Framing discount deal?
 

Hi -

I'm finishing up a portrait for a university dean (sorry I can't unveil it - she doesn't want that done). My client contacted the gallery in which I show my art in order to get in touch with me. I will give the gallery owner her percent of the portrait price (she was okay with only ten percent).

My client wants to select the frame for the piece, and I want her to come to the same gallery to select it. I would charge the client for the frame as part of my invoice. In exchange for ordering the frame through this gallery, it seems reasonable to me to ask the gallery owner for a discount . I am thinking of asking for 25%. Since a local gallery gave me a 25 percent discount just because I am displaying my work at the local museum, I am guessing that 25% is probably a pretty standard practice.

Feedback? Has anyone else done this? Does this sound like a reasonable thing to ask?

Well, apparently no-one knows. I'd rather err on the side of caution, so I guess I will leave the framing to her.

Do I understand that the gallery gets 10% for the referral, but then gives up 25% of the frame price? I wonder how those numbers work to their benefit.

I think I'll avoid the whole issue. Although the frame shop would be getting considerably more money from the portrait commission than they would be giving up for a frame discount. I was just asking if there was a "standard" practice in this area. Apparently not.

Around here
 

The framing shops regularly give a 30% discount to artists. One shop gives me 30% off no mater what and another gives me 30% off of frames for paintings I hang in their gallery.

Thanks, Molly. After a local frame shop offered me a discount recently, I suspected that there might be a standard practice among frame shops. I imagine that they don't really advertise it much. So I guess it doesn't hurt to ask!

Julie,
I am weighing in a little late on this, but here are my thoughts.

My studio is a studio/gallery in a public place and as a service to my customers I provide framing. Basically that means that I frame all my own artwork and if people come in with framing requests I will accept the framing jobs on a limited basis, but I never advertise framing. Anyhow, I offer 20% off to artists and 25% off to my students. I don't really advertise the percentage off, but if I know someone is an artist I will mention it to them. I suggest that you ask different framers if they give a percentage off, and then recommend to your customers the ones who do. Because of overhead costs, I think that 20-25% off is fair.
You might also consider contacting a framing company and see if you can purchase frames wholesale. If they agree, you could choose 2 or 3 classic mouldings and get sample frame corners for those and then their catalogue for the other frames. That way you could sell the frames directly to your customer. Regence Picture has some wonderful frames that have been very well received by my customers. Their a tad pricey, but worth considering. Their website is: http://www.regencepictureframes.com/

Mary

Thanks, Mary!

Julie--

There is a frame shop here that does the lion's share of my commissioned work, and they give me 20% on all frames on my account (I pay, the client reimburses me). They even give me the same deal if I bring in the client and the client pays directly--they keep a record and add that discount to the next job.

Lately, they've given me the same discount on my personal work. They also keep a portfolio of mine on their counter, and they regularly "talk me up" to their retail traffic. I've gotten a couple of commissions this way, and I've given them a finder's fee in return. It's less than what a broker would take out, and it makes everyone feel good.

Needless to say, I send them a Christmas card every year.

In short, the more you do with a given vendor, the more likely they'll give you an incentive to be a good customer.

Don't be afraid to ask...

--Tom

Thanks, Tom! This sort of thing seems to be a very well-kept secret.