Opinions Wanted What would you like to see in DECOR articles?

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Baer Charlton

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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As the new publishing cycle is coming up (it comes sooner for us writers and the publishers then it does for the readers. . . want to see my idea for next July?? :D)

Every year it's the same old head scratching . . . what would the framers like to read? What would grab their interest? What would they consider of value in an article or series of articles?

So, you're the framers..... lay it out. Go big. Anything is game to be considered. (trust me... you never can tell what will get cut, and what goes in..... look at the current cover... http://decor.epubxpress.com/

so you can think about it and make a pitch that is well thought out, or just bang something out right off the cuff.

Only one rule..... no voting anybody off the island. :kaffeetrinker_2:

So have at it and enjoy. It's your trade journal for the last 130 years.
 
More articles on store design. (With lots of pictures please)

It's an ongoing challenge to maximize the limited spaces that are commercially available.

I never grow tired of seeing the inside of other peoples frames shop.

Doug
 
With so many framers going out of business or downsizing, it would be nice to revisit 'building frame shop fixtures'...tell me about some space saving ideas......perhaps with some design updates. I want to build smarter than ever. Heck, even moving tips. Can Decor do that?

Tips on things like re-hanging your glass cutter or how to tune up your equipment....or even what to look for in used equipment....

Plus I'm getting to redecorate again and re-plan my electrical, etc.... I love stuff like that!!!!!
 
janetj1968 said:
With so many framers going out of business or downsizing, it would be nice to revisit 'building frame shop fixtures'...tell me about some space saving ideas......perhaps with some design updates. I want to build smarter than ever. Heck, even moving tips. Can Decor do that?

Tips on things like re-hanging your glass cutter or how to tune up your equipment....or even what to look for in used equipment....

Plus I'm getting to redecorate again and re-plan my electrical, etc.... I love stuff like that!!!!!
Click to expand...
I like this idea. In the last 8 years I've been involved in moving a business or helping someone else move a framing business about 5 times.
I'm a framer/ electrician/ plumber/ equipment installer/ equipment re-builder/ shop designer, etc.
I put up the track lighting, air lines, install and square up the wall cutters and on and on.
I would love to get new ideas and tips that I could put to use in the shops that I am involved in. :kaffeetrinker_2:
 
Love them or hate them black frames are big business.

How about an article simply about black frames!!
 
Given the condition of the economy how about an article on “value frames” and how to make money out of them!!!
 
Another article could be “simple but elegant” (read cheap) framing and how to get a return on that sort of framing.
 
Framing: said:
Love them or hate them black frames are big business.

How about an article simply about black frames!!
Click to expand...
With white mats, I suppose! Baer would love to write an article on that. Wouldn't you Baer? ;) ;)
 
I’m thinking along the lines of what the consumer might spent their money on in these economical difficult times, not about what the framer might think.

I‘m sure Baer can rise to the challenge of writing an article about what might drive consumers into a framing shop, “sometimes needs must drive the direction we take”

In any case I view most (I said most, not all) black frames as “simple and elegant” as do many many buyers of frames around the world, some times you have to let the “numbers speak” and given that black frames sell in great numbers the consumer has spoken and I guess will continue to speak.
 
A Framer's Dozen

Ok what is the finders fee? :shutup:

1. Behind the scenes at a Museum, as it relates to us framers, from a preparators view point.

2. Article about crating and shipping art or CMC's.

3. Interview a Conservator, example of work that might be something we would see in out shop, removing old backings, rips and creases. Rebecca or Hugh would be good or bring someone new into the field. I know one that works with 2000 year old papyrus.

4. Interview a Art Restorer, example of work that might be something we would see in out shop again, maybe our own Audrey Brown.
a. Photo restorer or getting started with Photoshop.

5. Article about building and working with Plexi boxes, Lois might be good.

6. Article about recycling materials in frame shop. How can we make our shops Greener?

7. Talk to professionals outside our realm about subjects that relate to us a framers and small business people.

A. Talk to a Collector like Steve Martin, about his collecting and he must do some framing, he's a wild and crazy guy!

B. Talk to an college professor about business ethics as they relate to us. Should suppliers be doing custom framing? are they cutting out the middle man or their own left foot?

C. Buy local campaigns, 3/50 Project and the like.

8. Great window or store display contest, readers vote online.

9. The ugliest frames in history or contest! Could be fun!

10. Insurance, Rob's doing a lot of research, but I want to hear it from the source an insurance agent.

11. Framers and their printing services, many many framers are offering it now, I want to see many articles about this in an ongoing series.

