kids in a frame shop

Angie Pearson CPF

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
In Memorium
Rest In Peace


Gone but not forgotten
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Posts
678
Loc
Poplar Bluff, MO
Oh my god the most scary thing happened today!

This lady came in with a new born baby and a little girl. The little girl was kind of hyper and was running all over the place. The mom sat the baby down and got control over the little girl. The mom was looking for Norman Rockwell prints, so I brought her to the print search program and showed her how to use it. The mother finally seemed to have perfect control over the little girl. I had to go to the back for something and I was gone for no longer than a minute when I hear two loud thuds!! :eek: :eek: :eek: !! I hurried up to the front to see what the heck had happend and asked if everyone was okay. The little girl had ran underneath one of those big double sided easels with four very expensive framed Jessie Barns prints on it. Two of them crashed to the floor. Luckily the little girl was perfectly alright, but my heart was beating so fast and her mother was mortified. She could have really been hurt. Those pictures were huge! Both of the frames were damaged... one completely but no glass broke, thank goodness. The mother really wanted to pay for the picture, so we inspected it and decided that only one frame was completely unusable. We are just going to charge her cost for the replacement. When she left we decided to go ahead and cut the damaged frame down to a standard size so she could at least use it for something. Anyway, I always feel akward about getting on to childeren for running around the shop when the parents are right there. I don't want to offend the parent but on the otherhand I don't want anyone to get hurt or damage things in the shop. I guess I will just have to risk offending parents if they won't watch their kids and I will not leave them alone ever again! ...not even for a minute!
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Anyone ever had this type of thing happen to them?
 
I've never had a problem with kids running around. But before I started framing in my home I babysat. Kids get bored when moms are preoccupied. May I suggest having something for them to play with. Maybe some old corner samples with no velcro on them. Or you'll end up with them back on your walls. Or maybe some small pieces of moulding and matboards so they can play framer. I keep some McDonalds toys just in case. You could also pick up some toys at garage sales that the kids can take home with them if they want. With moms permission of course. Moms will love the extra effort you show.
 
I have always wished I had room/area to set up one of those little kid easels with some nice markers or even paints. Then let the kids paint or color. After the kid is done they get a crappy little frame with a mat to take home.
 
Thanks guys! I should have thought about that!!! I will tell Joyce (my boss) we should get some toys, I'm sure she will go for it. I think one reason why we have so many moms with little kids come in the shop is because we are right next to Fort Leonard Wood and the Daddy's are off in Iraq. The mom's are up here away from their family with no one to help them so they have no choice but to bring along the baby's when they want to go browsing. I really don't mind it at all, I just get scared for the kids sometimes.
 
Had a guy in today. Repeat customer. (He was in before to pick up a frame when my husband was there...kids everywhere...my husband freaking out because we had original art everywhere and frames to be picked up...his kids today left sticky fingerprints all over frames (for customers) not to mention my windows. Has 3 kids under the age of 4. I had over 12 frames in the showroom today ready for pick-up, not to mention other stuff on which they could get hurt. I kindly said to the kids (after they began a game of tag) that they might fall into the glass and get hurt. Their dad seemed oblivious. I got them out of the shop asap w/ some candy and a kind attitude to boot (after designing a frame for a LTD pope portrait.) MY 9 year old suggested a basket of 'Happy Meal' toys for the kids to keep occupied with. She is also good at running damage control when she sees Mom "tweeking". (We actually have a big basket of toys we can keep or get rid of that would serve this purpose. Even with this in mind, I have an advantage of 'damage control assistant'....without which could mean toys thrown acroos the showroom.)

Just my 2 cents. I had the same experience today....minus the broken frame. So close, though.
 
Our best investment ever was the lego table that my father bought in 1992. It is still in the store and we replace legos about every 5 years due to some kids taking a block or two.

When parents are getting frustrated with the kids we ask the kids to build us something, parents are now in the store for 5-10 more minutes. Better yet, kids never forget that we have the table, the family may be walking by the store and the kid comes running into the store because he/she wants to play with the legos, mom and dad in the store for 5-10 minutes...kids, legos, and a retail business, what a wonderful world.
 
A Wise gave me an idea.
Wy not have those old corner samples (it sure beats burning them !) with velco still afixed, set up a small wall area of carpet, a few really small kids prints with velcro tabs, and the kids can do what mum's doing, designing some framing.
Who knows, you might find a brilliant designer too.
 
