Framing Schools

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framer2b

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I am planning to enter the framing industry and I am attempting to locate an excellent framing school to attend. I live on the east coast but I am not adverse to travel. I am more concerned about selecting a quality school to teach the fundamentals. Any feedback on schools would be greatly appreciated. I am working from a list I obtained from PPFA.
 
I, too am looking for a frame school. I understand there is one in Charlotte, NC. It is RMD, I believe. Of course, Larson-Juhl has one in Atlanta and I found one on the net in 'northern South Carolina'. I emailed for info, but haven't heard anything yet. That's all I know about. Try your search engine. Mine turned up some results when I searched for 'picture framing schools'. Good luck.
 
Two or three summers ago I attended the International Picture Framers School in Barrie Ontario. The one week course covered a lot of things and was rather intense. It helped me a great deal. Also consider you'll be paying in Canadian dollars!

I suppose anyone who attends a school will think theirs is great; so I hope you get other responses. www.framingschool.com

Joe

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[This message has been edited by joe (edited February 22, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by joe (edited February 22, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by joe (edited February 22, 2001).]
 
Framer2b,
I have a different take on this. In my opinion, any such school is going to rush you through the issues and, unless you already have a framing background, I don't believe that you get in and, at the end of one week, you can honestly call yourself a framer.
Do yourself a favor and, instead of spending money with a debatable going to "school," get a job in yours town's best framing studio. In fact almost any framing shop can teach you much more and valuable skills than those fancy schools you plan to attend.
I don't know how fast of a student you are but, after 6-12 months you will know just about enough to take advantage of going to school.
You do what you have to do but, if you want to be competent, confident and credible, you are better off starting slowly and taking your time to observe, understand and practice. And if in the process you get paid, that much the better for you!
 
I have to agree with Frame Harbor. I worked for several months and then went to a one week school offered by Larson Juhl in Baltimore. They offer classes in many cities. I think I got much more from the class than I would have if I had gone to it without any working knowledge. The course was taught by Bill Parre and if you where wise enough to dine with Bill you could gain knowledge while eating lunch and dinner. It was also good to talk to other framers in the class and learn from them.

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Bob Shirk CPF
Blue Mountain Gallery
Shippensburg PA
 
If you are starting a framing business, The American Picture Framing Academy, in the Hartford, Connecticut area may be your best choice. Our website is www.pictureframingschool.com. Or you may call:
1-888-840-9605



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Starting a framing business?

Start here... The American Picture Framing Academy
 
Pay Orton whatever he wants to be an intern. You might as well learn from the best.

Good to see you back
 
Hey Orton. Welcome back!!! Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
 
Thanks to all who responded to my inquiry regarding framing schools. My preference would be to work in the field for six months to a year before attending a school. My interests in the industry are first and foremost from a business perspective and secondly from a frame/ design perspective. I have approached several folks about an internship or employment. Those inquiries have been construed as "training a competitor".

I am pretty well known in the area and those who know me, know that I am a pretty ambitious guy who has owned a successful business and isn't going to be content working for someone else. You all know the type. Someone who would rather work 80 hours a week for himself rather than work 40 for someone else.

Thanks again for everyone's input.
 
Framer2b:

Your profile tells us nothing about where you are. If it is a major city, go to an outlying suburb -- beyond your home area -- to find intern work.

Another alternative is to make an up-front deal with a shop owner who is looking to retire in a specified number of years (there are many of them). In terms of function, you would start out as any new employee would; but after you learn the trade, you work your way up to become shop manager, and then after X years, you take over everything and begin paying the owner for the business when he departs. The buyout could stretch over several years past his departure. If you go that way, I urge you to have a lawyer prepare a legal and binding contract to cover all foreseeable contingencies.

Another possibility would be to find a shop owner who is interested in licensing, such as me. It works something like a short-term franchise -- you pay something for the training, business planning, buildout, shop setup, and startup help for your store, and the use of the name. But unlike a franchise, there is an agreed price for a specific contract period, for assistance and use of the name. When the time's up and it's paid, you could have the option to renew or move on; you would have no further obligation to the licensor.

In any case where there is an agreement, have a lawyer prepare a "real" contract. Sure, it would cost a few hundred dollars, but it would make all points of agreement clear, and avoid the possibility of he-said-she-said disagreements later, if things change.

If I were starting out today, I would seek out take-over or licensing opportunities. If a fair deal can be drawn up, then it would be much less risky and more profitable than starting from scratch -- which is what I did in 1988.

Some years ago I was fascinated by small business statistics. I don't know if these numbers are still valid, but I'll bet they are close: 80% of small business start-ups fail in the first three years; and of the remaining 20% of start-ups, another 50% fail within three more years. In other words, the chance of surviving 3 years is 20 out of 100. The chance of surviving 6 years is 10 out of 100.

By the way, the best way to beat the odds is to make a thorough and complete business plan. Call the US Small Business Administration for details.
 
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