Best Selling Readymade Sizes

[MarkG1]

I've checked the archives and didn't turn up the answer that I'm looking for.

The job that I am faced with right now, is cutting up ready made frames out of shorts and disc. stock. Trust me I have enough to keep me working for a while. (30 years worth)

What sizes do you sell the most of? 5x7,8x10,11x14, ect.....

Keep in mind that I am moving into a building with a photographer and am hoping on impulse sales from his customers.

Any help at this point will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Mark

[Jin Wicked]

In my own personal experience, I'd say I use 11x14 and 16x20s the most. Stuff bigger than that usually starts getting to be weird sizes and most of the smaller pictures/prints/whatever can be matted or grouped in a multi-opening to fit one of those two sizes.

[katman]

We do photo processing, photography and custom framing. Our best sellers are 5 x 7 and 8 x 10. We offer 8 x 10 with no mat, or with a mat sized for a 4 x 6 print.

I made up a few 4 x 6 frames and they flew off the shelves. Need to find a source for easal backs for these. They will be a big seller as we get close to the holidays.

Make a few 16 x 20s and put in a nice multiple opening, double mat. Run a special around labor day. Those summer photographs in a nice frame will make great xmas gifts.

[Ron Eggers]

When I stocked photo frames and ready-mades, 4x6 and 5x7 were very popular sizes.

I think one of the reasons is that most of us have a minimum base charge for custom frames. Mine is 8x10. Smaller custom frames tend to get pricey.

On the other hand, I think those 4x6 and 5x7 photos should be matted, so maybe 8x10s, packaged with mats and glass, would make a great size.

Also, consider the less common frame sizes that are sometimes hard to find. 8-1/2x11 is the most common certificate size, yet it's sometimes hard to find decent-looking rms in that size. 8x12 and 10x13 are photo sizes*, but none of my current vendors carry rms in those sizes.

People like sets of frames. If you have some moulding to use up, consider making 3 8x10s instead of one each 5x7, 8x10 and 11x14. (No, I didn't do the math to see if it works out that way.)

*8x12 is a full frame print from 35mm (more-or-less) and 10x13 is a common portrait size from "studios" like Sears, who can print 10x13s on a 10" roll paper right along with the 8x10s.

[Sharonx]

I almost never sell 5 x 7's but keep a few. I do a good job with 8 x 10 as I buy ready make mats that have a place for a photo and poetry that are popular. 11 x 14 and 16 x 20 are also good. I agree that anything bigger than that would be hard to sell. I have a pretty large base of artist customers and they will buy some of the bigger frames so I am able to get rid of a lot of oops frame that way. I also keep an eye out for antique prints, photos (especially wedding photo's etc) and frame them. Do a pretty good job with these also.

[Framing Goddess]

Hi Mark!
I cut my readymades into all kinds of sizes. The sizes geared around 8 x 10's sell the quickest. (such as 8x10, 10x12, 11x13, 11x14, 12x14, 13x15)
But I have found that frames with 2-4 inches in difference between the two sides all sell well...all sizes up to 24x30.
Squares have been selling well lately, too... 6x6 up to 15x15.
The smaller sizes (5x7, 4x6) don't seen to sell as quickly unless they are made out of supasexy moulding- like something chunky or fancy.
Cutting and building these is a great job for someone who needs to be trained as a frame builder...but you knew that.
I put these on "special" once a year, September usually- two for the price of one. It is always a big success- I send postcards out to my regular mailing list and bill it as a pre-Christmas promo thingy.
I have them displayed as "open-backs"- at one time I tried fitting them with mats and backing and glass, but the open backs are easier to sell because you can just lay them on the artwork to give them a look-see. I sell all the elements "a la carte" so that way it is darn near a custom frame job. I charge my regular "fitting" charge as well. No one questions labor. I also make a point to tell folks that these are made out of my regular frame stock- they are not seconds. Don't be afraid to price them up there-- it is quite possible to sell $100-200 readymades
Have Fun!

edie the itsnotscrapitsinventory goddess

[ 07-30-2003, 11:05 AM: Message edited by: Framing Goddess ]

[katman]

I see a couple of excellent points I forgot to mention. Having some of the unusual sizes is important, particularly if you are going to be near a photographer or a photo lab.

