off the peg photo frames

[CalicoFraming]

I want to make small 6 x 4 photo frames as off the peg items for customers to go away and put in their own photos. What's a good way to construct the mount so the customer can easily and effectively insert a photo without having to tape it in, etc.?

thanks!

[prospero]

Don't put a mount in. Don't want to confuse people. If you do it will be just the wrong size or just the wrong colour.
If they pick a frame and they want a mount, offer to cut one to suit and fit the whole thing - for a small extra charge. ker-ching.

[Roboframer]

If you knew that the paper would always be 6x4 then a platform mount would be great, but unfortunately not everyone has the same idea of what 6x4 is, plus there could be paper margins, or not, plus the image could be 6x4 on a much larger piece of paper.

You could provide a self adhesive backing board with the release paper scored through to 5 mm or so larger than the aperture, then there's corner pockets, edge mounting strips etc etc, but whatever you provide, if the customer gets it wrong, it'll be your fault. Just let them tape it in or mount it for them while they wait for a small fee, or not.

[Steve N]

on a 6x4 frame the window will be very small, even if you only use 1/2" border to the mount, it will leave you with a 5x3 window, I would do as
Prospero said make them without mounts

[prospero]

Many years ago I had a rush of blood and cut all my small offcuts into photo-sized mounts. Must have done 500 or more.

Still got most of them.

[Roboframer]

I was assuming the aperture size was to take a 6x4 and the actual frame would be plus 2" or so all around. A 6x4 frame, glass size with a mount would look pretty naff.

[Not your average framer]

I don't remember selling 6" x 4" frames and I can't remember seeing frames that size anywhere else either.

Is there a worthwhile profit in making 6" x 4" frames?

[Roboframer]

It's John Lewis' best-selling size.

[Not your average framer]

That's very interesting and certainly not what I had expected to be told! At those sort of prices, there's quite a reasonable profit in making them.

I wonder how easy it is to sell a similar product at a similar price without the John Lewis brand name?

I heard sometime ago that John Lewis frames were made by Nielsen in the U.K. If this is still true, then it might be possible to get the same mouldings and make the same style of frames!

[Roboframer]

I doubt very much that they all are because they do more than wood and metal, which is all that Nielsen do. I also doubt that all the wood and metal they do are Nielsen, some may be and some may be exclusive to JL, or not; you could probably buy the same yourself ready-made from Nielsen (assuming they actually do use Nielsen) but not at the same price.

A John Lewis 'At Home' opened in Chichester last year and I use it often and case the RMFs while I'm there. Their frames are no big deal at all and their framed artwork is even less of one, unless you like everything in a white mount and a black frame, it's just that THEY are a big deal - all very welcoming and - well 'John Lewisy"! all sales assistants in suits etc etc.

It's quite easy to sell a similar product at a similar price, but without the brand name (and the huge store, primary location, scores of staff all in suits, restaurant, free Wi-Fi, abundant parking, partnership credit card, TV ads, catalogue like the Magna carta, price promise .....................) you won't do a fraction of the quantity, so just up it and do stuff they can't, or wouldn't be interested in as they don't actually specialise in anything, and charge accordingly (more).

[Astroimages]

I don't remember selling 6" x 4" frames and I can't remember seeing frames that size anywhere else either.

Is there a worthwhile profit in making 6" x 4" frames?

The Range sell these all the time...
They are pretty naff though....

[prospero]

I find 5x4" nicer all round.

[CalicoFraming]

Thanks for all the replies

[Tudor Rose]

We sell lots of small frames, made up from off cuts. Art society members love them for miniature picture competitions and other people buy them in quantities for photos. The best sellers tend to be the more expensive mouldings that can look very good in small frame sizes, but we have some plainer mouldings too that are regular sellers. Lots of people seem to be making up feature walls full of mismatched photos and frames. And 6" x 4" isn't the smallest size we do, that would be 4" x 4" which fits one of the local art society's criteria for their competition rules.

[prospero]

I sometimes do little offcut frames just to test new finishes and when they are done I keep them about the place as more-or-less samples. The difference is that I can sell them. Surprising how many get sold.

[Not your average framer]

Generally I don't have a lot of success selling smaller frames. There can be some exceptions such as oak frames, which I make up from time to time mostly from off cuts of Simons OAK/2 and Simons OAK/6.

The don't sell every day of the week, but overall they tend to be a steady sales item. They're a bit like bananas and go in bunches. Sometimes we can have two customers in the shop and one buys one or more oak RMF's and then the other customers decides to do likewise.

Perhaps I should make a more prominent display of them and see if I can sell more.

[stcstc]

thought you made some fancy display few months ago, werent you talking about it on here?

[Not your average framer]

That's right and I have greatly increased my sales of RMF's, but I don't sell many smaller sizes of frames. Sales of sizes below 10" x 8" are not that good. But like I said, I can sell just about any size if it's an oak frame.

I make my oak RMF's from off cuts, so the size of the frame depends upon the size of the off cuts. I also bought some discontinued mouldings to make RMF's. Some were quite popular, but the sales of two particular discontinued mouldings (which I thought looked O.K.) have been really disappointing and make end up in the dumpster.

I'm not complaining though, because it has taught me some really valuable lessons and quality hardwood frames will be a significant emphasis for my future RMF stocks. Nick will soon be finishing my new display fittings for my shop windows and this could be a good time to try some smaller RMF's in oak, ash and any other hardwood mouldings which are taking up much needed space.

[benjiman grapes]

We stock a selection of RMF's and usually only stock 5 of various sizes. We dont put mounts in anything under 10"x8". The way we work it is so a 10"x12" frame homes a 10"x8" image etc. That way our RMF's are all of standard industry sizes.

A neat system i've seen is to line each RMF with a solid bit of off cut white. Then if the customer has an odd size image or looking to cover damage you cut the aperture while they wait.

But to be fair most customers are happy to leave the work with us. So we don't end up selling the display / on the shelf frames ... just make more to order.

All are RMF's are of mouldings we see sell. 113 300 000 being a good example. We then also off 3for2's which are made up of all our off cut moulding.