Custom Framing On My Website

[kmitch2026]

I want to add a visualization database to my site. I just want my customers to be able to view frame and mat selections with their choice of artwork...not a lot of profiles (maybe 20 at the most) and only the basic mat colors. (ex. you choose colors in art we select a mat as close as possible to your selection)
I have offered framing online for about 5 years. Some customers call back or email us about their great purchase. Others don't give us feedback and we assume they're satisfied. No returns or negative feedback in 5 years.

I have tried Visionworks...(out of business) and now have Cyberspace but the frames are distorted. I have had quotes from $3000-$10000 to add this feature to my site. Totally out of my reach! Before I invest something under $500 is there truely a market for framed art purchases online or by telephone? I know art.com., artselect.com offer this service, but are they really making any money? I have sold framed art online and by telephone, but believe I can sell more if I had a better program for framing.

Thanks in advance for all comments!

 

[Jay H]

I firmly believe there is an online market just waiting for the right opperator to set it up. I also can't imagine anything like that being at all cheap.

 

[chile verde]

Linens, Bedding, Drapes, Blinds--AND Custom Framing

Here is the 800 pound gorilla, where you can get David Lorenz Winston's "Solitude," framed as you wish. Or if you are impatient, it's already done and boxed, ready for a handoff to Fedex. "50% off local framing prices." And you were worried about Joanne's Lobby or Michael's Hobby?

http://www.wallartamerican.com/frCMFS/David_Lorenz_Winston/Solitude/artID=31163&t=b-ssolitude.html

Custom Framing to them is just another product line for their wall decor/home decor business.

There are numerous other web sites that offer similar services, and they all seem to have a similar interface.

Cost is in the 3k-10k for programming, plus there may be a monthly charge for hosting the application somewhere. You can get yours at http://framingengine.com/ or http://www.image-framer.com/. I'm sure there are others--Google is Your Friend--and programmers are starving in India.

My understanding is that there may be a feature-reduced version available soon for less than a thousand. This would show only a limited selection of mats and moulding. "Soon" means it won't be available for at least several months.

It's sort of like the fine print on your car's sideview mirror--"CAUTION--OBJECTS IN FUTURE ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR"

 

[Kirstie]

Here is the 800 pound gorilla, where you can get David Lorenz Winston's "Solitude," framed as you wish. Or if you are impatient, it's already done and boxed, ready for a handoff to Fedex. "50% off local framing prices." And you were worried about Joanne's Lobby or Michael's Hobby?

And this is why most local poster sales are dead. That whole segment of our market is gone for good. If I were to sell college style posters in my university market, I might sell a few after breaking the bank to stock a decent selection, but I would offend my framing customers and cheapen the look of the shop. And the students buy online just like everyone else. And at Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Target, et al.

Online framing orders? Maybe if you could offer something unique and tasteful, but I'm skeptical. The gorillas have taken the poster territory. Time to move on to something else.

I'm still looking for that online something else.