Xmas Deadline

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gemsmom

gemsmom

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Oct 10, 2000
Posts
3,576
With xmas coming up, I was wondering what kind of deadline do you put on xmas framing jobs? I usually promise everything for xmas if ordered two weeks before, after that no guarantees, but we always seem to get the work out. We take no partial jobs (mats only, mounts only, repairs, etc.) the month of December. I noticed we get more men in the month of Dec. than any other time, and usually at the last minute. Anyone else?
 
We will probably quit making promises about the 15th and at that time it is all on availability. Partial orders get an if possible, and then it depends on our plans since we are a two person operation. This year we are leaving the night of the 22nd so we can catch a name your own price flight out of MSP on the 24th to Sunny CA for 5 days. We may have a sitter for a couple days in there, being closed always makes the customers nervous and they are generally waiting at the door when you re-open.

We also get a good number of orders coming in that people don't want until xmas decorations come down. We love those orders for January that come in December.

We've made deliveries on the 25th.

[This message has been edited by JPete (edited November 20, 2000).]
 
In 24 years of framing in this location, we have never refused anyone who needs it for Xmas. Even if brought in on Xmas eve we will do it if materials are available.
We are fortunate to have three suppliers in our area, and dedicated employees who put in overtime as needed.
Over the years this has been very helpful to keep maintaining our customer base.
When one considers how much we spend to acquire a new customer, it's hard to refuse them.
Accent
 
I agree with Accent's philosophy on this issue...........The Christmas rush creates an opportunity to capture and please new customers............even the "dumb" ones who walk in on the 23rd looking to see if you can make them a shadow box! We'd love to laugh out loud, but they just don't know.

This will be our 23rd Xmas, and we also have never had a "cutoff date". We do however operate within a Two Minute Warning Mode as we get closer to the 25th.....
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Dec 8th - We inform the customers that orders CANNOT be guaranteed, but we will call them when completed - We also inform them that we've never not been able to complete a needed order.
<LI>Dec 10th - Shadowboxes are now getting questionable - "Do you really need this for Xmas?"
<LI>Dec 12th - "Do you require this for Xmas?" No - "Do you mind if we put this into our first week of January schedule?"
<LI>Dec 14th - We now use our two local vendors for orders or pull from length inventory. Other out-of-state vendors are not considered.
<LI>Dec 22nd - Readymades and Metal kit frames are looking really good about now! We try to keep inventory up to snuff in December for this very reason.
<LI>Dec 24th - We're open until 2pm for Pick-ups ONLY. (This year the 24th falls on a Sunday, thus we will be closed.)
[/list]

It can be done, but requires some dedication from owners and staff. Do go in early one morning the week of Dec 11th and check your Glass and matboard inventory, supplies, Readymades and a few stock length mouldings.

John

P.S. Some hot apple cider steaming in the corner is great for impatient customers waiting to be served.

------------------

The Frame Workshop of Appleton, Inc.
www.theframeworkshop.com
Appleton, Wisconsin
jerserwi@aol.com
--------------------
 
The Goddess has never turned away any "I need it for Xmas" order. I don't believe in cut-off dates. As we tell our customers, "There is always a way." When it starts gettin close, we start selling from in stock moulding and ready made frames. AND if they insist on something that needs to be ordered, then we let them eat the Red Label charges. They appreciate the option and will often be happy to pay extra to get it here on time and guaranteed. ALLL of us here know that we will be expected to work extra in December. And will be rewarded for it. Time and 1/2 for any hours over 8 in one day and any hours over 40 in one week. AND a bonus- anywhere from $100.00 to $500.00.
BUT--- we have never been open on Christmas Eve. We post a sign and tell everyone and write it on their tickets that the LAST DAY for pick-ups is Dec. 23. All my regulars know this. We all work our butts off and need a day to decompress and get our wrapping and cookie baking done. Usually I sleep! If it ain't done by Christmas Eve, then it can wait. I am no longer surprised by the number of people who are happy to pick up their work on Dec. 26.
ALSO, the week between Xmas and New Year's is usually hoppin'! It seems lots of folks are in town and are giving gifts then--not just Xmas day. It is traditionally one of our busiest weeks-- both in pickups and new orders.
I can't imagine turning down "partial jobs."
Work is work, money is money. Some of our best customers have been known to bring us these. Why **** 'em off?
Just The Goddess' two cents...
 
Our scheduling sounds pretty much like Jane Ranes's - and we also - have NEVER turned down an order or made an arbitrary Christmas "cut-off" date. The folks who come in after we can longer get a delivery (this year that date will be the 19th) are "stuck" with what we have on hand! We have made many customers' Christmases extra special and it's kind of a gift to us knowing that we have done that! We also will be open for the last day this year on the 23rd!
Lyn
 
About four years ago, I had my schedual full by Halloween. Even though I couldn't take any more FULL jobs, I took orders for supplies up to the middle of Dec. Then I cut supplies for the customers while they waited up till x-mas eve.

