Molding Samples

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No really, I have them on several different walls, no one wall is big enough in my shop. Even on the front of the design counter.
 
I keep my floaters in the bathroom
 
My samples are where customers can reach them.
It isn't like they are going to damage them

I find it helps to get them involved in the design process.
 
And I agree with Deb completely!! I have 4 10 sided carousels that I built for moulding display, I have the front and both sides of my 12' customer counter carpeted for moulding display, and I use the back wall behind my customer counter for display of polystyrene mouldings.

I always encourage my customers to be "touchy feeley" with the moulding samples and the matboard samples. It gives them a sense of being directly involved in the framing process and it opens up some very unique color combinations and design ideas!! (That concept works both +/- ways, BTW.) I always tell my customers to try anything they choose and that I will never allow them to place something together that won't compliment their artwork or images.

Why don't you want your customers to touch your samples? I am simply curious as to your thinking along those lines.
 
The vast majority of our wood samples are on the wall way to the right of the design counter. They are all on Velcro so, after we grab one or two to get the ball rolling, we encourage them to rip ‘em off themselves.

This way, we feel, it involves them more in the design process, makes it less intimidating, and, we don’t have to try to figure out what they mean when they say, “You know, like the one that my cousin Gert has … sort of a root beer fizz color with a doohickey on the edge.”
 
I agree ...If a customer has a good sense of design, then they go right for what they think they want and it gives you an easy way to understand what they are envisioning. Then you just take that and run with it further.

The other thing that often happens is they will pull several mat or moulding samples out, realize they aren't "getting it" and acquience to you and let you take over completely.

The most fun is when you have someone who you communicate well with and they have a great, but different sense of design. You play off each other and the design process becomes enjoyable and a learning experience for both of you.

I've gotten some fresh ideas which I've taken to other customer orders through the latter process.

Of course the absolute ecstasy of framing design is when the customer comes in and says "Frame it and I don't want to give you any input ...work your magic! Call me when it's ready ...here's $ 500.00 ...is that enough to get started?"



Dave Makielski
 
I have samples all over and I encourage customers to become involved in the "search" for just the right one - the only thing that amazes me is how many customers have so much trouble ripping frames offa the wall - the concept of "Velcro" seems completely alien to them and they always express such awe when I tell them how to remove the samples.

Anyone else run into this problem???

I mean, it is really hard to not laugh when I see someone trying so diligently to pry a corner of of one of my walls - they turn to me all perplexed and ask "How does this come off of here???"

They seem to end up thinking I am some kind of genius for inventing the durned Velcro or something (I wish!).
 
Yah, sure, youbetcha!!

Me HELGA!! Me MOUNTAIN VOMAN!! Can pull dose dang corners offa da vall in von yank! All dat liftin' dose timbers and beer steins maked me STRONG Mountain Voman!! HOO-ahh!!
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That's what I tell 'em, allrighty then.
 
Val said:
Me HELGA!! Me MOUNTAIN VOMAN!! Can pull dose dang corners offa da vall in von yank! All dat liftin' dose timbers and beer steins maked me STRONG Mountain Voman!! HOO-ahh!!
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That's what I tell 'em, allrighty then.
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You guys are cracken me up.

We have our samples so customers and become touchy, feely with them. About a week ago a regular customer comes in and says it was so much "fun" to come in and design something. She was VERY touchy, feely... with the frames, not me.....

Goodnight all............
 
Allow me to play Devil's Advocate for a moment......there is a school of thought that you do not want your customers to have close access to the corners because it will overwhelm them with too many choices and it could confuse them. Same with mat samples.......I dread customers getting a hold of those mat samples. As to moulding choices I have always tried to limit it to no more than 5 choices per order. It doesn't always work out the awy. I do let people behind my counter to look if they desire but at that point I consider the sale out of my control. Especially if they suggest they don't want to spend much money and they start pulling anything off the wall willy nilly. Just some food for thought. I do think if customers have too many choices they may not be able to make up their minds.
 
But Kathy, look at it MY way!!!! ...........

Yeah well Kate, you can say what you want, I know that we (I) have a whole warehouse full of samples that we (I) have been hoarding for years and now we (I) have enough wall space to display all of them and I'm gonna DO IT!!!!!! I have been systematically pulling down a framed original oil here and a contemporary gallery wrapped abstract there and sneaking up some velcro cloth (thank goodness for neutral beige) and another set of cool moulding samples.

My boss commented on the diversity of art and custom framing examples throughout our gallery just the other day! Little does she know that I fully intend to completely replace all of these silly original oils with thousands and thousands of the most gorgeous moulding samples I can get some fool to ship to me for nothing!!! Heck, even the generic samples will find a home with me!! I love 'em all!

So you just go play with the devil somewhere else, Missy, and leave us professional framers to our assigned destination in the annals of Framing History!
 
Yes Mar, I have had new customers express surprise at the idea that corner samples are velcroed to the wall.

I've never had a customer damage a sample but I have had them damaged when they fall off the wall all by themselves, but maybe I'm the only one that has had that experience.:icon11:
 
I'm trying to make space for mouldings everywhere I can

2tables.jpg

fittable-1.jpg
 
Interesting selection of corners, Lisa. I can imagine customers agonizing for hours between the two.

I might add another four or five just for variety … but, that’s just me. ;)
 
Haha! don't ya think it makes selecting a frame much easier???/

I thought I was on to something~

hopefully next week these walls will be FILLED!!!

Hey, thanks to all that recommended Forest moulding, those guys are GREAT!
 
Lisa ...On a serious note ...I understand your strategy ...by limiting your selection you can buy your length in BULK!

I would negotiate your pricing though by pitting your two vendors against each other ...

How ingenious!

:icon21:

Dave Makielski
 
I'd get one black to add to the mix
 
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