Hi all,
Having managed to find retail premises in my own town I am now faced with a number of issues that I need to resolve fairly quickly.
1) Is it possible to take a straw poll on how many suppliers framers use for mountboard and mouldings. I am looking at two at the moment but I am aware that one of them has come in for some bad press recently over certain claims pertaining to mountboards. Any comments? NB I intend to use only Conservation board and frame to Commended level and above.
2) I am I right in thinking that there is some consensus on using chop and minimising the number of mouldings kept in stock?
3)Pricing was discussed in another thread earlier this year. A number of people have told me that they will not use my nearest competitor because he is too expensive, I thought his prices were quite reasonable! Does anyone know which edition of Art Today had the pricing articles in, as I am going to have to look at this very carefully?
4) I don't yet have any means for dry mounting. How urgently should I consider getting some means of doing this?
Better not make the list too long. All replies gratefully received.
Regards
Les Sutherland aka less
How many suppliers?
-
markw
Less
Always bear in mind your minimum order - spread your orders around and they get a bit thin - you will then pay a carriage charge. You can often negotiate a discount if you stick with a supplier for - say mountboard.
I use chop - have done for years and wouldnt change the way I do it - most framers would laugh at the amount of moulding I keep in stock - about 20 lengths - most of thats black hockey.
Pricing is a thorny issue - work out the cost - people will always say that Fred Bloggs down the road is expensive - until you open up - then you will be expensive - worst thing a customer can say to me is " that was cheap I expected it to cost more" You have to make a living so dont go in too cheap - remeber that your customers are paying for a high quality job - get it right and they will tell their mates as well as use you again and again. I sometimes wonder where some of my customers find the space to hang all the pictures Ive framed for them.
Dry mounting isnt all its cracked up to be - You can always farm it out if its realy neccesary - you can get good results with adhesive sprays and self adhesive boards. - more work is ruined in a dry mounting press than at any other point in the workshop.
Hope that helps - Good luck.
Always bear in mind your minimum order - spread your orders around and they get a bit thin - you will then pay a carriage charge. You can often negotiate a discount if you stick with a supplier for - say mountboard.
I use chop - have done for years and wouldnt change the way I do it - most framers would laugh at the amount of moulding I keep in stock - about 20 lengths - most of thats black hockey.
Pricing is a thorny issue - work out the cost - people will always say that Fred Bloggs down the road is expensive - until you open up - then you will be expensive - worst thing a customer can say to me is " that was cheap I expected it to cost more" You have to make a living so dont go in too cheap - remeber that your customers are paying for a high quality job - get it right and they will tell their mates as well as use you again and again. I sometimes wonder where some of my customers find the space to hang all the pictures Ive framed for them.
Dry mounting isnt all its cracked up to be - You can always farm it out if its realy neccesary - you can get good results with adhesive sprays and self adhesive boards. - more work is ruined in a dry mounting press than at any other point in the workshop.
Hope that helps - Good luck.