Retailer feature: Framing print samples for Maximum Sales

11 Apr

Framing Suggestions to Boost Map Art Sales

Keep in mind that our historical maps do best when sold as art pieces rather than academic material. To maximize your profit, you should focus on the artistic qualities of the maps. They will sell much better if the buyers are focused on the decorative potential of the prints rather than the technical aspects. You are the experts, but we’d like to offer some tips to help you refocus the customers’ attention on the artistic side of our maps by using frames.

Hang a Framed Sample

One of the easiest ways you can unlock the selling potential of our maps is by hanging up a framed sample for shoppers to admire. Your customers may need help visualizing what our maps will look like in their home, and there’s no better way to assist them than with a framed sample. Staging the framed pieces around furniture, lamps, or blankets is another good way to help the customer visualize the map in their home.

Of course you can offer your framed sample for sale by selling the map and the frame together.  I always tell folks— be sure you are marked your framed pieces high enough so that your customers aren’t always walking off with your framed sample! Many folks prefer to these days buying a nice frame+map combo at their local shop or on their regional travels. I have regretting selling my framed samples at too to a price many times. Make sure you are getting your piece of the pie!

Frame styles to inspire buyers

Offering a couple of frame styles is another great way to help your customers recognize the artistic value of the maps. They won’t have any difficulty seeing the decorative potential when there are plenty of unique frames available for them to choose from. If you are looking for the most versatile frame style I would suggest a simple black frame of any width and white or off white matting. If your customer has a rustic home you will of course look for a frame with a rough hewn or live edge appeal, such as barn wood. In rural areas you can often find these makers at farmers markets! If you would prefer to work with a frame shop I always suggest looking for a frame that has wide grain and bore holes, and a frame that is over 2″ wide.  If your customer is looking for a modern look a popular seller for us has been a brown frame with sepia map. Grey is also so popular right now- but be careful because the grey may not bring out the best in the map. I have also seen the maps in beautiful ornate golden frames that make my heart sing!

Expand Your Footprint For Better Results

As a merchandiser you know another excellent way to boost sales of any product is to give it a bigger footprint. If you find a great seller I recommend that you order it in multiple sizes and display with complementing products. The repeated imagery will make a strong impression on your buyer and they will come back looking for “that map.” I am pleased to say that we now offer all of our maps in all sizes: 5×7″note cards, 11×14″, 16×20″ and fine art prints all attractively packaged and ready for the shelf, from $4.50 -$385 retail.  

By creating a larger, more spread out display and showing your customers that there are options for every price range, you’ll be able to maximize your profits and find more success selling our unique map art.

Thank You For Choosing Great River Arts

 

We hope you found these tips useful, and we invite you to contact us with any questions regarding our historical map prints or frames. We look forward to doing business with you in 2018, and for many years to come.

Please watch your inbox the first and last Wednesday of every month for new suggestions and seasonal sales!

For more display ideas please enjoy this video:

Need some display ideas?

Please watch this video to see what some of our other retailers have done! Interested in Retailing our Maps around the country?

Please email [email protected] and watch this video about our retail product offerings!

https://youtu.be/uYo5z2_hrjU

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