12. Stuff we sell besides framing, funky art, gifts, antiques. Not just one place but a whole lot of shops get a large spectrum ideas!

13. I want to hear about story that relates to framing. Interview a TV Show personality, such as, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, or somebody from HGTV take your pick, but you get the idea.
 
How about something to do with different ways that framers are diversfying thier business??? Other than the typical photo printing and such.......:shurg:

I think they should FEATURE a different FRAMER every issue.......someone in different parts of the world even.....


need to think on it......dont worry........I'll have more........;)
 
Randy, great ideas..... for Greener - - see the current issue (Sept) Kirstie Bennet shares her shop which is now certified Green.

As much as I love the cutting the middle man or left foot..... the article would be viewed my a few of the advertisers as directed at them.... speaking of cutting off the left foot.

The crating article has been submitted, just not committed.

Hmmm "ugliest frame"..... "article about just black frames"....... hmmmm
actually "historically" speaking, it would be the "Grotesque" period, with gargoyles and such in the escutcheons.

funny you should bring up the 3/50 project..... I will be at a luncheon today that is a 3/50 collective, mapping out a few strategies for the coming year.

As for an art restorer.... took a little oil (mid 1800s English) for just a simple cleaning for an article........ now over a year later, there is 20 pages of documentation as to the past "repairs", and the nine step process to remove the old "varnish" which wasn't. It's about 1/2 restored so far. Welcome to a restorer's world.
BTW: if it had been attacked with simple Isopropal alcohol, like many "framers" do to clean an "old dirty picture" on the cheap...... there were a few chemicals that would have reacted, and I wouldn't be getting the painting back. So, yes, there is a BIG need for education about why these people have the degrees, and constant continuing education (and don't work at museums).
 
I like the idea suggested of tuning up and maintaining different pieces
of equipment. It could be a series with a different piece each issue.

Morso ~ v-nailers ~ rail mat cutters and wall cutters ~ squaring a disk sander ~ CMC's ~ etc


__________________


Possibly an article about best kept secrets regarding markets not typically
mined by framers.

Wholesale framing for galleries ~ Interior Designers ~ Sport's Memorabilia Shops
~ Government Agencies ~ Universities ~ Museums ~ etc.
 
How about girls in bikinis framing?:p

But seriously, Baer you had an idea about going to different frame shops every month. Why dont you do that and write an article about them with photos every month in the magazine.
 
Designing and installing a dust collection system for your shop.

Designing and installing an air system for your shop (compressed air).

A look at LED and compact fluorescent lighting - is it appropriate for gallery lighting? For your shop?

Ditto on the insurance - :)

I would like to see a regular "technology" section with a feature each issue about some aspect of technology and how it could be applied to our businesses.....(is there an app for that?)

I would like to see a publication that is not so driven by ad revenue that would be willing to publish REVIEWs of equipment - and maybe a panel could be appointed so it is not just one person's opinion. The magazine could disclaim that the opinions are not those of the magazine and are the objective opinion of a group of experienced framers (in a variety of types of businesses) - it is long overdue.

A survey of static elimination techniques. Which methods/systems work.

Topcoating inkjet prints - do you do it or not? If you buy inkjet prints from another source, should you demand that they be coated and if so, with what?

Problem solving for unusual situations - like the time Dave asked how to frame a large mirror in a smallish metal frame and the solution reached.

Installation on difficult surfaces - glass/mirrored walls, granite/marble walls, curved walls, brick and stone, concrete, adobe.
 
Of course we have the Grumble for all these great ideas, most of which where spawned here!

I like the idea of the magazine not being completely beholden to advertisers. I don't think it would look good if the advertiser pulled sponsorship if one article didn't reflect well on them, and there are many ways to break an egg. Anything can be done so that it did not specify a particular advertiser.
 
I want to know how to alter more frame finish's. The little ditty you did on the 'Grumble about the black bamboo frame perked my attention...
 
blackiris said:
..I think they should FEATURE a different FRAMER every issue.......someone in different parts of the world even.....
Click to expand...
"For Members Only" a PPFA monthly publication does exactly that! Recently featured a New Zealand framer.
 
No, you have to read it online now. Personally, I find both formats a PITA to navigate, greatly distracting from potential enjoyment of the content.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
 
I cant remember the last time I got one of those, wasn't it discontinued?
 
