Dealin' with Decorators

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Framing Goddess

Framing Goddess

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jul 18, 2000
Posts
4,319
Loc
Cleveland, Ohio
I have been dealing with an increasing number of decorators and art installers and art dealers who either send customers my way or come in with or without them for some framin'.
My question concerns ways to give them some sort of commission. Up until now, I have been able to give them say, an average of 10% commission in framing credit. (for theor own framing, usually) Is there any type of "standard" amount out there in Framing Land? Does anyone just cut them a check? Does anyone feel ethically obligated to extend this "commission" every subsequent visit by a referred customer?
I have been very lucky so far that the referrals have yielded some excellent customers. The folks who send them my way are well-versed in framing and send them in here with a good idea of what their artwork needs. (usually something expensive, bless them!) Does anyone know of any way to get more of this type of business? Any "incentives" that you have found to be effective?
Thanks so much!
The Goddess
 
Goddess - I wouldn't mind sliding a 10% discount to decorators if they would promise to STAY HOME and let me deal with the customer one on one. I may put this policy into practice as soon as I've figured out a nice way to word it. I once had some work done by a plumber whose rates were posted as:"$20/hour; $30/if you help". Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
 
I give interior designers a 25% discount as a rule when they come in they know what they want and secondly this gives them an incentive to make some real money off the framing what usually happens is I give them 25% off and they add 35% to that price for their customer.


100.00 retail
75.00 after discount
101.25 to their customer
26.50 profit for the designer


This has worked really well for me and has brought me a lot of repeat business.
 
Consider yourself fortunate. They usually ask for the kick back after you've given their client a really good deal.

Shame on me, I'm sure they are not all that way.

I agree with Kit
 
I don't mean for this thread to become a general beach session about decorators!
(Yeah, I KNOW that this is The Grumble!
smile.gif
)
BUT, I do want to know about how some of you deal with those creative professional types who genuinely respect what you do and KNOW that it is expensive and send work/clients your way who do not expect a fat discount. I WANT MORE of this type of business! Ideas?
 
I've found that the best solution for dealing with decorators and designers, DON'T do it. I treat them like any other customer, they pay full retail and they wait like any one else.
As soon as you start bending for them they will want more and more and more. They just plain aren't worth the hassle they will put you thru.
Some folks claim they earn a good living from designers. These folks must have a stronger stomach than mine. I like to enjoy my job to much to put up with their nonsense.
A professional designer will come to you for your quality and know how. An amateur will start out wanting to know what " her " discount is. If you give her a discount it's going to be all down hill from there.
Just my thoughts on the subject,
John
 
Somewhere in the recent archives, there's a thread about just this subject. I do a very large amount of business with designers, and credit my bottom line health to it. Actually, they don't get a discount, unless it's quite small to get the thing over the top. (Okay, there's that gray area again, right? Subjectivity is so messy.)

I spend a whole lot of time with them, they have oodles of samples from which to choose, I let them take the stuff to their clients, we collaborate on the workup, and they have the benefit of my interest, enthusiasm, and knowledge. I tell them to add what they think is reasonable, or charge their client by the hour for their time. I also tell them that they can probably get the pic framed cheaper, but not better, nor with the same attention to detail and guarantee. It's worked for me for years.

That said, I also give them a good discount on their personal framing as long as it stays in hand. They haven't abused me, and my name gets forwarded.

In the beginning of my career, I was cheaper anyway, so perhaps this is all smoke on my part. But I will say that when I think I've gone the mile, believe me, you would have a hard time budging me. I go the mile for them, and they must know it.

FG, would you consider sending short solititation notes to designers in your area, even making a phone call or two? Some of these designers are up to their ears in work, and would love someone to take part of the burden from them. Or if you have some designer business now, subtly comment how much you love working with them. (Stop gagging, you guys.) We're all part craftsman, part shill: the neat part is combining the two into a successful presentation.

Sorry: got wound up. Much more of this TV soap opera every night and I'll work until midnight instead of just 6:30. Hope I helped just a little.
 
Don't forget that a REAL designer or Decorator will have a Sales Tax Exemption certificate as a reseller. Without this they should be considered as a regualr customer.

We also limit our discounts if they do not do a minimum volumn per year. I might bend a little at the first; but they are given a letter of our requirements from the start when they complete a resale certificate.

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Jerome Feig CPF ISA
Field Art Studio
Pleasant Ridge, MI
248-399-1320
248-399-7018 fax
 
I agree completly with Jerome, but I require a business card, sales tax certificate and $1500.00 in business at retail before I give a 20% discount off of my retail. I tell the designer/decorator (and I give them a letter with it all spelled out) our rules of conduct. 1) I expect them to bring the client into my showroom, not just send them in so that I have to deal with them. 2)That I will only speak of retail prices in front of their client(but when I do speak of retail prices they can do the math in their heads) 3)I tell the designer/decorator that they should charge the client above and beyond what I charge (always smiling) to cover their expenses if they feel the 20% discount isn't enough. 4) They pay me the discounted price in full when they place the order or before we start the work. I don't accept money from their client and pay them the 20% discount. It is not the same thing! 5)On a larger order, My driver will deliver and install when the order is complete. But, under no circumstances, can their client pick the order up upon completion. The designer/decorator is my client. Their client is not MY client.
This may seem rather tough to some people but, it has solved all of the issues that we had before we implemented these policies. Now we have very cooperative, professional designer/decorator's that are a joy to work with, not the person who does his/her own decorating and decides to call him/herself a designer/decorator to get a discount. Or the designer/decorator that doesn't do enough work to warrant a professional discount.

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curlyframer, CPF
 
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