Consulting Services

Coaching and Mentoring Secret Shopper Market Evaluations Computerized POS Installation and Training Wizard t Cutter Installation and Training Marketing Prthe oams Coaching and Mentoring Secret Shopper Mar-ket Evaluations Computerized POS In-stallation and Training Wizard er Ild Traing Marketing Programs Coaching and Mentoring Secret Shopper Market Evaluations Computerized POS Installation and Training Wizard Mat Cutter Installation and Training Marketing Programs Coaching and Mentoring Secret Shopper Market Evaluations Computerized POS Instal-lation and Tttt Wizard Mat Cutter

We help you get focused!

Coaching and Mentoring

Secret Shopper Market

Evaluations

Computerized POS Installation

and Training

Operations Support

Marketing Programs

Capital Equipment Acquisition

Store Design and Layout

Consulting ServicesStuart M. Altschuler, CPF®, GCFStuart Altschuler, principal in PFA Consulting and the director and

lead educator for Prestige Framing Academy, has been in the retail business for over 35 years. As a fam-ily business, Prestige Gal-lery and Framing provided a fertile training ground for future consulting endeav-ors. Starting in college, Altschuler was called upon to work on such varied special projects as employee compensation, customer

relations, production efficiencies, and marketing. Each project resulted in the presentation and defense of three possible solutions to existing problems detailing the pros and cons of each. In this process Altschuler was groomed to consult in the industry.

Work in the frame shop always led to fancy special projects for which the shop was known. Many of these projects are now featured in such trade publications as Decor and Picture Framing Magazine, where Altschuler has been the frame design editor. Altschuler’s articles also appear in Fine Woodworking, the leading publication in the woodworking field, for whom he has also published a video entitled “Making Picture Frames” .As an educator Altschuler has been teaching full time for the past eight years. Classes are given in conjunction with distributors, manufacturers, and many trade associations. In addition to his other activities, Mr. Altschuler, a certified picture framer, and a guild commended framer currently spends the majority of his time consulting on new framing businesses and other retail all across North America. A master craftsman, today Altschuler continues a tradition started three generations ago.

Prestige Framing Academy, LLC6Maraia Lane Saugus, MA 01906(617) 285-0855(866) 615-2429 FAXwww.framingacademy.com

A typical front of store design

Academy

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Consulting

Consulting

Clear Answers to Confusing Questions

Are you caught up in the day to day hassles and problems of running a shop? Do you wish you could step back and grow your business? Or, simply take the time to update your equipment and systems? Bringing in outside help could be the solution.

Why a professional consultant?

Small business people are confronted with a constant struggle to find the information necessary to make sound decisions. Even if they have the time to do research on the internet or in the library, the volume of information available has become too staggering to sift through. Should I buy this piece of equipment or that? Should I buy any new equipment at all? How much money should I spend on marketing and advertising? What about my retail pricing? Am I charging enough to make a reasonable profit? Am I price competitive in my market? Should I be? Are my operations as streamlined as they can be? Am I buying right? Am I using the right vendors?

These are typical questions that you face in your small business on a regular basis. You then look at some numbers and make your “best guess” about what to do – often wondering if there was more homework that could have insured success. This is where the consultant can help. Consultants are people with great experience in a particular industry who have faced these very same decisions many times. They know the right questions to ask and what the answers should be. Knowing the range of acceptable key performance indicators, a consultant can quickly assess a situation. In general consultants add a dimension of industry knowledge and contacts thus reducing the risk of any decision.

For many people the decision to hire a consultant is difficult. Independent small business people think they can’t afford the luxury. Yet, frequently, a consultant will save more than he costs. Marketing tricks and tips, vendor relationships, and functionality in operations are all areas where many dollars can be saved. But these are just a few of the areas in which a consultant works. Often, you have started on a project that has later fallen by the wayside when a stumbling block is encountered. A consultant can answer questions and keep the process rolling until reaching a successful conclusion. The best example of this in the picture framing industry is the installation of a computerized point of sale system. People purchase software, yet never complete the installation and use.

Few business people would think of preparing taxes and financial statements without an accountant or sign a lease with an attorney’s review. Both of these are specialized consultants —why not consider a picture framing consultant to help as well?