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Rick Granick said:
No, you have to read it online now. Personally, I find both formats a PITA to navigate, greatly distracting from potential enjoyment of the content.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
Click to expand...

September and October are to be print editions according to the magazine. I last received the print edition with the Pockers on the cover. It just takes time. I am trying to give our trade magazines a lot of slack because obviously print media is having a rough time right now. Our daily paper (SF Chronicle) is half its former size, and that pull back started long before the recession. Small trade magazines are up against rising costs and dwindling advertising revenue so I appreciate what we get.
 
Rick,
I find the pdf version is acceptable. It's certainly not as easy as reading a printed version, but I understand that the enormous annual cost of printing was the reason it has now gone digital. I happy to put up with the digital version, knowing that it's saving a huge amount of money in tough economical times

Kirstie,
I think you may be referring to Decor Magazine. I remember 'The Pockers' from a recent issue and I'm sure FMO is not going to be printed for the two months you stated.
 
What about a series on Marketing on the Internet?

An in-depth article on each of the topics below providing the why, how-to and samples:
  • e-Newsletter marketing - strategies for collecting emails to sending newsletters. Tools to use.
  • Marketing on Social Networks (Facebook, twitter, foursquare etc.)
  • Using your blog to promote your brand
  • SEO optimization of framer's websites and tools to use.
  • Using Google tools such as analytics, google places. google maps, QR codes, etc.
  • Free online tools to build, publish, optimize a framers website
.

my .02

Troy
 
troyveluz said:
What about a series on Marketing on the Internet?

An in-depth article on each of the topics below providing the why, how-to and samples:
  • e-Newsletter marketing - strategies for collecting emails to sending newsletters. Tools to use.
  • Marketing on Social Networks (Facebook, twitter, foursquare etc.)
  • Using your blog to promote your brand
  • SEO optimization of framer's websites and tools to use.
  • Using Google tools such as analytics, google places. google maps, QR codes, etc.
  • Free online tools to build, publish, optimize a framers website
.

my .02

Troy
Click to expand...

They have monthly column for that already
 
troyveluz said:
Yes they do, but most of them do NOT tell you the "How-To".
Most of the articles I have read just tells you the "Why".

Regards,
Troy
Click to expand...

I agree a more in depth look and fresh perspective would be nice!
 
osgood said:
Rick,
I find the pdf version is acceptable. It's certainly not as easy as reading a printed version, but I understand that the enormous annual cost of printing was the reason it has now gone digital. I happy to put up with the digital version, knowing that it's saving a huge amount of money in tough economical times

Kirstie,
I think you may be referring to Decor Magazine. I remember 'The Pockers' from a recent issue and I'm sure FMO is not going to be printed for the two months you stated.
Click to expand...

Aren't we talking about Decor? The last print issue I have is August, which arrived a couple of weeks ago. FMO is definitely an online only magazine now. Like some of you, I am not a fan of the online versions. I have back problems when I sit at the computer for too long, and reading magazines on the laptop is not easy due to screen size. I save serious sitting time for work and so I miss a lot of online articles unless I print them out.

Online magazine technology has a way to go, IMO. It works, but I haven't found a way to link directly to an article without downloading the magazine as a PDF. Then getting it in the right size is not always easy. I often want to link to articles in my newsletter or on my web site or social network sites.
 
Kirstie,
Yep, Decor, but I thought you were referring to the post about FMO. My mistake!
 
Well, it does take a little work but ...................

It sounds like someone is inventing another "Wheel"!! What most of you would like to see has already been discussed, hashed over, argued about, and dismissed in a few cases on the Grumble through its history. Granted, some of the subjects are time sensitive and probably should be presented in terms of today's economy and technological advances of the past 20 years but, if one does a search in the archives, usually you will find a plethora of information there about most anything one could think of in the framing field.

I am not a writer nor am I published on purpose in any of the past or current trade magazines but I have had numerous articles written about my shop layout, storage areas that I designed and built using common lumber out of any hardware or lumber store, my own designed and hand built customer counter with adjustable shelving and workbenches with built in storage and adjustable shelving for adapting to most any storage problem encountered. I didn't write these articles, the writers for Decor, which was published out of St. Louis at the time (early to mid '90's) drove out to my gallery and did personal interviews, used most of my own photos taken during the construction of my items, and wrote really nice articles about what I simply did out of necessity.

