It seems that nobody really challenged Mr. G's assertion that 1/3 of the existing framer’s community will disappear within next 5 yrs. (God forbid it was me who said it first
)
In fact HIS opinion ought to be debated for his numbers are alarming to say the least. Which 1/3 is to vanish from site and why, under what circumstances? True, there are numerous newly open businesses that succumb at their first breath. I don’t think G was referring to those meteoric appearances, but to existing (established) entities. I tend to believe his prediction and, in my opinion, that doomed category is made of professionally weakest framers, those who have no practical skills, those who can't tool themselves up, those who can't offer but design choices and are in need to send out work, those who can't alter a finish, and those who sail alone and can't afford to be getting sick or rest if tired.
Bob is right, I am not choosing and honing my words. I’m wrestling with them enough the way they are just to make sure they come to express what I think or feel, why make them easy to swallow and ignore then? But, regardless the words I’m using, my message itches and hurts some but not others. I guess that most secure of you are less susceptible to get irritated for the very reason you did not panic at Mr. G’s dark prediction: you belong to the sunny 2/3 side of the picture.
I like Roma myself and it is a smart move on their part to extend into chop and join as much as it's your right to rid you of certain annoying operations just to concentrate on superior skills related to design (as if you can’t get to be even better designers because of the time you spend on other activities). I happen to believe that Roma’s move is a healthy one because it gives them one more foot while yours is a risky one for it takes one asset away from you in return (?) for narrowing your field of expertise, which is an illusory advantage.
And, since you insist on selling superior design skills, I remind you that the final design is your client’s choice. More over, design is not science and nobody can convince me (or others for that matter) that, within millions of combinations at hands, there are only one or two viable and valid design possibilities to frame an art work and only custom framer’s superior education and sensitivity could lead to those. Unfortunately, most of your costumers would pick up a design much like choosing from a menu, that’s according to price and volume. Only high end framers enjoy the privilege (and responsibility) to design free of frivolous limitations. In truth, why would your clients need no help to dress their bodies, but be dependant on somebody else to dress their walls? MY answer is this: because this is how’s done since the beginning. By simplifying, modernizing and “democratizing” your trade you make it easier on you to the point framer’s very role becomes meaningless. As I said, e-framing is around the corner. Some of you already do business on the internet space. That business must be different than what we know and not everybody can enter e-framing the way they entered regular framing, right? There is no way we can return to the past but I plead for not diluting and diminishing this trade any further than that.
Do I make any sense? I really hope my message is not perceived as arrogant but rather concerned with the future.
[ 07-09-2004, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: American Choice ]