TPB/ S. Coast suppliers

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Sat 25 Nov, 2006 10:31 pm

Latest edition of TPB came out this week.

In the letters section an anon framer said that due to a South Coast supplier being in financial difficulties s/he had taken on another 'South Coast' supplier and went on to say how terrible they were.

I don't think it's very wise to publish letters like this unless you are prepared to name names, otherwise we could speculate - who is this supplier in trouble? Who is the one giving bad service?

If I were a supplier that fitted the bill geographically I would be on the phone pronto telling TPB to put it on their website and in their next issue that it is not ME!

The one in trouble is probably Euro Mouldings and it's a shame - not that they were brilliant for me - just very very convenient - if they have gone under I'll need to be more organised, can't just jump in the car when I do a 'Mother Hubbard'

Used to enjoy the escape anyway - plus there is a recycling depot on the same trading estate so I used to take all my cardboard down at the same time - if it's a special trip I'll burn more fuel than I am saving by recycling - may as well dump it with the rest!

Anyway - had a few phone calls from local framers and reps, plus visits from reps, all saying they had heard that Euro Mouldings had ceased trading and if anyone knew if it was true, I would! I didn't know - and I'd add that Euros did themselves no favours by not being up front about their situation.

So instead of seeking the latest goss from other framers/companies - we simply rang them up and asked "Have you ceased Trading?"

"I'm answering the phone aren't I" was the reply

"OK - but are you still trading?"

"As I said - I'm answering the phone - that's all I can say"

We get the picture - so I rang an order for immediate collection - 10 sheets of mountboard - a few metres of moulding - all out of stock (this has been the story for some time) OK - could I nip down to try and find something close to the moulding? No problem.

So - still trading?

Anyway - I didn't go down - rang the customer and asked if she'd like a free upgrade to a real gold leaf moulding she'd liked at the time but was too expensive. Ooooooh yes PLEASE!

No big shakes - a discontinued one from Euro bought at 60% off plus I saved petrol and TIME!!!

I'm wandering again ......

So - back to the first 4 paragraphs! What do you think of anon letters that leave you wondering who the naughty people are and also what did you think of this month's TPB overall?

markw · Post by **markw** » Sun 26 Nov, 2006 9:09 am

Its sad to see the demise of any supplier - we need healthy competition out there to keep our costs down. Used to use Euro a lot - havent seen their rep for last couple of years but every moulding rep that comes in seems to say they have, or are just about to go down the pan.
Like many i havent forgotten Euro's MD claim in a Sundsay newspaper that framing was too expensive for a simple proccess that only required moderate skill and materials (not exactly the words used - but gist of the article). I remember well Euros rep at the time - who is still a good friend - trying hard to justify the comments with obvious dismay at the MDs complete lack of business sense. I suspect they lost a lot of customers then - and failed to get them back again in sufficient numbers.

Not your average framer · Sun 26 Nov, 2006 11:26 pm

Just an observation, but it is noticable that the moulding suppliers who look like they are doing well, regularly introduce new mouldings to their ranges. This may have a lot to do with the future prospects of individual companies.

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Thu 30 Nov, 2006 4:55 pm

Euro Mouldings cease trading today. Went down to panic buy my favourite cord and say goodye. My rep is talking about running with it, from a different location, with a few selected members of staff.