Middle-Aged Businesses

[Ron Eggers]

Could it be that some of us have been aware of FACTS for years because we are PPFA members. I just took it for granted that everyone knew. It is been a huge topic at conventions and trade shows for so long, and yes, some of it was controversial, funding, staffing, you name it, but it was all worked out. I'm just amazed that some of you seasoned framers don't know, I thought surely I had read about it in trade magazines. It never occured to me that all this time it was a benefit of being a member. jframe,

I suspect this is more common than you think.

We all start out eager and thirsty for knowledge about every aspect of framing. We go to the trade shows, take workshops and seminars, join the PPFA, read everything - even talk to other framers.

For some of us sometime in our careers - for me it was when my shop was about 15 years old - things change. It only takes a little thing, like the PPFA shows pulling out of Chicago. You maybe start thinking you know what you need to know and you get a little stale. That was about the time I even considered other jobs, but couldn't really imagine doing something else.

The point is, for nine or ten years, I framed in a vacuum, blissfully ignorant of FACTS and quite a bit of everything else that was going on in my industry. I let my PPFA membership lapse. I let my Decor subscription lapse for a year or more. And I didn't talk to framers. When I traveled, I visited bookstores and hardware stores, but never frameshops or galleries.

You already know the rest of the story. Two years ago I bought a Mat Maestro so I could keep working alone. A year ago, John Ranes suggested I might take a peek at The Grumble and see what was happening to some other Mat Maestro users. Ironically, the machine that was purchased to help me work alone brought me together with framers all over the world. That was probably worth $16,500 (plus shipping and handling.)

The Grumble lead directly to my re-entry into the PPFA which, by a happy coincidence, was undergoing its own revamping and revitalizing. TG also resulted in my new awarenss of and fascination with FACTS. I'm considering Framer Select. I'm going, as a visitor, to a state PPFA chapter board meeting in August and I'm probably going to Atlanta in September.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it. Sorry it's such a long one. I didn't think it need to be tacked onto the FACTS thread.

None of this has anything to do with ajh's lack of FACTS awareness. His situation appears to be unique, and I'm glad it's working for him.

[jframe]

Ron, I think your situation as you describe it is one of the hardest things to overcome as a small shop owner. It is hard to keep up your enthusiasm when there are so many things that HAVE to be done regularly (not including actual framing) that they set their routine and can't (or don't have the time to) find a way to break out of it. That is especially true if they want to have a life outside of the business. I guess PPFA is what kept me interested and informed. Being an officer in the local chapter, going to meetings, classes & trade shows meeting other framers from other states just makes it all personal. I'm glad you were able to break out. smile.gif

Now we need to figure out how to get information to peope who are in the situation you described. Labeling of materials maybe a good place start. How in the world can we overcome the attitude of people who think they already know everything they need to know. If businesses and people are not growing and changing they are dying a slow death. :eek:

[Ron Eggers]

Jo, I had an opportunity to meet with some people recently, as I may have mentioned somewhere. There were two people in particular - both of whom I like and respect very much - who have, I think, divergent viewpoints about this very topic.

One of them would probably say it is imperative to at least try and reach out to all 17,000 framers in the U.S. (and aren't there also 1 or 2 in Canada and elsewhere?) I suppose this idea could be extrapolated to mean that we should also try - as framers - to market to the 95% of the population that has never had anything custom framed anywhere.

The other individual would maybe say, "Hey. I don't care about the 16,000 or so framers that either don't get it or don't wanna get it. It's not my job to save them. Most of them will be gone in a year or so." (AJH, of course, being the obvious exception.) This individual, who is every bit as compelling and charismatic as the other individual, would also tell you it's much more efficient and effective to persuade exisiting framing customers to use YOUR framing instead of the framing they've been getting elsewhere.

BTW, these two people appear genuinely fond of one-another and perfectly capable of reaching a compomise agreement when it matters. The entire process is fascinating and inspiring to watch.

I don't know who's right, but I'm grateful to be involved in an industry - and a forum - where not everyone goes, "Yup, yup, that sounds about right to me."

[jframe]

Well, (sigh), I guess what it boils down to with me is the reputation picture framing is getting because of ignorrant and unethical desruction of the things people take to framers to preserve. In this day and time it is so easy to get information on proper framing techniques, just pick up any issue of PFM.

I also realize that it is not just picture framers doing the destruction. Artists are some of the biggest offenders, but framers often get the credit for much of that too. I'm sure some artists cringe when they see work created by other "artists" that is born only to immediately start self destructing. (sigh again)

The workshop I attended last weekend just happened to coincide with the FACTS discussions. One of the conservators was showing a slide of a piece of at on paper that had been badly damaged by the "framer". It had been put into the frame touching the glass with a piece of wood on the back. I suppose some kind of backing other than wood had been invented by that time, but I'm sure it wasn't available on the frontier, and I'm sure the information was't available to that framer. When I started framing in 1976 this industry was very secretive. Information about archival products was simply not available to the "lowly framer"at that time.

