Hints for a business wannabe??

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Anne

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Having had a love affair with photography and oil painting for years, I now would like to settle into something more concrete (I guess that's debatable?) I am looking for recommendations for workshops or a school where I could go to learn framing -- I live in the Southeastern USA. Also, since as with most people I know, money is not flowing down out of the trees, does anyone have tips for starting this as a business (on a shoestring) from my home?

Thank you for any and all suggestions! Anne
 
Join PPFA and start buying books from their bookstore. You can educate yourself that way, and PPFA has a great recommended reading list as part of their certification program. Even if you don't want to go for certification, the reading list covers most of what you "gotta" know to be a good framer. You still need practical "hands-on" experience, though.

Get a job with a local frame shop and learn everything you can from those who work there. Be careful, though. Some long-time framers have old, bad habits that just carry on from one generation of framers to the next that way. You still need the books to verify, supplement, and update what you learn in practice.

Attend trade shows and take the courses offered by whoever is sponsoring them. PPFA's "Framers Palette" program is popular -- Affordable classes and very helpful.

There are several framing "schools" -- usually suppliers that offer classes on some schedule. You can learn more about them from PFM or Decor magazines.

Home-based framers are everywhere. Some are very good framers who take their work seriously, and some are not. Most of them started like you -- interested but uninformed. Please, please, please...if you want to get into the framing business, learn how to do it right.

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James Miller,PPFA-CPF; PPFA Certification Board Member; FACTS/GAFP Committee Member
 
Let's see, you want to start a framing business out of your home, with no previous experience? Here's the secret: (1) Get a lot of money. (2) Develop drive, dedication patience and good people skills (3)Buy good professional framing equipment. (4) Learn to become an expert framer. (5) Learn to become a good business person. (6) Learn to become a good marketer/sales person (7)Get enough people to seek you out and pay you a big bucks for your expert services. (8) Keep focused. (9)Get lucky. (10) Fall back on Photography and painting.

Bruce Mc
 
Anne - I've had a home framing business for 11 years. The above advice is good. Don't even think of doing it unless you plan on being a serious professional. When I first started, I read everything I could get my hands on, subscribed to Decor Trade magazine, then went to framing school. After that I practiced on the family and a few very close understanding friends before attempting framing for anyone else. I also worked in a gallery for a while for more experience. That was great training not only in framing but in running a business.

Equipment investment - don't buy cheap things that don't work. Good equipment is a must. Spend $$$ on a good mat cutter and wall glass cutter. You can order moulding chopped and routed to start with, but eventually you'll want your own saw and router. I now have more equipment than the retail gallery I worked at! Sometimes you can get good deals on used equipment - but check it out carefully. (My used Framesaw was the best deal ever!)

Other considerations - where will you have your shop? Do you have a dedicated space for that only? Will customers be stepping over laundry waiting to be done to get to your shop? Where will you store things to be framed? Away from kids and dogs that may do damage. Invest in a good flat file. What about completed work - where will you keep that?
Working at home brings up all kinds of difficulties that have to be addressed. You are always at work and yet you are always home. This causes many distractions. You have to take your work very seriously or no one else will either.

Also, keep your prices competitive. Don't undersell just to get business. It's not worth it, people won't take you seriously and you'll just be a hobbyist.
 
I would like to say thank you to each one who posted a reply. You have all given me some things to seriously consider. I appreciate your input. Sincerely, Anne
 
If can add only one thing to Cookie's advice it would be to delay buying that necessary top-of-the-line equipment until after you have attended framing school. You will probably have a chance to work with more than one brand, and will have a definite opinion at that point. And, can't help but add, again: Don't undersell yourself.

From another HB framer,

Mel
 
Also check Picture Framing Magazine. They usually have a listing showing all upcoming dates for framing schools that are held across North America.
 
This is serious reply. Consider getting a job. In many areas with the laws, taxation, and the big corporations beating us up, being an independant self employed person can be a very painful experience. And once started it can be an all consuming thing going on for a big piece of your life. You must talk to as many self employed people in your area as possible. Listen carefully to those that are successful that will be happy to talk and search out the failures who will be reluctant to speak. Then consider your life, your family needs, and if this enterprise is to be your living or just some level of hobby. If it is to be your long term living you had better get very serious.
Scarfinger
 
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