Love Customers That "Get It" Custom Framing

j Paul

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Feb 23, 2004
Posts
7,299
Loc
Toledo,Ohio
The thread on your average ticket made me think of this.

Few weeks ago I had a lady that had done a cross stitch for her husbands office. We picked out a nice but simple presentation. As I recall it priced out around $68-69.00, I'm thinking that's really affordable. She says "Oh, I didn't know it was going to be so dear" Guess I'll have to wait. (How many untold hours had she put into this work of love for her husband.)

Now this past week a couple had asked me about shadowboxing a buffalo figurine. Seems they had been on vacation and had an interesting experience with a charging buffalo. Well they brought in their figurine (I was thinking maybe the Franklin Mint) but no, it was a little bobble-head buffalo with a price tag on the bottom of $8.99. Well the little shadow box requires a double layer LJ burled venner frame and it finishes out at 7 1/2" square. Total price around $250.00. Now these people "GET IT" they are not framing there little $8.99 bobble-head buffalo. They are framing their priceless memories and the great story they have to tell of their vacation every time some one asked about that little booble-head in the Beautiful Frame.
They have another vacation story about their son, a scorpion and a urinial. They wanted to know if I could find them a scorpion. "Yes I can, no problem" "Please order it for us, and will have it framed to match"!

Had an older couple in who wanted to frame the Baptismn Suit of their little boy (now 47 years old) 16x20 LJ frame / Suede Mat (fall-out) and Oh how great Musuemn Glass looks on that dark green suede in that 3"deep frame. Around $300. They "Get It". They wanted to gift this to their son, while they were around to seem him enjoy it.

Had another regular customer in yesterday with her teenage daughter. Daughter wants to frame her first pay check from her first modeling assignment. Check was only for $20.00. We started with a "pink" mat and a simple Neilsen metal frame. Before we were done we were adding V-grooves/Title Cut/ Capping the metal frame with a nice LJ frame. Total price about $180.00 to frame daughters first $20.00 pay check. Mom "Get's It", Bonus, daughter "Get's It Too! Her appreciation is being developed for custom framing when she can afford to do her own.

Love customers like this, instead of the ones we all get that say, "but I only paid ______? for the print to begin with"

So tell us about all of your customers that "Get It"!

[ 02-08-2006, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: j Paul ]
 
This is not a "get it" story, but to say this is the kind of "stories" that make for great reading in your customer newsletter.

You put it under "frame of the month" (or whatever title you want) and (with the customer's permission of course) tell the "story" behind the framing project.

Then you say "You're not just framing objects, but memories" or "Let us frame memories for you, too!" or something to that effect.

Customers love to read this kind of stuff (and it makes them think of projects, too!)
 
I just had a 'get it' story. Customer comes in with teenager art from her daughter. Turns out she had gone through a tough period before listening to God's call and is now in seminary (the daughter, that is) These teenager art pix that D had done were foreshadowings and the mom wanted to do them just right for D to hang in her office some day. They were pricy when finished, but the Mom says "I am really really picky, but I feel like I could just drop these off and you would do them exactly perfectly every time."! Heady stuff! And all her business started with a low-ball qoute to cut mats and supply metal sectionals for a business that she was starting 10 years ago...
 
Well, there are people who spend a few hundred $$ to frame a $20 piece of art they picked up in a flea market (happened last Saturday, frame + liner cost $450).

And many who bring a post-card sized painting by their kids and want it framed & conserved, price is not even an issue here either. It is something they want to cherish for a long time.

But there are others who bring an expensive piece (say $2000) and want the cheapest frame!

Thank God, those are a rare breed around here.
 
Originally posted by Paul N:
Well, there are people who spend a few hundred $$ to frame a $20 piece of art they picked up in a flea market (happened last Saturday, frame + liner cost $450).

Yea Paul, I've got one client who loves to buy old oils, he brings them in and in about 10mins or less he picks a Big Musuemn style frame. Always whines about the price, but always goes for what he likes best. He'll pick the $400-$500 frame over a similar less expensive one from the same family everytime. Now if I could just convince him to use a liner with his frame as well, that ticket price could go up. He just doesn't like the look. Maybe when my "Intergrated Framer" arrives and is hooked up, that will convince him to use a liner also.
 
Originally posted by j Paul:
Now if I could just convince him to use a liner with his frame as well, that ticket price could go up. He just doesn't like the look. Maybe when my "Intergrated Framer" arrives and is hooked up, that will convince him to use a liner also.
I hear you!

But you know? Many times some of my customers specifically ask for a liner! You just gotta love those!!
 
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