AOL says picture framing "hot" new business!

[stshof]

I just signed on to check the grumble and I see a smiling couple holding a picture frame and the headline says 5 hot new businesses you can start this weekend! So I go look and guess what? You can start your very own framing business with just $1500 for equipment! I'm so shocked I don't know what to say! What do you think?! :eek: :eek: graemlins/faintthud.gif

http://www.aol.entrepreneur.com/aolsb/article/0,4558,318082-1,00.html

[Ron Eggers]

For $1500 cash, you can get MY framing equipment (depending on my mood at the moment.)

[EllenAtHowards]

At least they suggested you might want to get a little educaion!
Picture Framer
Get in the frame with a picture framing service. You can work with gallery owners, artists, portrait photographers and individuals who've purchased a print, painting or fine photo. If you aren't already a framing expert, read up, take classes at a local college or community center, then assemble your tools--including clamps, saws, miter boxes, glue, and a pneumatic or hand stapler. Establish relationships with local artists' groups, galleries, photographers and print shops that can give you their business or refer their customers to you.
The Lowdown

Start-up costs: $1,500 More info: Professional Picture Framers Association Books: The Encyclopedia of Picture Framing Techniques by Robert Cunning; Frame It Yourself: Matting & Framing Step-By-Step by the Editors of Creative Publishing International; Home Book of Picture Framing: Professional Secrets of Mounting Matting, Framing and Displaying Artworks, Photographs, Posters, Fabrics, Collectibles by Kenn Oberrecht

[johnny]

I apparently have 30 or 40k invested that doesn't need to be!

Then again, you can't get a good sales counter for under $1500 anymore.

[johnny]

1 hot new business you can start up this weekend... Lameass Internet Portal! Start up costs: XBox 360 and games as payment to a script kiddie to get you some code.

[B. Newman]

Originally posted by johnny:
Lameass Internet Portal! then would that service be LIP service?
graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[Framar]

Betty - you are so funny!!! LOL!

[Baer Charlton]

Wow! I think I'll choose becoming a framer instead of a Garage Sale Junk seller.... that take $800 more for a start up... graemlins/faintthud.gif

[OzDave]

I wonder what I could get for AUD$1500???? graemlins/smileyshot22.gif

[JFeig]

Originally posted by EllenAtHowards:
then assemble your tools--including clamps, saws, miter boxes, glue, and a pneumatic or hand stapler. Sounds like the writer who wrote this article is using reference data that is at least 30 years old. graemlins/smileyshot22.gif

And what about samples and inventory. graemlins/shrug.gif

[Macfadden]

Odd. Someone told me (maybe one of my reps?) that CNN said the same thing - framing - the hot business to get into. Can't confirm it though.

Pam

Waiting for Katrina

[Grumbler F.K.A. Harry]

Well.

I didn't know this was supposed to be so easy. I guess after 18 years I have just made it too difficult.

I am going to sell off the 12G worth of equiptment, cabinets, and fixtures along with the 10G in inventory and misc supplies, use $1500 to start a new business and put the rest in my pocket. Maybe go to Disney or something.

That seems simple enough. Ehe?

[JbNormandog]

****,

I thought the article said farmer not framer!!!!!!!!

What the heck am I going to do with this cow?

Ron how about that space you used to have for Pox?

[JbNormandog]

WOW, this site sell edits.

My first word in the above post was danm with the last two letters reversed and it came up as ****

Neat. Will this work for **** or ***** how about **** ****.

I guess so.

[JbNormandog]

"sell edits " = self edits

[B. Newman]

Originally posted by JbNormandog:

I thought the article said farmer not framer!!!!!!!!

What the heck am I going to do with this cow?

You got a cow for $1500? Must not be much of a cow. Take it from me, you couldn't farm for 15 minutes for $1500!


Betty - the farmer/framer

[D_Derbonne]

The article does say something about a "part time" business.

Who knew it was so easy?

I'm glad they didn't give TG as a reference.

[johnny]

Originally posted by JFeig:


And what about samples and inventory. graemlins/shrug.gif Not to mention mat cutting, mounting, glass, hangers and wire. graemlins/icon21.gif

Entrepreneur sucks. I've gone to some trade shows where they have given seminars and they were just as stupid. If CNN listed Framing as well maybe they are getting info from Entrepreneur as well. Gotta see if they are published by the same company as Time.

[mona]

I hope the small business administration doesn't see that or they are likely to come and get the 35k they loaned me to start up shop this year.