Back in that time, Decor also sponsored a really neat "competition" called the "Award of Excellence" or some similar title and I sent in a completed article right after I got my gallery and frame shop organized the way I wanted it done. That one competition entry didn't win me anything but it did generate no less than 3 short to medium articles through the '90's on my shop and what I did with it. All of this can be found in any of the early issues of Decor if you are like I was and saved each and every art magazine I received in the mail. Decor was three times the size and ran twice as many helpful articles back then as they do today and they were not afraid to send their people out into the field to do personal interviews and take photos for their articles. I guess they still do that today too.

I have published numerous "how to's" on the Grumble about cutting multi-opening multi-layered mats, blocking and stretching and lacing needleart, mounting and framing crocheted names which were quite popular up in the Midwest for some reason, original designs for shadow boxes which had to have certain special display areas built, and many other short explanations of how to handle common everyday problems in the frame shop. And isn't that what we are talking about being important to the average new to less experienced framer??

Let's face it, we normally do not start out with the perfect frame shop! We do what we feel is within our means to get going and then expand from there. It takes a person of vision and foresight to plan out a very functional and efficient frame shop in what most businesses would consider a very limited space right from the get go.

My first galllery/frameshop was as large as any I opened up but I didn't know at the time how to lay it out and how to make use of the space I had. The location was bad and I had no real interest in building the "Perfect" shop in the middle of a corn field! I went from that to a 3 story Victorian style home which I gutted and turned into a really nice huge gallery and frame shop but I had more space than I could ever use for the size of the area's population and the interest in that sort of thing. My smallest shop was here in Florida which was just at 1000 sq. ft. and was by far the most efficient use of space and location of any of my buildings. To correct my last statement, my smallest shop was the last one in which I worked as an employee when I returned to FL in 2005, it was less than 500 sq. ft. and I managed to fit all my equipment from my larger shops and most of my work tables into it!

Most of us who have made the classic mistakes for 20 or more years in our process of learning probably don't need the basics at the "veteran" stage of our careers but it is always nice to be able to refresh our memories and have such a huge index of information at our beck and call like the Grumble provides for all of us for free! I am retired from framing now but the thrill of learning new things in the framing field is still there and I always like to take a nostalgic "stroll" through the archives on the G whenever I have time and am curious about some question that is asked on the forums that I know is answered somewhere in the archives.

Many of you may not realize how lucky you are to have such a wide ranged and diversified professional forum as the Grumble has evolved into. I didn't mean to take away from Mr. Charlton's original focus on the subject of needs for articles but I also think that some education on using the research materials which are already available to each of us needs to be addressed. Some of you may find the "search" function or wading through the archives a bit overwhelming but you will find a wealth of valuable information deposited there by those of us who have gone before you newer framers and left our footprints for those who need the same help today that we found years ago.
 
Tom, research is a great tool. And as you point out, many could benefit from doing so; but that is also not the point of a monthly publication that has been at it longer than twice your age; much less your career.

Come April/May, every woodworking/handyman magazine including Fine HouseHacking and Woodbodgering will be running what may seem like the same article they ran every year before.... "Decks! What a concept".

Every "Homebody Wannabe" from Martha to O to Red Book and Family BrokenCircle this fall (Nov/Dec), will be running the same recipes your mother made for you when you were in diapers.... along with "making your own ornaments"......

As Lord Byron said, there are no new plays. Every subject has been dealt with by the Greek tragedies long before Crist wept.

So why continue writing more plays and stories, why publish anything as far as that is concerned?

While you may be retired, the magazines are not. What was new and fresh to you in the 1927 May issue of DECOR; was new and fresh because you hadn't read it before. There is some grease monkey out there right now, who is looking for a new career, his wife spends huge amounts of money on her little frames.... so he figures, with a little education, I too can make a straight stick in to four corners; And like you at one time, his research will start somewhere. And that, is DECOR's job. And as part of that job, it is also part of mine.

You may think you have, through outreach of the Grumble, beaten every subject to death; but I doubt it... This afternoon I was privy to see a LED that won't be on the market for almost another whole month..... and they are hoping that when it's out of production, it's not obsolete.

Wide format printers were selling in the 10s of thousands of dollars just a few years ago... now you can get a 63" with a screaming computer and software for under $5K.

Gas isn't a "high" of $3/gallon.... it's the new reality. There has never been a time like this before. Marketing? Yellow Pages and Newspaper is so out, it's not even funny.
How to get customers in the door today? I don't know, I'd leave that for the Bluestones and Carters to write about.... oh, yeah.... they are out of the business too. Well, maybe Miller and Goltz can slug it out. . . but I'd be interested to read anyone who has the guts to write a conjecture.....