Pricing and POS Computerization Installation and Training

Many shops have taken the step to computerize their operations in the past while others are looking to computers now to streamline

their operations. And, still other shops are at the point where they are upgrading their systems by changing to new hardware and software. These important decisions need to be made quickly, decisively, and correctly so as not to squander whatever advantages you have built. Success must be built upon success for the small business to remain competitive in today’s marketplace. Backward steps, however small, can be disastrous.

Prestige Framing Academy has vast experience helping small and medium sized framing businesses choose, install, and implement computerized POS systems. We have been using systems like these since the late 1970s and understand the problems that you will face. We’re familiar with the issues, have grappled with the problems, and found solutions. We have a four step plan that will allow you a hassle free transition to better operations. Individually, not with a preprogrammed solution, we consider a pricing structure that is appropriate to your business. This step is critical since your business, while similar to others, is unique in many ways that have a dramatic impact on pricing. Rents and labor costs, to name a few, vary greatly by region and specific location. A pricing structure that yields profits in suburban San Diego could spell financial ruin in suburban Chicago. After the pricing strategies have been worked out, these must be translated to the software. Using our specialized data entry sheets and many problem solving tips and tricks, we have proven methods to insure your move to a POS system is trouble free. Staff training is essential to get the most from your system. We enhance the training provided by the software vendors with hands-on sessions using your own work orders and current framing jobs. Employees learn how to use the system by actually using it with real live data in a supervised forum. Finally, ongoing support augments what is provided by the vendor in critical areas of pricing and profitability. While each installation is specific most take between two and five days of work. Upon completion your new system will be up and running insuring and increasing profits for your business.

Front and back of shop layout design and renovation

The retail portion of an upscale design oriented frame shop needs renovation on a regular basis to keep the look fresh and up to date. Your clients depend on you to keep them aware of design trends and new home furnishings ideas. You constantly provide a stream of visual stimulation with new framed samples; the backdrop needs to be fresh as well. We have found that your regular customers will spend more when they come into your newly renovated shop. And, new customers, impressed by the look of your shop, will trust your design sense implicitly. Prestige Framing Academy, a leader in the design of new shops, has many plans, designs, and suggestions to make your shop stand out. Anyone can build a beautiful shop by spending megabucks, we have worked with customers to make small budgets go a long way. You will have plans and sources or step by step on-site assistance depending upon your needs. Your shop can be beautiful for little money using our proven methods and systems.

Is your production area streamlined to produce the most spectacular frames in the shortest time for the least cost? The critical elements of production are speed, accuracy, and cost. Are you using the best equipment for the job? We first look at your current methods and your

volume we then project future growth. Only after this careful evaluation can we recommend appropriate equipment and methods. Prestige Framing Academy has worked with all major equipment vendors and have established relationships that assure you the best prices and service. We have worked with smaller lesser known vendors who are sometimes able to provide a more effective solution. Our representation of numerous clients carries clout with the vendors that translates directly to benefits to you. We never accept kickbacks from vendors; any incentives are passed directly to you. Don’t you owe it to yourself to improve your profitability by updating your back room?

General Business Operations

Often times as businesses grow infrastructure doesn’t keep up. You are busy running your operation and have little time to search for, acquire, and implement systems that are now needed to support your growth. An example of this would be in the area of human resources. Your company started with you and perhaps a spouse or one trusted employee, but has now grown to six people, three of whom are full-time. You should have an employee manual detailing personnel policies and procedures to both protect yourself legally and give your employees the support they need to do their best work. We have evaluated needs with clients many times and are able to draw on those experiences to help you correctly make critical choices. We understand the pitfalls and can suggest implementation strategies to insure that your business grows at the pace that you want.

Marketing evaluation, support strategy design and implementation

Not making enough money? Are you concerned that your marketing efforts are ineffective? Or, perhaps that you are not reaching the right customers? With over 30 years retail picture framing and art gallery experience we have developed many programs, both good and bad. Use our experience to refine your marketing and eliminate potential mistakes and oversights. We ask hard questions so your precious marketing dollars aren’t wasted.

How do I work with PFA Consulting?

Interested framers talk with us about the problems that they’d like to correct. You then receive an initial estimate of costs to best accomplish the stated goals. Together, we establish a flexible schedule bring about the appropriate changes. Reasonable telephone follow-up is always included in our work. While we are available to help you on any issue, we prefer to work with clients on an ongoing basis. Many clients have us visit once or twice a year to review the business and help you to steer the correct course for the future. There is never a charge to chat with us about a project and often times you will find that our services are surprisingly affordable.