Time to say NO??

Paul N

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Joined
Jun 10, 2005
Posts
17,354
Loc
CT, not far from the LI Sound
Has anyone stopped accepting rush jobs for Xmas yet?

I think tomorrow is my cut-off day. I have about 20 Xmas jobs plus another 35 for the end of the month. And 2 of my 3 employees are on sick leave (see other threads for details).

I am thinking, if it is a loyal customer, and the moulding is in stock or overnighting is feasible) I might accept it and get a join instead of a chop to save time.

And as of tomorrow, if someone really wants it by Xmas, they have to select from what I have in stock (mats & frames), great way to reduce inventory....


Finished corner? forgetaboutit!!

PS: Someone dropped in today to frame 6 pictures for Xmas; I was able to squeeze her in. Then as she was paying, she proceeded to produce an EXPIRED (6/31) coupon for 15% off....
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, this is where a rush-surcharge is quite handy.
 
We are still taking orders through tomorrow. We get our deliveries on Thursday, so anything ordered by tomorrow can be easily done by the Holiday.

I suppose if someone comes in after that and we have in stock materials, we should accommodate them too... for the additional "rush" fee. Seems only right.

Bill
 
Cut off? What cutoff? Thought everyone was complaining about a slow year. Now's the time to rake it in. Won't turn anyone away. Just accepted four shadowboxes, seven canvases to stretch and frame and another oversize project with about 20 windows. Cutoff indeed. Enjoying these days of megabucks. Too bad it won't run into March

Or will it??
 
I won't cut off anybody unless I simply cannot frame it. If I have the time and moulding, I'll frame it. I have quit promising every moulding on the wall and matboard in the rack. But I hope I never say "No we can't do that."
 
Our cut off is usually about 3:00pm on December 24th.

Rush charge...No way, why should we charge more to do what we always do? Never have understood a rush charge. Unless we have to NDA something no extra charge.

Generally things are first come first served and our "wish list" (not guaranteed by Xmas) has always been completed.

I'm with Mike, if it has been a slow year, why cut it off at the busiest time??????
 
We will be taking orders and framing right until Christmas Eve. We have stocked up on length of several frames and several mat colors.

Gotta make hay while the sun shines. Long hours are great right now..... We can rest Christmas Day, no wait I have a two year old, oh well.
 
I have spent many Christmas Eves up very late, and a few times opened for a couple of hours on Christmas morning for the very last-minute "oh pleeeease?" customers. I just put the Christmas music on and pretended to be Santa's Elf. My family always understood and those were very rewarding times, and the customers were grateful and remembered that "extra mile" during the year.
I will be stepping back into my own frame shop on New Year's day as the new owner, and looking forward to being able to offer that kind of customer service again, that I haven't been able to do at Michaels (shudder). After 14 months, Christmas Eve will be my last day there. My Christmas present to me!
Happy Holidays, everyone! :D :D :D
 
Val, speaking of Michaels - the wife and I were in our local one Sunday. The sign on the counter showed a cut-off for Christmas delivery was December 7!

And there wasn't the first in-process job on the work table in back. Must be nice...

The best of luck with your new venture!
 
I'm loaded for orders, and its only me. I'll take in the order for christmas only if I absolutely feel I can guarantee it to be completed by 12/23. my family celebrates christmas on 12/24, so I am not open and plan accordingly. In the past, I have never had anyone come in for framing on christmas eve, so I guess I'm lucky in that sense; if I was open, thats when the readymades and instock stuff would come out. My other store is open until 4pm, but thats a whole different ball of wax!
 
Keep it coming, customers! I'll frame until we lock the doors at 4pm on the 24th. The 'Rush Fee' is dependent upon your attitude toward me. Be nice, no fee. Be naughty, you pay. This is my store and I can do what I want, so there!
 
Isn't working mega hours to satisify your customers written in the contract you signed when you opened your shop. It was in mine.
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To be honest, it is part of any business in any industry. You do what you have to do to satisify a customer. It is simply the way things are to make a buck.
 
After reading the first post, I mentally said exactly the words Michael posted.

We pretty much know by now how the work load comes in (our traditionally busiest days, etc) and prepare for it the best we can so that we are not over whelmed.

