additional lines of merchandise to sell in a frame shop?

[Dr. A]

Just wondering what some other good lines of merchandise would be to sell in a new frame shop. I would like to keep it classy and NOT country. All ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

[JbNormandog]

Besides tabletop frames I carry wall and table clocks from Timeworks. Nice products. Also have some items from Authentic Models , globes, balance toys etc. I carry some unique candle holders but not many candles.
These items are great for getting people in the door that don't have artwork. You get a little face time, tell them about what goes on here and why I'm better than the big box stores.
When the items sell it's quick money that I don't have to work for.

So far it's been a win-win for me. No other stores I worked in did it but I've been very happy with it and still keep an upscale apearance by not carrying just anything.

Try to go to a few gift shows for the trade.

Good luck.

[fourcorners]

We've been doing candles, clocks, vases, sconces for quite a while and it's been pretty good. Not huge but it definitely adds embience. Recently we've started carrying some women's accessories -- jewelry, handbags, and most recently some shawls. Our shop is kinda girly anyway so it fits in well but I just had a guy (never seen him before) come in and drop $200 on gifts for his wife. A necklace, a handbag and 2 shawls. It's fun when we sell that stuff because we've already paid for it. Kinda like when you sell moulding you've had in the back for a while. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[Kkastorf]

Ditto the jewlery and ditto the guy who dropped in and dropped 200. This happens quite a bit in the last few days leading up to Christmas and Mother's Day.

[Cliff Wilson]

This may sound kind of obvious, but first you have to decide what your "real" objective is. It is easier to help out if we know that.

fourcorners says the add-ons "adds embience" (sic), JbNormandog uses it to "get people in" to get some face time. These are good and valid reasons. Another framer I know wants to "meet as many framing needs as possible" so his customer doesn't go somewhere else. so ... poster frames, many styles of readymades, frame kits, etc.

There is a Grumbler that will talk about profit quite a bit. Some have been VERY successful with "gift items" and created an equally successful gift store. Then, you worry about inventory turn, margin potential, etc. Also, if you really are going to make some money off gifts and/or accessories, I believe you need a fair amount of display space. You aren't likely to be successful with a couple of hundred square feet to through at it.

I had a tough time deciding, and have settled into things related to "frames and framing." That turn well. So, I carry some photo albums, photo frames, easels, some ready mades, business card holders, flag cases, "different" framed mirrors (wall, cubicle, "flat on a table"), I am about to try some cribbage boards utilizing scrap moulding. (still working on the design)

Anyway, I want a reasonable inventory turn and don't want to just have things for ambiance.

How much space do you have? Don't forget to leave enough for GOOD framed samples. Your bread and butter will be the custom framing. Anything you can do to increase the average $$ per frame will probably be a bigger win than accessories.

[Matoaka]

If you decide on table-top frames, go for a unique, upscale line. Trying to sell the "standard" or "affordable" within 20 miles of a Wal-Mart usually doesn't work. And I'd definitely count the number of Hallmark and Target stores in your area before you place a large order.

Just a thought...

[DTWDSM]

As Cliff said, it all depends on what you want to accomplish.

Timeworks is a great company for clocks. Nice gifts would be from Demdaco, start with "Willow Tree" and go slowly from there. Other home decor/"usable art", Cypress, Santa Barbara, Country Originals would be some good companys to look at.

Go to Atlanta and see the Gift Mart, lotsof ideas for you there.

[MacGyver]

I carry complete lines of needlework & crafts merchandise from DMC, Anchor & Mill hill, aside from providing something for the non art folks, my stitching customers are sure to come to us for their mounting and framing needs..saves a lot of legwork. Clocks, hobby kits(puzzles, papertoles etc.) Stitch-a-photo services are also nice client drawers.

[Matoaka]

Another thought... Depending on your neighborhood, decorative blown glass pieces can be very nice (if you have the display cases). Small amounts of small-to-medium size home decor items would compliment framing. Somthing that plays well off your lighting scheme, like mirrors or lamps. They won't "move" like gifts, but they can make for an exceptional high-end appearance.

[Dave]

We had great success with:

www.glassmasters.com (http://www.glassmasters.com)

Dave Makielski

[imaluma]

art, sculptures, table lamps, clocks, wall sconces, small pieces of finely crafted furniture ... imagine the cuastomer who comes in with a limited edition print and they want to fill a space on the wall by using an eight inch mat. while you could just say sure and beef up the price that way, you know it will just look dumb. suggest filling the space with other items that will compliment the piece as well as create some balance in the space. "Like this beautiful vase right here- it could be placed on a pedestal beside the couch" i like having a nice selection of one of a kind items to match several tastes.

