Hiring Consultants To Help Open a Frame Shop

[VeluzarStudios]

Hello everyone! Newbie signing in.
I just wanted to get your opinion on the subject above.
My backgroud is in information technology and I am embarking into my second career, hopefuly, as a framer. I create functional art as a hobby mostly focusing on furniture and vessels.
In the process of my investigation on openning a retail frame shop & gallery and looking for framing schools, I run into the website of Prestige Framing Academy. This company is offering their expertise on the framing industry in helping start and operate a retail frame shop.
Has anyone here used them? If so, what was your exerience with them like?

Thanks in advance,
Troy


PS. I am also currently looking at the franchising route to open the frame shop.

[Rick Bergeron - CPF]

Stuart Altschuler, founder, teaches several well attended classes at the various tradeshows. He has taught a class or two or three for our local PPFA chapter.

Though I haven't seen his training facility, I would expect it to be top-notch.

[Baer Charlton]

Welcome to the G, Troy.

Rick, isn't Ray Dwyer in your back yard?

[DTWDSM]

I have had Stuart in our store to teach framers on the Wizard and was very happy with the results.

[Msdeedee]

This brings to mind a question. I was at a shop today, 1 of 2 owned by the same person, he carries arts and crafts as well as has a frame department. Apparently he hired a consultant (not from the framing industry) to evaluate his store and see where changes could be made to make the shop more efficient. He had the framing dept cut back their samples by 1/3. They only had one wall to begin with, about 20' long, 10' high. What was left was 90% LJ. Does this sound like a reasonable amount of sample area to work with? The shop does about 40+ jobs a week. Very interested in your comments!

[Cliff Wilson]

First, although I haven't used Stuart he regularly attends our PPFA chapter meetings and has impressed me as knowledgeable and easy to work with.

I have seen a couple of shops "start-up" with a independent consultants. When I investigated the franchise route, I thought the greatest value was in the kick start you get from initial consulting. I wound up going the "trial and error" route. Couldn't say what you should do. Depends on how much study time you have, how much money you have, and how much convidence you have. --- Good Luck!

Msdeedee, you should start another thread. I'll have more comments on one if you do, but I will comment that a NUMBER of industry gurus suggest 500 - 600 samples and as "few vendors as you can" to maximize buying power and thus discounts.

[Mogulite]

I,m also within a month or so from opening my shop in Reno, NV. I DID attend Ray Dwyer's class and learned as much as you can in a week. I feel overwhelmed by what needs to be accomplished in the next month to open the doors.

Can anyone recommend a consultant on the west coast that specializes in start-ups?

Steve

[VeluzarStudios]

Steve,
According to the literature I got from Prestige Framing Academy, they provide on-site visits & consultation. Give them a call, they might be able to help you. Here's their website http://www.framingacademy.com

Troy

[Patrick Leeland]

I think you could also call the reps, companies use plan on using. If they see hundreds of shops they maybe able to give you some pros and cons as to what they think. Yes you do have to take it with a grain of salt, some will say trash in order to get their company in better position. These people will stick out kwite easily.

I think when you start off, go with a main vendor-one that delivers of course. Then have a second and third. If you can get all delivery great, if not choose and be careful-there can be many hidden charges in shipping.

Dont go crazy thinking you need to fill your walls up. Why not leave some room, or leave space to add samples later. Dont make decisions based on time, if you are in a rush get a good amount up then go back to it. This is something you will be able to revisit.

If you are a friendly person and up front about your plans you may also talk to some local framers to give their imput. Hands-on experience is a good thing and if you get the right person you can get little tid bits that could have taken you years to learn.


Good luck to both of you!!!And pick our brains on a daily basis.welcom to the G

PL

[CAframer]

Dont go crazy thinking you need to fill your walls up. Why not leave some room, or leave space to add samples later. Dont make decisions based on time, if you are in a rush get a good amount up then go back to it. This is something you will be able to revisit. Ain't that the truth! The number of samples available will always greatly exceed available wall space!

[Patrick Leeland]

Two people in a day that agree with me...I wont be back for a while folks...I ant handle the pressure. I will see you in a few days.


PL

[gemsmom]

I know Stuart and recommended him to a fellow framer opening a business. When I ran into the new shop owner earlier this year, he thanked me for recommending Stuart. I was told the information and advice Stuart gave was well worth the money paid.

[JudyN]

If you really want to learn HOW to frame
Ray Dwyer is here: http://www.westartframing.com/about_ray_dwyer.htm

[Jim Miller]

If you prefer a one-on-one learning experience, find someone who will invite you into their established shop for a week, explain everything that happens, and provide hands-on training & personal supervision on typical shop equipment.

It would be especially helpful if that trainer/framing practitioner could also remain your personal slave/framing consultant for a year.

It isn't practical to look for someone who knows all the answers. I suggest you look for someone who has friends who know where to find the answer to almost any framing question.

Seriously, probably the best approach would be to:

1. Buy and study all the books you can find on framing. This would give you some base knowledge and provide perspective for future learning. PPFA's Bookstore is the best source of framing books, I think.

2. Go to at least one framing school. Larson-Juhl's school may be the biggest and most popular. Paul Cascio's schools are well established and highly regarded. Stuart Altschuler is more of a personal consultant, I believe, and the few I know who have hired him are happy with the results.

3. Take specific classes at trade shows. These are particularly useful because you have access to everything. Professionally prepared and presented classes fill in the blanks of your early training, and keep up with the latest methods and materials, and help you gather multiple opinions on just about any framing topic.

4. Study for PPFA certification. Even if you do not take the exams, you would have the benefit of the best structured, self-help framing training available.

[Cliff Wilson]

I'll add one to Jim's list. Maybe a corollary to #3. Join PPFA and attend the local chapter seminars. These are a great source of training and colleagues to bounce ideas off of.

[Jim Miller]

Well, thanks for adding that, Cliff. I forgot to mention joining PPFA. And being active in the local chapter is like going to a mini-tradeshow at every meeting. What was I thinking??

[Greg Fremstad]

I would recommend going to the Decor Expo trade show in Atlanta on Sept. 8-9-10 Take as many classes you can especially on the business aspect of framing.

Before you pick out corner samples, make a gage out of a small piece of glass, 2 mats, and a piece of foam board. If this pretty standard cross section of a typical frame job sticks out the back of the moulding.... pass on it. Pick out something deeper or you will end up buying lots of our RabbetSpace to save your butt.