I will take every single order I can handle. My dad used to say "Get it while the gettin's good!"

We always have a good January because there are alot of folks that simply won't pay the rush fee (in effect since Monday), so they'll say "Oh, get this one done, but these other 2 are for me, so hold off on those". I love that.

I love looking up from the counter and seeing an actual line of people waiting...all 3 counters already full. I could never institute a cut off and deprive myself of that sick little pleasure.
 
Yes, it is good to be busy rather than sitting twiddling your thumbs. But...is not there a limit on how many pictures you can physically put together by Christmas? I'm a one person shop, and I have been working late nights and Sundays. I don't want to promise someone their picture will be ready for them to give as a Christmas present and then not be able to finish it. I just said yes to one regular customer yesterday when they brought a photo and NYC marathon medal to frame for their husband. After that is when my corporate client told me they need 25 dealer award framed before Christmas (when I looked in my previous workorders to see how I did them, I found that they brought them to me last year in the middle of October not the middle of December like now). That's on top of about 25 pictures already on the books, one of which is a 20x70 frame for 25 swimming award ribbons and medals with which I have to make up 25 info plates to go under each ribbon/medal (for which my regular price is a good deal but they almost pleaded with me to give them a better deal and of course I relented. I've got to stop giving deals like that, but that's another topic).

I HAVE to say no to anyone else that calls.
 
C'mon guys - you can create a lot of good will by doing your best to push back that cut-off. When a customer asks if they can still frame something and we say "sure!" I always follow it up with "We've been working very hard to keep ahead of the orders so we don't have to turn anyone away." It lets them know we can fit them in not because no one is shopping here, but because we're industrious, which is true. We're taking orders til noon on the 22nd for materials we have to order in and noon on the 24th for in stock stuff. Believe you-me, the people who come in those last few days and get their butts pulled out of the fire remember you fondly. Through the year I occasionallyh get people in who mention how we framed something on Christas Eve for them in years past, or made a home delivery all gift wrapped. Make em never forget ya.
 
As Johnny said, they will never forget you if you get things done this time of year.

If you are a one or two person shop then you should have prepared and maybe hired a temp or part timer. remeber this for next year
 
I just placed an ad to let them know I wouldn't have a deadline...can't afford not to. Ad basically said:
 
DEADLINES
ON HOLIDAY ORDERS?!?
WE DON'T THINK SO....
WE'RE CUSTOM FRAMING FOR YOU ALL SEASON LONG.

Let you know if I regret it.

Steph
 
Send them here. We are loaded up and looking for more. We have several hundred instock mouldings and would love to use it all up.

Christmas order?

No problem!
 
Deacon, the Michael's I'm the framing mgr of (10 more days!!) has 258 pending orders right now, most of them due by Christmas, 3 1/2 of us to produce them, take orders (Michael's just mailed out another 50-60-70% coupon, good until Dec.24th, on top of another framing "sale" going on at the same time.) Talk about Nightmare on Frame Street! I'M A FRAMER, NOT A PRODUCTION-LINE WORKER! Next Christmas will be better, framing is not fun right now. It flat hurts me to turn away any orders, but it's the "Michael's Way" right now and I have to abide. As I said...only 10 more days left and I"M FREE!
 
I have a 6 foot banner in my window,
"We're still accepting framing orders for Christmas"
Four of the orders in yesterday the customers said it was that sign that brought them in. The only thing that I'll be "cutting off" is lengths of moulding to make more frames !! That equals more $$$ which is one reason to be in business in the first place. If you can stand the heat get out of the kitchen. It really ticks me off to hear people complain they have too much business and can't handle it. My production manager's last day is this Friday and his replacement started this Monday. We don't need no stinkin' cutoff!
 
It is busi-ness. You do the most business when you are busy! So strap those boots up and get to it. If you pay attention to numbers and it has been a slow year and you are grumbling about it being busy (and cutoffs)...there is nothing that can be said for that.

Think ahead, if you are ordering some basic stuff already for a customer, order another stick or two. Give yourself some extra moulding for those last minute jobs (for those of you who don't stock). Time to kwote a odd fellow..."Time to kick it up a notch!!!"