[Bob Carter]

Just a suggestion from a purely nuts and bolt approach: Most add-on lines such as those listed tend to have, by our other product lines anyway, very low margins.

Unless these items carry some other quality, like high turns or drive traffic, I'm not sure the bvalue they add offsets the drain they create on overall margins and cash flow

I'm sure we all have horror stories that reflect that "great, must have" line that sat there and sat there and sat there.

A safe appraisal might include a 20% full markdown component on any new line like these mentioned.

For my money, if I had a few shekels laying around to invest in a "new add-on" line, it might warrant a casual look at buying a few boxes of a great priced moulding that I could turn into a promotional line.

At least, that way, I have the opportunity to "add-on" some items at my full higher margins (like a lite of glass or mat board.

For most of us, I think gift lines are a little like dollars spent on advertising: We all wish we had those dollars back

[DTWDSM]

Bob is correct in saying that these lines have a lower margin than what we in this industry are used to, most lines you can't do more than keystone.

They key thing is to look at lines that compliment what you are selling to your current customers. Don't look at lines because you personally think they are cool or you could make some quick cash on them.

One of the main reasons we carry other non framing lines is to bring more people in our store. If you get people in to your store they will eventually buy framing from you as long as you impress them. People will always come back to see what you have that is new if they like your product selection.

If you have never carried any non art and framing lines, remember this is a process that will not happen overnight. You have built your business on framing so people do not knwo that you have gifts and will not even think of your store as a gift store, it will take time and you will have some $$ tied up in inventory. Now the hard part is what is the correct inventory that you want to tie up your money in??

Only you can know that answer after looking at your market.

[treeves]

My 30th year in the gift industry. Its tough, added my frame shop to the mix 18 years ago.
Related items are always safe bet, items mentioned above are good. Believe it or not plates have over the long term been excellent sellers. Carry decorative plates, all the way up to the Bradford line if you can get them in your area, they are great. Carry plenty of plate holders of all sizes, along with easels, both metal, decorative, and acrylic.

Plates are great filler items, you cand find all kinds of decorative plates, from yd, estate, to the gift markets.

We carry Yankee Candles, Tyler Candles (out of Tyler Texas), along with several other lines, and candle acess.

Our best selling gift line, is an apparel line called Brighton, exellent quality, and high end, with a good profit margin, great company, extremely customer oriented, with great retail support. The company's name is Leggin Creative Leather, out of City of Industry, Calif.....Jewelry, handbags, watches....they are territorial and if you get the line and can properly display it, you will like it. We do carry a line of Jewelry from Ganz, inexpensive and appeal to all age group.

We belong to a gift buying group. Through this group we save 5%-25% and order in the summer, and immediately receive product for the next several months, with Christmas dating, some even not due till Jan. of next year, this has been the best thing we have ever done to promote the store during the Holiday season, we send out a 8 page flyer, cost through the buying group is 600$ for 5000 color flyers, either mail'em out or hand'em out, schools, churches, business, your customer list, and of course everyone who enters your store will get one, an another to give to a friend.

Buying group just for framers, quite possible, a great idea, who's interested....?

Two more ideas, Bailey Street...offers loads of accessory tables, wall foyers, great line for frame shops, if you have someone to do silks, they are great especially during spring, and the Holiday Season. Picture toppers sell great, also same topper will fit over door ways, etc.
Ardinger, out of Dallas Texas if I am not mistaken, are excellent source. Stay away from fall, Halloween, unless you know what your doing, bad seller for us. Spring, Holiday(Christmas)

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

Dr. A,

Bob is correct in stating that many gift items have a lower Gross margin than custom framing, however the standard practice of "key stoning" is probably only practiced by those that sell extremely high and competitive gift items or was practiced by those gift retailers who are no longer with us. :( Out of business.

It is much more typical for a "standard" markup among successful gift retailers to follow a 2.2 to 2.4 ratio or 2.0 + $10 fixed charge. We will actually markup 2.25-3.0 on items that we are importing directly.

These increased margins allow the retailer some gross profit to market, and put on Sales from time to time.