I have a computer for customer to use in the corner. I call it my media centre. Access to the online pictures etc. I purchased a DVD drive for the computer. As soon as kids enter...on goes Nemo. They stayed glued to the screen....A very small investment...and big returns/savings.....
Prior to that I experienced everything that you guys have....with the exception of children running under a easle.....
 
Ron, I don't know about your old fellow; but, mine (almost 11 now) walks away from the kids if they are too over eager or shreak. Even an gentle giant can only take so much.
 
Does David Letterman's velcro suit come in a kid size? I mean your walls are covered with rug aren't they?

On a more serious note. I have an old chalkboard, huge piece of slate, that I drop on the floor and let kids use Pastels on. They love it. I also give them mat scraps to color on with pastels so they have something they can take home (or frame!).

On a scary note, I had a little kid come walking over to me with a big piece of glass he had "picked up". He was fine, and thankfully I had seamed the glass piece prior to his "finding it" for me. But I did mentally seee my insurance premium go through the roof! (Don't tell on me Ron!)
 
We both knew it was time for his retirement when Dogzilla got up to walk away from a toddler who happened to be laying on top of him. The toddler went "Thunk," the dad went "Gasp!" I went "Oh oh" and Dogzilla went home.

For seven years previous to that he enjoyed all manner of undivided attention from countless children (and more than a few adults) who would otherwise have been careening of my walls.

There was a bright, spoiled 12-year-old (aka old-enough-to-know-better) spinning a corner sample rack in my shop while the mother (also old-enough-to-know-better) stood by, oblivious.

I finally suggested to him that there was some risk of the high RPMs affecting the weather patterns in my shop or forcing the rack to become airborne, and that either one might result in injury or mayhem.

As a bright child, he responded more positively than he would have to, "Hey! Knock it off!"
 
I like the frame samples idea but we just through all of our old crap away and we don't have any wall space for the moment. I like the movie idea too, we could definatly rig something like that up in the shop. Great ideas and stories... keep them coming!
 
The scariest kid story I have is this one.
One place I worked, I stretched needlework at a table in the front, because it was such a nice front room. If a customer came in, I would pick up my box of pins and the piece, carry them with me to the design counter, and lay them off to one side.

This time, two women came in, the younger carrying an infant.

I waited on the older woman while the younger one looked around. The customer and I left the counter so I could show her some samples on the wall.

When I came back to the counter, the younger woman had set the baby down right next to the pins, and *walked away*! The baby had a fist full of straight pins! I gently opened its little hand, and the pins all fell out. No damage. whooooooo....

I told the wandering Mom that we needed the counter space and she grudgingly picked up the child.

I was amazed that neither woman seemed excited about the incident. I managed to get the older woman's order, and get to the back room before I had to sit down and just pant a little.
 
We’ve got a wicker basket full of donated toys which generally keeps toddlers occupied for 3 microseconds before they begin climbing the glass display cases or using the wood corner samples as boomerangs.

I would be reluctant to place any writing implements in the hands of a kid, though. You’ve gotta believe that they will lose interest in paper or a slate board and head for your walls.

<strike>Two</strike> <strike>Four</strike> Five words: a very nasty pit bull.
 
Originally posted by Bill Henry:
<strike>Two</strike> <strike>Four</strike> Five words: a very nasty pit bull.
Bill: I like the way you think.
 
Duct tape,
one for the hands, feet and don't forget a strip across the mouth for when you are trying to close the deal.
 
Pit bull and duct tape might work, but some parents don't want to submit their kids to torture. Go figure.
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Our toy box -- actually a plastic storage box with lid -- sits on the floor, inconspicuously under a shelf in the gallery. It's amazing how quickly the little ones find them and dig in.

Good thing, too. Some parents are completely oblivious.

Interesting side note: Over the years we've accumulated several nice additions to the toy box collection, presumably donated by children who just like to share.
 
Originally posted by HannaFate:
The baby had a fist full of straight pins! I gently opened its little hand, and the pins all fell out. No damage. whooooooo....
Oh my god Hannah, I think I would have fainted. I bring my things to the front to stretch also, makes it so much easier but I guess its a good idea to move them when kids come in.
 
Had an ex-partner that kept her dog in the store. **** animal tried to bite my son once without any provocation. Dog was just jealous that my son was getting attention and not him.
Happened a second time.
The third time it bite a 5 year old kid who belonged to a good client. She told my partner that if she hadn't been a good customer that she would have considered suing us. Partner couldn't understand that the dog wasn't cut out to be a store dog, and resisted my demands to keep the dog out of the store.
After a shouting match she finally relented and kept the dog at home. Lasted about 1 week.

