Finding Corporate Work

HarryGMCPF

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Nov 15, 2004
Posts
797
Loc
Northborough, MA
Would like to hear everyone's thoughts on corporate/wholesale framing.

I am particularly interested in hearing from those who do a lot of it and have good luck finding new accounts.

Thanks for your input in advance.
Harry
 
Used to, on a limited basis. Stopped it in favor of higher profit business. Glad I did. Now I have less revenue, but also less labor, less COGS, more $/frame, more profit $ and way more profit %.

That business is easy to buy -- just get on the bid lists and bid the lowest prices. The customers are generally the most demanding, but the least loyal and most unscrupulous. If they can string you out for 6 months before paying, they will do it.

I believe it's the riskiest segment of our industry. Big dollars & working capital requirements, but lowest profit. One mistake, and you lose.

However, one of the fastest-growing segments of our industry is "factory framing", aka "OEM" (which means Original Equipment Manufacturer. Don;'t ask me how that term applies.) These companies are well-financed and start with 10,000 to 100,000 square foot production shops, high-production equipment and task-specific workers. Most of them are internet-active, too.

Those guys are set up for high volumes. We're not. If you choose to swim with those sharks, be careful. That's how I see it, as a small shop independent.
 
As Jim more elequently put it, corperations can eat your lunch before you buy it.

If you have fabulous $$$$$$$$ backing, and extreem sources for beyond cheap supplies... go for bid lists. Plan about 5-10 years then get out while you still have hair three on your head.

Corperations can be a strange dance. We deal with five corperations and three government purchasing agents. All of them know that they get my personal attention, and care. They also know that if payment is the least bit late, they are looking for a new source for framing and problem solving.

I cut off one of the corperations last year and the president now brings his personal credit card and pays up-front. In three months, they went through 5 framers... one ALMOST got the job done on time as they needed it.

I have turned around Un-stocked frame, fabric mat, fillet, museum glass 30x40 knock your socks off frame in under 4 hours for a corperation that shares a building with a Michael's.

There are also Corperations that have 20-50 employees, and do a "Employee of the month" like clock work. Set them up with doing a ColorPlak; and a nice frame on the "Employee of the Year" and they are done.

With "corperation" work, the spread of different kinds of work is there to pick and choose. Go for what makes you money and doesn't stress you out.
 
Thanks Baer.
I am focussed on being selective and only chasing the type of jobs that I can handle and make money on. I am not looking for the 1000 pc orders. I am looking for the 1-200 peices with reasonable to good margine. I know they are out there. I get some now. I just want to know how to find more. I like the consistancy they lend in terms of buying power, production capacity, and cash flow. Then you sprinkle the retail on top of that and mmhhmmm.... it's all good.

I have been working with a corporate art sales consultant, a McDonald's Franchisee, and doing framing for several other Galleries and Photographers. In addition to the above mentioned I have been getting work from a local Hospital and a few other office buildings in the area. Has anyone had any luck with other types of businesses or any one in particular that really works well?

Has any one ever had luck with an interior decorator? Because I have not.

Thanks,
Harry
 
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