Wholesale framing

[Bob Larson]

When I first got into this business, I worked for a store that did none of their own framing - they sold the custom framing and then sent it to another place to have the work done.

This other place ordered the materials, did all the work, and told us what to charge, and then charged us 50% of what we sold it all for at retail.

I'm starting to wonder if this might be a good source of extra income, since I don't have to get extra customers, or even change what I'm doing. Sure, it's more work, but I'm at the shop anyway, and I have the capacity to handle more work.

Has anyone else got any experience (good or bad) with this sort of scenario? How did you decide which businesses to approach, and how did you suggest this sort of arrangement with them? How did it affect your daily business? Was it worth it?

[FramerRandy]

I've been doing this for several years for a couple of local galleries who have quit doing their own custom framing, but still have a trickle of customers coming in wanting this service. They sell the custom framing for whatever they want, get the materials, and have me do the work. I charge for my time based on my shop rate. I make a few $$ sporadically and do the work in between jobs for my customers. I like the arrangement & they seem to also. graemlins/kaffeetrinker_2.gif

[Grumbler F.K.A. Harry]

I have set up 2 other locations to do this sort of thing. One has dried up because they did not stay commited to selling framing and the other sells a job once in a while. Mostly they order things for themselves to sell in their gallery.

I have to beleive this can work. The BIGGEST problem is that you are at the mercy of someone else to make the sale.

Once my move is over I plan on getting re-focused on this type of thing. It can make for nice additional sales.

I would persue it.

[Bob Larson]

Yeah, I really want to go after this sort of thing, especially since I already have a retail store set up, so anything that came in through other shops would just be additional income, but I'm not so sure how I can go about it - did they come to you, or did you really have to convince them that offering framing would be a good idea?

There are a few artist galleries that I'm going to call on Monday, and try try to convince them to start offering framing, since they're selling the unframed art already, a few photography studios, and such, but a majority of art / poster stores around here already offer framing, and I don't know that I can convince them to stop framing for themselves and start sending it to me. Then again, though, some people just don't want the hassle, so maybe it's worth at least sending a letter, or something? It can't hurt to try.

What do you guys suggest?

[Sherry Gray]

A photography studio just opened next to my second location in Mebane. I went over and offered to frame her display photographs (at no charge) and told her I would supply her with order forms for her to sell framing. We're gonna make it simple and to the point and she's going to pay 75% of retail. If she has a customer that wants more involved framing, she'll take the customer next door and introduce her to the Mebane store manager.

[Bob Larson]

That sounds exactly like what I'm trying to do with the photography shop that just opened near me. They're across the street and in a mall, but we're still so close that it would be convenient for everyone if I could get things rolling.

[Creative Chicks]

Bob,
I have that arrangement with 2 Photographers and it is a great set up. I gave them about 2 dozen frame samples with regular prices on the back, but they themselves get special prices so we both profit. If you can get a couple of accounts like that it really supplements the income.

Lori

[Bob Larson]

That's been my hope... When you say special pricing, what are you talking, if I may ask?

I've been thinking that giving them 25% off of retail gives them an incentive to sell it (since they don't have to do anything except get the customer to pay for it) and still protects my profit margins enough to make it worthwhile.

I was also thinking of offering five or so standard packages, (maybe pre-built in standard sizes, if they have enough demand?) and then just asking them to keep a stack of my cards and to send people over here for anything more complex. Basically, I'd give them about 25 matboard samples and five or so corner samples: frame, double-mat, CC glass. I want to keep it easy for them, and easy for me to possibly stock the moulding I give them so that I have it on hand and can buy it box-quantity.

Are they generally receptive to the idea, or does it take a lot of coaxing to get them to warm up to the arrangement?

[J Phipps TN]

Almost all of the photographers around here do thier own framing.Not alot of custom but they just order ready mades or those packages that they get from Kendall/Hartcraft.

It's been really frustrating for me.

I hope it works for you.