FACTS for customers

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B. Newman

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Sep 5, 2001
Posts
4,855
Loc
Kodak, Tn. USA
I know that Jim Miller said that he used FACTS at his design table. Just how do we go about doing that? I have a promo/brochure/flyer that I am working on right now that I'd like to have some FACTS info in. Since there is no money to print brochures for us, can we print our own? Is it permissible to copy/scan the FACTS Logo to use? I tried just printing directly from the web site, but those pesky "http://www.artfacts.org/quickfacts/finding_a_picture_framer.html" labels keep printing on the bottom of the page. And that just messes up my design! (How to keep those off? Maybe that part of this thread needs to go to the tech forum.) Plus, the logo prints off in "negative" colors.

If I quote from the web site, how do I credit the site correctly? What did I know, and when did I know it... oops, I mean, what do I do, and how do I do it?

Betty
 
Betty, drop a note to info@artfacts.org
and ask those questions. The volunteers who will respond are not necessarily regular Grumble visitors. Also ask about availability of consumer-oriented FACTS publications. There have been a couple of excellent publications printed.

Let me know if you don't get your answers and I will follow up personally.
 
Part of the meeting in Chicago was spent planning on ways to make FACTS more accessible to framers and to give them tools to use the standards with their customers. Kerry Wilson, Jim Miller and myself are the chairs working on ways to get FACTS education to framers. Some ideas will be presented to industry educators in Atlanta. The educators will then present the ideas at every educational venue possible.

There will be a FACTS class taught at the WCAF at the Hilton in Las Vegas, January 16-18, 2003 sponsored by PFM. The PPFA will also present a FACTS class at the PPFA convention in March 2-5th in Las Vegas and they will make available FACTS classes at chapter events. I would imagine there will be a FACTS class in New York at the DÉCOR EXPO show Feb 28th to March 2 and possibly DECOREXPO in Orlando January 18th –20th.

We have some written literature planned to help in the sales process so customers will understand FACTS. It will take a little time, but it is being worked on as we speak. Jim and I have been using the e-mail like crazy and will continue until we are done and have a nice package for Atlanta to start the process. Stay tuned.

Nona Powers, CPF, GCF
www.nonapowers.com
PS, Lets get those 1,000 checks so I have time to devote to these other things. OK????
 
Thanks Ron, I will do that. I just know that with the staff shortage it sometimes takes a while to get a response. I used some of the info in my new flyer/brochure, but was sure to credit FACTS (along with the website address) for the info.

NOTE
If you print any of the info for your customers, beware, there are several typos (dose for does, etc) and wrong words (there for their, etc). And sometimes words left out ("...a diploma or certificate is not a guarantee quality..." instead of "a guarantee of quality")
Just minor stuff, but things that would not look good to your customer.

Betty
(anybody want to hear about my new promo/mailer going to Doctor's offices: "Does your picture framing need a check up?"
 
Originally posted by Ron_Eggers:
Let me know if you don't get your answers and I will follow up personally.
Click to expand...
I just realized that the statement above made it sound like I actually believe my influence extends beyond my 3-foot reach. Nothing could be further from the truth. In my own house, the dog is the only one who listens to me.

You're on your own, Betty.
 
Betty:

You asked if it would be OK to use the FACTS logo on your publications, so I went to the source with that question. The answer is no, because the FACTS logo is the registered "service mark" for a public benefit organization, and it should tell the public that what they are reading is an official document.

About that increase in my average sale...
I have not prepared any publication for clients that says "FACTS" on it, although I have showed some clients the guidelines downloaded from the web site, and I have used my knowledge of FACTS to design my own publications. Like a CPF or GCF, FACTS knowledge is mostly for the benefit of framers, not directly for consumers.

Of course, there is benefit to letting consumers know we have certifications and that we adhere to FACTS standards. And a few might actually want to learn more of the details. But the real benefit to FACTS standards is in how we framers use them.

Our FACTS benefit comes from the way we use FACTS standards to communicate with clients and talk about preservation features. Our FACTS-recommended communication habits give clients assurance that we know what we're doing; that we take our framing -- and their art -- seriously. In the bargain, clients learn more.

That's what the FACTS class for framers, mentioned by Nona earlier, is about. It was finish-outlined just prior to the meeting in Chicago last month, and it will be ready to go as soon as the PowerPoint slide show is assembled...I'm workin' on it.

So, if you can get a group together (a PPFA chapter meeting would be good), we can arrange to present it for expenses and a donation to FACTS. If you would like more information about that, let us know.

The FACTS class for framers will not be presented at the Atlanta show. Instead, we are bringing FACTS knowledge to educators and suppliers at that show. First things first. By Las Vegas next January, we should be in high gear.

We're working on publications to educate all in the industry, and other publications to educate consumers.

There's a lot going on behind the scenes; committees are working feverishly to make FACTS a "household word" in every frame shop. It's a huge job, and it can't happen overnight.

Some framers have gotten the mistaken impression that all of the FACTS work is done and now somebody is trying to sell it to them. Not so. FACTS is a work in progress. Sure, the existing standards are excellent, but there's so much more to do -- and it works only if framers everywhere subscribe.

Help shape the future of framing. SUBSCRIBE TO FACTS.
 
Betty, I want to hear about your new promo. I think it would be great if we all started sharing unique marketing campaigns.
 
Originally posted by Jim Miller:


You asked if it would be OK to use the FACTS logo on your publications, so I went to the source with that question. The answer is no, because the FACTS logo is the registered "service mark" for a public benefit organization, and it should tell the public that what they are reading is an official document.

Click to expand...
Gee Jim, you mean you aren't a mind reader? I am so sorry. What I meant was, I am working on a promo/mailer for Dr.s offices. I am creating a brochure, but I thought about printing out the "Finding a Framer" segment from the Quick FACTS page to add to the package. For that I wanted to be able to have it just like it is on the website. I really wanted two different things, but just didn't make that clear.

And Lance, when I tried cut and paste, it came out in "negative" colors, black background like it would be in the "highlighted" view.

Kathy, since I seem to be spending half my life sitting in Doctor's offices, I thought surely there was some way to make customers out of them! I am creating a brochure that says "Does your picture framing need a check up?" Then I'm devising a "FREE 5 point check up". For instance, yesterday, the print in the room we were in had turned loose from the hinges and was hanging down in the frame. It was all I could do not to start taking it apart right there on the bed!

Oh,(before anybody hollars!) the "check up" would be free, not fixing it!

Betty
 
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