Mirrors

[Sarah Winchester]

In the recent Decor magazine there is a feature on mirrors, and Bill Parkers column on selling mirrors. I strongly agree that we should be selling mirrors. They are easy to frame, and very, very profitable. The largest I've sold have been a 6' x 8', and a 5 1/2' x 8'. I average at least one mirror per week and have ever since I've been open.
And the odd thing is that I'm located within 100 yards of the largest glass company in the area, and he sends all his mirror business to me. I asked him 'why' and he said he was too busy to bother with 'fussy old ladies".
So think about selling mirrors.

 

[Couture's Gallery]

Mirrors are great for us also...we also are refered by a large glass co. that don't want to bother with "small" orders. We also have a glass artist who makes custom mirrors for us with frosted and/or stainned glass art on them and that does very well.If you do not do mirrors now is the time to start.

 

[Paul N]

Sarah:

I agree wholeheartedly! Ever since I put a beveled mirror on an easel in my shop window (with 4 corners samples around it) my mirror sales went sky-high. (I "borrowed" the idea from a Grumbler, possibly JPaul...)

This attracted lots of people who didn't realize you could custom-order (framed) mirrors in any size.

 

[PaulSF]

I'll have to try that, Paul (although I'm afraid the reflection might cause a few auto accidents!!

I can't give away mirrors here. Folks see big mirrors at places like Bed Bath for $100, and can't figure out why a 20x24 mirror in a chunky gold leaf frame would cost $500. It's gotten to the point where I just tune out people who call to ask about mirrors, because I know I'm wasting my time with them.

But hey, I'm going to stick that fella in the window right now!

 

[Paul N]

I can't give away mirrors here. Folks see big mirrors at places like Bed Bath for $100, and can't figure out why a 20x24 mirror in a chunky gold leaf frame would cost $500

Sure, but many people MUST come to you for certain odd-sized mirrors that must fit in a certain space over a powder-room sink and should match the color of the fixtures!
I sell a lot of those. So make sure you have all kinds of silver colored frames (from Graphite / Chrome to German Silver)!!

PS: I sell very few Gold Leaf mirror frames. But there are people who want them and are willing to pay (I sold one round (9x9 inches I think) gold leaf mirror once for over $300!

 

[Jay H]

Mirrors are a very tough sell for me. I need to get better at selling them. There is a mirror company about 2 blocks down the road from me. When people go in there for a framed mirror they point them my way. We pick out the frame and I call the mirror company to pick it up. They do and install the mirror and hang the finished piece. So its real easy for me. Still sometimes I wonder if its worth it. Its a very very difficult sell for me. Its probably me?

 

[traflet]

Funny, I hardly ever can sell a mirror. I finally got a serious buyer and built her a $450 Roma frame, but I sent her to the local glass company for the mirror, knowing that she would spend less than half as much for it there. Silly me.

 

[Paul N]

One needs to keep in mind that many suppliers sell standard sized mirrors, even beveled one, for VERY good prices. The odd sizes have to be bought from glass / mirror manufacturers and the prices go up accordingly.

 

[Shayla]

Another angle for selling mirrors is that it is an
important part of a good feng shui environment.
Now I should probably use full disclosure here and
admit that I am waaaay not a feng shui enthusiast.
But for those who are, the strategic placement of mirrors
in their homes matter a great deal.
Other things, too. I had one couple bring back their
piece to be reframed with museum glass. They thought
that having fewer reflections coming from that corner
of their living room would be good feng shui juju.
I was happy to help them and they were happy with
the results.
Love this mirror thread. When someone says how
much they like a particular corner sample, but just
don't have art for it, I say, "You can always frame
a mirror with it...." They like that idea.

 

[PaulSF]

The mirror itself is cheap. It's the frame that's expensive, too expensive, for the customer.

 

[Framecrazy]

I agree with PaulSF. Most people want big mirrors which means big wide mouldings which means $$$$.

Don't get me wrong I love building them. Pop on a frame and hanger. Done.

 

[Paul N]

Love this mirror thread. When someone says how
much they like a particular corner sample, but just
don't have art for it, I say, "You can always frame
a mirror with it...." They like that idea.

Very good thought Shayla!

Actually many times when people bring a piece to be re-framed and the old frame is quite decent, I suggest putting a mirror in that older frame instead of throwing it away.

Quite often it turns into a 2some sale!!

PS: The Chinese dish, Feng Shui is it better with Sesame oil and Soy sauce or Hoisin sauce?? And do you serve noodles with it??

 

[Jay H]

This is an old pic of my mirror display that was up for about 6 or 8 months.

It looked ok but didn't do anything to mirror sales.

I think I have $400 on that big mirror and have had it for over a year. I have sold it twice, only to find it out its "to big for the space".

 

[PaulSF]

But Jay, how could anyone figure out that you sell and frame mirrors from that display????

 

[pictureframingpro]

Another angle for selling mirrors is that it is an
important part of a good feng shui environment.
Now I should probably use full disclosure here and
admit that I am waaaay not a feng shui enthusiast.
But for those who are, the strategic placement of mirrors
in their homes matter a great deal.
Other things, too. I had one couple bring back their
piece to be reframed with museum glass. They thought
that having fewer reflections coming from that corner
of their living room would be good feng shui juju.
I was happy to help them and they were happy with
the results.
Love this mirror thread. When someone says how
much they like a particular corner sample, but just
don't have art for it, I say, "You can always frame
a mirror with it...." They like that idea.

I have had samples of moulding come in that I fell in love with..... searched for art to put in the moulding...... gave up, now have a few mirrors in my house just because I loved the moulding!

 

[kdub]

I probably do on average one a month. Most of the time, I get people who have already tried the big boxes and home decor stores. They either didn't find a frame they liked, or they didn't find the size they needed.

In fact I just had a customer that left thrilled to death that I'm coming to her house on Monday to look at her bathroom to help her get two mirrors. She's looked around didn't find anything and is now willing to pay to get what she wants.

In addition to selling custom sizes, I also have some from Tracy Chop to help me compete with some of the big boxes (though that's really only feasible since I'm not that far away from them).

 

[Acrylic Queen]

I'm a little bored today so I'm reading all the threads and I have a question for Paul who said "too expensive for the customer" What customer, who's customer? I learned a long time ago that I don't decide what my customer or any customer can afford. I have stopped being surprised that when offered the most expensive and best product ... they buy what I can't afford for myself.

 

[PaulSF]

The customers that have walked through my portals to get a mirror framed.

 

[RParrish]

I always use scraps of my nicest molding to frame up a mirror, since it all let over it's better with a mirror than collecting dust in the work shop. You do need to have a display area of them, one or two laying around just won't do. Also I like to make them in tall and narrow sizes (16 x8"), most people have odd spaces a mirror would do nicely in, like hallways.