Question Online Presence via Liebermans? Artiassance? Image Conscious?

Home Based Framer

True Grumbler
Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Posts
95
Location
Dela-where? Dover Delaware
Hello All,

We are new to the business and evolving as we speak. We've started by selling wholesale framed prints to small retail outlets. We're specializing folk art and beachy things to start, so our marketing to stores can be more targeted. It also allows us to be offer minimal frame choices. It's gone better than anticipated for our first couple of weeks of being "out there".

The part that may need rethinking is how we present the prints to these store owners or buyers. We show actual prints and frame choices, and then sit down with the few publisher books we have. The buyers have seemed to like that approach but ask for one catalog of what we offer, which of course we don't have. I've thought about trying to develop one but can see that would be out of our budget. I'm thinking we need either a cd to give out, or a website, so we're just starting to look into that.

I can also see that it may be difficult to offer a variety of publishers based on minimums and shipping. In joining the Grumble I read about Liebermans, and wonder if that would be a solution, other than the price is higher than I can get with a couple of my publishers.

I contacted Liebermans and inquired about their CD, which is no longer available. Their focus now is their new hosted web service, which includes prints and frame choices done by Liebermans. It would look alot like Liebermans with our name etc. Customers would think they are ordering from us but really the order goes to Liebermans for processing and we would get notice of the order and a commission of 30%. Customers would be ours but there is not a way to promote our frame shop, only the buying of prints or framing by Liebermans. Perhaps it could be a reference for the wholesale buyers, but would be confusing as to how the framing would look compared to the frames we carry.

If we decide to expand into selling retail it may be a way to capture some business to earn a commission only, not to help pay off all this framing equipment!!

The other thing Liebermans offers is just the images to be used on our own site, which I believe we'd have to update as Lieberman updates. With our own site we could show our frames and services, but know that would take alot of time and possibly more expense than the $1000 yearly fee from Liebermans.

Now I just read of people using Image Conscious, Artiassance etc. Who likes them? Do they want to do the framing also? I've not had a chance to research them.

Please give me pros and cons of all of these services. Any other suggestions and ideas would be most appreciated!

Grumblers with Gratitude -- for your help! Thanks so much!

Bonnie and Buz
 
We asked for info on the liebermans web site arrangements and have never heard back from them...
 
If I'm understanding correctly, you plan on ordering anything that Lieberman's carries, and framing that image in one of your stock frames (which I'm assuming that there is a limited choice of?).

I looked at Liebermans online service as well, but it was completely out of the budget at the time. Since then, I've just put a link on my website to theirs, since customers cannot order retail thru them anyway. That way, my customers can still look through thousands of prints, but have to come back to me to order.

Would it work for you to have samples of the moulding you offer, say in 4" pieces, on a presentation board that you can leave with the client, and then they look at Liebermans for their choice of print?
Or are you narrowing the prints down to a certain number that you will offer?

You might want to check out artprints.com as well. They have a wholesale site and offer everything Lieberman's does, plus many other suppliers.

I became an Artaissance dealer this year. You have to have a Larson-Juhl account to carry their work. They do not sell things framed. Being giclees, they are significantly more expensive than Lieberman's posters, though.

Good luck in your venture!
 
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