stolin, and later I learned in Mir in Brooklyn under R’ Shmuel. R’ Shmuel had a fondness for chasidim and took a liking to me. He would playfully put his hand on my starch shirt to show he noticed. We used to shmooz once he told me I had a good kup. I should learn more.

Later, I spent time in the Mir Yeshiva in Israel. My father always emphasized growth, encouraging me to move forward in my learning. He would often say, “La’olam yehei adam”—you must be a good mentch, and only then a chasid. “Don’t go backward,” he’d say.

What led you to enter the window treatment business?

My brother-in-law bought Boro Venetian custom window shades in Boro Park when I was 13 years old. I started helping him out being hazmanim. By the time I was 15, I was already a professional blinds and shades installer. At 17, he trusted me to run the shop while he went on vacation—managing sales, installations, and customer service. Basically, whenever I wasn’t learning, I would help him out. I developed a reputation for patience and the ability to handle even the most challenging window treatment customers.

Any memorable stories from that time?

What stands out most is how many customers specifically requested me to handle their projects. I worked with high-end interior designers and developed an eye for colors and detail at a young age. Even as a teenager, I managed complex jobs ensuring everything—from installation to aesthetics was perfect.

What did your father think of your involvement in the business?

He always made sure I prioritized learning. Even while working, I would learn with him for a couple of hours each day. When I got older, he asked me not to open my own business until I was married. I listened to him. After I got married, I opened my own window shades business in Monsey, New York.

How did you build your window treatment business in Monsey?

The transition was smooth, as many people already knew me from my work with Boro Venetian Blinds. I advertised strategically and quickly gained a loyal customer base.

How did you transition from installations to running the entire business?

My journey began with window treatment installations. I learned to develop a deep understanding of the products. I quickly became adept at advising customers on what would suit their spaces and needs. That expertise naturally opened the door to sales.

At one point, my health prevented me from continuing installations. I hired someone to take over, which turned out to be a pivotal moment. It freed me to focus on the bigger picture—growing the business. That’s when I made the decision to open a showroom and expand the team.

Reflection Leads To Future Success

Looking back, I see Hashem’s guiding hand in it all. What felt like a setback at the time was truly an opportunity for growth. My father always emphasized this idea through a beautiful insight about the mitzvah of lulav. When we say Hodu Lashemand shake the lulav backward, he taught me to look back physically as a reminder to reflect on our past. By doing so, we recognize that everything we’ve experienced—every challenge, every twist and turn—was ultimately for our best.

It sounds like you’ve developed strong communication skills over the years.

Absolutely, a big part of my business involves working closely with both designers and customers. Communication is key to making sure everyone’s vision aligns. I also had the privilege of attending Parison’s School of Design, where I studied under Jamie Gibbers, a well-known designer in the industry. That experience gave me a solid foundation in design principles. It taught me how to effectively collaborate with creative professionals.

Over the years, I’ve continued to sharpen my skills by attending seminars, classes, and courses on window treatments, design, and color. These opportunities have helped me stay current with trends and techniques while also deepening my ability to communicate and connect with clients. Whether I’m guiding a designer to refine their concept or helping a customer choose the perfect solution for their space, it’s about listening, offering honest advice, and balancing style with functionality.

How was your family life in Monsey?

We lived in a cul-de-sac in Monsey for many years. The community was wonderful. We were fortunate to be close to Reb Mordcha Steiner, a very holy man. However, as the area developed and the neighborhood began to change, we realized it was time to move. Our house had also become too small for our growing family. I resisted moving for as long as I could. I didn’t want to leave Reb Mordcha. Then they started cutting down all the beautiful trees that surrounded us and began large-scale developments. At that point, I said, “That’s it,” and decided it was time to go.

What drew you to Toms River?

My wife’s family lives in the area. We decided to visit and check out the neighborhood. We spent a Shabbos there and heard from Rabbi Moshe Rotberg. He spoke about how wonderful the shul and the kehillah are, which left a lasting impression on us. They also have a youth minyan, which I found so beautiful for the kids. Just for that alone, it felt worth moving to Tom’s River, New Jersey.

That sounds amazing! Could you share more about your business?

I’ve been in business for around 35 years, and over that time, we’ve built a reputation for providing high-quality service. We have a showroom, but we also offer a convenient shop-at-home service, where we bring samples and ideas directly to our clients.

We specialize in everything from simple window shades to stunning custom drapery, as well as all types of shades. We also offer services like headboards, reupholstery, and wallpaper. Now, we’re excited to expand our business in Toms River, so we’ve hired additional help to ensure we can maintain and even exceed—the high level of service our customers have come to expect.

Can you share a memorable experience with a client?

Certainly, I once visited a client who from the outset mentioned they planned to obtain multiple estimates before making a purchase decision. They advised me not to take it personally if I wasn’t selected. During our meeting, the wife was initially drawn to a more expensive option for window treatments. However, after assessing their needs and the room’s aesthetics, I recommended a less costly alternative that I believed was a better fit.

To my surprise, the customer chose to proceed with me immediately and even provided a deposit on the spot. Curious, I asked the husband why they decided to move forward, especially since they intended to compare estimates. He replied, “The way you do business, you’re not going to become a millionaire but that’s exactly why I trust you.”

Word spread over time, and my reputation paved the way for incredible opportunities. I had the privilege of working on beautiful homes across various locations, especially in Alpine, New Jersey—a town known for its affluent residents and luxurious properties. Notably, I completed projects for celebrities like Chris Rock and Gary Sheffield. One remarkable project involved a home with a 27-car garage. These achievements were the result of consistently maintaining professionalism and, above all, earning the trust of every client I served.

I imagine it’s not just about selling products, but also about understanding the space and the needs of each client.

Absolutely, each window and space present unique requirements. For instance, high or hard-to-reach windows may benefit from motorized treatments. We collaborate with low-voltage specialists to ensure proper wiring for motorized options. Others might need solutions for privacy, light filtering, or room darkening shades. We consider the home’s layout, whether it’s new construction or an existing space.

How does your experience come into play when working with designers?

I specialize in collaborating closely with designers. Often, they consult me early in the process, even before meeting with clients to strategize on window treatments for the entire home. This involves meticulous planning to ensure each treatment complements the space perfectly. My role is to support designers, ensuring seamless integration of window treatments and custom window shades into their overall vision. This often entails visiting clients’ homes to assess their specific needs in detail.

That sounds fantastic. I imagine you work with many high-end clients who are very particular about the details.

Exactly, clients today have high expectations for their Hunter Douglas window treatments. They desire features like ceiling pockets for concealed curtains but may not realize the precise measurements required to accommodate multiple layers. I guide them through these details to prevent any disappointments. We offer a wide range of products, custom window shades, fabrics, trims, and hardware, working diligently to meet clients’ needs while respecting their budgets.

You mentioned reupholstery earlier. How does that work?

We offer reupholstery services, primarily for heirloom or high-quality furniture where refurbishment is worthwhile. For less expensive pieces, purchasing new may be more practical. Our family-run business operates throughout the tri-state area. My nephew handles drapery cleaning, and we collaborate closely to provide comprehensive services to our clients.

Any final thoughts?

Professionalism and client satisfaction are at the heart of our work. With years of experience, I remain dedicated to helping clients achieve their vision for their homes. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their satisfaction when a project is executed flawlessly.

“I appreciate your time and look forward to the possibility of working together.”

– Aaron Lieberman, Owner of Rockland Window Covering