Hi guys,
I’m considering starting a home-based picture framing business and need to find out whether there is a market for what I want to do. I really can’t afford to invest in machinery if it’s not going to work out.
Initially I think I’ll probably be producing frames for photo shops etc, but I don’t really know where to start in terms of what questions to ask and how to ask them.
If anyone has any advice on market research or what their experiences were I’d love to hear it…no, I need to hear about it.
Thanks
David
PS: I don’t mean to be so demanding, but all the advice and criticism I’m getting at the moment is from relatives that don’t know anything about picture framing.
Market research...help!
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artisan soldier
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu 23 Sep, 2004 11:03 am
- Location: ChCh, New Zealand
Market research...help!
"Regard all art critics as useless and dangerous" - Manifesto of the futurists
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SquareFrames
- Posts: 380
- Joined: Mon 23 Feb, 2004 9:37 am
- Location: Dromore, Co. Down, Northern Ireland
- Organisation: Dromore Picture Framing / Down School of
- Interests: Reading, relaxing, and funnily enough, its hard to stop thinking of framing
- Location: Dromore, Northern Ireland
- Contact:
Marrket Research
Hi David,
Like most framers, we all started from home as a hobby, and like little acorns, it grew and some of us )like me) were thrown out on our ear. Now, some others will tell you different ways of marker research, but its actually quite simple to find a market for your frames, or not as the case may be.
Firstly, before you start making frames for photo shops, it isnt that easy, you have got to ensure that you are able to do this, as they probably already have a supplier, and these frames are made by 'Contract Framers' or as I call them 'Production Workers' and not framers. Also making frames without proper machinery for retail sale, this will not go down well, they may be a cheaper alternative, but some people still have quality control standards.
Best thing I could advise, and it is very simple, you can get more complicated later, but have a drive around your immediate catchment area and see how many framers there are within....say a 20 mile radius, Make a note of how many are GCF's and make a note of what specialist services they are offering. (In NZ this radius could be stretched to 50 miles) Also remember when starting out, that the general public are more and more retail savvy nowadays and they go where ever is offering the best quality service at the best possible price, but they are also beginning to recognise the attributes of the GCF qualification, so get qualified as soon as possible.
Once you have done that, you have got to seriously think of what you could offer, that the others dont! Remember they are all 'so called' professional framers with rents, rates and other bills to pay, so pricing is a factor, but no matter what you are willing to charge if the end product isnt of a sufficient standard, it wont sell. Once you have decided to offer a framing service, you just need to 'get on the knocker' and post leaflets through as many doors as you can, and wait for a response. Start by making friends and family frames, word of mouth is the best advertisment, If you see that you are making more than you can cope with, then it is time to seriously think of high street premises.
Also start by buying the necesssary machinery, Morso, Underpinner and a Mount Cutter, without these machines, top quality work is hard to achieve, then build up the rest as you go along.
On a lighter not one other thing you could do, is sit outside each of the other shops and count the number of clients that go in and out, and hope that the police dont catch you for kerb crawling, or making notes that may be of use to terrorists. Seriously though, do a little homework, its not rocket science, like all of us did at the start we lived from day to day and built up our businesses and reputations and that's what counts ....reputation, and the reputation for good quality work, at affordable prices, once you get to that stage youre doing fine! I wish you all the best with whatever you choose to do.
Just one thing on a slightly differeing note, I'd like to add here, the term 'Professional' has a lot of connotations, the main one being, that as a professional framer, you are taken as if you know it all, I have yet to meet the framer that knows it all. I was advised by a client who just happend to be a Trading Standards officer, that unless I did know it all, I would be better advised to take the word professional off my front door and other stationery. This was in the case of any litigation, I could not then be perceived to have the full knowledge and like everyone else in the world, I am falable. Would be good to hear what everyone else thinks!
Hope that helps David.
Steven
Like most framers, we all started from home as a hobby, and like little acorns, it grew and some of us )like me) were thrown out on our ear. Now, some others will tell you different ways of marker research, but its actually quite simple to find a market for your frames, or not as the case may be.
Firstly, before you start making frames for photo shops, it isnt that easy, you have got to ensure that you are able to do this, as they probably already have a supplier, and these frames are made by 'Contract Framers' or as I call them 'Production Workers' and not framers. Also making frames without proper machinery for retail sale, this will not go down well, they may be a cheaper alternative, but some people still have quality control standards.
Best thing I could advise, and it is very simple, you can get more complicated later, but have a drive around your immediate catchment area and see how many framers there are within....say a 20 mile radius, Make a note of how many are GCF's and make a note of what specialist services they are offering. (In NZ this radius could be stretched to 50 miles) Also remember when starting out, that the general public are more and more retail savvy nowadays and they go where ever is offering the best quality service at the best possible price, but they are also beginning to recognise the attributes of the GCF qualification, so get qualified as soon as possible.
Once you have done that, you have got to seriously think of what you could offer, that the others dont! Remember they are all 'so called' professional framers with rents, rates and other bills to pay, so pricing is a factor, but no matter what you are willing to charge if the end product isnt of a sufficient standard, it wont sell. Once you have decided to offer a framing service, you just need to 'get on the knocker' and post leaflets through as many doors as you can, and wait for a response. Start by making friends and family frames, word of mouth is the best advertisment, If you see that you are making more than you can cope with, then it is time to seriously think of high street premises.
Also start by buying the necesssary machinery, Morso, Underpinner and a Mount Cutter, without these machines, top quality work is hard to achieve, then build up the rest as you go along.
On a lighter not one other thing you could do, is sit outside each of the other shops and count the number of clients that go in and out, and hope that the police dont catch you for kerb crawling, or making notes that may be of use to terrorists. Seriously though, do a little homework, its not rocket science, like all of us did at the start we lived from day to day and built up our businesses and reputations and that's what counts ....reputation, and the reputation for good quality work, at affordable prices, once you get to that stage youre doing fine! I wish you all the best with whatever you choose to do.
Just one thing on a slightly differeing note, I'd like to add here, the term 'Professional' has a lot of connotations, the main one being, that as a professional framer, you are taken as if you know it all, I have yet to meet the framer that knows it all. I was advised by a client who just happend to be a Trading Standards officer, that unless I did know it all, I would be better advised to take the word professional off my front door and other stationery. This was in the case of any litigation, I could not then be perceived to have the full knowledge and like everyone else in the world, I am falable. Would be good to hear what everyone else thinks!
Hope that helps David.
Steven
Someone Once Said 'Knowledge Is Power'
Down School of Picture Framing http://www.downschoolofpictureframing.co.uk
Ireland's Only Accredited Training School
GCF Examination Centre
Accredited Valiani Demonstration / Training Centre
Down School of Picture Framing http://www.downschoolofpictureframing.co.uk
Ireland's Only Accredited Training School
GCF Examination Centre
Accredited Valiani Demonstration / Training Centre
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artisan soldier
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu 23 Sep, 2004 11:03 am
- Location: ChCh, New Zealand
Market research...help!
Hi Steven,
I posted this topic on three forums and pretty much got the same consensus that photo framing is a bad road to go down, considering the whole sweatshop framing factories and all.
I really appreciate your input though. The points you raised are important no matter what I end up doing.
Thanks
David
I posted this topic on three forums and pretty much got the same consensus that photo framing is a bad road to go down, considering the whole sweatshop framing factories and all.
I really appreciate your input though. The points you raised are important no matter what I end up doing.
Thanks
David
"Regard all art critics as useless and dangerous" - Manifesto of the futurists