8,000 Members!

[Framar]

So the Grumble hit 8,000 members yesterday and not a peep out of anyone?

That is close to 400 new members since New Years - OK, maybe not a Twitter or YouTube or TikTok kind of response - but pretty good on a 20 year-old forum for a nano business like picture framing.

Hip hip hooray! Cue the biodegradable balloons!

 

[wpfay]

They are pretty impressive numbers, more so (framer pun) because we are also culling out duplicate accounts, and accounts that no longer have a functioning email. This is a process that will take a full year, but at the 1st anniversary of the new G ownership the numbers will reflect more what the reality of the situation is. We are also getting a fairly healthy share of new Grumblers from the International realm which increases the interest level and provides for some interesting educational opportunities. The growth is consistent and totally organic with word of mouth still being the best referral.
It's a pretty "feel good" story and it's great being a part of it.
It is hard to tell because of the seamless nature of the member experience, but every day Mike is working behind the scenes to improve the site. He keeps the staff apprised of his activity, and we may understand 10% of what he is doing, so we just watch and say "Thanks Mike" in unison occasionally. This morning he completely re-indexed the entire site and ran extensive software checks to make sure the G was healthy and running smoothly, all before I had my first cup of coffee.

 

[Prospero]

So the Grumble hit 8,000 members yesterday and not a peep out of anyone?

That is close to 400 new members since New Years - OK, maybe not a Twitter or YouTube or TikTok kind of response - but pretty good on a 20 year-old forum for a nano business like picture framing.

Hip hip hooray! Cue the biodegradable balloons!

Who are you calling a nano?

 

[Framar]

I use the word "nano" because" small business" is defined as a business with 500 or fewer employees, and even a "micro business" seems too huge for most of us.

OK - some of us have several locations with a dozen employees at each, but I bet there are more of us with one tiny location and one chief cook and bottle washer per.

So "nano" seemed apropos.

 

[Mike Labbe]

So the Grumble hit 8,000 members yesterday and not a peep out of anyone?

That is close to 400 new members since New Years - OK, maybe not a Twitter or YouTube or TikTok kind of response - but pretty good on a 20 year-old forum for a nano business like picture framing.

Hip hip hooray! Cue the biodegradable balloons!

That is AWESOME!!!! There has been a steady stream of new registrants in 2020, and it's great to see new faces. I think some may be shy, and are encouraged to say hi

The software doesn't allow 2 accounts to share the same name or email address, so there shouldn't be too many dupes. If anyone DOES have a dupe, feel free to click CONTACT US at the bottom. We will be happy to merge them back together into one account, preserving/combining all posts and post totals with a single name. If so, be sure to let us known which one you wish to KEEP and wish one you do not.

The support team is here to help!

Mike

 

[Shayla]

Yay! Love it.

 

[tedh]

Great story, and so very timely, given the stress-reducing aspects since mid-March. Where would we be without the G?

 

[David Waldmann]

So the Grumble hit 8,000 members yesterday and not a peep out of anyone?

How would one notice this esoteric fact? And what does it mean? Should we check with our insurance agent about Y10K coverage?

Peep peep, peep.

Peep.

 

[Ylva]

Awesome! Onto the next 8000!
Lol

What Wally said. The things Mike does behind the scenes is mind boggling. He tells us every step and what it does and we just look at it and pretend to understand 10% of it.
I am amazed how the G is growing and looking better than ever. And happy to be a part of it.

 

[Dirk]

Should we check with our insurance agent about Y10K coverage?

You might want to check on 2038-01-19 coverage.

 

[Larry Peterson]

You might want to check on 2038-01-19 coverage.

The world as we know it will end on that date as all digital systems with will exhaust their 32 bit range and suddenly it will be Friday the 13th, December 1901.

And that will have nothing on the Y10K problem where all years being stored as 4 digits will go nuts. And don't get me started on the year 32.768 problem.

 

[Keith L Hewitt]

Who are you calling a nano?

