The Framers Forum

Hi guys!

From Portugal and moving all my purchases to within EU due to the insane import taxation from USA and i would like to hear from others within EU which are your suppliers?
I'm on the hunt for the following items:

1. Wide selection of Crescent Matboards
2. Acid-free white/black Mountboard
3. Acid-free black sturdy Backing
4. Plexiglass selection from Normal, to UV-protection and anti-glare options

Thank you all for your suggestions!

In the UK there is Arqadia, Wessex, Lion, D&J Simmons to name a few

Chris2103 wrote:In the UK there is Arqadia, Wessex, Lion, D&J Simmons to name a few

Thanks!
Im actually trying to stay away from UK aswell, seeing that Brexit is coming and we are still unsure if the import taxes will be applied from there aswell, trying to get suppliers for the long term and not have to switch again in the next year.

Cheers!

Send a PM to member Keith Hewitt, he should be able to recommend suppliers in the EU.

Welcome to the forum

David McCormack wrote:Send a PM to member Keith Hewitt, he should be able to recommend suppliers in the EU.

Welcome to the forum

Thanks!

Have you tried moldartpóvoa in Porto?

They have a good range of stock.

iantheframer wrote:Have you tried moldartpóvoa in Porto?

They have a good range of stock.

Hi Ian!
Thanks for the suggestion, do you have any experience buying from them?
Their website dont display the prices so i will have to contact them directly, this would be an outstanding option if they have good prices/stock, since its actually not that far from where i reside.

Have not been there for a couple of years. When I did they were very helpful the show room is massive, the variety huge, they make many of their own mouldings on site. They did not have a published price list, but were happy to print off anything I was interested in.
I would strongly recommend you visit, if you call them in advance you may be able to get a factory tour too.

iantheframer wrote:Have not been there for a couple of years. When I did they were very helpful the show room is massive, the variety huge, they make many of their own mouldings on site. They did not have a published price list, but were happy to print off anything I was interested in.
I would strongly recommend you visit, if you call them in advance you may be able to get a factory tour too.

Thanks!
I've message them earlier enquiring about some products, such as the Crescent matboard line, the website seems to only show the basic cheap "Decorative" line, i am more towards the "Select" or "Ragmat" conservation products.
Will wait to hear back from them.
Thanks for the tip!

I've sent Marcio a list of all the Portuguese distributors
Also recommended an excellent source of reconditioned machines in Spain.
Newbies fascinate me, as in the start they have no idea where to buy machines and consumables.
So tend to flounder around
For a start I would visit framers in other towns and ask a load of questions

Indeed thats true!
Thanks once again Keith!

I think newcomers would maybe hesitate to go and talk to other framers as they imagine the response would be to wonder why they would help someone become competition to them.

In reality, most framers are a friendly bunch (with questionable business sense ) and would be quite happy to talk shop with someone looking to get in to the biz.

kartoffelngeist wrote:I think newcomers would maybe hesitate to go and talk to other framers as they imagine the response would be to wonder why they would help someone become competition to them.

In reality, most framers are a friendly bunch (with questionable business sense ) and would be quite happy to talk shop with someone looking to get in to the biz.

Thats very true, its the reason i havent talked with local shops, because it almost seems like im asking "Hey there, tell me, how can i add direct competition to you and ruin your income? Thanks" - hahaha

When I started off I got to know lots of local framers. Some became good friends. It's nice now and again
to drop it and have a natter and swap stories about weird customers. There aren't so many framers about
in the vicinity today and I don't seen to have the time to go roaming about at leisure.
That's why the Forum is so great.

Now you have to let the Newbies come to you! haha

Keith Hewitt wrote:Also recommended an excellent source of reconditioned machines in Spain.

Keith, can you please send me the contact of this company. Thanks.

astraios wrote:Keith, can you please send me the contact of this company. Thanks.

http://www.javierherranz.com/

Marcio Silva wrote: Thats very true, its the reason i havent talked with local shops, because it almost seems like im asking "Hey there, tell me, how can i add direct competition to you and ruin your income? Thanks" - hahaha

I did say talk to framers IN OTHER TOWNS where they would understand you are unlikely to ever be in direct competition.
If you dont speak to others what might you learn ?
And if you do speak to them you will always learn something useful / helpful / beneficial / valuable etc.

Well I don't mind talking to newbies or fellow framers, even helping out with stock if they have run out, but I have offered a couple of forum members in the same part of the country some help if they wanted to pop in on us, and they couldn't even bother to reply