Nielsen Bainbridge Eco Care

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Kirstie

Kirstie

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Posts
8,395
Loc
Berkeley, CA
I just received the brochure on the new Eco Care line. I see that the frames are "environmentally friendly with recycled glass and recycled mats and wood pulp backing. This is a good thing?

How do we explain to our customers that the frame may be good for the earth but not good for their art?

I see more and more shops jumping on the Green bandwagon, and we are considering promoting this ourselves, but we have real questions about quality issues.
 
We ordered the retail display and an order of initial stock a couple weeks ago. The rep was in a few weeks ago with some of the frames, and we were impressed with the look and quality.

Mike
 
Mike Labbe @ GTP said:
We ordered the retail display and an order of initial stock a couple weeks ago. The rep was in a few weeks ago with some of the frames, and we were impressed with the look and quality.

Mike
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But what about art protection? The brochure does not mention acid-free or UV protection. Are you just selling these for what they are and that's it?

Our rep is out on pregnancy leave, so we are getting notifications like this by mail.

I have hesitated to heavily promote the Green issue because of the reality of most frame production, the use of foamcore, and so on.
 
This is the first I've heard of this line. The N-B website is of no help. The newest Nielsen products they show are Natural Elements and Vivids on profile 117, and the what's new? link on Bainbridge's site is a dead link.
We try to recycle and reuse as much as we can, especially packing materials like bubblewrap, white puffy wrap, paper and cardboard from glass boxes etc. for wrapping finished frames, as well as donating matboard scraps to schools, etc. However, I would not overemphasize the "green"ness of custom framing in general, because we do use a lot of raw materials, and even recycling paper products takes a lot of energy and water. The "good news" is that our industry is rather small compared to most (for instance, even at its peak of availability and use in frames I'm sure the broom handle industry used a heck of a lot more ramin than we ever did); and that what we produce tends to stay in use for a long time as opposed to being a throwaway commodity. I just emphasize that we do what we can on a local basis.
:cool: Rick
 
For us, they're filling a low end niche area where we are lacking. We're doing a few photo restorations per week and are finding that some people walk because we don't have many options at the low end of the spectrum. For those who don't want custom, i'd rather get them into one of these than see them go to Wal-Mart. Of course, we will try to educate them and explain the difference.

If they do fade or get acid burn, I guess we can count on them coming back to get more copies printed! :)

They are what they are, IMO :)

I believe the official launch is the first week of September, at the upcoming ATLANTA show.

See you there!
Mike
 
Mike Labbe @ GTP said:
For us, they're filling a low end niche area where we are lacking. We're doing a few photo restorations per week and are finding that some people walk because we don't have many options at the low end of the spectrum. For those who don't want custom, i'd rather get them into one of these than see them go to Wal-Mart. Of course, we will try to educate them and explain the difference.

Mike
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Yes, agreed. Having frames at hand on the low end is essential these days. We do a lot of RM upgrades to UV glass and charge 80% of our normal CC price when customers buy our RM.
 
I havent heard of this line. Does this mean that they are promoting the paper mats now? I havent seen my Neilsen rep for two years now. I guess that I'm on autopilot for the newest mat samples, and NC specials, but nothing else. If it wasnt for this forum, I wouldnt know about the latest offerings. Ask, and you shall receive (in most cases).
 
We just saw them in person this past week, and ordered them as well. They look very nice and the quality looked good as well.
 
I ordered a large (for me) quatity as well. I am going to use a display I already have and (hopefully) get their signage. Green is becoming a bigger thing with my customers.

Notice they say they are 100% recyclable. So, where do I send my float glass for recycling?? uh?
 
Cliff Wilson said:
Notice they say they are 100% recyclable. So, where do I send my float glass for recycling?? uh?
Click to expand...

I think you have to crate it up and ship it to Marysville, OH, Transylvania, MS, or Portland, OR. It will be ground up and tumbled into concrete filler.

Yup, THATS Green.

Side note: Yesterday I was in the Ace hardware... young couple came in and asked for "Green paint stripper". The salesgal handed them the Orange Stripper: Bio-friendly, water cleanup, low VOC, and that even smells good and won't eat your hand.....

I swear..... they handed it back saying, "No. That's not it. The article on the internet said "Green" and that is "Orange".

In the words of George Carlin: "Here's your Stupid sign".
 
It's not Eco Friendly, this is a case "green-washing" hitting framing. I remember being told that Poly moulding was eco-friendly. Didn't buy it then and will try to steer clear of gimmick framing and offers until I get proof that what they say is true!

BTW Bleaching mats to ultra-white puts dioxins into the water. anyone using dull greys instead?
 
Baer - there is a "Green" stripper that is actually a yummy pistachio green - looks like a big tub of toothpaste - works like a charm - turns white when the stripping action is done. It is called Back to Nature READY-STRIP.

Good stuff.

On the subject of the Nielsen Eco Care line - I asked my local distributor today and he had just seen his Nielsen rep and no mention of this was ever made - my guy didn't know what I was talking about.

So I am presuming these are ready made frames that come with glass and backings - what sizes are we talking about??? Big 'uns or little 'uns?
 
Talked to the Framerica rep recently, they're starting to pitch the green thing to overcome the "Wal-Mart frame" problem. Recycled material, I guess. :icon11:
 
Framar said:
So I am presuming these are ready made frames that come with glass and backings - what sizes are we talking about??? Big 'uns or little 'uns?
Click to expand...

yep, readymades.
some styles have 4x6 5x7 and 8x10 no mats
other styles have mats are 8x10 11x14 16x20 outside

no "Nurre #" or other way to custom size.
 
Jerry Ervin said:
The Bonanza Wood from Framerica is recycled sawdust.
Click to expand...

Yes, and what is the sawdust held together with? And what are the paints and stains made from.

This whole Green thing is tricky as a lot of our customers are smart and will question any claims. We're in Berkeley. They want Green. But they are smart enough to know that there are production drawbacks to a lot of environmentally pitched products.

They also want great value, and beautiful wood. I had to calmly explain to a customer who was upset with a few dark streaks on a Tracy maple ready made frame, that if the maple were clear, it would mean that the manufacturer had to throw half the run away just to get them their clear stick, and they would not be paying ready made prices. I made the sale with the ready made, not the expensive Picture Woods maple.
 
I agree, Kirstie. That's what I was trying to emphasize in my post (#4) above. Best we can do is try not to be wasteful, re-use and recycle what we can, and try to do things in the least invasive, least toxic way possible- which tends to fit with conservation most of the time anyway.
:cool: Rick
 
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