In our lab we keep an example of the same negative shot full frame on 35 mm printed as an 8 x10 and 8 x 12 to illustrate the unavoidable crop when you go to 8 x10. For some negs the loss is an improvement; for others you lose the picture. We keep some nice 8 x 12 sizes for customers that don't want to go to a larger frame with matting.

Square frames are getting hot for photographs, particularly black and white. Do a display with a nice oval and v-groove to set yourself apart from the department store Malden crowd.

Don't price these things too low. Your smaller frames will look expensive when compared to the mass produced frames, but if you use nice mouldings people can't find at the photo shops and department stores they will sell.

Do matched sets to cover various sizes.

This is a great way to use up some of that "scrap" mat and fallout. Profit is what we call scrap mat, fallout and small pieces of glass.

If you have a shrink wrap machine make up some mats. Sell them with your frames and do as Framing Goddess said: charge a fitting fee if you put it together. Some customers will want to do the assemble cause they love to save a few bucks. If you have a selection of premade "custom" mats they will help sell your frames.

[JudyN]

We sell mostly photo frames anything bigger we sell custom. The 5x7 sell 2 to 1 over 8x10. We also sell a lot of 4x6, 3 1/2x5 or 3x5s , and the mini 3x3 s customers just love. The 5x5s are big sellers too. The more expensive ones sell best...can't sell a plain oak ever....

[dns ynko]

something to thik about...look at the photo resaler to see what sizes they offer. photos can be printed 9x6 to 9x12 to whatever else they can think of, so see what they offer then go with some of their more poular sizes. hopefully this will help you have sizes that can be used easily and not have a bunch of leftover readymades. don't go over 16x20, so you can force some people to get custom work also. and the space for these larger frames can take up valuable space.
nni

[Kit]

Good luck with the move, Mark.

I hope it works out well for you.

Kit

PS Oh yeah: 8 x 10; 8 1/2 x 11; 10 x 13; 11 x 14; and I really love 3" wide mouldings in tiny sizes like 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 but they're stinko to join.

[North Framer]

My biggest seller, strangely, is now 13 x 16 (I have made it a standard size instead of 12 x 16), given the 3:2 size ratio (i.e. 8 x 12 vs 8 x 10 crop, especially now with everyone making their own digital prints - great for 6 x 9 and 7 x 10 photos printed from their digital cameras to home computer/printer output), and no more skinny mats on one side like when you frame a 8 x 10 into a 11 x 14 frame - great lead-in to porportions, wider mats and what custom framing is about.

[JPete]

We have a local postcard we frame up with a mat and order a 6x8 remade for them. It's also nice for the smaller old photos.

[Peter Bowe]

In addition to all the above we do well with 4x5 and 5x5 proof sizes. People will often custom frame a larger studio print and then buy a couple of 4x5's for the grandparents.

Peter Bowe
Saline Picture Frame Co.

[Emibub]

Originally posted by Kit:
I really love 3" wide mouldings in tiny sizes like 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 but they're stinko to join. I have been making them as small as 2x2, out of the really big chunky profiles. I was advised to use a big rubberband(the thick ones)to join these little ones. It was a Grumbler who gave me that idea, can't recall the name. It is a bit of a trick to get the rubberband around the frame but once you have the knack it is a breeze. In fact you get every opportunity to shift and readjust each corner.

