What features make "THE BEST FRAME SHOP IN TOWN " ?

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thepithhelmet

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My work takes me to many countries, and one of the things I like to do is visit the best frame shop in town (in the opinion of the local distributor) The information and pictures I gather on these visits could prove to be the source of some interesting articles for framing magazines.
All you framers out there please help me. You know what you like to read about. So tell me what questions you want me to ask the owners/managers
of the custom framers I visit
I thank you in anticipation of your help.
 
Currently my top subject is pricing methods and approaches, this is a very hard subject to get framers to talk about, in general I have found that most (note I have said most not all) answers or articles on this subject lack depth.

Dermot Cox-Kearns UCPF®
OnTheEdge Picture Framing
Ashford, Co. Wicklow
Ireland

Member:
PPFA Professional Pictures Framers Association
FATG Fine Arts Trade Guild
 
In this month's issue of "Fast Company" there is an article about Commerce Bank in NJ, and what they do to "wow" their customers. (Open 7:30 am to 8:00 pm 5 days a week and most of Sat. and Sun. just to mention one thing!)

What does "The best frame shop in town" do to "wow" their customers?

Betty
 
Wow, banking hours I could manage to get there.
smiley.gif
Our bank is only open 9AM till 5 PM, guest what I'm doing during those hours?
Sincerely,

Jack
 
Just out of curiousity, where the heck is Labuan?

As for what I enjoy reading, I like the 'ask the expert' type sections.
 
What I like to read about in trade magazines {and there seems to be less and less of it lately} is down to brass tacks, step by step practical framing instruction. For that matter you'd think manufacturers would have that sort of thing on their websites to encourage framers to use their products. Especially new products. For instance Crescent could do an item, or even a video online showing how to do an inlaid mat using their new specialty line. LJ could do one on cutting and installing fillets and ways to use them.

Where I live there are no framing schools and whatever I learn I discover by myself or read about in books or trade magazines. And as good as the books are they can't be as up to date with materials or design as we'd like them to be.
 
Jan,

I agree wholeheartedly. Remember when DECOR had the "Freshman Framer" column in their magazine years ago? I was so sorry to see that end. They published a compilation of those columns in a series of soft covered books and I still refer back to them occasionally to refresh my mind on a particular procedure that I haven't used for awhile.

It seems that many of us are trying to come up with new "bells and whistles" to impress our customers (and each other) when a well done basic concept might enhance a piece of fine art much better.

This goes back to something that I told Cornel sometime ago about my interest in taking a class from him in building and gilding a frame instead of being interested in competing with other framers to see who can be the "best" in frame construction. I am more interested in being a student and learning something that I don't know or am not good at than being the "winner".

Just some personal thoughts.

FGII
 
To “wow” the customer I have borrowed from the “top” computer company, I try and give “The Best Customer Experience Possible” it work for the computer company I see no reason why it would not work for me.

Or to quote Jay Goltz……..A beautiful business is defined as one with happy customers, happy employees and pricing that allows you to make a profit and stay in business.

Dermot Cox-Kearns UCPF®
OnTheEdge Picture Framing
Ashford, Co. Wicklow
Ireland

Member:
PPFA Professional Pictures Framers Association
FATG Fine Arts Trade Guild
 
Framerguy,

I do remember the Decor articles and looked forward to them. But now it seems their framing section is mainly ads. Not that I have anything against ads because they let me see new materials. But still.........

The company I work for supplies moulding and matboard etc to framers in our area as well as having two retail storefronts. So I see other framers during the day and we do swap tips and techniques from time to time. In fact I got a call from a new framer just last week about cutting multiple opening mats and I passed on to her Frank's method that he shared with us on another thread. Another framer was so excited to pass on to me a method of cutting a double mat from a single piece of matboard that she actually took the time to come to my shop to demonstrate it for me.

I guess we are all we have around here so we share.

I agree with you about design. I'm presenting a piece of art, not trying to out do the artist.

