I have noticed over the last few months that I am getting prints in for framing from customers who buy over the internet direct from my suppliers. There's even a moulding supplier selling framing direct via the internet. Isnt this biting the hand that feeds them - or should I just be pleased that the prints are coming in to me for framing?
http://www.fwholroyd.com/art-in-business-b54.htm
Suppliers who sell direct
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sarah
- Posts: 128
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- Location: Sunny Belfast
Now this topic is a bit of a thinker.
I don't really know how I feel about it. I think when suppliers are selling their products to the public at the same price that they sell them to the framer/gallery guy, that's not on. But if the supplier is selling at the same price as the gallery then where's the harm?
Hmmmm something for me to ponder today.
I don't really know how I feel about it. I think when suppliers are selling their products to the public at the same price that they sell them to the framer/gallery guy, that's not on. But if the supplier is selling at the same price as the gallery then where's the harm?
Hmmmm something for me to ponder today.
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Merlin
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- Organisation: Merlin Mounts
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Mark, the picture/print houses are feeling the pinch as well, no doubt that is the reason they are turning to the net.
As I said to you the other day, my gallery wall has not really moved any framed prints during the past 6 months. Is that because the prints I have on display are not framed and mounted to the customers requirements or is it that I do not have the required art. I really do not know. Prints in the browsers are not moving either.
I will admit that I am affiliated to a couple of print suppliers. Win Win really. A customer orders a print from my web site - (I get paid a percentage) and then brings the print (hopefully) in to me to get framed.
We moaned on another thread about the FATG not embracing the web. That is all these print houses are doing. They are trying to survive, just as we are.
As I said to you the other day, my gallery wall has not really moved any framed prints during the past 6 months. Is that because the prints I have on display are not framed and mounted to the customers requirements or is it that I do not have the required art. I really do not know. Prints in the browsers are not moving either.
I will admit that I am affiliated to a couple of print suppliers. Win Win really. A customer orders a print from my web site - (I get paid a percentage) and then brings the print (hopefully) in to me to get framed.
We moaned on another thread about the FATG not embracing the web. That is all these print houses are doing. They are trying to survive, just as we are.
John GCF
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kev@frames
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Likewise we dont shift much "off the wall" lately, and it is irritating to see someone bring in a print for framing that thay could have bought from you.
we did have one supplier who actually sent a rep round to one of our "bigger" seasonal customers (about 100 10x8 inch frames every week from may to september and a handful of 30x20 inch frames each week) and the rep says "thats our moulding, we can do it cheaper, just tell us what you are paying and we'll beat it". He'd just sold me 4,000ft of that moulding the same morning.
To be honest it was a blessed relief not to have to sit three hours in traffic delivering a car boot full of stuff, in the middle of summer in St Ives, fending of traffic wardens and seagulls that I was probably only making fifty quid on, if that.
They got about three months worth of business out of him, before another monkey came along offering the same deal (we can do it cheaper) And they got zero business from us, ever again, because that was a slimy trick worthy of an amateur, not a company that had been in business for twenty years (btw- they are not in business now.... which says it all, really).
On the other hand, we are always pleased when a supplier points a framing enquiry in our direction - so it does work two ways.
we did have one supplier who actually sent a rep round to one of our "bigger" seasonal customers (about 100 10x8 inch frames every week from may to september and a handful of 30x20 inch frames each week) and the rep says "thats our moulding, we can do it cheaper, just tell us what you are paying and we'll beat it". He'd just sold me 4,000ft of that moulding the same morning.
To be honest it was a blessed relief not to have to sit three hours in traffic delivering a car boot full of stuff, in the middle of summer in St Ives, fending of traffic wardens and seagulls that I was probably only making fifty quid on, if that.
They got about three months worth of business out of him, before another monkey came along offering the same deal (we can do it cheaper) And they got zero business from us, ever again, because that was a slimy trick worthy of an amateur, not a company that had been in business for twenty years (btw- they are not in business now.... which says it all, really).
On the other hand, we are always pleased when a supplier points a framing enquiry in our direction - so it does work two ways.
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Roboframer
Here's a Gobsmacker,
One of my competitors asked for originals from a certain publisher - they sent a rep around who said - or 'they' said, after his visist that the place and/or its location was not the sort of place that fitted in with their 'image' etc etc.
That was fair enough.
But then a customer brought in an original for framing from a published artist from same publisher - obviously the competitor asked where they had bought it.
"Oh" said the customer - "I contacted the publisher on the internet - they sent someone round ...."
A moulding company local to me is going under - it seems. I am getting all sorts of weirdos - photographic societies, artists etc etc (potential customers) who are having the same problems as me - can't get mountboard from them.
The company has an ad in yellow pages under 'Picture framers and frame makers' for chrissakes.
Were they not local I would not use them, as it is, they are for emergencies, promos and discontinueds.
One of my competitors asked for originals from a certain publisher - they sent a rep around who said - or 'they' said, after his visist that the place and/or its location was not the sort of place that fitted in with their 'image' etc etc.
That was fair enough.
But then a customer brought in an original for framing from a published artist from same publisher - obviously the competitor asked where they had bought it.
"Oh" said the customer - "I contacted the publisher on the internet - they sent someone round ...."
A moulding company local to me is going under - it seems. I am getting all sorts of weirdos - photographic societies, artists etc etc (potential customers) who are having the same problems as me - can't get mountboard from them.
The company has an ad in yellow pages under 'Picture framers and frame makers' for chrissakes.
Were they not local I would not use them, as it is, they are for emergencies, promos and discontinueds.