What else do you sell?

[Karen]

Besides framing and artwork what else does anyone offer for sale in their store? We have been thinking about adding additional merchandise for sale in our store and were wondering if anyone had any suggestions. What is everyones hot items right now?

[RoboFramer]

We did this in January SIDELINES (http://www.thegrumble.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010168#000002)

But I asked it differently, there has been a poll too.

But I'm sure there is more to spill....

[B. Newman]

More than what is "hot" perhaps a better question is "what's needed in your area?"

What kinds of things do people ask for that you don't have (yet.)

We all have those "off the wall" requests, where we walk away muttering "what a nut! But when you get the second request for it you might say "hmmm, curious..."

And by the third request your response should be, "it's on order!"

Our business involves what may seem like two distinct businesses, which came about almost by accident (if you believe in "accidents") but when we learned to market it as "Art & Antiques" it just seemed to click.

And now that we've started to market the "experience" we can take full advantage of our rural location.

Listen to your own customers. They should be telling you what you need to carry. (In my opinion, of course.)

[Paul N]

I sell framing , art, picture lights, restoration, and advice (advice is mostly free...) and a pleasant framing environment (also free with purchase).

Betty's reply is, as always, priceless.

[RoboFramer]

I don't know what I sell any more, I'm scared to tell people that I DON'T sell what they ask for sometimes.

But I Know we don't sell chicken wire, and we were asked for that the other day!

Plus.....

Hamster feeding bottles
Garden Chairs


I could go on.... here is one Paul will like.

30-something very attractive lady comes in

"I've got a strange request.... I need a safety pin - two - to take my pants in - I need to wear this suit for an interview - lost weight since I last wore it...."

"Ok - no problem , over here ...."

"Yes, but - I need you to to put the pins in FOR me - I need to go NOW" ....

(She is holding these pants up under her jacket)

(Thank you God ......)

[wally pasbrig]

In addition to art, we also sell hand painted Christmas ornaments done by my mother-in-law, candles done by our youngest son and his wife, fleece dog beds done by our daughter and photo restoration, done by our oldest son. Now if I could just get our basset hound "Ferris Drueller" to contribute something other than lawn decorations.

[Bob Carter]

Make a "NO" list. Keep it by the register

Everytime you have to answer "NO", that item/service should be listed

If, in a month's time, you see any duplications, that ought to be cause for consideration.

We, too often, want to sell what we think our customers need. We need to listen to what they want

That is courtesy of my good friend, Bill McCurry. Whom, I'm sure, heard it from someone else, that heard it from someone else....

But, I will add something about a new line that we added recently that has shown great promise. That was Photo Restoration from Digital Custom.

Jeff Makoff recently made a presentation to our local PPFA Chapter meeting and we were sold. The Pop Art feature blew us away

Two things were so obvious that even Stevie Wonder could see the benefits: This provided another service that allows us to sell more of our core product and the start up costs were zero. We did create a pretty compelling POS display that has so far generated some excitement for our clients as well as staff

I will suggest the "scan and send" ease makes it operable for even a "computer challenged" person like me

So far we have ordered 7 8x10's and 2 CD's. And all 7 pieces will be framed. Hopefully once we get a little more confident, we'll get those 8x10's up to 11x14 and larger

I must say that my good buddy, Mark Klostermeyer, put the idea into my head

[ 05-28-2006, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: Bob Carter ]

[B. Newman]

I planned on introducing this service in early 2004 and even wrote about it in my newsletter, however due to some unforseen (family) circumstances, couldn't do it.

I've had folks ask about it several times, wondering when we were going to do it. It will be soon.

Jeff Makoff will be making this presentation at the KY/TN Chapter PPFA meeting in Bowling Green, KY on July 29-30. For more info e-mail me and I can have our secretary send you a flyer on it.

[Meghan MacMillan]

I became aware of Digital Custom in February at the PPFA conference in Orlando. I had had a few people ask about restoring photos. Since getting my account set up and pricing sorted out I've placed two orders. It couldn't have been easier and both clients really loved that I scanned their photos and handed them back.

[JanetteK]

I sell art supplies, some kids art kits/supplies, unframed prints, anything I've framed that's on the walls, easels, a drawing table & stool (1 in stock), art/photograph note cards, snapshot frames from Ashleigh Manor and Gemini Selections, and a limited selection of ready-made frames.