Anything You will do Special for the Holiday Season

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Bob Carter

Bob Carter

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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On another thread discussing Digital frames, I suggested that many retailers would use this product extensively at the Holiday season

Do you have any item(s) that you will stock or sell at significant differences for the season.

Most retailers have substantial planning (AND Buying) to support these efforts that often provide a year's worth of additional profits in a 6 week period.

Any framers do anything significant to take advantage of this incredible selling period?

PS It's almost too late now and this type of planning is exactly what those "Zero interest" credit card offers we get every week or so can be wonderful
 
Hi Bob. We have had new display shelves installed, these are permanent along the walls. We have been making ready made frames aggressively for the last couple of months in order to have those shelves loaded for this coming season. I am trying to have every standard size in stock, with a reasonable selection in each size.

In the past we have gone overboard with traditional window displays and heavy on Christmas and gift items. This year, we are going to concentrate on frames. Yes, I did send out an inquiry about the digital frames. I think it will be a great item, as long as we are not too far away in price from the big box operations.

John
 
I ordered about 40 Roma photo frames last year for Xmas. I'm still working my way through that initial order of Roma frames. So no, I won't be ordering anything new for the holidays this year.
 
Hi Bob,

I try to stock up on moulding at good prices prior to the holidays. Decor Expo Atlanta is a good place to shop vendors and get some deals. I'll bring in box quantities of my best sellers, as well as scout for hot deals . Not only does it help the bottom line, but it just helps speed up production by having it on hand (I don't get delivery from suppliers except one, and that's only once a week--just too far away). Making room for it and not getting stuck with alot of extra inventory on Dec 26 takes some planning, but we've seen some clear cut trends this year.

Like John, we also make a lot of photo frames and ready mades--cleaning out to make room for those box skus and stocking some extra shelves up for the rush...I sell just a dribble of ready mades through the year, but expecially the last couple of weeks we'll really move them. I will also add some of the inexpensive ready mades (sell savers) that I'll likely be able to find some promo pricing on in Atlanta.

Also easels, especially nice tabletop ones. Those are such an easy add on during the gift giving days.

The Fall Gift market is running at the same time as Expo, so I'll visit the Mart and look for last minute gifts items that fit into our mix.

We add ornaments at Christmas time--adds to the festive atmosphere and a GREAT add on purchase. The last 2 years we've had a line of pewter frame ornaments that have been hotcakes.

My largest gift line is jewelry, so we fully stock 2 cases prior to the holidays. The women see it while they are in the store and tell their husbands....meanwhile we offer to set up a "Wish List" in our system so that we can make sure hubby picks out just the right thing. (The wish list has worked well.) We stole this great idea from a jewelry store: We set up the wish list in the system and then we pull out a printed card (sort of a business card) and hand it to the lady--it's a "Hint" card. It simply says "Hint, hint...." on the front with a pic of a wrapped package, and then on the back it says "I saw something at Artfully Framed that the helpful staff has added to my Wish List. They will even gift wrap it for you!" then all of the usual contact info. The card is a great little reminder when they are looking through their purse later (after they might have forgotten the whole episode).

We've already set up a "gift wrap" center in the back room so that we can offer our free gift wrapping to our customers. Before going to Atlanta, I'll inventory our wrap, ribbon and gift boxes--there will likely be deals during the show.

In Toronto at the PMA show, I'll look at the Digital photo frames again...I was hesitant and didn't get enough last year. The markup is not what we are used to, but we make some of it up on the customization and I could have sold alot more.... There were some other items I looked at last year at the PMA show, so I will look forward to checking out new merch and emerging trends.

Oh, and we added a Gift Card program about 2 months ago. All the big guys have 'em now and I think they'll move better during the giftmas rush-- better than a paper gift certificate. It's something the Jennifer's are very familiar with.
 
Hey Barb-Maybe we'll compare notes on Digital frames. The price points scared me badly; perhaps you might convince me otherwise. It seems the $69.88-79.88 range will be popular

You need to look at the Linea frame and accessory line while in Toronto

We will be spending like drunken sailors on their collage frames
 
Bob, thanks for reminding me about Linea. They are in one of the showrooms in Atlanta, so I'll probably look at them there also. Those collage frames of theirs are good looking and a hot trend item.

Last year, the digital photo frames would have worked so well for me because no one in my town had them with audio capability. I know that wouldn't have been the case for you in your market.

We also found it was easy to dress them up with basically scraps and make $75. profit. Missed out by not getting enough! It may be a totally different game this year, so I'll have to look at it carefully. One other factor I will consider is that the nearest "big box" town is 75 miles away.
(We do have an Office Depot and WalMart) The gas prices might slow down the exodus to the larger town for the Christmas shoppers. I know I will simply pay a higher price for an item here in town just so that I don't have to spend a half a day of my life looking for it elsewhere.

I can't say that if I were in a mall situation like you if I would even consider it, unless I could sell the "dress up option" at a good mark-up. You have to admit that the "off the rack" looks of this product is still pretty mundane. It will be interesting to see what is new on the floor at Toronto.
 
The line is actually called "Nexxt by Linea".
I know they are carried at bill curlee & associates, building 2 suite 1713 at the America's Mart in Atlanta. There are several Canadian showrooms also if you Google Nexxt by Linea.