I have discovered through a customer that needleworkers need those sizes. She said she would spread the word, which she has. I have been charging $20 and $25 for each one. As I explained to my customer I have to charge a little extra for getting my fingers so close to the blade when I cut. :eek:

[tnframer408]

Katman the photographer or others can answer this one: we're selling a bunch of 5 x 5s--seems that's the size of the photographer's proof??? Don't know, just know that we do a buncha 4 x 6, 5 x 5 and 5 x 7. And like others have said, don't be afraid to get a good price. Like the LaMarche Victorians go for upwards of $150 or so, if not higher. But look KILLER>

We do't do the Burns etc guys because we have a Hallmark store that does them and don't want to look like them.

[Ron Eggers]

Yes, Michael, 4x5 and 5x5 are the most common studio proof sizes. Since Mark has a Wizard, he could do worse than to make up some collage mats to hold a number of proofs and some frames for those.

4x6 seems to be the mst popular snapshot size now, rather than 3-1/2x5.

[katman]

Mike, the 5x5 works for the standard print from a 2 1/4 medium format camera. Wedding photographers using Hasselblads or possibly Bronicas typically will have these small square proof prints made so clients can select what they want enlarged or mounted in an albumn. I try to select a nice small print from each wedding we do, frame it with a couple inches of matting in a slender profile like larsons 225, and give it to the bride and groom when proofs are delivered. Usually generates an order for multilple copies of the same presentation to be given to family members.

[jframe]

In addition to the sizes others have mentioned, we sell 8 x 8 and 10 x 10. Some of the better photographers do portraits in those sizes.

As for pricing the RM's that we make, we discount the moulding 25% and 40% then add on a regular glass, dry mount and fitting charge to make up the final price. We have a sign stating that RM prices include glass, mounting and labor.

Kathy, are you charging less for the RM's than you would to make a custom frame of the same profile? We discount the RM's, but never any more than I mentioned. It takes just as long to a 2 x 2 as it does any other size. If it adds up to over $100 then that is what it sells for....and they do sell at that price.

I know some folks think it isn't worth the time to use up left over moulding that way. It's better than throwing $$$$ into the dumpster.

I hope I spelled everythig correctly, I'm still not awake!

[Ron Eggers]

Originally posted by jframe:
I hope I spelled everythig correctly, I'm still not awake! Well, everything except everything. :D

(I think you did that on purpose.)

[Emibub]

Originally posted by jframe:
Kathy, are you charging less for the RM's than you would to make a custom frame of the same profile? We discount the RM's, but never any more than I mentioned. It takes just as long to a 2 x 2 as it does any other size. If it adds up to over $100 then that is what it sells for....and they do sell at that price.
Jo, I don't charge for them according to custom prices. I was just putting what I feel was a good price on them. I don't expect I will sell many at $100. I figure $25 for 5 minutes of work with something that was going into the trash bin is okay. I've seen your guys website, I think you are dealing with a different crowd than I am. I guess I'll play with the pricing though, don't want to leave money on the table. Of course, I don't want them just hanging around here collecting dust either. :rolleyes:

[katman]

I've found you do have to find the right balance betwee custom frame pricing and the mass produced readymades. Obviously, the nicer mouldings that you will never--or rarely--see in a production line frame sell higher, as do unusual items like the 3 x 3 Emibub is making. The "waste" from a large profile, sized to fit a wallet-sized picture, is a unique item that might not immediately fly off the shelf but will eventually sell at a decent price. You might have to stick a "sample" picture or small piece of inexpensive mirror in it to inspire your customers.

[AWG]

Not to go off topic here, but does anyone here do anything else with scrap mouldings?

I'm thinking small boxes, shelves, etc. We inherited a bunch of short sticks with this place, and we've done RMs and a couple of cool shelves that complement our mirrors.
They're more labor intensive than RMs, but do you do these? Are they worth the labor?

Any other ideas?

[MarkG1]

Thank's everyone for all your great suggestions.

Anyone else with more keep them coming. This is going to be a long project for me.


AWG,

Framerguy has done just what you are talking about and his stuff looks great.

Someone else will have to tell you what reading material to get to help with such projects. (Ron?)

I thought about doing the same with some of my scrap, but it will have to wait till I have more time and patients.