[Terry Scidmore CPF]

They didn't mention "decorators" or "designers" as potential clients, did they???? Aren't they missing the boat by failing to mention this high end market???? Shouldn't they be giving everyone the full scoop???

Maybe if you are going to cater to the designer customer base, you have to spend more than $1500 - maybe $1550-$1575, so they didn't include the category.

Betty, I bought a cow for $1500 once. She had twins after I bought her. I thought of her as a good investment!

[OzDave]

Well one sobering thought is if any one takes there advice, they wont be around long enough to cause any real problems.

[Jay H]

"Take it from me, you couldn't farm for 15 minutes for $1500!"

A farmer around here won a lottery a while back. They asked the usual boring question about what he was going to do with the money. He said "I'm going to farm untill it all gone."

Or was that "frame"?

If I were a reporter I'd ask something like "So whats your favorite color?" or "Tell me about your childhood."

[Mecianne]

$1500, huh? Ok, maybe. I can see it: framing business set up under a tent in a vacant lot with an Exacto knife, a ruler from the dollar store, some Elmer's glue, some two penny nails, and a hammer. Oh yeah, and a lawn chair, notepad, and pencil. Very do-able. Why didn't I thunk of doing it this way? Good Grief. graemlins/faintthud.gif

[framah]

...A MITER BOX???!!??!!

:eek: :eek: :eek:


So much for my Pistorius!!!
graemlins/faintthud.gif graemlins/faintthud.gif

[JbNormandog]

How much does a good cow cost?

[B. Newman]

Welllll, you mighta got the cow for less than $1500, but then there's the feed, the hay, (or the 5 acres, the tractor, the mowing machine, the rake and the hay baler...) and the barbed wire for the fence - and oh yeah, the posts and staples to hold the wire.

Then you need a gate somewhere, a barn or shed, and a watering trough.

And if she's a white faced cow - a vet for the time when she (will surely) get the pink eye!

Yep, farming ain't for the weak at heart...

But we love it!

BTW, Terry, she was only a good investment if you sold her right after the calves were born, or if you had her bred back right away.


Man, I hate that this is #25 and hits at the top of the page...

[Terry Scidmore CPF]

You are so right, Betty! We sold her and the calves to buy books for college and to pay part of tuition that quarter.

Don't forget to mention how much time farming takes. How early you get up in the morning. How you get up in the middle of the night because some cow is having trouble calving and you have to help out the little fella. Sometimes you lose the calf, which is a chunk of change. A chunk of your heart, too, even though you know not to get attached. I would always cry when I couldn't save one.

And how there are NO DAYS OFF!

[B. Newman]

Now that we've totally frankenthreaded this - we did lose a calf this summer. We had 2 cows that were ready to calve. One gave birth prematurely and the calf died. However, the real problem came when the other cow had her calf. The first cow decided that this one was hers! They fought over that calf for several days. (And then there was all that fence to fix!)

I knew how Solomon felt for those few days...

[JRB]

$1,500.00 is way to much money. I started my business on a weekend thirty years ago with only $250.00. That included my rent and the down payment on my equipment. Personally, I think they are totally wrong. No way do you need all that money to become a professional picture framer.

John

[Mike LeCompte CPF]

Isn't this from one of Betty Newman's fave mags, Entreprenuer? Or maybe it was an entrepreneur from 30 yrs ago? Or maybe it was a parttime entrepreneur? Or maybe entrepreneur.com is different from the entrepreneur rag sheet??? Didn't see where it mentioned costs but was really too busy to read stuff like this anyway. But, hey, if that's all it costs, I[ll close down tomorrow and move somewhere else lots lots cheaper

[B. Newman]

Where's the part of the article that talks about picture framing? I finally went to the article/site and there is actually some very good advice there.

I went to several of the links, but still couldn't find framing specifically mentioned.

Starting a part-time business from home is obviously going to be less start-up costs than "going for broke" and doing a fullblown retail location. Duh!

Also, buying all your equipment to gear up that "fullblown retail location" is going to cost more than buying one matcutter and building some tables to work on. Duh!

We could buy $1500 worth of Craftsman tools and start an auto repair shop and be in business (or even a $1500 cow and start farming) in a weekend. But like we've talked about from the start - to really build a serious business takes much more than that.

In all fairness (and yes, Entreprenuer is one of my favorites - that's why I finally read the article - and no, it ISN'T owned by Time/Warner) this is a very good series of articles IF one is looking for good information.

However, it does not say "Framer, this, is, what, you, must, do, to, grow, your, business." You actually have to read the whole article and decern for yourself what parts are good for your business.