You have to register before you can use the website:
custcare@lineamarketing.com
 
Bob Carter said:
Do you have any item(s) that you will stock or sell at significant differences for the season.

Most retailers have substantial planning (AND Buying) to support these efforts that often provide a year's worth of additional profits in a 6 week period.

Any framers do anything significant to take advantage of this incredible selling period?
Click to expand...

Pushing this thread back to the top in hope of some good ideas.

I'll start--What we have done so far:

Just got in our 5K order of Tracy Chop ready-mades. This is our usual line in basic colors. Probably our 3rd order of this size this year, along with fill-ins.

In process making frames --leftover big chunky ones--for mirrors. Will buy some beveled mirrors and a sheet of plain to cut up for small frames.

Filling the RM room to the brim with our own ready mades

Making a group of framed old Hawaii postcards framed with scrap bamboo, grasscloth mats, etc. Will hang in one section.

About to work on a name mat display. Thanks for the ideas Bob.

Just ordered a bunch of arts and crafts frames to frame up more of this type of art and cards. Using embosser and CMC interesting cuts on the mats. Rtail around $90. ea. Sell them regularly, just making more.

About to clear off two card spinner racks and trying to figure out the absolute best use of the space. Card sales are too slow to justify the space. Will have to have a huge half off card sale in baskets or something.

Window design in the works, Thinking red and silver. Making hand wrapped leftover suede mats and silver frames with easles for window, along with a great buy I got on some crystal decorated mini frames. Sparkley window.

Last year we didn't have enough lower priced impulse items and I want to rectify that.

I have the Prinz and Nexxt catalogues on my desk and am about to open with trepidation. Our track record with desk frames is dismal, but great with wall frames. We have a decent presence with wall frames as the RM room is packed, and just not enough desk frames to make a knock-your-socks-off presentation.

So any more ideas anyone, before its TOO LATE?!
 
Hey Kirstie-Just returned from Toronto and visited with Linea

They have a 4th Qtr promo on that is spectacular. The qtys might scare most away, but a substantial savings, nonetheless

I was trooping framers to them in droves; I should have gotten a commission

For $1k you can get some interesting wall frame collages assortments and still order quite a few onesy-twosy selections

They probably have a sales rep in your neighborhood

Also, be sure to ask about the "Grandkids" type collages at Q4 pricing

It really is stuff you won't see many places
 
If you want some Linea stuff, call me. I've got quite a bit of inventory I'm trying to unload. Shelf units, wall cubbies, collage frames, etc.
 
Are you talking about the FONT collages? Cute! The Nexxt frames are some of the nicest I've seen. Where to put them is my dilema, but will solve that.
Rushing out now--they are faxing me the promo now. Paul, write me privately and tell me what you have or I'll call you later.:smiley:
 
I've added products from http://www.dartp.com/ to the product mix.

They have
  • Photo to Canvas
  • Photo to Woven Blankets
  • Photo to Wall Tapestry
  • Photo to Pillow and/Tote Bags
  • more......
Very nice fit with photo restoration we are already doing. Had one sold prior to even getting my complete dealer kit.

Todd is a very nice person to work with. If you call tell him John from the Frame Shop in Holland, Ohio put you on to him. Tell him you are a Grumbler too!
 
Here is my 2 cents...

Linea has a great looking product. I was instumental in getting them into the DTW/TGFU system. Sorry Paul.

That being said, I have grown to dislike the company as I started to order more and more from them. Their product looks great in their catalog and in the showrooms. Their product that is delivered lacks the same quality. If you order anything black in color make sure to look it over carefully, most scratches will be touched up with a sharpie and will stand out even more than if they left them alone. Many items are not packaged well and will rub against each other causing scratches and rub marks. Their customer service was not the best when trying to resolve the quality problems

They will sell to you and they will sell to the big box discounters at a price much much less. Yes the BB will buy more quantity wise but, when I can buy the Linea/nexxt product at the same price or lower from a store like Gordmans, I have a problem with that. I had multiple personal conversations with the national VP of sales and she would not disagree with me that big boxes may sell the same product at a price lower than what I could buy them direct. She also informed me that the big boxes will always get new products and back orders before any independant store.

Just one man's personal opinion, I may be disgruntled but I speak the truth. If it were not for the above problems I would still sell their product. They do have some of the best looking products around, it's just the quality that lacks.
 
If anyone is thinking about making stock mirrors or mirrors for the holidays- you should look at the beveled mirrors in standard sizes from Design Guild Moulding.
 
Hey Tim-Sorry about your experiences. Last year was our first year (rocky start) but Ray T helped get it off the ground

I must ask about the scratching problem

We carry mostly the Array and Ply collages with the 16x20 "grandkids" type and a few others. To date everything has been individually boxed in rather nice packaging. We thought the tabletop line was nice but did not sell as well as collage and specialty frames

Has that changed?

I must say the poduct is rather unique and priced well. We sold the stuff like crazy last season and i bought another $5K in Toronto

I hope it is as good as we expect

We also picked up a line of words from Neil Bartlett at ASAP (the tape people)-good looking, nice price points plus we just like Neil
 
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