Jan
 
In a recent email to Mr. Pith from down under.He writes for an Austrailian framing Magazine.I posed the question of what determines "Best Shop".For example my shop doesn't produce anywhere the profits many of your shops do. However I am often told by clients how pleased they are with our work and how it is different from what they have seen in other shops.I am attempting to advertise better and maybe things will change. However if it works too well maybe I won't be able to have a good turn around.So what makes a shob the "BEST" ? Is it profits, service ,satisfied customers,technique and ability or some combination?
What do the rest of you think. Please understand i am not actually nominatting myself ,but only useing my situation as an example in an effort to give Pith a true answer.Especially since what one person thinks is BEST may be entirely different from many others. Or should this term (Best Frame Shop) not be used at all.
BUDDY
 
It is an interesting question to pose. And as important would be WHO is answering the question. In my opinion, which has little or now value, I would NOT ask a supplier who is the best frame shop. And I can say that, because I are one. Honestly though, my answer might be the customer who buys the most or who causes me the least number of problems and I think neither of those are very good critiera for "Best Frame Shop". The Sales people are also going to respond with who buys and who they enjoy calling on. IT appears I have no answer, so I'll go back to lurking now.
 
The best framer in town is the one who takes time to explain what goes into a frame and why it's needed. He/she will also have the ability to wow when it's needed or simply find something tasteful. A good variety of moulding and matboard, making for a better selection than the other framers is also important. Attention to detail is key. All jobs should be as close to perfect as human limitations allow. The customer should be made to feel important, intelligent and impressed enough to recomment the best framer in town to his.her friends.
 
The originator of this subject asked "What questions would he like us to ask the framer".
Here are my questions:-
1) In their location what is the average footage of moulding in each home. (Hard to get, but very useful information) I happen to know that in Sweden it is about 164 feet (50 metres), in England only 79 feet (24 metres)Does anyone know what is the average in USA?
2) What has been the worst nightmare of a frame job?
3) What is the average price of their custom framed pictures. I was told that the average in USA is $225. In England it is only $105.
4) How do you promote your business, and which type of promotion is most effective?

Any framer care to add to this list?
 
What Boggy just said - especially the part about making the customer feel important.

So many of them want to tell the story behind the piece that they're framing. It's essential to listen to that, even though there are 6 or 8 pieces in the back room needing attention. I've gotten much better ideas of how the customer wants this piece to look from listening to those stories than I have from their descriptions of what color their couch is.

Kit
 
The originator of this subject asked "What questions would he like us to ask the framer".
Here are my questions:-
1) In their location what is the average footage of moulding in each home. (Hard to get, but very useful information) I happen to know that in Sweden it is about 164 feet (50 metres), in England only 79 feet (24 metres)Does anyone know what is the average in USA?
2) What has been the worst nightmare of a frame job?
3) What is the average price of their custom framed pictures. I was told that the average in USA is $225. In England it is only $105.
4) How do you promote your business, and which type of promotion is most effective?

Any framer care to add to this list?
 
I'm more interested in knowing what the distributors call the best frame shops -- what criteria are they using? volume? personality? average sales ticket? what they think is the most successful? PPFA members (or comparable in other countries) and CPF's on board?

The question for the framers -- why do you think "joe smith company" says you are one of the best frame shops in the area?
 
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I love this thread!
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Lois and Rosetl - If you ask a supplier, my guess is that his best/biggest customer gets the knod. Ask the supplier who he would take his own art to and you may get a different referal!!

BOG FRAME - You have said it like I've always felt, but have never put into words.
smiley.gif
Thank You

Kit - You got it right, stay with that customer a few minutes and they will stay with you for years. I feel like a bartender/shrink figure at times, but it makes clients out of customers
 
The Best Shop in Town:
delivers what the customer needs.
Same day service? We'll do our best to accomidate your needs.
Drop dead design? Got it.
Pick up and delivery? Yep.
Send the bill to your business? Sure!
Find a print that's big enough to cover the electrical box, match the sofa, has palm trees and wild animals in it? We can do that.
Carry it out to your car for you? Love to.
In the era of the Big Box-people want to be pampered. Discount is EVERWHERE!
 