Dig in and get er dun.
Patrcik Leeland
 
Heck, I don't even feel like I am working to capacity until December!

I am going to brag a bit and say that I never cease to be amazed by what we (all of us) can get done in a short time when we are working efficiently.

Val, 10 days left to Christmas, that's 28ish orders to get done per day, that's 8 per person per day. That's VERY do-able, even with new orders coming in. You could well hope that this kind of experience would come in handy next year in your own shop!

I'm feelin' pretty rich at 50 in the hole for Christmas, I LOVE having that much to do. LOVE IT so much, I want more.

Tim, your production manager's last day is Dec. 16th? Ouch.

edie the bringiton goddess
 
We offer a 7 day turnaround all year, regardless. Next day, same day or even while you wait is usually possible even if sometimes improbable! we turn nothing away.

The only thing that suffers is our own artwork framed for sale in the shop, but we try and build up stock of that in anticipation. Ditto for ready made frames, which we NEVER buy in, they are all made in-house.

Stop taking orders now - lose two weeks framing turnover?

No thanks!

John
 
A customer is bringing in artwork tonight for an order of 10 frames, each one with a 15 hole mat (mat out of stock at locally)and wood frames (moulding out of stock locally). Oh, and they need to be at UPS Friday morning to be packaged and shipped to North Carolina for Christmas... but we'll Get 'Er Dun!
 
This is equivalent to tax time for an accountant!! Yeah - let's frame some more!!! There's still 11 days to go!!!

Yippee!
 
This is absolutely the wrong time to say "NO". It is prime time to convert them. "Yes, Yes, Yes" is the only answer.......
 
Goddess, you're right about taking this experience with me to my new shop. When I said 10 more days left, I meant of my employment with Michael's, Christmas Eve is my last day there. I had my own frame shop for many years, years ago, and this has certainly been "different". It's still framing, but not what I was used to. I'm looking forward to the change, the challenge and to having a life outside Michael's. Did a 16-hour day today, and I'm pooped, and have to be back there at 6 in the a.m. because of a big corporate visit, we really don't need that right now! I don't mind the hard work,love it, in fact, but I'd rather be working hard for me and my own customers. Thanks for the encouragement! Sorry for the whining. I'm actually very grateful for this experience. I sure appreciate all you fellow Framer/Grumblers! I have so many questions, and when things calm down I will start asking them.
Happy Framing, everyone!
 
I always say YES, and then figure out how to get it done after... but last night a guy walks in at 5:20 wants 12 framing jobs, all same mats, all same mouldings - 6 with 11 openings, 3 with two openings, 2, with three openings, one with something else. Only issue I see is mat availability - its not a white that I stock. BUT, I told him I would get it done; mat availability would be the only thing that holds me back. Its a good think I have two sources.

Oh... and, this is the same guy that I shamed him for not not shopping locally and checking with us to do the framing for the new hotel his family business built in town - he sent it out to a production shop! He got what he paid for to because I took one off the wall and looked it over.

So, I guess I've got some proving to do!

I've lost track of how many days to christmas

elaine
 
I have tried to say, "No" but have not carried it out yet, especially when the customer asks who else could I recommend doing it for her
faintthud.gif
. We have 3 other framers in our small town. I would gladly frame up until Christmas Eve, but I have so many to do already and a half-@$$ partner
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. Things are changing January 1, 2006 . . . stay tuned.
 
So the 87-year-old woman and her (I found out) adopted daughter who looked 40ish came in with a cross stitch the old woman had done. She wanted it framed for a neighbor for Christmas.... "inexpensive." So I worked with them on some moulding and what-not and the price was way to high. The piece was to be about 12" square.

Our shop has some cut-offs that the owner sells for $5 per foot and so I got a selection of them and let them pick. The daughter talked to someone on her cell and they were discussing doing the job themselves. I suggested they get just the frame and glass from me and then they could put it all together since they had done them before.

Around $30 was still too much. I felt sorry for the old woman and I asked them how much they thought they could spend. $25 was the answer.

I asked them if they were going to be in the area for a while. "Yes." I said to come back in an hour.

12 minutes later I had the frame cut and joined and a piece of glass and scrap foam core put in with flexible tabs.

