New Member who needs guidance
Posted: Sat 12 Mar, 2016 10:36 pm
Hi Everyone,
I would just like to introduce myself to the forum. My wife and I own and run The Canvas Art Studio on the Isle Of Man. Which we have had for 2 years now. We produce premium quality canvas wall art from either our own portfolios or customers own images. We made a firm decision from the start not to use cheap nasty materials like some of the larger companies on the internet and 1 on the Island.
In my past life I was a carpenter and ran my own company for over 35 years, until a serious accident and illness put a full stop on this. I would like to think that I am pretty good with my hands. My wife was a retail manager for a large company for a number of years, so working together just kind of works ( who would ever think that working with my wife would actually be good!) We are both keen artists and I also dabble with my photography. We try to promote local artists and photographers young and old on the Island as well.
When We set up our studio, I equipped The retail floor to a modern contemporary standard that we think works for us. Our actual engine room downstairs was fitted out to a high standard as well with a lot of thought for what we were going to do. We started out with one second hand HP Z6100 printer 2 years ago, since then, through a lot of sweat and tears we have managed to upgrade to 3 top end printers. A brand new dedicated 12 ink HP Z3300 photographic printer, A 42" & 60" HPZ6200 canvas/graphic printers. We also have a website, with a new updated one on the way. We have built a solid reputation for the quality of our work and service. Our roles have reversed though! I take care of all the retail side and image prep etc... Customers can sit down with me and I enjoy the personal service we provide. This has paid huge dividends with our reputation, especially with my wife's great skill at canvas stretching.
We noticed right from the start that even though there are quite a few picture framers on the Island, that our customers kept asking us why we just didn't offer picture framing. especially the local photographic society, whom we already have a working relationship with. The opportunity arose for us to purchase some equipment from a friend in the business who was retiring, so we thought hard and made the decision to buy some of this. ( Another sort out in the engine room and we are about set to go)
Now I have the utmost respect for all your skills in the art of picture framing, but after many years as a carpenter I think I may have a small grasp of working with timber and machinery, albeit NOT picture framing.
We don't anticipate on doing great volumes of work in this area, but I have always personally thought that if you are going to do a job, then It should be right. Now we just can't afford to spend thousands and thousands On machines that I would really like, but we have 2 huge benches downstairs + the photographic printer ( I need to be careful with dust here as well)
Equipment we have:
2 x dewalt radial arm saws
M4 undrpinner
compressor
staple guns
2 x paslode finishing nailers
1 x paslode framing nailer
2x tab guns
3 x dahl (1200, 800 & A3 cutters
1 x Logan elite full sheet size mount cutter ( we would love a wall mounted one but just don't have the room or money for this) Advice on this would be very helpful!
TESTING THE WATER
We have opened accounts with Lion & Wessex Picture framing and even Trade picture frames for some ready made frames. However we want to keep to the high end of the market as we do with our canvas & photographic artwork. We have ordered and used " Lion's cut service" a few times for our shadow box frames and our customers and ourselves are happy with the results. We have also used Wessex & Lion for the high end Ali frames that we think are very good. We think our best way forward at this time is to go down the cut service route, We have a selection of different chevrons/mount chevrons from both as well as their respective catalogues, but where the hell do we stop! we just can't carry full lengths due to our dust issues even with extraction! Maybe we are wrong? would we be better with a bench guillotine? or stick to the cut services? I personally love working with wood as I have done all my working life!
PRICING
Where the hell do I start. It's a nightmare. If you give me a set of plans for a house, then no problem, but I am confused about all the different "programs" do we need one? can we afford one? How do I price up stuff manually. Does anyone use a formula, as we do with our canvas and photos?
HELP NEEDED!
If anyone can advise and help us we would be eternally grateful. We are not "playing" here we have put everything into our business and are serious about making this side of it work, not just by being good at it but better, We want to produce quality workmanship and we need some help and guidance.
MAIN POINTS OF HELP
Pricing structures, equipment, experience, tips and just about ANYTHING you may think that will be useful to us. This is probably the most I have written for a very long time, but I thought it would be good to tell you all who we are and where we are at.
You can contact me here, through our website: ( http://www.thecanvasartstudio.co.uk ) by our freephone number - 08081234511 - Studio: 01624679738 - Mobile: 07624476867
We really look forward to hearing from you.
FOOTNOTE
There are NO HP engineers on the Island so we have had to learn about wide format printing the hard way. If anyone needs help in this area or with photoshop, then please get in touch.