As many know already, our shop does a substainal amount of business with gifts, home decor and collectibles (Almost 40% of our gross sales), and some of you have taken my diversification seminar. As has been mentioned, there are some real advantages to adding suplemental lines to your business...</font> Creating a more homelike, warm environment will make your business more interesting to shoppers which translates to more time spent in your shop.</font> Added merchandise can create more reason for shoppers to visit AND many regular shoppers will return more frequently as they want to see what NEW items have been added!</font> Different products can give your frameshop business a unique image, depending upon the merchandise you add. Standing apart in the crowd is a key to survival.</font> The correct merchandise can compensate for seasonal traffic in many cases.</font> Added merchandise can make the job of retailing more interesting to staff and owners, alike.</font>
The addition of suplemental lines to your business, has some potential negatives also...</font> Inventory dollars $ are required to stock an adequate supply to be really effective with many gift items.</font> Space required is another major consideration as real inventory requires real backroom space.</font> Product knowlege just like with professional framing is a key to success.</font>
It's not for everyone.....but I'm a believer! :D

John

[j Paul]

Originally posted by John Ranes II, CPF, GCF:
Dr. A,

It's not for everyone.....but I'm a believer! :D

John I'm with John on this one. We are just coming up on our one year anniversary, and gift items and artsy pieces definetly impact our bottom line.

They difinetely get people in the door who otherwise wouldn't. We are located right next door to a large Hallmark store and that helps drive in the gift traffic as well. Many of my original gift buyers have become framing customers.

We will be running some numbers after our anniversary in a couple of weeks.

[Emibub]

Originally posted by John Ranes II, CPF, GCF:
The addition of suplemental lines to your business, has some potential negatives also...</font> Inventory dollars $ are required to stock an adequate supply to be really effective with many gift items.</font> Space required is another major consideration as real inventory requires real backroom space.</font>Those two very negatives forced me to take a long look at continuing to carry gifts this year. My decision was that as much as I love adding on this stuff and I do think it creates some impulse sales I have decided to let it go. I do not have the money required to really add a line of gifts, I'm just a dabbler. Plus, I do not have the space required.

I have had some results from the limited stuff I have carried, but not nearly enough to substantiate tying up the dollars. So, as what I have on hand sells off I am making room for more framed examples and I am finally utilizing all this blasted left over wood I just had to hold on to for photo frames. I've been saving scraps of the really nice stuff with good intentions and it is high time to get it going.

I can only hope that someday I will have the room and the bankroll to do it right, I love buying and selling the gifts.

I have decided to keep greeting cards and will continue to dabble in seasonal gifty things like funky ornaments and candles just to give the store a holiday feel.

[Dr. A]

All of these comments have been wonderful! Please keep the ideas coming. Does anyone take a more modern and contempory approach to their cross merchandising. I see a lot of "country" frameshops with gifts. I would prefer to avoid this type of merchandise and really go for the more unique pieces. Call me crazy, but I think the clean lines of the contempory style would really make me stand out from the crowd. What do you think?

Dr. A

[Dr. A]

Anyone else?

[stshof]

I just finished reading Decor's Pricing for Profit and they said if all you have is custom framing, you might as well close the doors. Sales volume has declined steadily in custom framing with other lines helping to keep the stores alive. I wish I hadn't read it - the numbers are confusing at best and the over all message is depressing. Who's got the JD? :(

[imaluma]

dr a, i tend to shie away from these "country" stores. i would prefer that my framed art hang in my house, not my grandmother's. i prefer a space with a variety of tastes, especially more up to date looks.

[treeves]

Gifts while OK, are tough to sell, unless you are unique in your approach, have the service and items they won't find at Walmart, Kirklands, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc., or if you do, you had better have the same or better if possible, price. Gift wrapping, most gifts shop perform this service for free. We have free wrapping, and then we have upgrades,that are for sale, this helps offset the free wrapping.

Tie your gifts accessories into your framing, a nice picture hanging above a small accent table, with a beautiful plate with easel, on the table wtih several small frames, that you have made from scrap moulding, with easels too, of course, and some kind of covering over the table, such as a dollie, etc. Hang a topper over the picture, place candle holders and other access. items beside the pic, and the list goes on. Great accessory items may be obtained from Manual Woodworkers, showrooms in all major gift markets.

Any item that enhances your framing, can be a good gift item, and at the very least it will brighten up your decor, and help you sell your framing.

I would seriously consider leasing, or purchasing a CMT if you haven't already, before getting into the gift business, these machines are incredible, and will save you more time and money in a year than you would make off gifts in quite a few years, thats my opinion.....

[jangal]

In addition to custom framing, we are portrait photographers and also do dye sublimation. My business plan was built around a tripod concept which has worked out quite well. When 1 dept isn't pulling its weight, another one does.

Our portrait studio draws customers in to have photos framed, and our portrait printing skills have brought customers in for restorations.

Dye sublimation is the process of putting images onto substrates such as ceramics. While it's a procedure common in awards and trophy businesses, we use it to create ceramic murals that can be installed or framed. They are truly beautiful works of art.

[YooperFramer]

we carry art supplies.
it's been only a year since we put them in,
but they seem to be paying for themselves.

[Dr. A]

treeves...I agree with the CMT. We are planning on having it before we open the doors.