Is it just my 'magination???

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Dave

Dave

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Posts
13,355
Loc
Edwardsburg, MI
Seems to me most of the price quote requests lately appear to be coming in what I would consider on the low side. Not so much the quantity/production type framing quotes, but the individual one-ups.

Could it be that framers are getting hungrier? More efficient?

Many frame shops have closed which would leave me to believe that it would be easier to keep your pricing because there is less competition.

It's also interesting that some Grumblers seem to take pride in the fact that they are the least expensive and some seem to take pride that they are on the high end.

Just a few observations...
 
Dave said:
It's also interesting that some Grumblers seem to take pride in the fact that they are the least expensive and some seem to take pride that they are on the high end.
Click to expand...

That is as it should be provided they are following a specific and intentional strategy to that end. I know I'm guilty of this in the past but think I spot it in others. They simply decide to charge a little less or a little more. Today they need clients and tomorrow they are niche gallery.

The least expensive and the finest frame shops alike that I have seen were so because of a specific plan and not a simple decision. Their strategy is realized through their chosen products, their location, their decor, their website, business cards, services, dress.... Pricing is a reflection of all those things and not in spite of.

Does any of that makes sense? I'm not sure it does but carry on.
 
Jay... I think it makes perfect sense.

People are attracted to a specific framer for a number of reasons. Some like the elegant gallery look, some the bargain look, while others want the "workshop" look. Pricing strategies should be commesurate with the feeling, decor and persona of the shop. If things aren't congruate then I think you have a recipe for diasaster.

If you are in an upscale environment and sell low, you are leaving money on the table because a more elegant look gives a perception of higher prices. If that perception exists and you sell low you defeat the effect and will actually miss many customers because they will think you are expensive before they set foot in the door and never come to you anyway.

If you are a framer who plasters discount signs on your windows and don't honor the promise of very low prices then you will not survive either because the customer you are attempting to attract will be put off by higher pricing. Also, the person seeking quality and is willing to pay for it will probably not enter either.

The "workshop" environment can go either way. If the quality is there and the reputation and artsiness is of world craftsmanship, then higher prices could prevail.

Whatever promise you make... whatever perception you project, needs to be lived up to.
 
Our average ticket is down. This was by choice going to the fixed price model. While the average ticket is down, so is our COMS, We are pretty busy and making money.

I feel that while there are not as many shops in competition, the customer has a price point that has to be hit, or they just won't have the job done anywhere. This business is completely discretionary, so if the consumer does not feel that the value of the job matches the price they will wait till things are a little sunnier. In the mean time many shops that aren't paying attention to that will be gone.
 
My average ticket price is up. I seem to get the more complicated jobs lately, very time involved.

The customers I get in lately, are the ones looking for better quality and good service, not so much lower prices.

The budget customers are going elsewhere; there is quite some competition around me for lower budget and I can't compete on price.
 
Id say I am right in the middle of the 2 closest shops to me.

One of the shops people say they have a bad attitude, and are stuck up. the other shop... well... if you want the best price... its the best place to go, but you get what you pay for.

I guess Im not stuck up enough to be super high priced, and I don' think people really want to pay a ton for things that would cost a lot either around here.

Hard enough to get any jersey business even at my lowest price... 300 or so... its a tough world being a framer :)
 
FrameMakers said:
Our average ticket is down. This was by choice going to the fixed price model.
Click to expand...

Is that working out?

I am considering the same but I will have to change suppliers for sure.

I know that you close at 4 today, so I am going to call you on Monday.
 
Our high end is up considerably ( both framing and art )

Our low end is up also


Our middle of the road ( and most popular until the recession ) is down considerably.

I think the wealthy are keeping the high end up.

The middle class has declined to become our low end, thus the midde has suffered a good deal.

Overall business is stale and stabilized the last two years at about 30-40% of what it was before 2006.
 
FrameMakers said:
Our average ticket is down. This was by choice going to the fixed price model. While the average ticket is down, so is our COMS, We are pretty busy and making money.

I feel that while there are not as many shops in competition, the customer has a price point that has to be hit, or they just won't have the job done anywhere. This business is completely discretionary, so if the consumer does not feel that the value of the job matches the price they will wait till things are a little sunnier. In the mean time many shops that aren't paying attention to that will be gone.
Click to expand...

I agree. If we had not adopted a package special option, we might well be gone as it has seen us through the recession. Sticker shock is rarely a factor at the shop anymore, and most sales are closed because we almost always have a price option available for every budget. As it is, our average ticket is lower than a few short years ago, but the shop is still reasonably busy. And we have plenty of higher end options to choose from. We sold a large $1400. finished corner frame today--mortise and tenon craftsman style. We like, and we depend upon being able to serve both ends of the budget spectrum. Somethimes the same customer buys both in different circustances.
 
Ever since we opened our door we have survived by trying to be all things to all people that have needs in the world of picture framing and art.

Bless the high end , low end, and middle because together they provided enough collective business for us to have survived all these years.

Tom
 
I had a customer in last weekend for needlework supplies...but slipped and told me they were on their way to M's with a coupon for framing (it was about to expire)...I was cheeky (for me) and asked if I could give them an estimate...and was quite confident they would return.
About an hour after that someone came in with a restretch and refit from that same chain (wish they were here when the estimate folks were here).
They never came back....maybe I need to lower my prices??? :shrug:
 
Sometimes I have noticed people have the misconcieved notion that they are getting superior products from M's because it is worth twice as much as my quote, which matches or is less than M's. M's has everyone around here convinced they are superior in materials and service. Even though they keep bringing M's work to us to get it straightened out!!!!!
 
Ylva, Our ticket average is up a bit too and like your projects, ours are also a bit more involved. I think perhaps the general public goes to the BB's for what I refer to as "down and dirty" framing projects, but come to us for what needs a skilled framer.

Still looking for the magic bullet in advertising to let the general public know we can compete with those "everyday" frame jobs!!!

Lori
 
Well, I have been seeing something even scarier than customers going to Michaels, etc. They are now shopping the framed art section of Home Goods, with their art in hand, with the idea of using the framing/matting for their piece.
 
A large consignment store moved into the shopping center. They have tons of my old work. Very nice lady comes in... I'd like to have these framed. (2 notecards in one frame.) I quote $165. She says "I'll be back." So she goes to the consignment store and comes back with framed art, my previous work. Oh, just cut a mat and I'll put them in here.

h8 consignment store.

<3 Michaels here cuz they suck.

And for the OP yes I think the prices are being driven down by package pricing.
 
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