Aaaah have we upset Prospero.
He's such a sensitive member. I've heard he wears odd socks knitted by Chickie
Best to simply ignore his whingeing

8,000 WOW well done all concerned and good to see the world " International" in Mike's post.. I'm responsible for a very few of the new overseas Grumblers and will continue to recommend TG to all I email and meet.

 

[Prospero]

Pardon me, but Chickie's socks are NOT odd. They are identical in every way.

The same however cannot be said for my feet.

 

[JFeig]

A simple WELL DONE and thank you, Mike.

 

[Nikodeumus]

I use the word "nano" because" small business" is defined as a business with 500 or fewer employees, and even a "micro business" seems too huge for most of us.

OK - some of us have several locations with a dozen employees at each, but I bet there are more of us with one tiny location and one chief cook and bottle washer per.

So "nano" seemed apropos.

You have someone to wash your bottles?!!??
Fancy Schmancy.
I just toss mine in a big pile, I call it "an ever-changing and growing art installation"

 

[Nikodeumus]

Well, 8000 members might not be a Guinness record, but I think it's pretty dang good! I'm proud to be a part of it.

 

[David Waldmann]

You have someone to wash your bottles?!!??
Fancy Schmancy.
I just toss mine in a big pile, I call it "an ever-changing and growing art installation"

I used to wash my bottles. But I hate doing it, and make wine because I enjoy it. So for roughly $1/bottle I just recycle the old ones and buy new ones.

 

[Lance E]

It is a Guinness record for TG!

 

[Mike Labbe]

It has only been just over a week, and already up to 8034. With so many new framers joining us, there should be a lot more discussion. Don't be shy. say hi!

 

[neilframer]

7 more folks joined today.
I'm seeing more people joining from all over the country and the world.
Is there something new where they are finding the Grumble that didn't exist before?
Just wondering.:kaffeetrinker-2:

 

[Mike Labbe]

Is there something new where they are finding the Grumble that didn't exist before?
Just wondering.

I don't know, but I like it!

They all 'checked out' as in the industry. We screen each applicant, and review the registrations daily.

Although there are some very good FB groups out there, this forum offers a superior format vs a flat blog, IMO. It has sub categories for things like items for sale, business topics, social topics, equipment help, software help, jobs, etc. Everything is organized and easily found/searchable, so the format doesn't have to be as strict as other platforms. The support team strives to have a laid back/non censoring approach, and the members are respectful of each other. Your personal data is also safe, and is not being harvested or sold. You also don't have to weed through 50%+ unpleasant/extreme political posts to get your daily "framing fix". (Yes we do have a lively section for politics, but access is by request only. Politics aren't welcomed on the public sections of the forum, or in any framing areas)

I think it's a recipe for success, and am confident that it will re-gain the activity level it had in the past, once folks re-discover the new Picture Framer's G. There is a 22 year archive of valuable information here.

Mike

 

[Framar]

There are so many framing groups on FB and whenever I see an opportunity, I slip in a link or two to the G.

Only a very dedicated person with a lot of free time can navigate any of the so-called "search" features on FB. Posts, photos, and advice sinks like a stone.

Welcome to all the new Grumblers!

 

[Ylva]

I think we will see more and more activity once everyone is open again.
I do visit the Facebook groups, but it is hard to keep them all apart and know what is posted where. I also can’t find posts back.
I search the archives here, there is so much information and it is also fun to stumble on some of the older warped threads.

 

[Larry Peterson]

My problem with Facebook is that its just so.................................................serial.

Its like you are a dog riding in a car hanging out the window with your tongue drooling in the wind watching everything go by. Some is pretty, some not. But all you are seeing is surface substance. You don't see what's behind the curtain.

We are the curtain, and you can see what is behind it. Behold the wonders of OZ theG.

 

[MnSue]

"I think it's a recipe for success, and am confident that it will re-gain the activity level it had in the past, once folks re-discover the new Picture Framer's G. There is a 22 year archive of valuable information here. Mike"

and this is why it is THE go to source when I need help!!!

