The Process Of Picture Framing
The turn-around time in a picture framing store is generally about one week for most of the pieces that are brought in. Despite the fact that this is actually quite typical, many customers are quite surprised that their orders won’t be done sooner. So I wanted to break down the steps in custom picture framing, so that customers can know what goes on in the time they are paying for.
When a order is made, the biggest item affecting the time line is the moulding. The frame shop in which I work carries mouldings from six or seven different manufacturers. These are the companies that actually create the sticks of mouldings that the custom picture frames are made out of. They provide the design and supply of the mouldings we carry in stock. As those who have been in a framing store will attest, there are hundreds or moulding samples to choose from in a store. Rather than keeping all those samples in stock, the samples serve as a catalog of the types of mouldings we can order. The sticks of mouldings that we use to build custom picture frames are only ordered when a customer wishes to use that moulding. So, if a customer comes in on a Wednesday and wants a particular moulding ready by Friday, it can only be accommodated if the moulding is already in stock from previous orders, or if the manufacturer can deliver the moulding in that short time. If that particular manufacturer only delivers on Mondays, the picture framing job cannot be completed in the time desired by the customer. In cases such as this, we are generally able to help the customer find a moulding to their liking that we have in stock already or that we can get from the supplier right away.
Of course, there are many custom picture frames that can be done faster than the typical one-week turn around. This is most often the case when we happen to have stock of the moulding desired, thereby cutting out the time needed to order and receive the moulding from the manufacturer. Similarly to the moulding, any mats that are part of the job must go through the same ordering process. Once the moulding and mats are received from the manufacturers, the framers can begin work on the picture framing job. At this point, the job itself takes a very short amount of time. Depending on the complexity of the job, it could take anywhere from a matter of minutes to a matter of hours.
But most custom picture frames cannot be done right when the moulding is delivered. The moulding comes in with mouldings for dozens of other orders, so the sticks have to be sorted and stored. Though the work for a single frame can be done quite quickly, it is one of many orders the framers have to get through. For this reason we generally allow for a couple days for the work to get done after the moulding has arrived. It may be that there are orders due earlier, or that there is just a high volume of work to complete. Whatever the reason, we like to keep our turn-around time at a full week. That way, if the framers have too many orders to complete, setting an order aside for a day will still get it done in the promised time. Additionally, if there is a low volume of work, the order can get done early. And of course, we would rather give a customer a long time-frame and have the piece done early than have a short time-frame and have the piece come in late. But whatever the picture framing needs of the customer, we can usually find something that fits the customer’s style, budget, and time-frame.
About the Author:
Quick Art Frame offers the highest quality Picture Framing at discounted prices. We have a huge selection of Custom Picture Frames. Visit QuickArtFrame.com to shop in our online Custom Picture Framing store.
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