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Picture Framing Business FAQs

Click on the links below to view other "Frequently Asked Questions" about picture framing.

Where to Begin..
Finding a Niche
How can FrameCo help me get started.
DIY Framing..some ideas.
Starting Lessons in your Community.
What to charge for your framing jobs.
Running a business from Home.

Everyone has something they want framed!

You start off by framing all your own projects. and most people you know at work or amongst family and friends will have something they want framed. Its a small home based business with as many customers as you want to have. We have found that people are happy to give you their framing jobs, because they have seen that you do your own framing. Not only do you save them money, but you can earn an income for yourself. It really is a home based business with too many customers!!

Finding a niche in the Market..case study.

I started framing in order to support our photography business but it has since evolved into a thriving small business ( from home) of its own. I found when I started that the time/materials made the product seem expensive, however I soon learnt that people are prepared to pay for individual, high quality product and service. So I am focusing on this and trying to make ourselves stand out from the crowd. It is important to distinguish ourselves form the mass produced frames in shops or quick frame shops that we have over here as it is a completely different market. I Love my job and the flexibibility and creativity that it gives me, it is a far cry from my previous work in social care. Michelle - UK

Picture Framing..the possibilities!..case study.

I live in a " Lifestyle Village " for the 45+ age group, there are 340 homes with many residents into Arts & Crafts all of whom complain about Framing Costs. I am hoping to get a Workroom set up in one of our Community Facilities where I can offer a "Not for Profit" service to my fellow residents. This may take a little time to set up and I must practice my skills on a few friends before I can offer the service to everyone in the village..... John Curtis Perth , Australia

Can FrameCo help me get started with a small framing business

It usually begins with making a few frames for family and friends and before you know it, people want to pay you for enjoying your hobby!. You have the beginning of a small business which can grow providing you have the right tools and the right advice. Picture framing is an easy to run, home based business which not only saves YOU money, but can also provide you with additional income.

There are several business opportunities possible with FrameCo. Start your own small home based framing business, or teach picture framing in your local community.

FrameCo can help you get started. We specialise in the low volume, high quality part of the picture framing market. We have designed and manufactured most of the equipment now regarded as "standard" tools used for DIY framing. We are leading the way in new and innovative methods of marketing, and you can be a part of this expanding niche market. DIY picture framing is a rapidly growing and successful craft, and our tools are safe to use, easy to operate, inexpensive, and suit the home based business model very well. For more information on the FrameCo program visit the "Business Opportunities " section of the main web site...go to http://www.clubframeco.com/start_your_own_business.html

Starting Lessons in your Community.

I have been approchaed to give framing lessons in our Condo clubhouse. There are 835 units here. Additionaly, the seasonal art teacher has classes in many more condo nearby. I could take my class to other condos. My association will not let me practice my framing hobby unless I give lessons. So how can I start lessons as well as my home framing service. Kirk Williamson Florida, USA

You could run lessons, and sell tools such as mat cutters and small joining kits which would then allow you to run "advanced" lessons, to the people you set up as DIY framers. While running the basic classes you also have the opportunity to "sell" your framing service to those who do not wish to do their own framing.

If you are prepared to learn and teach the FrameCo method of DIY framing, there are great opportunities to develop an interesting and rewarding hobby.

We have found that the supply of finished moldings through the "chop service" system makes DIY framing even easier as it eliminates the difficulties of cutting your own moldings.

The lessons that you run can be on the basic methods of DIY framing based upon the knowledge and tools that you have already. You can use FrameCo as a supplier and third party reference. We can supply you with additional catalogues to support your students, and there is a lot of information on the FrameCo web site to support you and your students.

Through our program you can become an accredited FrameCo demonstrator, teaching others to frame using FrameCo tools, and earning a commission on tools sales. You can take the project to any level you wish.

What to Charge for your framing jobs

When people first start home based framing they usually charge "Aunty Betty" just for the materials. Aunt Betty then tells all her friends and other family members that you are framing and that the job you did for her was so "cheap".