 

[Keith L Hewitt]

I agree with the comments above. I like Mo and think he has dome a great job with his FB efforts, but I often find it quite difficult to find a post, and that can be so frustrating. As Larry Peterson put it so succinctly.
I'm sending out my infrequent Munken UPDATE later this month and will give The Grumble a plug, It goes to about 50 countries, so I hope it helps to pull in some new overseas Grumblers.

 

[neilframer]

More people joining today and almost every day from the U.S. and other countries.
Excellent!

 

[Mike Labbe]

We just hit 8100 members last night. This past 3 weeks added 100 new framers.

A warm WELCOME to anyone who just joined us!

 

[Mike Labbe]

.. and 8200 less than a month later. WELCOME to all of our new grumblers!

 

[Larry Peterson]

.. and 8200 less than a month later. WELCOME to all of our new grumblers!

What...............Did we hire someone from Wells Fargo to open new accounts???????????????

 

[Mike Labbe]

Congratulations to our 8300th member, SBANKSTON !!!

 

[Framar]

Wow - we are really cooking with gas!

Go, Grumble! Go!

 

[Nikodeumus]

Someone call the fire department, cuz this forum is ON FIRE!

 

[David Waldmann]

Wow - we are really cooking with gas!

The only person I ever remember hearing use that expression was my Dad. Was that an industry slogan from days of yore?

PS: I am not commenting on your age, you could have learned it from your Grandfather.

 

[Framar]

Looked it up - it is a slogan used by the natural gas industry from the 1930's. So it predates me. (Whew!)

Pertinent quote from the Google: "Phrase. cooking with gas. (idiomatic) Functioning particularly effectively; achieving something substantial. With the updated software, I was really cooking with gas."

 

[wvframer]

It was still hanging around into the 60's when gas appliances were being heavily marketed. I heard it all my young life and still use it.

 

[DVieau2]

8000 huh.

What is the membership in PPFA ? ..........aah never mind that question.
What is the circulation of PFM?
What is the attendance of the last WCAF show?

And the all those Facebook groups..... put together?

It strikes me that the Grumble is the largest public voice in the industry.

 

[Mike Labbe]

That is a total of 8300 in 22 years. Of course, some of those folks have left the industry in 22 years. But it is still impressive and shows the longevity of the forum, as well as the wealth of searchable knowledge it has accumulated.

 

[DVieau2]

........................Of course, some of those folks have left the industry in 22 years. .........................................

Yeah, some may have left the industry but I swear they never leave the forum.

 

[David Waldmann]

Yeah, some may have left the industry but I swear they never leave the forum.

One that comes to mind that I haven't seen for quite some time is Ron Eggers.

@Bill Henry- a/k/a Wreltney seems to be fading as well. That may be because of his brain getting froze too many times. Oh, and the lack of reliable internet.

 

[tedh]

David, you’re right about Bill Henry. He’s in a part of the world where bytes go back and forth on dog sleds.

That’s where the term “dog byte” came from.

 

[Bill Henry-]

Hey, din’t yo momma tell ya you ain’t ‘sposed to bad mouth people behind their back?

I’m not gonna dispense pearls of wisdom to folks that either don’t appreciate it, … or aren’t willing to pay!

 

[Framar]

Ron Eggers is on FB every so often. He even told a dog story today!

 

[neilframer]

The Grumble has been around for about 22 years.
I've been registered for 10 years but I've been framing for 51 years...
Does that mean that I can register twice?......

 

[David Waldmann]

Hey, din’t yo momma tell ya you ain’t ‘sposed to bad mouth people behind their back?

My Momma taught me right. That's why I tagged you...

 

[Nikodeumus]

My Momma taught me right. That's why I tagged you...

So...you talked about him infront of his back?

 

[Ylva]

Over 8500 members now! Worth a mention.

 

[Joe B]

 

[Nikodeumus]

Thanks to the hard work of the entire Grumble team.
Good job everybody!