The Framers Forum

We've been busy with all sorts of projects and frames so we have updated the website.
Some of these we have done for other framers
www.kingswoodframes.com
All the best to all

always enjoy your feed! Website update is great.

Terrific web-site and some real craftmanship on show.

Why don't we hear more from you?

Big boxwood mould envy...

Hi Dermot and thanks justintime for your comments
I forget to post as I finish one job there's usually another waiting to start
I'm happy if anyone is up this way to come and see the set up and swap ideas.
I'm lucky that my youngest daughter has the interest and aptitude to do not only Instagram but she did the site too.

I'll try to make a little more effort to post!
All the best

Hi Tim
I can see that you have been doing this thing for some time.
Did you steer the company into its present form of making frames from scratch or was that the modus operandi when you took over the business?

Hi Dermot
When I took over we had 10 hand finished samples. Over the years I have steered into hand finished frames because of my admiration of framers from the 16 th to 19 th century and a keen interest to learn how it's done. It's been a slow progression but enjoyable
We now have about 500 samples on the wall with 10 factory finished bought in mouldings as we never turn any job away big or small
The sample range here doesn't dictate what's available as the permeation is endless as each moulding we can make,every decorated mould we have and the finish ranges put the capability into tens of thousands of options
Any one looking to get into hand finishing doesn't need to be put off by mess either as simple wax or paint frames don't require much effort.
Anyone wanting to explore this,my door is always open to those with interest
All the best

Thanks for the reply, Tim.
I hope you don't mind me asking more questions.

I know you mentioned that you keep a very small selection of factory finished mouldings on hand, but do the customers who come to your door know what they're getting in to when they see how you mostly trade in a high-end hand-finished product?

Are they led into having a hand-finished frame or is that more what they had in mind when they come to you?

No problem with the questions
Usually a customer has no idea what they are after when they come in
However,my daughter calls it champagne taste with a prosecco purse when the oggle at the 23 carat gold but don't want to spend that amount
recently I had someone in who thought £40 for a 16 x 12 canvas float frame was ridiculously expensive
Later that same day someone spent £500 on decorated frame.
There's no pattern.
We're also doing more trade work further afield
I like to be able to offer what the customer wants. Bottom line is,I'm a framer first and foremost,and even though I have made carved frames in excess of £4000 I am just as happy doing a less expensive job for £40. Just like the job I guess!

I have to admire the way you are able to service all your customers' expectations.
Obviously makes for a more interesting work life.

What would be your advice to anyone thinking of expanding their offer into hand-finished frames?

Or what to avoid or get wrong!

If I had to offer any advice I would say start simple
Just a wax on oak is a start
It's great for stock control with a large range of moulding finishes
For example,if you have one moulding in ten finishes you finish the moulding as it's sold
So instead of holding say 50 feet or 15 metres in each finish moulding ,10 x 50 = 500 feet , hold 50 feet and hand finish so you don't have to hold a large stock of finished moulding while having the range at hand.
Liberon do some good waxes and stains.

This method gets better the more finishes you do.
We took it a stage further by making moulding on site
I now hold about 3 cubic metres of timber in board form and I always have stock available.
Any one can wax a frame and there's plenty of advice on this forum when it's needed.

Thanks Tim.
Really interesting and good solid advice.

My only advice would be - if you don't see what difference offering hand-finished frames to your customers would be, then move on. They are not for you.
If, however, you do want to look a bit deeper, then go and learn what would get your customers excited.
For general retail, find out what is considered 'good taste' in interior design.
Maybe visit the Upper Kings Road and environs in London. There are some really good dealers there who do know how to do things well.
Subscribe to Interiors Magazine, look through interiors books, ie - get inspired.

The other angle is to target your business towards fine art.
That's easy.
Just look at the framing in museums and galleries, old and modern. Then learn how to do it.

I can also recommend Livingetc magazine.