That's why most people won't read business magazines other than their specific trade. It takes work.

[GUMBY, GCF]

I know yinns are all kiddin!~

$15.99 for a hand mitre saw at big lots
$2.00 for nails for corners and hanger at Home depot
$ .50 for glue a Dollar store
$1.00 construction paper for matting
$1.00 3 roll of scotch tape
$0.00 corrugated cardboard free behind dollar store
$1.00 hammer at dollar store
$1.00 glass cleaner at dollar store
$2.98 6 rolls paper towels at Big Lots
$1.00 roll of picture hanging string Dollar store
$1.00 for 12 brushes at dollar store to make sign
$15.00 for 30 feet of wood at Home depot
$1.00 can of spray paint to paint wood
$0.00 dust covers free from grocery bags
total $58.47

That leaves me $1441.53 for wages and marketing!~
Hey I gotta go I am going to open up a chain of 150 stores and start a franchise anyone else interested. If so close your shop and contact me ASAP Because ya all know the franchises will go fast and I expect Warren buffet to buy me out by years end!~ For a huge profit might even double my investment!~


Then we can all retire!~ Take up framing as a hobby!~

[AnneL]

Glad I'm not the only one who couldn't find the list of 5 businesses to start. I thought I jsut wasn't looking in the right place. :( I was curious to know what the other 4 businesses were. (One probably has soemthing to do with photography. Articles like this always list photography! :rolleyes: )

[Jim Miller]

Originally posted by JRB:
$1,500.00 is way to much money. I started my business on a weekend thirty years ago with only $250.00... But John, that was back in the dark ages when gasoline was 50 cents a gallon. According to my calculator, that and a week's wages would make your $250 investment reeeally close to $1500 in today's money.

[Maryann]

It's on page two of the link..

If you couldn't get to it at all - the name of the article is Start a Business this Weekend
The other businesses are:
Educational Tutor
Flea Market Entrepreneur
Videographer
Garage and Attic Cleaner


Here is the cut and paste.

Picture Framer
Get in the frame with a picture framing service. You can work with gallery owners, artists, portrait photographers and individuals who've purchased a print, painting or fine photo. If you aren't already a framing expert, read up, take classes at a local college or community center, then assemble your tools--including clamps, saws, miter boxes, glue, and a pneumatic or hand stapler. Establish relationships with local artists' groups, galleries, photographers and print shops that can give you their business or refer their customers to you.
The Lowdown

Start-up costs: $1,500

More info: Professional Picture Framers

Association Books: The Encyclopedia of Picture Framing Techniques by Robert Cunning; Frame It Yourself: Matting & Framing Step-By-Step by the Editors of Creative Publishing International; Home Book of Picture Framing: Professional Secrets of Mounting Matting, Framing and Displaying Artworks, Photographs, Posters, Fabrics, Collectibles by Kenn Oberrecht

Publications: Picture Framing Magazine

[JPete]

Actually gas was 23 cents, if you raised cattle, you didn't need health insurance because the sale of one cow would pretty much cover any medical bill.

[JRB]

Jim, at my age, it would take a whole lot more than that to make me want to start ANY kind of business. I'm trying to figure a way out of it.

You are probably right about that $1,500.00.

John

[Baer Charlton]

Originally posted by AnneL:
I was curious to know what the other 4 businesses were. (One probably has soemthing to do with photography. Articles like this always list photography! :rolleyes: ) Framer
Digital Wedding Photographer
Fine Poortrait Artist
Mortician
Fence Post Warmer in Crawford, TX

or something like that... :D

no offence to any embalmers reading this instead of the The Cadavorous Crier

[Handy]

oh good grief!!! a miter box!!??? what's that??

oh, but then how would you be able to afford all those expensive, yet pretty little putties and markers to hide the brutal corners from chopping away with your miter box??

(at least MINE would be brutal!!) LOL!

Too funny - yet people will actually believe this. Seriously though - how many people will see this and think "hmmm - I wonder why they charge so much then!! Those dam* con artists!!!)

Handy

[Ron Eggers]

You could have your distributor chop-and-join and cut your mats and have a local glass shop cut all your glass.

Buy a roll of kraft paper, some screw eyes and wire and spend the rest of your $1500 on free corner samples. (Or buy a cow or even rescue a Plott Hound from the shelter.)

[Pat Murphey]

Don't you love AOL - just read an article about a dead man that they refused to un-subscribe because his family did not know his screen name.

Pat :D