Phew! What a summer!

I've been off-Blog lately--sorry about that! With my two new satellite locations now in full operation, I'm doing additional advertising and I'm happy to say, it's paying off! I am only about 6 framing jobs behind now, whereas this time last week, I was nearly 20 framing jobs behind. Now that I have some breathing room, I want to Blog again! :)

First let me tell you about how my satellites are going. The staff in Danbury at Homestead Embroidery & Gifts have provided several free quotes to customers and they've submitted two nice orders now. One is a beautiful stitchery piece that I can't wait to start--I'll either pin mount it or do what's calling "lacing." Both are very safe mounting methods, completely reversible.

Over in Stone Lake at The TimberShed, we've taken in several frame repairs and refits, plus a fascinating framing order came in last weekend. The customer brought in two very old, yellowed newspapers, both dated December 12, 1939--the day her husband was born. The WWII headlines mention Hitler and of course the war. I am always so honored to be trusted with a customer's treasured items--working with these items becomes something of a spiritual experience. It's hard to explain, but most artists and sewers understand what I mean. It's very personal.

Now for some news! For health reasons, Andrew and I are trying to sell the frame shop & gallery, and NO, the Black Iris is NOT closing (there's been some confusion--to clarify I am not closing, just trying to get the word out there that I'm willing to sell for the right price.)

Andrew and I are trying to sell the gallery & frame shop so that we can focus on the bowling center, Kegler's Pub & Pin, which we also own. If you know anyone who's interested, please send them my way! Framing is a good business, a happy business, and not all that stressful. The sale price includes all framing equipment, inventory, tools, and one-on-one training by "yours truly." Let me know if you're interested! You can call 715-635-4548 or use joann@blackirisframing.com

Thanks for reading, and remember, if you ever need something framed, please think of me. Here's a testimonial I'd like to share with you (I'm not making it up): A customer came in with a friend and said to her, "This is JoAnn, the framer I was telling you about. She's nice, she listens, and she does good work." The friend told me she had been looking for a framer, but didn't know whom she could trust with her mother's handmade jewelry. These were family heirlooms, and she wanted them preserved for her sister, who never took anything when their mom passed away, which she now regretted. I assured her I would take good care of their mother's things, and together we designed a shadow box frame for her sister that showcased her mother's life and her metalworking talent. The frame included a photo of their mom (that's her, below), her beautiful jewelry mounted on velvet, and an excerpt of her published obituary. The shadow box was a beautiful tribute to their mom's spirit and life, and I was touched and honored to be given their trust.

Sincerely,
JoAnn, Black Iris Gallery & Custom Framing
Framing for a Lifetime

Mrs. R, Spooner, WI

Both Satellites are now OPEN

Hello, everyone!

Yes, we finally did it! Both satellite locations are open and taking orders! One is in Danbury, WI at Homestead Embroidery & Gifts, and the other is in Stone Lake, WI at The TimberShed. Now customers in Burnett and Sawyer Counties can place framing orders close to home.

With the price of gas so high now, I decided to go to the customers, instead of waiting for them to come to me. And it seems to be working! We've already placed an order in Danbury, and once the Stone Lake store opens tomorrow (fishing opener), we will have more orders coming in soon.

Please stop in and say hello to Deb & Ken in Danbury (located next to the hardware store) and Bill & Karen in Stone Lake (located behind the red schoolhouse). They all have good business heads, they show professionalism at all times, and are just really nice people to know. I'm honored to be working with them.

Sincerely,
JoAnn

We're getting good BUZZ!

Hi, everone! Things are really moving now!

We plan to open our Danbury satellite location, inside Homestead Embroidery & Gifts, by April 15. I have the moulding and matting samples ready to go, and I'll be training Deb's staff next week. I can't wait! Our Stone Lake satellite at The TimberShed will open on May 3.

For the past two weeks, I have been running a "teaser" ad in the Wild Rivers Advertiser, which I'll continue right into May. I've been getting phone calls about my big news, and people have been saying really good things about our two new locations. The biggest question I'm hearing is, "Who is going to run your other stores?"

Let me explain how satellite locations work in framing: Customers who live in the Stone Lake and Danbuy areas will be able to place their orders close to home. Danburyans will go to Homestead Embroidery & Gifts, and Stone Lakers will go to The TimberShed. The staff at these locations will help the framing customer choose mats and frames for their work, price the order, and take the deposit.

Each week, I'll collect the orders and deposits, then build the frames and cut the mats back in Spooner, in my frame shop. Once the orders are complete, I will deliver them back to their respective satellite locations. At the end of every month, I will send each store a commission check based on their sales that month. It's a snap!

With the price of gas these days, customers who live out of town are now traveling less and less. By opening two satellite locations, I am going to the customer, providing added service and value for their money.

Stop in and say hello the next time you're in Spooner--my Spooner location on River Street (Hwy 63) will remain the flagship store of Black Iris Gallery & Custom Framing.

JoAnn

Great news for Stone Lake & Danbury!

I have big news and I can't wait to share it!

When I bought the Black Iris Gallery & Custom Framing business two years ago, I saw immediately that Northwest Wisconsin's large geographical area, and the driving distances that go with it, meant there was a need for more locations in neighboring towns. Of course, I use the term "neighboring" loosely. Here is NW WI, the nearest towns are anywhere from 6 to 40 miles away, one way. Luckily, stop-n-go traffic does not happen here, but deer, bear, and even skunk sure keep you alert!

Many, if not most, of my customers are second homeowners who live in secluded developments or on private lakes. They come from large metropolitan areas like the Twin Cities and Chicago, and they don't want to drive two hours to have their custom framing done. Hence, Black Iris satellite locations!

As of May 3, I will have two (that's right, two!) satellite locations to better serve my rural customers. The first location will open in April in Danbury at Homestead Embroidery & Gifts, owned by Deb & Ken Holter. The Holters and their staff will help you choose mats and frames, take your deposit, and hold your artwork. I will collect the orders each week, build your frame(s), and cut your mats back at my shop in Spooner. Then I'll deliver the completed package back to Homestead Embroidery in Danbury. It's that easy!

I will do the same in Stone Lake, with that location opening May 3 at Bill & Karen Unverzagt's store called The Timbershed. They build fine, rustic furniture at their shop in Byron, Minnesota, but live in the summer on a lake near Stone Lake and sell art, gifts, and furniture from their store there. The Timbershed is an excellent fit for the Black Iris Custom Frame Shop since furniture and framing go hand-in-hand when a customer builds or redecorates a home.

Stay tuned for more details as our Grand Opening dates get closer. We're very excited, and we hope you are, too!

JoAnn & Andrew