News Letter Update November
1, 2011
AND THE WINNER
Is……
On the evening of Thursday, October 27th, Tim Behlings of Rapid City dropped by
to receive the beautifully framed and matted “Opening Day of Target Field –
Minneapolis Twins” print. Tim and about 30 others responded to the shop’s
e-mail update with a “Got It” and
his name was drawn as the lucky winner. Odds are good to win! To receive your
personal updates as we bring you the new owners, drop me a line at blackhillsframeshop@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Christmas Season
SALES EVENT
ALL FRAMED GALLERY ART – 30% OFF!
About 100 pieces of framed art are on display and
for sale at our 1212 Oregon Street location and at Independent Goldsmith’s at
622 Main Street in downtown Rapid City. All are on sale now through Christmas
at 30% OFF. Note: These are basically all one-of-a-kind,
so check it out early on.
Ron’s last
Christmas
This will be my 14th
and last year of framing pictures in Rapid City. Together with my customers
we have created and preserved some wonderful finished art and had some great
times doing it. Here are a few memories:
1. Last week, I saw Matthew
who is now eleven years old. Every year since he was born, I have framed photos
of Matthew and then his sister Georgi
for Mother’s Day gifts to their mother and grandmother. I almost feel a little
grandfatherly twinge from watching them grow up.
2. In a way, I should have paid the Alex Johnson Hotel to allow me to frame their beautiful historic
photos and memorabilia! That winter, my wife, Donna and I celebrated by staying at the AJ on New Year’s Eve
Year’s Eve after the Bradski’s new ownership
and were introduced to the Flaunt girls on stage. Actually, I ended up helping
them on stage in front of a packed house.
I think that the hotel was full for the first time in decades. What a
time!
3. I love Art
Alley. Just this month (October, 2011) we were touring Germany and Austria
on the Rhine and Danube Rivers and in one of the cities, they had a place
called Art Alley. I tell you, it didn’t hold a candle to our Art Alley,
especially on Thursday nights in summer. I miss Todd and some of the young artists that hung out there. In my
office, I have framed possibly the last illegal
graffiti in what is now Art Alley and to me it’s priceless. “Danm Popos”.
4. Dave and Eric
continued with the artistic flair after our Gallery and Frame Shop’s nine year
stint 518 7th Street. They
had our shop stretch dozens of original African paintings on canvas. I miss
them and the other great neighbors we had in downtown Rapid City.
5. I miss the Open Houses and Receptions that we had in
our Gallery. That’s where you and I got to meet all those wonderful Black Hills
artists like Mick Harrison, Dave
Paulley, Richard DuBois, Del Iron Cloud, John Lopes, Chris Budden, Judy Lehner,
Jim Yellowhawk, Bill Groethe, Barb Hallberg, Bonnie Omang, Dennis Linn and
so many others. Wow! I miss the Cellar Door too. It was downstairs
with all of the original fine art. Great Stuff!
6. Darlene and her son, Doug,
still come to see me after all of these years. Our first meeting a dozen or so
years ago was to frame a large 1938 calendar photo of a long horned steer from Faith, SD. Since then we have framed
well over 150 other pieces for their ranch and bunkhouse. Last year, Donna and
dropped by their home on Battle Creek near Hermosa to take a look at their “art
gallery”. It was amazing! We had used numerous old frames that were each custom
designed and re-sized to go with their artwork. After about 1 ½ hours and not
even getting to the bunkhouse, we had to move on down the road. I have always
cared for my customers and have loved this job!
7. I have thoroughly enjoyed our relationship with
suppliers like the Larson-Juhl Company which is our major supplier of frame
moulding. It is truly some of the finest quality in the world! Many of the
framing materials are hand made in Italy. In our small world of framing there
are a lot of really poor knock-off materials
being marketed at really high prices giving everyone a bad name. Quality is a
really good thing, in fact, Warren
Buffet must have agreed when he bought the Larson-Juhl Company some years
ago.
8. Return
customers have been great and I
appreciate every one of you! There is nothing better than to have someone come
in and asking about a project that we had completed for them earlier. That’s
easy! We have records of most all of the work that we’ve ever done, so within
moments, we can replicate the earlier design.
