Framing Software - line items

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Elaine

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jul 9, 2001
Posts
1,569
Loc
Skaneateles,NY USA
What are some of the specialty line items charges that you have defined when you set up your framing software?? I am in the process of defining ours, but it seems like I have an awful lot of them!! Do you group them or get specific?

Thanks

Elaine
 
What are some of the specialty line items charges that you have defined when you set up your framing software??
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Hi Elaine,

Congrats on the POS. I can't imagine pricing without it. We have the following (additional) items on our order entry screen:

SB Matspacers, V-Groove, Special Cuts, Reverse Bevel, French, Oval, French Tape, French Lines, Spclmt spc, 1/8 gl spacer, 1/4 gl spacer, F/C spacer, glass etching, tiered mat, paint bevel, customer provided mat, customer provided frame, cb corners, rush delivery, +1/2hr labor, +1hr labor, +2hr labor, +3hr labor, +4hr labor, floreats(as pulldown with 5 sizes), sm metal corners(as pulldown with 11 choices), lg metal corners(as pulldown with 4 choices), and the standard pulldowns (art condition, mounting, glazing type, stretching, and referral/promotion source)

Many of the above automatically vary based on united inches, while others are fixed amounts. I'm not sure which POS you are asking about, but my settings are for a Lifesaver configuration. Most of these are in the "Specials" section of the program.
 
At first I added in only the most commonly used items and have extended the list/codes as we have become more comfortable with using a computer program. This kept us from having an endless list of variables to look through when we were new.

When my one and only other designer started wanting more categories/codes I knew the computer had made a big hit--and I've added several.

Also, my program (Artisan Frameshop) allows adding in extra one time items or charges on the spot, we we were easily able to manually put them in, much like we did by hand.....and still do.

It's been awhile since I've looked at the different programs, but one thing I like about mine is that in addition to just adding extra specialty items (codes) I get small pop ups on each area of framing that are customizable---for example, I can have as many types of fitting categories as I could want. I set it up so the most common 8 show on the initial pop up and the rest follow in ABC order on an additional screen.

I have fairly general categories like "fit with spacers" & then we will type in instructions which type and size of spacer to use 1/8" black, 1/4" clear, etc.

Our most recent addition--"Glass over" with a decription to fit with the glass over the liner (something we frequently do with needlework).

I mention this one as in addition to knowing what things to charge for the work order form also has to include instructions for the framer, even if it is you! We found that the more we could incorporate instructions into a category it was quite helpful.

Some other very useful ones & perhaps not so obvious -- mounting materials: on BLACK (for those newspaper articles), Glazing: use customer's glass (with a charge!) Fitting: Fit for Security Hangers; Fit with Easel Back; Fit with Easelmate, Temporary fitting (Fit with flexipoints--no paper).

Have a great time using your POS. It was a great decision.
 
I've been using SpecialtySoft for 3-4 years and am still tweaking the specialties list. I have many categories for fit: foam core, acid free foam core, fit and 1/2, refit, shadow box fit small-medium-large; an aggravation category for those anal retentive customers, spacers, dm on black, easel mates, and specialty cut (I charge a set fee for anything other than a rectangular cut)... All mounting specifics except dm on black are listed in the mounting category and are not listed as a specialty charge.
 
This is a good discussion. Sherry. like you, we use Specialty Soft and have had it up and running for six months. We're very pleased with it. One thing I've asked Jeff & Jeanette to do, is "break down" the Specialty Charges. That is to put them into families for easier access: 1) Misc add-on items, 2) mat decoration charges, 3) Frame hardware, 4) Additional Labor charges for example.

I note that you have mutliple "Shadowbox Charges" small-medium-large. We elected to use one charge here, but also use the multiplier. 1, 2 or 3 times, depending upon size or complexity. This minimizes the number of Specialty charges.

For comparative purposes, Specialty Soft has the option to add a Specialty Charge as a per united inch, each, square feet and linear feet. They can be defined as add-ons or pre-selected, which means they'll appear automatically to each order (but can be deleted). You can elect to add multiple values of each, or make them negative values. A new feature on the latest version has the option of adding minutes of labour to each specialty charge. I've not played with this yet, but this will be a great way of achieving a variable charge for your Shadowbox Charge, where you set it up with X amount of minutes of labor, plus X amount per united inch.

We minimize some specialty charges, for example by creating a dry mounting and dry mounting on foam board option in the mounting window.

Currently we have the following Specialties charges setup on our POS.....</font>
  • BR78 Hardwood Inlays (Bravura Moulding)</font>
  • BR88</font>
  • BR98</font>
  • BR-Butterfly Inserts</font>
  • Canvas Transfer</font>
  • Dry Mount - Multiple (Multiple Openings)</font>
  • Easelmate</font>
  • Econospace 1/16th</font>
  • Econospace 1/8th</font>
  • Ecapsulate Mylar</font>
  • Engraved Letters</font>
  • Engraved plate</font>
  • Extra Mat Opening</font>
  • Fill-In (Charge for filling around thick mounted items.)</font>
  • Fit Charge - Customers Frame</font>
  • Fit Charge - Metal Kit Frame</font>
  • Floating Mats</font>
  • Foam Board</font>
  • Frame Joining (Customer's)</font>
  • Frame - No Joining (Negative Value item -- As the client wants 4 legs of moulding - plans to do it at home!)</font>
  • Frame Tite</font>
  • Frame Space FS-1</font>
  • French Lines</font>
  • Gator Board 3/16th</font>
  • Glass Etching - Detail</font>
  • Glass Etching - Lines</font>
  • Mat layout charge</font>
  • Mirror backing</font>
  • Misc Supply Charge</font>
  • NB - Corner Ornament Lg (Nielsen Bainbridge)</font>
  • NB - Corner Ornament Sm</font>
  • Oval Glass Cutting</font>
  • Oval Mat Opening</font>
  • Painted Mat Bevel</font>
  • Painted Panel</font>
  • Painted Mat</font>
  • Panel Mat (Open V-groove)</font>
  • Rabbet Space</font>
  • Reverse Bevel</font>
  • Sew Mounting</font>
  • Sew Mounting - Jerseys</font>
  • Shadowbox Charge</font>
  • Shrink Wrap</font>
  • Special Fabric</font>
  • Special Mounting</font>
  • Stamp Mounts - Special</font>
  • Threaded Wire Mount</font>
  • V-groove</font>
As you can see, Elaine, we're trying to have most every possible item covered in advance. Most of these POS programs allow you to add misc on the fly, but I like to have this setup in advance. You can see why I'd like to see some sub-groups created!


Regards,

John

[ 03-30-2003, 11:44 AM: Message edited by: John Ranes II, CPF, GCF ]
 
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