our competition - the net

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JBergelin

JBergelin

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Dec 14, 2004
Posts
374
Loc
Big Rapids, Michigan
I don't worry as much about the BB as the internet.

Case in point today - a customer came in asking about framing a football jersey. they wanted ball park pricing - like what is in the window.

("the window" is a home team hockey jersey with stick, puck and program in Larson 510BL.)

Turns out they just want the Jersey displayed - keep costs down - I suggested that depending on what they choose they should plan for a minimum of $300 - that the acrylic boxes (thinking Gemini) would start around $450 (checked after they left suggested retail $502). then I remembered that Larson has a new box - cannot fine the price in my handy dandy Larson Price list so I on the spot guess that it would be retailed about $300. I could check for the exact cost if they were interested.

They leave - appear to be disappointed - will discuss with "him" - so I take a quick look on the internet. Team jerseys with Major team logo on the acrylic for $169.00 - sportscasekings.com.

Perhaps I am buying wrong but I cannot get the materials for that -let alone the logo- :shrug:

Grumble Grumble

This is not the first time - the last time this happened was with a paneramic (heck a looong) picture - 84 inches by 14.

Oh well I guess there are other fish in the sea - my question is how do we take on the internet.
 
JFeig said:
the sizes are mighty small 28 x 35 OD.......

did you see the upcharge to "100% UV filtering acrylic" $83.00
Click to expand...

Did you check their info page on UV Protection? 50% pregnant?! They definitely know their audience, male, as any female reading that line would have their ****s!

I didn't know that acrylic was 100% UV Protection, I thought the best was 97-98%, geez, 100%, must be opaque!

WAnna bet the standard black background is a poor quality papermat!
 
Cardboard, incorrect information....

Yeah but it looks so good on the computer that the customer cannot tell the difference.

I can try to explain that there is a difference but the customer just looks at me with blank eyes. At least when they go to the BB they can see and touch the difference, and they can choose before they buy.

With the internet, they find out the difference when they receive it but then there is the hassel of returning it or living with it.....

this is our future competition, so how do we beat it?
 
Cardboard, incorrect information....

Yeah but it looks so good on the computer that the customer cannot tell the difference.

I can try to explain that there is a difference but the customer just looks at me with blank eyes.

They find out the difference when they receive it but then there is the hassel of returning it or living with it..... :vomit:

this is our future competition, so how do we beat it?
 
we've done a couple for around $150 for local restaurants who just don't give a hoot. Cheap Neilsen metal, blac paper mat squoosh--and I mean SQUOOSH--the jersey in and smack the regular glass in it.

Doable for a price?? O Yeah. Stuff we really want to do? O NO
 
It’s not surprising that the quality of these boxes leaves much to be desired. There is also no question you could sell these and make a killing at $160. All you need is a fully functional frame shop with a couple of hundred dollars to invest in this line. If so you only need a little “want to”. No offence but by poking fun at it and what not, you have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that you don’t want to sell this product. Maybe it doesn’t fit in with the look and ambiance of the shop or you don’t have proper production capabilities. Maybe you’re just too busy or the market isn’t big enough in your area. Or maybe…

It seems that we have already identified how they sell the case at this price. It looks rather easy to replicate, if you want to! If you don’t want to, that’s fine but don’t get upset when somebody else does want to (and does it).
 
We have a jersey package that we sell for $229. The materials run us aroung $30 and the size is 32x40.
 

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Donna at MetroAF said:
If it's even paper, I've seen painted cardboard. Usually its just a piece of black- painted/laminated plastic.
Click to expand...

Oooh! Don't you mean Black Archival Coroplast!

I really am not as worried about compete with them as trying to clean up the mess after. Too many of these types of treasures have come in to be "repaired" or "just have the mats changed", or to "replace the glass (cheap print gard plexi sheets)".

When you open the case and find the jersy taped, glued, stapled in place, cardboard and paint/ink bleeding onto the jersey what recourse will the customer have? How much effort should you put into putting it right?
 
Jerry Ervin said:
Can we discuss this further? What does the package consist of?

I bet I could sell a ton of those at that price.
Click to expand...

Yes, please! Inquiring minds want to know!!! Where do you find a 32 x 40 frame with all the other materials for $30?!
 
Sure

This is a studio black moulding 25301 that is $.95 by the box (14 ft = $13.30) but many others have it. The mat is Cresent 67302 pewter black core (looks great with OSU stuff) cost is ($5.71). The backing is black AFFC ($4.81) and the jersey is tag gunned to the BL AFFC. There is a spacer between the mat and the backing (scrap $0.00). Clear glass at $4.83 for a total material cost of $28.65.

With the tag gun we can mount a jersey in about 5 minutes (no more time then mounting a poster) with a little practice.

GO BUCKS. If Troy Smith wins the Heisman I am sure we will be framing more then a hundred jersey next year.
 
Yes Jerry the jersey is attched right to the backing. Most Jerseys tht we have gotten in wil never be sold, so investment is not always the issue as much as $$$. We do suggest Conservation Clear when the Jersey has a signature, but the cost is the most important thing with these customers.

As to shipping Studio has a 5% freight allowance and free freight on 5 or more boxes.
 
Most of the jerseys I do are hockey jerseys- State of Hockey, Baby!- and I tend to fit them into 36 x 48. Usually I keep the pricing around $275-300. I did a really cool one of a Team USA jersey, with some newspaper clippings & stuff. I'll try and post it in the design forum if I get the chance.

People still kinda balk at the price, but after thet've gone to "the other guy", they come back.
 
Are you trying to sell the steak and forgettting the "sizzle?" I spent four days in Santa Fe NM with my artist son and went to a gallery where the manager spent about 30 minutes discussing the frame, and these are all closed corner frames, and how it would look on her original oil. He outlined the history of the frame's design, how it would complement the colors, how the shape of the carving would complement, etc etc. No mention of price.

At the end of the presentation, the customer went outside for her checkbook, came back and wrote the check Doesn't matter the cost, but the point is, the manager discussed the "sizzle"

O and another competitor: just got a brochure from www.kodakgallery.com and for the price of 14-26, I can buy a photoframe and have kodakgallery provide free framing service. And the frames in the catalogue look very attractive, not cheapo stuff.
 
Michael, the smell test for me was presented to me by my mentor. It’s probably some of the most priceless advice I have ever been given. It was, “Don’t make any offer that would bother you to fulfill if it were the only thing you ever sold.”

Knowing Dave like I do, I don’t think it would bother him one bit if he only sold those jersey frames the rest of October.

The only reason for saying this is that I think to many times we get into a “This” or “That” mentality. Why not start getting into a “This” and “That” frame of mind?

One of the most accomplished operators I have ever met has a nicer shop and an economy type of shop. He claims that there is a definitive teeter-totter between the sales of the two locations depending on external factors. But he doesn’t care because he has learned to burn both ends of the candle.

Expanding sales opportunities like you are referring to is a good thing but shouldn’t be at the expense of other profitable lines.
 
OK Dave and Jay. I'm sold. Is the tag gun Attach-EZ??? Have to order some other moulding from Studio so may add this to my order list. May also do a sample to hang on wall. thanks again, guys.
 
dave: that's only a 3/4 rabbet depth. Is that sufficient for a jersey??? Or am I not seeing it properly in the Studio catalogue???
 
It works for us.

Glass, single mat, 3/16 spacer, 3/16 backing = 9/16 and gives us 1/4" for the jersey. If you want extra room you could double the spacer thickness and it would still fit.
 
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