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  • Picture framing

    Posted by Martyn on 16 February 2024 at 06:48

    Hi guys, i expect i am pissing in the wind here but i will ask anyway, do any of you do picture framing by any chance? or have done in the past?

    I am looking into offering this as part of my business or more as a branch off of it. I have been doing work for a couple of photography studios and i offer their prints onto kapa board with hanging system. i print the artwork, mount, supply and they add markup and pass onto their customer.

    I expect the framing isnt a huge money spinner but its more about opening new doors and giving the wife something to do as now the kids are out the house she seems to be baking more and more cakes!

    She is very artistic/handy and i think she would enjoy it.

    It doesnt look like a huge investment machinery wise, a morso cutter, underpinner etc.

    Robert Lambie replied 1 year, 7 months ago 6 Members · 14 Replies
  • 14 Replies
  • Richard Wills

    Member
    16 February 2024 at 10:17

    if you stick with the B2B customers, then could work well for you.

    Train the studios to deliver files / orders in a standardised fashion, and start by offering only a few profiles / formulas.

    As soon as you go B2C, you introduce the time vampires to the equation!

    • Martyn

      Member
      16 February 2024 at 10:38

      thanks richard

  • Mark Johnston

    Member
    16 February 2024 at 12:09

    canvas printing and stretching around a hidden wooden frame seems to be the “in thing” at the moment. Tescos and ASDA do them. i think it is a simple enough thing to make with no expensive tools needed.

    • Martyn

      Member
      16 February 2024 at 12:23

      Thats been the in thing for some time, in fact i would say that has come to an end now but i might be wrong

      • Richard Wills

        Member
        16 February 2024 at 16:08

        But it always looks so much nicer with a good frame around it.

        Finns have a long history of portraits at various mile stones in life, and the studios are always happy to promote a premium presentation!

        • Martyn

          Member
          18 February 2024 at 10:47

          Very true. You know you finnish culture well

  • David Hammond

    Member
    17 February 2024 at 12:21

    Check out Lion Framing, they supply framing equipment.

    I’ve never gotten involved with it, as you’ll need to stock suitable lengths of frame, boarders, the equipment to cut it all. I know a company who does this, but that’s all they do, and frame prints, to memorabilia, even retirement items for service leavers.

    • Richard Wills

      Member
      18 February 2024 at 20:30

      Lion may export to Finland – certainly in the UK, they are my go to supplier, and if they’re geared up for .eu export, are a very customer focused supplier.

      Might be worth checking Larson-Juhl and Nielsen; both Nordic suppliers.

      I used to know a couple of studios in Kuopio, and at least one framer, so I’m sure there are good trade suppliers for the basics (mouldings, glass, equipment) relatively close to you.

      • Martyn

        Member
        19 February 2024 at 05:25

        kuopio is local to me. There seems to only be 2 suppliers out here but good suggestion to see if lion framing cater for EU but since brexit its become more and more difficult/expensive to buy anything from uk

    • Martyn

      Member
      19 February 2024 at 05:23

      thanks i will check out lion framing. They have popped up on the forums

  • Phill Fenton

    Member
    19 February 2024 at 10:15

    My wife Alison used to do picture framing – but only as a hobby not a business. But there’s very little investment required. A mitre saw and some clamps and you’re more or less away. Oh and a steeltrack cutter is handy but not essential for cutting boards. I recently ordered some parts for my steeltrack from Lion Mouldings and can vouch for their service. They even sent me a thick catalogue of their products and some samples. I would certainly go there if I was doing it

    https://www.lionpic.co.uk

    • Martyn

      Member
      19 February 2024 at 11:47

      Thanks Phill

    • Richard Wills

      Member
      19 February 2024 at 20:08

      I wonder if those anti scratch arms are available as a retrofit on the steeltrak… Knowing Keencut the odds are high (though I’ve never noticed anything being scratched on ours…)

  • Robert Lambie

    Administrator
    20 February 2024 at 02:32

    I agree with @markjohnston that canvas printing is very popular, but I think framing is a bit more sought-after these days. I like large oversized images, with dark frames, but also love the boxed types of frames.
    Like most things, once you start working with it, you will come up with a multitude of spin-off ideas. 👍

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