Many, many thanks,
J &L
I would just like to introduce myself to the forum. My wife and I own and run The Canvas Art Studio on the Isle Of Man. Which we have had for 2 years now. We produce premium quality canvas wall art from either our own portfolios or customers own images. We made a firm decision from the start not to use cheap nasty materials like some of the larger companies on the internet and 1 on the Island.
In my past life I was a carpenter and ran my own company for over 35 years, until a serious accident and illness put a full stop on this. I would like to think that I am pretty good with my hands. My wife was a retail manager for a large company for a number of years, so working together just kind of works ( who would ever think that working with my wife would actually be good!) We are both keen artists and I also dabble with my photography. We try to promote local artists and photographers young and old on the Island as well.
When We set up our studio, I equipped The retail floor to a modern contemporary standard that we think works for us. Our actual engine room downstairs was fitted out to a high standard as well with a lot of thought for what we were going to do. We started out with one second hand HP Z6100 printer 2 years ago, since then, through a lot of sweat and tears we have managed to upgrade to 3 top end printers. A brand new dedicated 12 ink HP Z3300 photographic printer, A 42" & 60" HPZ6200 canvas/graphic printers. We also have a website, with a new updated one on the way. We have built a solid reputation for the quality of our work and service. Our roles have reversed though! I take care of all the retail side and image prep etc... Customers can sit down with me and I enjoy the personal service we provide. This has paid huge dividends with our reputation, especially with my wife's great skill at canvas stretching.
We noticed right from the start that even though there are quite a few picture framers on the Island, that our customers kept asking us why we just didn't offer picture framing. especially the local photographic society, whom we already have a working relationship with. The opportunity arose for us to purchase some equipment from a friend in the business who was retiring, so we thought hard and made the decision to buy some of this. ( Another sort out in the engine room and we are about set to go)
Now I have the utmost respect for all your skills in the art of picture framing, but after many years as a carpenter I think I may have a small grasp of working with timber and machinery, albeit NOT picture framing.
We don't anticipate on doing great volumes of work in this area, but I have always personally thought that if you are going to do a job, then It should be right. Now we just can't afford to spend thousands and thousands On machines that I would really like, but we have 2 huge benches downstairs + the photographic printer ( I need to be careful with dust here as well)
Equipment we have:
2 x dewalt radial arm saws
M4 undrpinner
compressor
staple guns
2 x paslode finishing nailers
1 x paslode framing nailer
2x tab guns
3 x dahl (1200, 800 & A3 cutters
1 x Logan elite full sheet size mount cutter ( we would love a wall mounted one but just don't have the room or money for this) Advice on this would be very helpful!
TESTING THE WATER
We have opened accounts with Lion & Wessex Picture framing and even Trade picture frames for some ready made frames. However we want to keep to the high end of the market as we do with our canvas & photographic artwork. We have ordered and used " Lion's cut service" a few times for our shadow box frames and our customers and ourselves are happy with the results. We have also used Wessex & Lion for the high end Ali frames that we think are very good. We think our best way forward at this time is to go down the cut service route, We have a selection of different chevrons/mount chevrons from both as well as their respective catalogues, but where the hell do we stop! we just can't carry full lengths due to our dust issues even with extraction! Maybe we are wrong? would we be better with a bench guillotine? or stick to the cut services? I personally love working with wood as I have done all my working life!
PRICING
Where the hell do I start. It's a nightmare. If you give me a set of plans for a house, then no problem, but I am confused about all the different "programs" do we need one? can we afford one? How do I price up stuff manually. Does anyone use a formula, as we do with our canvas and photos?
HELP NEEDED!
If anyone can advise and help us we would be eternally grateful. We are not "playing" here we have put everything into our business and are serious about making this side of it work, not just by being good at it but better, We want to produce quality workmanship and we need some help and guidance.
MAIN POINTS OF HELP
Pricing structures, equipment, experience, tips and just about ANYTHING you may think that will be useful to us. This is probably the most I have written for a very long time, but I thought it would be good to tell you all who we are and where we are at.
You can contact me here, through our website: ( http://www.thecanvasartstudio.co.uk ) by our freephone number - 08081234511 - Studio: 01624679738 - Mobile: 07624476867
We really look forward to hearing from you.
FOOTNOTE
There are NO HP engineers on the Island so we have had to learn about wide format printing the hard way. If anyone needs help in this area or with photoshop, then please get in touch.
Many, many thanks,
J &L