Anabela Ferguson
Restorer - Framer - Artist
http://youtu.be/GhyhGwgczy4
www.anabela-artist.com
www.anabela-ferguson.blogspot.com
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Anabela Springfield Virginia Framer
Custom Framing
Discounts
Anabela Ferguson Owner/Artist/Framer/Fine
Art Restorer & Conservator
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I spent sometime this past week researching
how galleries and custom framing shop have been able to survive the coupon and
discounted framing at point of sale in this economy. As I compared one of the framing and gallery
shops to the prices my custom framing studio and mobile gallery/frame shop
provided to clients and collectors ordering for the first time. I realized that during the years I have kept
my prices at a very low. I don’t offer coupons or discounts. I want to offer everyone the opportunity to
own a piece of my collection for their home or office, not necessarily for
less. Most of you know, that my prices
are and always have been very reasonable.
I read a comment from a gallery owner in GA and explained exactly how
they charge for their framing jobs; “We stay at 100%-500% mark ups on all open
edition prints and 200%-800% on custom framing (200% on glass and mats, 800% on
molding). Our prices are much lower than
any other frame shop in town through, including large chains like Michaels. One
way to keep profits in the gallery has been to do as much work in-house as
possible. Because we do all on site, we
cut out the middle man in a lot of different aspects”. So for
example, I took a 16 X 20 of a mid level cost frame and figured you would need
7.5’ with 2” wide. If their cost for
bulk length is $1.89/ft, then 7.5X1.89 plus the chop and join will be costing
the customer $5.51 / ft. = 41.32 X
800%=$330.60. That is how the framing
business works. This is why so many of
you wonder why framing is so expensive. Wow!!,
I realized that my prices have always bitten the market altogether. My framing for posters and photos are way
below what most galleries start at with a small job, $79.95. Then if they order an exclusive print of any
of my work on canvas or paper, starts at
$39.00/online/or by phone. However, I
don’t buy bulk like all framing and gallery owners, so my cost is always hire
than their inventory cost. I don’t have
a middle man that does cutting for me except for my wholesale store, they chop
and join my frames to precision with their miter saw; “I work in my gallery,
and I do not add saw particles on my unfinished pieces or restoration pieces, I
prefer for that to be done somewhere else”.
However, my prices are still lower than everyone around me. Clients that know of my skills have learned
to appreciate my prices, and one or two have asked for discount in the past two
years on a higher end job for custom framing or fine art restoration and
framing together. I have always offered
300% mark up of my wholesale cost for anything new coming to me to have
framed. If you choose to change a frame
on one of my pieces, I trade the cost of the frame the painting is on, and will
calculate the difference between the new one and the old one. Regarding mats and glass; I charge 125%-200%
of my cost while other framing companies are taking 400% from their cost. I want for my customers to value my work and
not remember me as a framer but as an artist that will also be flexible enough
to provide the custom framing in addition to original works of art. www.anabela-artist.com May 2013.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Customer's Comments
My beautiful paintings and frames purchased from Brush Strokes Fine Art have vastly improved my interior design. I highly recommend Brush Strokes for any art collector or admirer.
March 2013
Brush Strokes Fine Art LLC
www.anabela-artist.com
Sunday, May 12, 2013
SEO in Art located in Springfield Virginia
Still Painting and Dreaming
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