I joined PPFA in Australia a couple of months ago and the Group's Chairman recently sent out a questionaire inviting comments on a number of issues.
One of the questions was "what do you feel are the greatest threats and/or challenges facing the framing industry in 2007"
A second question was " can you offer any suggestions on how the industry should meet these threats and challenges?"
How would you answer these questions?
Ross
Threats/challenges facing our industry now and in future
-
Keith Hewitt
- Posts: 1277
- Joined: Mon 28 Jun, 2004 9:49 am
- Location: BOLLINGTON - Macclesfield England
- Organisation: www.keithhewitt.co.uk
- Interests: Badminton, golf, gym, and exploring new places.
- Contact:
How to grow our industry?
Ross,
Exactly the same subject is being discussed this week on the USA Forum (The Grumble). I will post a link to the topic...
http://www.thegrumble.com/showthread.php?t=25055
Its not just Australia, and USA that is aware of the need to grow the framing market. It is a subject that I come across in most countries.
One thing is clear - individual framers can do little by themselves. Whatever is done must be done on a global scale to be effective.
Exactly the same subject is being discussed this week on the USA Forum (The Grumble). I will post a link to the topic...
http://www.thegrumble.com/showthread.php?t=25055
Its not just Australia, and USA that is aware of the need to grow the framing market. It is a subject that I come across in most countries.
One thing is clear - individual framers can do little by themselves. Whatever is done must be done on a global scale to be effective.
Keith Hewitt
I have visited distributors and framers in 90 countries - no two are the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XtrrWooYdg
I have visited distributors and framers in 90 countries - no two are the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XtrrWooYdg
-
foxyframer
- Posts: 313
- Joined: Tue 12 Sep, 2006 6:46 pm
- Location: Netley Marsh New Forest Hampshire
- Organisation: Hampshire Framing
- Interests: Golf, DIY and baking bread,cakes, biscuits and making chilli jams and various chutneys.
- Location: NEW FOREST HAMPSHIRE
Here in the UK, one of the prime threats to the independent framer will come from ever escalating rent and business rate demands. Most of us will probably have good secondary positions. As the quality sites are getting overly expensive, there is a danger we will be squeezed out by bigger fish. It only takes a countrywide store chain to move in and costs are forced up.
One solution may be to amalgamate small framers and galleries to deal with the situation. With more buying power, combined expertise and the added advantage of a partner being in the gallery at all times, the need to be there 24/7 is a thing of the past.
Independence is difficult to give up.
The Tesco's and Walmart's only have to cotton on to our trade.
We have not been noticed so far.
One solution may be to amalgamate small framers and galleries to deal with the situation. With more buying power, combined expertise and the added advantage of a partner being in the gallery at all times, the need to be there 24/7 is a thing of the past.
Independence is difficult to give up.
The Tesco's and Walmart's only have to cotton on to our trade.
We have not been noticed so far.
Measure twice - cut once
-
Roboframer
In The States things are a bit different, things are far more spread out and independents in general, rely on the town (etc) that they are in.
If they are in a half decent location the chances are they will have a Big Box that offers custom framing somewhere close. We don't have that worry - mostly - I know of only one large chain that offered custom framing - Hobbycraft, and I don't believe they do it anymore.
As for Tesco's etc etc taking it on - well they are big enough and ugly enough to take on whatever they want, car sales, cinema etc etc.
Framing or other production work may be a bit more tricky for them - not a lot of practical skill for anything that they do at present.
But anyway, what if they DID take it on - or any other big name, or what if a giant 'hobbycraft' type place sprang up in every major town - what would we do?
Well, look to what good greengrocers and butchers do - 'cause that's what supermarkets still sell most of - food.
I buy all my veg from a local farm shop, sometimes cheaper, far far fresher, and far more locally grown. Local butchers are thriving too.
Frankly I don't think the UK framing market has any more threats than any other independent - rent/rates and other ever increasing overheads etc etc.
Diversify.
In Worthing LIDLs is bang opposite WAITROSE - two totally different types of customer; both getting what they pay for.
If they are in a half decent location the chances are they will have a Big Box that offers custom framing somewhere close. We don't have that worry - mostly - I know of only one large chain that offered custom framing - Hobbycraft, and I don't believe they do it anymore.
As for Tesco's etc etc taking it on - well they are big enough and ugly enough to take on whatever they want, car sales, cinema etc etc.
Framing or other production work may be a bit more tricky for them - not a lot of practical skill for anything that they do at present.
But anyway, what if they DID take it on - or any other big name, or what if a giant 'hobbycraft' type place sprang up in every major town - what would we do?
Well, look to what good greengrocers and butchers do - 'cause that's what supermarkets still sell most of - food.
I buy all my veg from a local farm shop, sometimes cheaper, far far fresher, and far more locally grown. Local butchers are thriving too.
Frankly I don't think the UK framing market has any more threats than any other independent - rent/rates and other ever increasing overheads etc etc.
Diversify.
In Worthing LIDLs is bang opposite WAITROSE - two totally different types of customer; both getting what they pay for.
-
Roboframer
My shop used to be a hardware/cycle/petfood shop - other things too - key cutting, gardening.
A new retail park opened nearby, duplicating practically everything they did on a grand scale and at prices they could not compete with.
Halfords (cycles, batteries etc) Petsmart (now 'pets at home' I believe) and a Focus-do-it-all DIY store with a garden centre.
The guy running this shop had a brother running a mirror image shop in a neighbouring village, that one folded almost immediately and the two brothers ran this shop. Now this shop had to support two families.
What did they do? WHINGED, that's what they did. A Sainsburies also opened up, what did our village grocer do WHINGED - mind you - couldn't blame her - the supermarket free bus service picked up from bang outside her store!
So, they started a campaign "Use us or lose us" HA - that'll do it!
But they gave no incentive - did nothing new or different, just tried to make locals feel guilty for using the BBs.
The hardware/bike store, now with two experienced owner/managers, both good cycle mechanics, could/should have gone solely to cycles and could have had the largest cycle store in the area, specialising in the high end that Halfords don't.
We know they could have, because when we took over the lease it was on the condition that we employed the one brother, in our old shop, as manager of a bike shop, that's right, we had a bike shop for quite a few years too! We know from what we did in that small shop, in a less primary location (only 200 yards away, but a hec of a difference!) what we could have done in this one, and therefore what HE could have.
Glad he didn't, glad he was not astute enough!
A new retail park opened nearby, duplicating practically everything they did on a grand scale and at prices they could not compete with.
Halfords (cycles, batteries etc) Petsmart (now 'pets at home' I believe) and a Focus-do-it-all DIY store with a garden centre.
The guy running this shop had a brother running a mirror image shop in a neighbouring village, that one folded almost immediately and the two brothers ran this shop. Now this shop had to support two families.
What did they do? WHINGED, that's what they did. A Sainsburies also opened up, what did our village grocer do WHINGED - mind you - couldn't blame her - the supermarket free bus service picked up from bang outside her store!
So, they started a campaign "Use us or lose us" HA - that'll do it!
But they gave no incentive - did nothing new or different, just tried to make locals feel guilty for using the BBs.
The hardware/bike store, now with two experienced owner/managers, both good cycle mechanics, could/should have gone solely to cycles and could have had the largest cycle store in the area, specialising in the high end that Halfords don't.
We know they could have, because when we took over the lease it was on the condition that we employed the one brother, in our old shop, as manager of a bike shop, that's right, we had a bike shop for quite a few years too! We know from what we did in that small shop, in a less primary location (only 200 yards away, but a hec of a difference!) what we could have done in this one, and therefore what HE could have.
Glad he didn't, glad he was not astute enough!