One thing I do know.... what worked in the 1980s and 90s.... doesn't work now; and those in business, are interested in what will or at least might work for them this year and moving forward. The days of a Keaton Kutter, Yes! Paste, and scratch pads for receipts are long gone, and any thing in the Grumble archives, is just so much "interesting history"....
 
Be first, be best, or be different.....works, truly....L.
 
I would second most all suggestions already given. I'd also like to see an article on package groups/pricing - what factors/criteria are used to make package groups, if exceptions are made, etc.
 
About 3 years ago an article was done on about 3 frame shops in Traverse City, MIchigan. Travis Nelson, Nelson Framing and Moulding, had a vision and helped sponsor the idea. As 3 shops, they pooled their resources for advertising. I would like to see an update article on that article. Are they still together today? How has it evolved to work in today's market? What worked and what didn't? How do other shops get this program started? How about getting more vendors involved in such a program?
 
I feel the need to clarify .................

I received correspondence from a framing professional who I respect and admire about my apparent meaning with the post I made on this thread recently.

I was not, in any way, trying to insinuate that there is no need for professional magazines to publish articles on our trade nor was I, in any way, advocating NOT attending trade shows with my post to Mr. Charlton's thread on ideas for upcoming articles in Decor!! Rather, I made an apparent feeble attempt to add to his request by suggesting that many of the posted requests that I had seen made up to my post were also addressed somewhere in the archives of the G. My point of focus was not on whether there was any merit to writing articles for Decor or any other magazine nor was it a slam on the trade shows and their associated workshops and teaching agendas or any local special event held for framers. Geez, if it hadn't been for the varied classes in all the trade shows and the old ABC shows I attended through the years, I would never have expanded my knowledge of framing to encompass what I cherish as my all time favorite career of my adult life.

Please be convinced that I only meant to suggest to the newer framers that they get some practice in using the "Search" function and that they be aware of the Grumble Archives so that they can find hints and tips on basic problems that they encounter in their never ending framing education. I apologize for any confusion or misinterpretation that I may have spawned by my poor use of sentence structure or implied but cloudy meaning to any of my statements.

And on a personal note, Baer, your reply had nothing to do with this clarification. I had no problem with you stating your opinion as I would hope you felt the same with mine. We have had our differences in presentation in the past but I respect your background and your knowledge in framing and I would not make such an obvious attempt to demean your request in any way. Suffice it to say that I chose one of the few times I have replied to a public forum thread in the past few years to have a senior moment when it came time to phrase my intention and my response as it was sincerely meant. If you took it in any other context, I offer my sincere apologies to you and to anyone else who may have read more into my post than I had intended.
 
Tom, I never took offense, and if someone took you to task for your post, I think they were out of line. I apologies for them doing so.

You brought up an excellent source that is greatly under-utilized, research. When I started framing, there was a nice little book that had been put out back in I think 1917. Paul Fredricks thought there needed to be another one. . . If we could have Googled in 1977; we would have found the same books that a good search through a major metropolitan library card catalog would have revealed....... zip. Other than DECOR.

Interestingly the LA County Main, listed nothing. But the Pasadena Main Library only 17 miles away, had a collection going back into the mid 1950s. I don't remember who paid for the subscription but I would suspect either an Aaron brother, or Haddids.

As for the grumble, it's like buying a yellow VW bug..... you never saw one until you bought one.... then everyone drives one.

Well, in every class I have taught, I have asked how many at least lurk the Grumble. In the usual class of 30, I would get only 1 or 2 hands. Even for lurkers. So the answer is... not every framer is here, not every framer belongs to PPFA, not every framer even has a clue.

I also know many who have never heard of DECOR or PFM.. . . . Or Atlanta, or WCAF. Bad framers? No..... just no connected. Remember, about 60% of framers don't even have computer access.
 
I am interested in getting LED lights into framing. That level of 'unique' is what drives clients into my shop. There are some interesting interior lighting effects available I would love an article about that it give me a head start and take the scary out of messing with transformers and in line switches, etc.
 
Nancy W said:
I am interested in getting LED lights into framing. That level of 'unique' is what drives clients into my shop. There are some interesting interior lighting effects available I would love an article about that it give me a head start and take the scary out of messing with transformers and in line switches, etc.
Click to expand...

ya - lights & rotisseries etc - great idea
 
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