So a good question would be this: Is the "best" frame shop the one who makes the most money?
or does the most volume?
or does the most from the ground up (i.e. their own finishes?)
or pleases the trickiest customers?
or is the most expensive in town?
or has the most locations?
or has won the most awards within their industry?

etc. ...

And who does decide this, anyway?

just wondering...
edie the fg
 
Great answers all! Barb really sends it home. I am all for the little gestures that make people feel special.
I personally believe that for most of my clients, it is an emotional and personal experience that brings them in to have things framed. In a business where we speak soo often of the bottom line (financially), I find it refreshing that we are also in a business that goes deeper than that for the customer.
Maybe I should have been a shrink.( At least I know I could use one much of the time. I am a very emotionally charged person to begin with) That may be why I see more to my sale than just a buck. So, not just for the customer, it is a neat experience for me also.
I think it would be neat to ask them if they get a pleasure out of pleasing their customers, from the heart, not just the wallet.
 
Originally posted by thepithhelmet:
My work takes me to many countries, and one of the things I like to do is visit the best frame shop in town (in the opinion of the local distributor) The information and pictures I gather on these visits could prove to be the source of some interesting articles for framing magazines.
All you framers out there please help me. You know what you like to read about. So tell me what questions you want me to ask the owners/managers
of the custom framers I visit
I thank you in anticipation of your help.
Click to expand...
 
I want to explore the possibility that there is not a best frame shop about. Who thinks that they are the best and what criterion do they judge themselves. I always thought that I was a good framer and when I am teaching I think that I am not too bad but there are occasions that really humble me when I see the quality and style that some framers come up with. So pithhelmet what are you going to do about finding the best frame shop in the world, give us some guidance on the road we should take to judge ourselves. Let the rest of the Grumblers come up with the bench mark to do the judging. Maybe we should be looking for the worst frame shop in the world, I could easily start a list!
The common man
 
original Question!
All you framers out there please help me. You know what you like to read about. So tell me what questions you want me to ask the owners/managers
of the custom framers I visit
Click to expand...
Hey just ask how many can read and respond to a customers question. Looks like the percentage would be going down if you visited these Framers. Five out of 22 responses actually asked a question.
Jim
OHIO
PS Sorry Gang I must be in a crank of a mood! I want my shooting Graemlins back!
 
I don't really care which is the "best" frame shop. BUT, if you are goign to write articles for me to read, I would love to know things like:

How they manage inventory? Do they buy on speculation? Anytime other than at shows?
Do they buy mostly length? When do they buy chop?

What equipment do they use and why?

I talked to one shop that said they ALWAYS produce the package before ordering molding. Is this common?

How many mistakes do they make? what kind?

How often do they have to rework for a customer?

There are more, but the general idea is: "How do they run their business?" That's what I want to know!

Cliff
 
Originally posted by thepithhelmet:
My work takes me to many countries, and one of the things I like to do is visit the best frame shop in town (in the opinion of the local distributor) The information and pictures I gather on these visits could prove to be the source of some interesting articles for framing magazines.
All you framers out there please help me. You know what you like to read about. So tell me what questions you want me to ask the owners/managers
of the custom framers I visit
I thank you in anticipation of your help.
Click to expand...
Mr. Pith,

I am curious, you state in your profile that you are a "framing journalist" but who exactly do you write for?

Is it a framing professional magazine?

Are you an independent journalist writing for a number of magazines?

What is your pen name and have you written anything for any of the US framing magazines?

How do you find these "distributors" all over the world to ask about the "best frame shop in town"?