My "trainee" wondered why I was going through all the trouble. "The daughter will come back later as a full paying customer," I replied.

They showed up about 2 hours later and the old woman was thrilled! The daughter commented that she has "a bunch" of stuff she needs framed and would be back...

This also didn't really take away from the other Christmas jobs we had planned.

Try to say, "yes!"

Bill
 
Originally posted by billrobertstudios:

My "trainee" wondered why I was going through all the trouble. "The daughter will come back later as a full paying customer," I replied.

Bill
I have been doing this same ritual for 14 years. Sometimes you can turn them into a full paying customer. However, often it seems that these customers expect you to 'give it to them' every time they walk in the store.

I'm not saying that what you did was wrong. I do it too. However, don't do it expecting to turn them to full price customers. It may never happen.
 
I'm with Jerry!
 
I say:

Merry Christmas, you just got the bargain of the day! :D
 
Each of us has a different capacity for production. But as a customer, I think the majority of people would be more understanding to be told, "sorry, but we can't get it done by Christmas" early enough to look elsewhere, than they would be if you accept a job and can't deliver on time.

As someone mentioned, it would have been wise to have extra work for the holidays. But as the old adage goes, "good help is hard to find". Most framers of any decent skill level are already gainfully employed or running their own businesses. Although it's not impossible, one would be hard pressed to find a capable framer for temp work.
 
Everyone wonders how to folks in the door...now they are there and they are going to be turned away??? Am I lost? This is the time where you make an impression and later you follow up. Remeber the folks you helped out, the extra special ones, follow up later and tell them you were glad to help and look forward to seeing them again!

Buck up
Patrick Leeland
 
Jerry

How did North Carolina become:

The Picture Framing Capitol of the World

as in your footer?
 
Originally posted by Jerry Ervin:
However, often it seems that these customers expect you to 'give it to them' every time they walk in the store.

There is a fine line between being generous and spoiling your customers.

It was definitely noble and generous to put that frame together for $25. But what will he charge them next time, and what will be his justification? Christmas spirit? One time generosity??

Once you do it, it may come back to bite you. People will think we're charging a fortune while the true price is around $25.

The previous owner of my store gave almost everybody a discount. Now many come in and say "Joe Schmoe used to give us a discount...."....
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To clear things up a bit:

I haven't said no yet.

If I have the material (from glass to mats to moulding) I will never turn anyone away, even if I have to work till Xmas Eve.

But if a customer comes on 12/23 and needs a frame from a supplier that cannot deliver overnight, then I have to tell the customer to take what's in stock or wait till after Christmas.

And, many suppliers, by the way, will close between Xmas and January 3, 2006.
 
Yesterday, as many of you know, we had a snowstorm, followed by freezing rain. We were at the store before it started and we did about $1000 business (low for this time of year) before 2pm. Then the weather really set in, and we sent the employees home. We stayed at the store, with the 'open' sign on and worked on the stuff that had to be done anyway. We sold another $1000 from the most amazing mix of people. A $400 custom job (xmas, of course), folks who had never been in the store ($300), and a lot of little stuff to make the total. At 6pm, our usual closing time, we tidied up, cleaned the snow and ice off the cars and drove home, satisfied that a) we had gotten a lot of stuff done and b) we had $2000 that we probably wouldn't otherwise have seen. (Not true. The frame job was a repeat customer and she would have returned today). OK, we are lucky that we are on a main drag and live on another main drag, so the roads between here and there are generally passable. But why close early because you might not get any customers?
 
Well, yesterday (Saturday) was also very busy and 90% were Xmas orders, but those were frames that I know I could get by Tuesday or have in stock. Too late for finished corners.

Also had a customer who bought 2 large pieces of art and brought in 4 more for framing with expensive finished corners (not for Xmas!)

The way it is going, I am certain there will still be people coming in to order for Xmas on the 23rd...but will accommodate anyone if possible. I think it will turn out to be the best month of the year, despite the slow start and the weather.

One of the customers told me he can't pick up his order till late afternoon on Xmas Eve (traveling...). I will stay open till the last order is picked up, just can't ruin somebody's Xmas; but I guess my Xmas dinner will be served a bit late this year..
 