After a year and thousands in legal fees we split up.(not on account of the dog though)

As for kids in the store, the parents should know they have a responsibility to bring toys or drawing books with them. If they don't then tie em' up!
 
Sometimes, you have to bring the kids. It is never first choice when going to stores like a frame shop. As a parent, I feel responsible for bringing toys, etc. to occupy my kids, and I should know their limit for acting like an "adult" when they are just kids. I am always grateful when shop owners understand this and provide a distraction. I looove the mini framing design idea- kids love velcro!

Having said all that-I have beautiful drawings my five year old did on the back of every page of my handout from Jim Miller's shadowbox class last Saturday. We weren't there for the whole class, she was pretty good, but I know full well her limits and I did not bring paper to draw on- her favorite.

**Jim, she asked me what was so special about that dollar that it got such a special frame on it?
 
Good ideas... I am off to buy some Lego's (I had one of those days twice this week) and who knows, maybe I will get to try that way cool Lego frame I saw here during Christmas...
 
Think twice before setting up a children friendly section in your store. I have heard of (right here on The Grumble) people simply dropping their children off so they can go shopping at other stores, go to the beauty shop, even to work. Seems they think if they ever made a purchase from you, you will provide free baby sitting at anytime, indefinitely.

While these children are in your care, they are your responsibility, is your insurance going to cover you?

John
 
You really are pathetic in the US!
One solution and one solution only. Mini hand-cuffs linked by chains to an iron ring fixed to the wall furthest from the sales counter. Preferably this wall should be in a darkened and sound-proof room.

Get real folks!
 
I like the way you think Alan!

Having small children at home, the last thing I want are ankle biters at my shop, but these things happens, so I have a lego table also, and its amazing how pre-occupied they get.

I suggest you keep away from paints as your walls or windows will become murals, and cars and trucks, as they will get under your foot when the kids try to race them. Crayons (the washable kind) and plain paper on the table are great and a few puzzles. (as long as the pieces get put back together)

Along with the mini hand-cuffs a choke chain and muzzle go well together......

Children are our future!

Don't ya just love KIDS!!!
 
We hae had a Lego Table for around 12 years and never had a child dropped of while parents shopped. The day that happens I will be on the phone with DHS to have the child picked up.
 
I have heard of (right here on The Grumble) people simply dropping their children off so they can … go to the beauty shop.
I’m the patsy that that happened to. I was in the shop on my day off. I called the cops and they were sorting this mess out with the “mother of the year” when I left. I never learned what the final disposition was. I hope they called DCS.

I think the kid stole my Papa Smurf doll, too.
 
Angie,

It happened last year.

I was in the shop cleaning on a Monday (we’re closed) when I spy with my little eye a blur heading out the front door. Not wishing to lose a sale, I headed after her only to spy with my other little eye a kid sitting near our toy basket.

I tried to talk to the lady, but she just continued down the hall to the hair salon at the other end of the building. Without turning around to even talk to me she just waved and said, “I’ll be back in twenty minutes”. I responded with my usually wit, “Huh? Uh … but …hey … waitaminute!”

The kid wouldn’t tell me his name. (I guess it’s okay to leave your kid with a stranger as long as you don’t talk to him).

I was verrrry annoyed. I wanted to leave but couldn’t, obviously, with the child here.

So I called the cops!

They were big and scary looking and made the kid cry. I was just leaving when the mother returned to claim her delightful little charge. I never found out what happened after that.
 
Was it one of your customers, or someone you didn't know?
I never saw her before (and I doubt that I ever will again). Although she won't admit to it, I think Irene, the hairdresser, mentioned to the lady that we had toys.

The thing that still gauls me is that we weren't even open that day.
 
The nerve of people! That poor kid. I don't understand what would be so important that she couldn't take her kid with her. Serves her right!
Another thing that has happened a lot is kids that look about 8-12 years old coming in and browsing in the store by them selves.... while they pose no threat as long as I watch them... Where the h*ll are their parents??!!?!?
 
This is an older post but I thought I would put my two cents worth. We have a stack of mat board which is the off cuts which often get thrown out. We also have a few crayons and textas which we give to the kids to draw their own drawing. ( with strict instructions that they are only to draw on the matn board.) Then whatever they draw they get to keep. ( It gets rid of an extra bit of offcut as well). I did have one of them bought back in to be framed ( who'd figure?)

I think keeping kids busy is important as most of our patrons are female , and a lot with kids, they have to feel as though the kids wont be a bother when they walk into the shop.
 
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