Mark

[Framerguy]

Originally posted by MarkG1:
AWG,

Framerguy has done just what you are talking about and his stuff looks great.

Someone else will have to tell you what reading material to get to help with such projects. (Ron?)

I thought about doing the same with some of my scrap, but it will have to wait till I have more time and patients.

Mark Ah, Grasshopper, "patients" is something you have too many of already. (3 girls and a wife are enough patients for any guy!!).

What you need, Grasshopper, is "patience"! And, had I completed your training, you would be the epitomy of "patience", but alas, I was called to other tasks and now you are alone in your quest to find "patience". It is a long and arduous journey, Grasshopper, and you will be tempted to give up but keep the words of your humble master always with you, "Ickshi ban hai quasimoto kohlrabi qui haba de Taco Bell."

Now, AWG, I would recommend a book called, "Decorative Accessories Made from Moulding" written by Vivian Kistler et al. It will give you plenty of ideas on what to build out of surplus shorts of moulding. If you are going to Atlanta in Sept. it will surely be in Decor's book library there and you can buy it for about $16.

Framerguy

[ 07-31-2003, 04:43 PM: Message edited by: Framerguy ]

[MarkG1]

Oh Humble Master,

Thank you for such words of wisdom and the spelling correction. tongue.gif

I knew you wouldn't let me down!!

Now, if I could just get to Atlanta to purchase one of those books.

Mark

[Bob Carter]

I'm with Kathy on this one. We tend to price these RM's for whatever we think we can move them for.

We tend to cost the entire bundle of mldg to the original order and use up the excess as a way to clear inventory (space wise) and add some extra dollars to the till. We view these sales as plus business with virtually no additional costs.

Jo-It's great that you can get $100 for one of these, but it might be a little difficult in our market-most are priced between $15 and $25 with the motivation to turn them quickly. Every so often we cut up a bunch of scrap glass and foam, put on an easel and make some readymades. Rob Markoff once suggested that we cut pictures out of magazines (like People, etc)for inserts. We have people buy the frame for the Jennifer Aniston picture.

Kassandra asks if these are too labor intensive to make them worthwhile. It is if you are not doing regular margin work to do these. But if you have some spare time on occassion, it sure fills out the lulls.

[ 07-31-2003, 05:26 PM: Message edited by: Bob Carter ]

[Kiwi framer]

I know I'm a little late on this thread, but I was intrigued to find out what our Top Selling sizes were, so I ran a report. Here are the results over the last 12 months:
6x4 = 3402
7x5 = 3104
8x6 = 7035
10x8 = 5646
10x12 = 6263
11x14 = 4162
12x16 = 2460
16x20 = 3327
These are all units sold from what we call "short ends" - the left over bits! We call these our Clearance Stock. We also make these sizes in "Shop Stock" and although the numbers are lower, the trend is the same.
So the top seller is the 8x6.
I hope this helps, better late then never!! :D

[Peter Bowe]

Here are the results over the last 12 months:
6x4 = 3402
7x5 = 3104
8x6 = 7035
10x8 = 5646
10x12 = 6263
11x14 = 4162
12x16 = 2460
16x20 = 3327
Kiwi Framer - those are impressive numbers.

Peter Bowe
Saline Picture Frame Co.

[Bob Carter]

And to think this is what is leftover from regular sized workorders. Impressive, Indeed

[EllenAtHowards]

Yeah, those figures look big, but maybe they use a different scale in Kiwi and we need to convert...hehehehe

[Kiwi framer]

As I said that is only from our clearance stock!!
We put through about 350 custom framing orders a week, so there are a lot of short ends floating around.

Having visited a number of framing stores in the States, you guys should come down under and see what we are about. I have been involved with framing for 18 years, and only with this company for three and there is nothing like it anywhere!!
Check out our web-site, this may give you an idea on size and our facility. Cheaper than an airfare!

And yes, although we measure in millimetres our inch sizes are still the same tongue.gif