Maybe it's just me, but I hope I never get so busy that I can not take that extra second it takes to type out Christmas

When my time gets that precious, I'll probably just pass on posting.

But, maybe it's just me
 
Well, I believe the Whitehouse wants to call it a Holiday tree... What's next??
 
maybe 'cause Christmas and Hannukah are, for once, on the same day? Because Bush bows once again and kisses youknowwhat to the PC crowd. Or maybe just "the times they are achangin'"
 
Bob:

I could have typed "holidays"....


Sorry if I offended your sensibilities, but I always typed it that way, even before that dreaded PC was invented.

So there, Merry CHRISTMAS!!
 
When I lived in the UK the term "Xmas" was a common way of writing "Christmas" ... it was just a common practice and to the best of my knowledge had nothing to do with use of time, and certainly not anything to do with political (un)correctness. I notice Paul is in CT which from my West Coast perspective is halfway to the old country (UK) so I am not surprised to see his use of this vernacular!

And to use that other seasonal British expression (from the days of the Beatles I seem to remember) may I wish you all a very "Merry Grimble".
 
While were on the topic I'd like to add that the "x" in "xmas" doens't remove "christ" at all. It comes from Greek. The word "christ" is "chi" and it looks like the "x" from Roman alphebet. "Xmas" as almost as old as Christ himself.

I just laugh when those who use "xmas" as a way to specifically remove "christ". They fail again.
 
I guess that many would be "offended" if someone called an African-American by any of the many names used in my life time (colored, Negro, Black)

Just as they would be if a rumor started about a disrespect toward the Koran

Or if we used any of the terms we have all heard about someone of Jewish faith

Or, about just about any mascot the NCAA deems disrepectful

I guess it's all about respect going both ways
But, Paul, if it's all about "Holidays" (which I think is a real sham), why do we have a Holiday eve on Dec 24th or Holiday dinner on Dec 25th

These are real specific dates. I just think w eought to refer to them as they are or not at all.

If it's just another day to you, fine.

It's all about respect
 
And in that vain.... did anyone else watch 60 Minutes about Morgan Freeman?

Wow! What a pistol.... I love that guy more and more.

Gee, I never knew that Mike Wallace was Jewish...

When asked about how to reduce the racial tension.. Morgan said simpley "Stop talking about it".

10 years ago, Christmas was Christmas, Hannaka was Hannaka, Kwanza was Kwanza, Dul was Dul, and so on and so forth...
I don't remember when it started exactly [or I let it slide], but it wasn't untill certain people started making a big deal about the use of Happy Holidays that we started having this sckisam in america.
Happy Holidays was not about replacing [as my Christan brother Jay says] Christ or Christmas, it was about acknowledging all 17 of the world holidays that occur during this winter solstic time... [and that's not a Pagan term either.]

December is the lead into the deep winter, and a wonderful time to celebrate ANYTHING; even a rash of new bad movies...

So call it what you want, type it how you want (Jay, Chi predates Jesus by about 350 years), and let others have their celebration too.

Most of all, smile, chill a little, enjoy friends and family because they or you are gone very quickly...

And most of all:

Nobody better mess with my Boxing Day. Cheers.
 
Um, I used to be four square against the X for Christ abreviation. I still rarely write it myself, but the most prolific use of it I've encountered of it was by the Professor of my New Testament class in college. He'd write in the margins about "Early xtians" and "xtianity" and everything else x. Clearly he wasn't trying to eliminate the religiosity from his writing it was just an abreviation.

Now, as a chop only store I have to cut off before the 24th but I hate to disappoint anyone. Up to the 24th I will offer to mat something beautifully and order the frame to be added later, or push gift certificates. One year someone came in at the last minute with an 8x10 school portrait that she wanted to give as a gift. Did I say it was the last minute? I took a framed 8x10 school portrait of my own son off the sample wall and fit hers in it (It had some fancy dancy look what I can do with the Wizard mats on it.) She was happy, and technically I sold a wall sample so I was happy. Today my approach shifts from "Yes, of course, whatever you want" to "Yes absolutely. As long as I can make it work with something I have here." Still, no one will get a flat out "No."
 
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