9. Referrals present perhaps the best moments. I guess it’s the
person’s first reaction when they are face-to-face
with the owner, but in the blink of an eye, we are achieving what the
person came here for. A true life example is in order here. Several months ago,
the wife of an Airman at Ellsworth AFB
calls. She said someone had referred my shop to her and wondered what it would
cost to frame two pieces of art. One was over three feet wide, the other more
average in size. I gave her a quick quote of $400 for the two pieces. Later
that day she came in to the shop. We worked the actual projects up complete
with acid-free everything and ultraviolet conservation clear glass. I told her
that the cost was right at $400. My new customer was elated. I couldn’t imagine
why because $400 is a lot of money! She said that she had taken them to Michael’s where the framing job had been
quoted at $600. She had called her husband from there. He said that didn’t
sound bad because they would take 50%
off. She asked the clerk. The clerk said no, that the discount had already
been taken and that the regular price was actually $1,200 for the two pieces.
You see, there are some things in life that you just can not make up!
10. At our new location on Oregon Street, the shop has received
fewer requests for charity. As a Chamber of Commerce member and as a member of
service organizations for most of my adult life, I have participated in this
necessary evil. I do believe that you are more likely to receive from a smaller hometown store than from a
chain store. Here the frame shop makes a significant contribution to the
Downtown Lion’s Club.
To all of my old friends and
new, Donna and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope
that I can make your Christmas a little brighter with a custom framed piece
from you to one of your loved ones.
Hours of Operation
Week day
core hours 10AM - 5PM
Wed &
Sat core hours 9AM - 1PM
If we need to be at the shop outside of
these times (which we often are anyway) just give us a call at 355-9730. We
want your framing business!
Christmas Season
SALES EVENT
ALL ART PRINTS – 30% OFF!
An unbelievable selection of beautiful fine art
prints are all on sale at the shop at 1212 Oregon Street – now through
Christmas. There are 5 large bins totaling more than 400 beautiful prints. Some
are original works, others are limited edition and others are open edition.
They come in all sizes with a wide variety of themes and all await being matted
and framed for Christmas giving. You will not be disappointed! Note: Most of
these are individual and can not be replaced, so check it out early on.
Art of framing and
matting class
Twice a year for the last ten years, I have taught my
class right here in the shop. Many times the popular class has been sold out
early. What was likely the last class was completed on Thursday, October 27th
marking a total of more the 200 people trained over the years. A student once
asked why I would teach a class and tell everyone how to do everything. I guess
it’s because it’s much better when people at least know best practices when
they see them OR when they ask someone do it for them OR what is needed when
they get ready to do it themselves.
For Potential
Buyers’ eyes only
Beginning in late 2008, the shop was first offered for
sale with Luke Lester at Coldwell Banker for a one year period. The package was
listed for $185,000 and the offering was pretty low keyed.
In September, 2010, Ron’s wife, Donna retired from
Rapid City Regional Hospital. Both of us wondered when Ron would do the same.
In the spring of 2011, the Shop was once listed again, this time with Raben
Realty. Total price for everything was $135,000. In September of this year, Dallerie Davis, a very long time friend
in the arts and broker at Raben Realty is representing the sale of the
business. Here are a few of Dallerie’s
thoughts:
Back Door Frame Shop
Absolutely priced to
sell!! You could never replace the
inventory and the customer base at this price.
If you ever wanted a frame shop/ art gallery, this is your golden
opportunity!! Back Door Frame Shop has
a very impressive inventory of picture frame molding, mats and glass, along
with the latest in computerized equipment and software to make your project a
success every time! Huge customer base
is organized with a user-friendly program.
Just add your own creative input, and you have a head-start with this
up-and-running business. Absolute
turnkey! Ron has spent years developing
a reputation for excellent design work and high quality product, and now he is
ready to retire. Mentor and training
included if desired. Business can
remain in this location or move wherever you wish. Make Ron an offer he can’t refuse….Ars longa; vita brevis!! (Art
lasts; life is short)…
This is your opportunity to be a part of the process.
Dallerie Davis
Raben Real Estate
605-490-4001
Interested entrepreneurs should contact Dallerie or
Ron right away Truth is, Ron needs to move on. In the spring of this year, he
and his Donna spent 10 days in Banff, Canada. Then in late summer it was off to
the southwestern Colorado area of Durango, Silverton, Telluride, etc. To top
things off, they just returned from over two weeks in Europe from Budapest in
Hungary to Amsterdam in the Nederlands via ship on the Danube and Rhine Rivers.
Now everyone knows that you can not let your vacations get in the way of your
business so no more vacations are planned until the business is taken care of.
Time is of the essence!
Hours of Operation
Week day
core hours 10AM - 5PM
Wed & Sat
core hours 9AM - 1PM
If we need to be at the shop outside of these times (which we often are anyway) just give us a call at 355-9730. We want your framing business!