The reason I am asking these questions is, when I go to a new area of this country, I visit as many of the art galleries and frame shops as I can. I want to see what they all are doing and I guess I am comparing what THEY all do to what I do.

It seems somewhat strange for a journalist (if that is your main career) to zero in on frame shops. There are much more exciting business ventures out there and many more opportunities to write about the glitz and glamourous careers than what a framer does on a daily basis. Granted, this subject would interest other framers but I guess I don't understand where you are coming from with this request.

Labuan is off the northwest coast of Borneo. How would anything we contribute help you in South East Asia? The standards and habits are so entirely different here and in other parts of the world that I would think it would be rather futile to try to gather comparisons based on what is standard here in the United States.

Just some of my thoughts and observations.

Framerguy
 
I know from talking to one person who travels the world for the framing business that there are people in Asia and other parts who find the Grumble very interesting, methods and standards are quite similar in all parts of the world for framing.

One thing I find quit disturbing is that if a Grumbler in not in what is perceived to be the main stream of framing some other Grumblers get very suspicious.

Take for instance the question on “stealing a client list” a very good question all be it possible worded wrong the response by some to this question left a lot to be desired.

BTW Framerguy what is wrong with a journalist having a interest in framing and remember that the English language doesn’t always travel very well, I have great difficulty understanding some of the posts on the Grumble, English is my native language and I was married to an American girl at one time (may she rest in peace) I think when we post we should give consideration as to how language is used.
 
Dear Mr. Framerguy,
My first comment in reply to your question is....
"There is a framing business outside America" I write for 3 framing magazines, but none are American.
Your comments that "I would be better employed writing about glitz and glamour " is a bit rich.
Do I tell you how to run your business? I happen to like the framing industry. Many framers get to see glitz and glamour in some of the pictures they frame.
Labuan is where I was staying when I first signed on to the Grumble. Since then I have been in half a dozen countries. Maybe I should change my address to Earth. last month I visited a framer with 900 different mat corners and 3000 plus frame corners. They had been in business for 127 years. I found that glitz and glamourous.
The Grumble may be mainly American, but I know of a number of framers in Europe and Asia who find the site very educational. At the moment they are reluctant to post (apart from DERMOT!) but in time I expect that will change. So anything contributed will be put to good use and who knows, may even appear in an American mag! So why dont you.. FRAMERGUY.. tell me what questions you would like me to ask?
 
Sir, I deeply apologize to you for any offense that you may have taken by my inquisitive post. I was not trying to belittle you, accuse you of anything, or try to make you look bad. I suppose if I showed a little more interest in asking questions with more curiousity they would not have been taken the wrong way. I get somewhat carried away and windy with some of my posts and, on occasion, try to keep them as short as possible. It seems that I leave out expressive words and phrases and don't explain myself when I attempt to make a post brief. But I assure you that I meant no harm and was merely curious about how and where you published when you are so far away from what I am accustomed to on a daily basis.

Dermot, I realize that you feel that many of us Americans are crass and rude but we are a good meaning lot and, if we don't come across as having the proper phrasiology or knowing how to approach or answer a subject posted on this forum, it may simply be a shortcoming on our part. I value your responses to questions posted on this forum as much as I value any.

We here in America have so much handed to us generally and we are exposed to so much convenience and offered so many "deals" that many of us have become callused to the fact that there are very few other parts of the world that "enjoy" this convenient passive brainwashing that is constant on TV, in the movies, and the newspapers. I may be much behind what is considered "normal" or "polite" by today's standards but I don't use a TV, I don't listen to much of anything on the radio but music, and I never pay too much attention to what is touted on the hourly news aside from the events that have occurred worldwide. And I may have a skewed view of others as a result. I tend to question more the motives of certain lines of questioning and I guess I did that with your post.

Again, I apologize for any negative feelings that were generated. I turned my curiousity into a blatant display of my total ignorance of activities in other parts of the world other than here at home.

Sincerely,

Framerguy
 
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