Framed With Love - And Passion

With a background in marketing and a passion for creative arts, it is no wonder that Jules Sainter and her business Lovingly Framed are both thriving.

In Issue 30, 4walls featured the hugely talented Carol Fulton, who was very keen to praise Jules for her part in Carol’s own success. Jules also came to our attention as a runner up in this year’s Fine Art Trade Guild (FATG) Scholarship Scheme. So, we thought we should find out more!

Jules spent 27 years in the corporate world, working for a number of household names and healthcare companies in senior marketing roles. Having always had an interest in art and craft, Jules attended a picture framing evening class back in 1999, originally as a hobby. From then on, she was hooked. “While I am no artist! I love all things visual,” Jules told 4walls. “After these first evening classes, I attended courses at the wonderful West Dean College of Arts & Conservation near Chichester. I then set up a business on a part time basis in 2010, before going full time in 2014.”

Jules is now looking forward to completing her FATG accreditation, and really sees the value in having a formal qualification that endorses her skills and professionalism - things that customers are happy to pay more for.


Networking 
Jules’s local marketing activity has been very successful. She joined a networking group which meets monthly and only allows one member per profession. As a result, she has secured all sorts of commissions – making up around 40% of her business, which is a phenomenal result. She says: “People buy people. They also appreciate quality work. And if they see it first hand, they are happy to make recommendations.”

The local parish magazine Contact Church and Community Newsletter has also been very fruitful in terms of generating leads – which for £130 for twelve issues, across 12 months, is fantastic value for money. It may be low-tech, but it works! Jules comments: “People hold on to their parish magazines. And there is also a growing commitment amongst local communities to ‘buy local’ – which is great news for me!”

Regarding mouldings, Jules has particularly welcomed the extension of our chop service, and is planning to use lots more Larson-Juhl products in the future. Her favourite thing about her new career is: “Turning what is not so special into something amazing!” We certainly hope to play a part here going forward!