What is Frameit

Frameit has been developing for around 9 years from suggestions made by Picture Framers. Its primary roll is to provide "easy to use" fast, accurate and versatile quoting for Custom Picture Framers. Frameit is not just a very 'simple' pricing system like many other products.  It is a very 'simple to use' fully integrated database application designed specifically for a Custom Picture Framer and incorporates much more than merely pricing a job.  The versatility of Frameit is what makes it outstanding. 

Frameit also incorporates a Point-of Sale system that allows you to sell anything else such as Framed Prints, Mirrors, Posters.  These two independent systems can then work separately OR  together to produce one Job/Invoice for say a Poster that you sell to a customer plus the framing of that poster.  

Frameit is a very flexible system that allows you to start with just quoting and as you get comfortable with that, you move on to other things. 

This page may be somewhat long but anyone really interested in Frameit is after information and detail.  Lets look at some of the features:

Ease of Use

For many framers, using a program such as Frameit will be their first experience with a computer.  Frameit has been designed to be simple to use.  It basically uses only four keys to do an entire job.  The <Enter>, <Esc>, and the Up and Down arrow keys.  Go to Get Started - Quick to see just how easy Frameit is to use.

There is no mouse to worry about resulting in a less cluttered counter.  A couple of other keys are available for special functions but these are always shown, when available, down the bottom of the screen (one exception is a key to obtain the actual Cost price (see below for more details).  The screen layout is designed in such a way as to lead you through the quoting process.  Because of this you are unlikely to 'forget' about an item that should be included.

Jobs are normally worked out by measuring the item and working out from there.  However, Frameit is so versatile that you can work from an outside size (from rebate) inwards.

Quoting - Mouldings

• Prices for all items (moulding, matts, glass and even labour such as stretching) can be priced on a curve.  That is to say that if an empty frame using 1 metre of moulding was to cost $20, one using 4 metre's should not necessarily cost four times as much ($80).  Maybe it should only cost say $60 or three times the size of the smaller frame.  This is what we call a pricing curve and it can be set against all items.  Once set the system will calculate any size frame from the very smallest to very large on this sliding scale.  This ability is an absolute necessity if you are to be competitive in today's market.
• There are two ways to price mouldings or use a combination of them.

1. Assign each moulding to one of 30 categories.  Each of these categories have their prices and pricing curve set up by you so as to reflect your price requirements.
2. Give every moulding it's own unique price.  While this method takes longer to initially set up it does provide greater flexibility.  As each new invoice or price structure is received from suppliers you can review each price against that already being used (the system keeps the actual cost price also).  You can then easily adjust that moulding to the new price. 

• Because the system also knows how much you paid for each item, at the touch of a key it will tell you the total "cost" price for a job.  You can include labour costs in this if you wish or use a lower than normal labour cost.  Final result is to know how much a job is really going to cost you to do.  This is invaluable in bidding for work, especially bulk work or even just giving a discount to that "special" customer.
• The system knows details of each of your mouldings, including the width.  It uses this knowledge to calculate a wastage amount into all jobs.  It takes the width and multiplies it by 8 to obtain a length of moulding that will be lost in the cutting.  If the moulding is only narrow, little adjustment will result in the price.  If however, it is a wide moulding, the price adjustment will be greater (a moulding that is say 100mm wide would result in an additional moulding cost of 800mm for the job). 
• A minimum "cost" can be set for small items.  Say a job to frame a stamp and the overall size of the frame may be 50mm by 50mm.  If you have the system set to apply a minimum price for a frame say 200mm x 200mm, that is the price that will be charged even though the invoice shows it as 50mm x 50mm.
• You can have up to three mouldings or slips on any one job.  because Frameit knows how wide each item is, it will calculate and price each moulding correctly as the outside of the frame get larger.  This can be demonstrated by using the same moulding three times.  Each one becomes more expensive because it is getting bigger.

Quoting - Other Items

• The rest of the Quoting screen involves other items (i.e. stretching, fitting, glass, mats, no. of openings etc.) and again Frameit allows you to customise it so that your items with your prices are used.     Each of your  items has previously been entered into Frameit along with the cost price or for labour items, an hourly rate.  The pricing curve as described above also applies to these items, should you wish.
• As you move through the screen you will find additional selections will appear as required.
• When you get to an item called "Glazing" you will be presented with a list of glass, Perspex, mirror or whatever you have put into this area to show.  You can, of course, have your own items in here with your own prices.
• When you get to Mats a new sub window opens.  This is where the number of mats, types and sizes are entered.  Once a size is entered the system instantly recalculates the entire job because everything just got bigger.  Reduce the matt size and again the entire job will be re-calculated instantly.
• Allows for different matt sizes on different sides (say 70mm on bottom and the rest 60mm).  Each side can be different if required.
• At any time you can go back over any item and change it.  A different moulding. glass, size of mats or other items and the price will re-calculate instantly.
• Frameit even has a warning should a job require an oversize matt.
• Apply a discount, change it or take it away and the price is adjusted.
• An extra spot is available to put the cost of something special that might arise.