Sue
(Do what you can to make the Christmas happy for all.)
biggrin.gif
 
We've never had a cutoff for Xmas except 4:00pm Xmas eve.Up until 2 or 3 days before. if they can use what I have in stock I can get it done, usually 2 mats and a bread and butter frame. Had a woman come in last year at 2:00 pm with 4 fotos to be framed for aunt Sue and the kids because they were coming in unexpectedly because the barn burnt down and the cow got sick- blah-blah blah. Justwrote the check and forget the life history!!!
Godess: I got the true skinny on you from our Lewinter sales guy and boy did he give me an ear full.
Anybody out there want to know the Godess' real story, send me a check and I'll tell all.
 
Godess: from me, if you can find me.
P.S. Ain't the Lewinter deals great. Can you imagine foam core, glass,bags and all that other stuff on sale at this time of year. Also: have you been seeing Bienfang foam core blistering ?
 
Ah, The Goddess KNOWS about you! ( our mutual friend will sing for peanuts!!!)
I have not noticed the Bienfang board blistering except a few weeks back when the press' thermostat need to be replaced. OOOOps.
Gee, are we gettin' deals? I thought it was just the pleasure of dealing with Our Mutual Friend that made doin' business worthwhile!
Hahahahahheheheheheheh...
-FG
-FG

PS If we keep up at this
 
Godess; WE've got end this or people might wonder. If ever in Uniontown, I'll buy lunch,then we can discuss the future of the grumble. Happy T-day.
 
We have a 12 foot vinyl banner that proclaims FRAMING TIL' CHRISTMAS and we mean it!

A number of years ago I was outside taking it down ( 4pm on the 23rd )when I noticed someone watching me. I said I may be crazy but I'm not suicidal. She laughed, turns out she worked for one of my competitors, they had cut off two weeks earlier and she was out christmas shopping ( in the middle of the afternoon ).

I don't understand, make it while you can, there will be leaner months.

Keep on top of the orders.
Stay late to keep ahead.
Filling last minute orders gets you lifetime customers.
I close on time on the 24th ( 23rd this year ) and enjoy the fruits of my labour.

------------------
Wal-mart...the Ferengi of our times.
 
I have a bit different view that what most of you have. My employees and I can only put in so many hours in a week and if I don't cut off at some point I would be working around the clock the week before
X-mas. I know approximately how much work we can do in day. I schedule a day until its full then I go on to the next day. I am willing to work longer hours so I fill the days plenty full. When I've scheduled through the 23rd then I tell people that I cannot guarantee the order will get completed. My good customers know that if they don't have their work in by Thanksgiving then they might not get it done. Some years I shut off about then and some years I shut off much later. I hope I am not sounding conceited but I have a wife and 6 young children at home and time with them is more valuable than an extra amounts of money I might make at X-mas time.
I will admit though if one is in need of building up their business then this is a good time of year to pick up new clientelle.
Make sure you have time to provide a
great service to both your customers and your family and you will have a happy and prosperous life.
 
We take orders until the 24th, 3pm.
If you have to much work then get some temp staff, thers lots of little jobs that anyone can do that will free up your time for framing.
 
Ok,just who are you guys? I hope he's not talking about us here at my store!
 
I have temp staff. I find myself spending too much time trying to keep them busy. I also have 2 college kids that will be able to put in extra time when schools out. One more week and I will be full. Of Course I might take in a few extra this year because I get my Computerized mat cutter tomorrow (Hooray}
 
Cleaning glass, staining and oiling timber, unpacking/packing, reordering, empty filled things, filling empty things, really how hard is it to keep people busy?
 
If you have to tell them step by step how to do something (even after they have worked for you for 3 weeks) its becomes auicker to do it yourself. If a customer comes in and says whats this finger print on the inside of the glass and your temp help is not fast enough to redo it while the customer waits and so your $11/hour help has to redo it then it would have been cheaper to have the $11/hour help to do it right in the first place. If I seem awnry about this subject its because I have had very little success hiring temp help. They always seem to cost me more than they are worth. I agree that it should not be very hard to keep them busy but with todays low unemployment it is hard to even find a decent permanant help (unless your willing to pay them $20+/hour).
 
Don, I would consider that a finger print scenario would be the responsibility of the assembler, I use temps with great success and if it gets too busy I have been known to do some of the donkey work myself.
 
Lance,
Really do wish I could find that good help out there. This years temp help come in on the 11th. "oh by the way I won't be in tomorrow, and wednsday is my day off I'll be in Thursday for a half a day and then I'm headin' down to Vegas. A friend of mine is getting married." What do I do tell her I will terminate her if she goes? If I do then so much for having any help for the week prior to x-mas. And it's to late for training someone else to come work for a week. Last year after letting temp. help go I found that all my invoices that were supposed to be alphabetized were in a total mess. How hard can it be to alphabetize?
Makes no sense to me other than the unemployment rate is almost at an all-time low around here and good help has gone to higher paying jobs.
 
Hi Don,
When organizing temps be ready early, get the good ones before everyone else does. Never expect them to be perfect in any way.
The answer to your question is YES (this is your busy time, don't let yourself be run around).
 
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