The Framers Forum

Hello all, I finally set up a digital booking system for my framing consultations last month to stop the phone ringing while I’m at the dry mount press. It looked like a great way to manage my time but I’m constantly running into overlaps where a client arrives for a pickup while I’m mid-way through a delicate conservation job. My workshop whiteboard says one thing and my phone says another because the two systems just don't talk to each other in real-time. I’ve tried manually updating both every evening but I always miss something when the shop gets busy. I’m definitely not a tech person and I’ve probably over-complicated my workflow trying to keep my personal life and shop hours separate. Does anyone have a simple way to keep everything updated across all devices without double-handling the data?

I put the booking system on my pc/laptop and my board on the wall instantly became redundant. The booking system can usually be synched with an online calendar adding an extra layer of protection from personal and work overlap.
I also limit consultations to certain days of the week to ensure that I have some interruption-free days. I'm more relaxed about collections as they generally only take a few minutes, but they're booked in as well. I'm not on the high street (I'm not even in a town) so walk-ins are rare.

Thanks for the feedback! I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the whiteboard. I’ve been clinging to it because I like having that big visual overview while I'm working, but I have to admit it’s becoming more of a liability than a help when things get frantic. The idea of limiting consultations to specific days is a game-changer. I’ve been trying to be available all the time, which is exactly why I’m getting interrupted during conservation work. I definitely need to look into an easy calendars sync between my booking system and my personal phone; if I can see my 'blackout' production blocks and my private life all in one place, I’ll stop double-booking myself by mistake.