Issuing the Quote, Job Sheet or Invoice.  When quote  is complete the following happens. You can select between issuing a Quote (customer goes away to think about it), Job Sheet (customer leaves job) or Invoice (job is done straight away and transaction is completed).  The normal is to leave work as a Job so we shall follow that through the system.

Job sheet is selected.  System asks for number of items (there may be say two photos both to be framed the size).  System will add these together and present a screen with the total price and a prompt to collect a deposit.  From here system confirms when the "due date" is to be.  We now get to locate our customer from the customer database (will cover this later) or input details of the customer as a new customer.  

Once completed the Job Sheet is printed.  A number can be printed (one for the customer and one for you, or more if required)  Customer goes away.  Details of the job costs get collected into a daily summary so that the cash drawer can be balanced and figures for new work obtained.  All jobs taken that day or over a number of days or weeks can be summarised so as to provide a work sheet of jobs to be done in due date or job number order.  A cutting sheet can be produced showing all similar mouldings together and total amount of moulding required to complete the jobs (great for ordering stock).  

Job is eventually completed.  Job can be allocated a 'rack' number to make it easy to locate when the customer calls.  System also tracks who took a job and who received payment.  Customer calls to collect.  The Job Sheet is converted into an Invoice and either PAID or get added to an account (Debtor's Ledgers).  Again amount of sale is collated into a Daily Summary of Sales.

More Features:

• Database of Customers who can be categorised (i.e. Artist, Tapestry, Poster).  Mailing Labels of Mail Merge files can then be produced to enable Direct Marketing.
• Total amount each customer spends, broken up into a number of years, helps analyse your good customers.
• A monthly Tax Summary so that any Sales Tax can be calculated.
• Ability to recall a job and alter it (customer changes their minds in what they want).
• Able to recall and re-print a Job/Invoice for up to five years.  Great for the customer who comes in for a frame the same as a previous one.
• Reports on quantities of all materials used over a period of time.
• Reports on jobs held but unpaid etc..
• Analysis of Sales by the week or month of both new jobs taken and jobs collected.  Helps plan advertising schedules, staff holidays etc..

Debtors Ledgers - while this system is not designed for large volume, it is ideal for the smaller shop.

• Designed to track monies due from Account Customers.
• Prints Invoices.
• Produce Statements each month with 30/60/90 days due and Current due totals.
• Receive payments for either whole jobs or 'credit' the account.
• Credit amounts can be carried.

Point of Sale:

• Keep a database of other things that you sell (say posters), along with their price and description.
• Sell these items directly to an Invoice
• Sell, say a poster, plus custom frame it.  The two systems combine together to form one Job or Invoice.
• Report of Stock, value and re-order indicator.

Backup Module

This is a free add-on to help Framers backup their Frameit databases and application.  It has two backup options, to backup just the databases or all files required to restore the complete system.  It also has an option to help restoring a backup and to load new program disks received from JiTechnics.  Backing up of a computer, restoring or transferring the application is NOT supported "free".  It is everyone's own responsibility to ensure that good backups are obtained and that they know how to restore them.

Laser Printing Module

This module is an optional extra and can be added at a later date.  It utilises the ability of a PCL Hewlett Packard II compatible printer to produce superb printouts.  Featuring your own customised letterhead (black and white) and a completely different layout to Inkjet or dot matrix type printing.  It provides a teat off section to present to the customer.  <<will try and scan one and give a demo here>>

Multi User (LAN) Module

This module is an optional extra and can be added at a later date.  The ability to hook two or more computers together is called 'Networking' and generally involves a LAN or Local Area Network.  This gives the ability for many computers to share a common set of books (customers, jobs, invoices etc).  The databases are held on just one PC (server) and the other PC's (workstations) all work back to the server.  So for the larger shops, a LAN is the ideal solution to your business.

Agency

Frameit offers the ability to just extract the main price structures from a central PC and issue them to agencies.  The agencies run their own individual PC and have their own jobs, invoices, customers etc.  However, their price structure and mouldings can be easily synchronised by issuing a diskette from the 'master' system. 

Remote Access

Often known as "Terminal" service, this offers the ability to dial into your main Frameit computer from a remote location.  Perhaps you are at home and want to check on some prices or review your prices.  By using software such as Carbon Copy, Remotely Possible etc., you can sit at home and fully access your Frameit at the shop.  This ability is going to become even easier with Windows 2000 because Microsoft are building a "Terminal Service" into the system.

Mobile Framing

Frameit also offers an easy way to update Frameit that may be loaded onto say a notebook computer.  You need to go to a client to give some quotes.  Just grab your notebook, download a copy of your latest prices and mouldings into the laptop (can be done with a floppy disk) and you are on your way.  This can be even better than using a Terminal Service as you are not dependant on using the customers own phone lines or very expensive mobile connections.  It makes you completely mobile thus enabling you to go from client to client, giving quotes and taking orders. 

What Features Do You Need?