You then end up working for very little return and maybe not even covering the cost of your materials. You can read more on this in our "Start your own Business Section" go to... http://www.clubframeco.com/home_based_business_pricing.html

To help you price the framing jobs, FrameCo has created ... YourFramer ... a retail pricing and design program. The program is availble on the internet for anyone to use. You can use the program to show your customers their artwork fully framed and the programe will also give you a current market price for the complete framing job. Use the price as a guide. The program is only available in the metric at the moment but a inch version for the USA will be available shortly. Go to the program at this link... YourFramer.com.uk or YourFramer.com.au

The main point to remember is that family and friends want you to be successful. They are enjoying a significant saving, compared to the High St prices and most people are aware of that and will be happy to pay a fair and reasonable price for your efforts. So don't undersell yourself from the start. To price a framing job for family and friends you can either (A) double the costs of the materials used, or (B) take the actual cost of all materials used and add a token amount per job to help cover the costs of your tools. A better method for the small home business is to use our standard pricing schedule and then give a reasonable discount as you are working from home. Join the APFS and you can receive additional help with your business setup, see other peoples ideas and stratergies through the Framers Forum, and download the free copies of the suggested retail pricing schedule

Starting a Framing Business from Home.

For some 6 years I have toyed with a homebased picture framing business. I had an account with a major international picture frame supplier. Yesterday, after all those years, I learned that they have deactivated my account because I am a "homebased" business. I am now looking for another supplier and simply, advice on how to build a successful business from home. I have 100\'s of moulding and mat board samples and have often been a bit overwhelmed as to how to selling framing designs i.e. how to transport them to customer\'s homes (I used to work for several frame shops where it was much easier since the customer came to you. And i have wondered if i could just instead have them come to my home to choose the design. I own a chop saw, strap clamp, a 60inch Chronomat mat cutter, and several other tools. At teh moment i order my frames either chopped with a wedge or already joined since i don't have a v-nailer nor a reliable clamping system. Susie Whitaker Florida USA

Hi Susie. You are so close to having a successful Home Based framing business...you just need a little help to make it all work. Here are some suggestions...

1. Being tied to the "professional" industry may have been your problem! Now that they have "thrown you out" lets take advantage of the situation. The larger companies are not geared to help you and they do not have the right tools or the right attitude that you need to make your business grow. So do not be disappointed. They have decided they don't need you ..well you do not need them!

2. There is no reason why you cannot have customers call at your home. There are thousands of home based picture framers all working the same way. Local council bylaws usually do not apply to picture framing because it is not a noisy process....so you will not disturb the neighbours.

3. Cutting frames. The saw you have will not do a good job! All professional framers cut using a guillotine. But these are expensive. We do have the Mitre Trimmer...you precut the frame with your power saw then trim up the mitres for a near perfect joint. Works well in the home based business situation.

4. Buying your frames precut to the size your require ..ie "Chop" service, is ideal for the home based business. But join them yourself. The FrameCo BenchMaster and Strap Clamp is all you need. The BenchMaster V-Nailer is an ideal joiner for low volume high quality frame joining. But make sure you have a good quality strap clamp...so team up the BenchMaster with the FrameCo Strap Clamp..because it works better than any other clamp.

The system of v-nailing is now well accepted in the industry as more efficient and less expensive than plastic wedges.

5. Mat Cutting. The Chronomat 60 inch cutter is ok...such a large cutter is usually unnecessary for general purpose mat cutting....the FrameCo 860B or 1060B are well priced for professional mat cutting. But stick to what you have. You can purchase matboard from any supplier..including FrameCo..make sure you use Whitecore matboard. This board cuts better and your custromers will notice the difference

6. To help you run and promote your business we have two online programs. The Smart Framer program is a design tool which can also be used to order your chop service frames. The YourFramer program is a retail pricing program which you can use to design and price the jobs with your customers.

So, let me encourage you to continue with your framing, and to expand your home based activities. Running a framing business from home can be most successful and profitable. FrameCo has the tools and the back up help designed specifically to help the low volume high quality framing venture.

If you cannot find the answer to your question click on the special FAQ "Answer Link" below and we will email you with suggestions and advice from our framing panel. This is a free service to all FrameCo visitors.

FrameCo Help Desk - Click Here

FrameCo - Australia Phone: 03 8878 1700 FreeCall: 1800 033 619 Email: frame@frameco.com.au	FrameCo - U.K. Phone: 01296 399 860 Free Call: 0800 389 0767 Email: info@clubframeco.co.uk	FrameCo - U.S.A. Phone: 805 434 0912 FreeCall: 800 682 1222 Email: info@frameco-usa.com
Ready Made Picture Frames UK \| Last Updated May 17, 2008 \| Melbourne Picture Framing

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