So we have indeed come a long way. Change is so easy now with safe mounting methods and non toxic materials.

[B. Newman]

And some of just started out as "middle-aged businesses"! I did. A lot of it had to do with how I was taught, most of it had to do with being isolated, in location and attitude. As I posted on the FACTS/$$ thread that I understand how it(FACTS) wouldn't be important to a framer who thought his/her customers were only interested in decorative art and not their longevity, because that's exactally where I was.

This (to me) also ties into the "Business Plan" thread, because I came into the business from a totally different angle. I didn't decide on a business, write a plan, buy equipment, and open my doors. I "backed into" the business, wrote some plans, bought some equipment, wrote more plans, bought more equipment, and my doors didn't exist. BUT, I suspect there are a lot of framers like me! And when I write, these are the ones I am writing to. The camaraderie of this forum has encouraged me to be a professional, even when my location/situation makes it very difficult.

I'm not in my "second childhood" professionally, I'm just experiencing the first!

Betty

[JPete]

I do recall receiving a copy of FACTS over 5 years ago but less than 10, reading it and thinking at the time it was not enough. Ok so I've been aware of it and I try to keep up to date through reading PFM and Art Business News. The last time I subscribed to Decor (supplier used to pay for it) it seemed everything in it was a duplicate of things I'd alread read in the other magazines. I think the FACTS sheet was given to us by a rep.

The middle-aged part, hmmm, is that middle career or age. I guess if you have your family late enough it passes you by and you are ready for the second childhood.

Framer commented on using only one mat company (hopefully I'm not straying too far) but by doing that I think he is missing some really good mats. Cresant was it when we started, pyro brown, celery green, bar harbor, newport, sepia, chineese red, ivory and white and those awful looking burlap designs which were used a lot because the lint didn't show, were about the choices and thank goodness times have changed.

I've observed lately that women framers probably are more into having more choices than the men!

The answer to the quote is no.

Ron, I'm glad you found all of us and continue to keep us with the desire to re-educate ourselves regardless of where or how. What will we do when your road work is completed and you have to work,work,work.

[Ron Eggers]

Originally posted by JPete:
I've observed lately that women framers probably are more into having more choices than the men!I'm becoming concerned, if not alarmed.

I show 2,134 wood samples (stock about 100,) 566 metal samples (stock 6) and 1960 mat samples (stock 569.) The Elizabeth Dow Collection just arrive two days ago, but I kinda like it. And my mat samples are all about 2 3/4" (but beautifully bevel-cut.)

If all the theories I've heard on TG are correct, I should consider changing my name to Rhonda. (Do you like it better with or without the 'h'?)

My street opened on Friday at the west end where I am, but I'm not telling anyone yet. I need a little more time to get ready. ;)

[Emibub]

Ron, The H gives you a little more cache'. Of course you are not ready yet if you are going to start playing on the other team you've got hair, make up, jewelery etc. You know being a girl isn't all fun and games, it is a lot of hard work, we just make it look easy! tongue.gif

[JPete]

Ron, there are exceptions to all observations and polls so in theory that makes you exceptional! smile.gif

[EllenAtHowards]

I must be an exception (I was going to type 'must be weird', but I knew everyone would just nod and laugh) but I go to at least 3 trade shows every year... New York, Atlanta, and wherever the PPFA national convention is. I have taken tons of classes, taught plenty, and find that I still learn enough every time to justify spending the time and money. Did I mention that I have been framing for 23 years? I always come home with new ideas and my clients are impressed when I either say, " I am going to Convention (I don't specify which) next month/week and will look to see if I can find a Purple Pickle print" or "I just came back from Convention and the latest information/technique is..." I look really smart and on top of things. I get to hang with my favorite sort of people and I learn stuff. Does it get any better? And how do I finance all of this? $1 extra per order per show and it is free. (Oh, yes, we also have a frequent flyer mileage credit card, and everything that we can put on it goes on it. Those $$$ add up nicely)

[Ron Eggers]

Ellen, I don't believe that stagnation is inevitable and I don't believe it's a function of the age of the business or the age of the framer.

When I walked into Jay Golt'z showroom on Sunday, I got more ideas for my own humble shop in the first ten minutes than I did at the last trade show I attended. The difference was, I walked in there with my eyes (and ears) wide open. Even the most casual conversations with other framers contained clues to the puzzle we call excellence. Everywhere I looked, there was beauty and functionality. (And that was just Nona!) I was like a 51-year-old kid in a candy shop!

It wasn't difficult to be inspired. It was, in fact, effortless. I was armed with the best possible advice: "Take what you can use, and leave the rest..."

See you in Atlanta.