• Picture framing

    Posted by Martyn Heath on February 16, 2024 at 6:48 am

    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.

    RobertLambie replied 2 months, 1 week ago 6 Members · 14 Replies
  • 14 Replies
  • Richard Wills

    Member
    February 16, 2024 at 10:17 am

    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 Heath

      Member
      February 16, 2024 at 10:38 am

      thanks richard

  • Mark Johnston

    Member
    February 16, 2024 at 12:09 pm

    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 Heath

      Member
      February 16, 2024 at 12:23 pm

      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
        February 16, 2024 at 4:08 pm

        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 Heath

          Member
          February 18, 2024 at 10:47 am

          Very true. You know you finnish culture well

  • David Hammond

    Member
    February 17, 2024 at 12:21 pm

    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
      February 18, 2024 at 8:30 pm

      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 Heath

        Member
        February 19, 2024 at 5:25 am

        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 Heath

      Member
      February 19, 2024 at 5:23 am

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

  • Phill Fenton

    Member
    February 19, 2024 at 10:15 am

    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 Heath

      Member
      February 19, 2024 at 11:47 am

      Thanks Phill

    • Richard Wills

      Member
      February 19, 2024 at 8:08 pm

      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…)

  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    February 20, 2024 at 2:32 am

    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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