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We Frame It - The Skye's The Limit
12 July 2019
We Frame It is a thriving gallery and framing business run by Noel Hill out of two locations - Inverness and Portree in Skye. 4walls spoke to him about his thoughts on success in the industry and one of his most highly acclaimed artists, Jay Nottingham.
Noel started We Frame It back in 1989. He now has a team of eight that comprises three GCF qualified framers, three assemblers and two shop staff. The youngest member is his daughter Helga. She joined the business when she was just 24 and initially, Noel confessed, he thought it was a bit of a risk. Would customers take her seriously? As it happens, given the growth of the digital side of things, Helga has opened new opportunities with a new generation of art lovers.
Noel’s specialisms include medals and memorabilia. This has grown extensively through Noel’s work with the Fort George Museum in Inverness and its association with the British Legion.
The Portree shop was opened following a holiday there three years ago. Skye is Scotland’s second busiest tourist destination and so there was clearly lots of potential. Noel let his interest be known and 12 months later he was contacted about the premises going to auction. His bid was successful and Noel is now really building momentum. Both stores are very busy – largely through word of mouth.
Two previous We Frame It outlets in Orkney and Thurso have been sold to former employees and continue to flourish.
Noel puts his success down to his passion, commitment to innovation and integrity. He says: “I always show it rather than sell it. Customers need to decide for themselves. It takes time for people to understand the value of bespoke framing and the same goes for conservation mountboard and specialised glass. But being patient pays off. As does always giving best advice, even if it means less revenue. I am really proud of my reputation as an expert and so it is essential that I always stick to my principles.”
Noel enjoys a great relationship with Larson-Juhl – and he is particularly appreciative of the regular stream of new products. He loves to try new things!
Noel’s main prediction for the industry is that it will get much more specialised. “There is no point fighting on price,” he told 4walls, “I compete on quality”. Going forward, Noel believes there will be fewer framers, but there will be much more of a focus on the top end of the market, where customers appreciate expertise and a premium offer, and are willing to pay for it. Noel is very excited about the future and has a strategy! “Only 5% of people have ever had a piece of bespoke framing. I have a plan to make this 20% - watch this space!”
Noel’s top tips
Best investment:
Pricing software
Best advice received:
Don’t ever be ‘cheap’.
Advice to give:
Innovate! Invest in new equipment. And your team – train them. Look after them. Delegate to them. They are your best assets.
Most bizarre framing request:
A rugby seat! Signed by all the players when the stadium was demolished.
What’s not to like about Nottingham?Noel’s best-selling artist is Jay Nottingham whose very distinctive and atmospheric landscapes are loved by locals and tourists alike.
Jay was born in Bedfordshire in 1972 and currently lives in Wales where he is a full-time artist. He specialises in oil paintings with which he has mastered his own distinguishable style. He combines a palette knife with delicate brushwork to achieve pieces full of texture and vibrant colour.
It is hard for Noel to pick a favourite artwork of Jay’s other than: “The ones that sell the best!” The Talisker Distillery (opposite) is one that stands out and is loved by art fanatics from both sides of the Atlantic as well as by whisky drinkers, of course!
A specially commissioned painting of a lifeboat at Portree (opposite) has just been completed by Jay in support of the RNLI – a charity close to Noel’s heart. Limited edition prints are being sold with £10 from the sale of each one going to the RNLI. This activity is going to be replicated elsewhere later this year.
Visit weframeit.co.uk to see more of Jay’s work. Prints can be ordered from Robin Walker Art on 07885 438652 or We Frame It on 01463 223400.
Noel’s specialisms include medals and memorabilia. This has grown extensively through Noel’s work with the Fort George Museum in Inverness and its association with the British Legion.
The Portree shop was opened following a holiday there three years ago. Skye is Scotland’s second busiest tourist destination and so there was clearly lots of potential. Noel let his interest be known and 12 months later he was contacted about the premises going to auction. His bid was successful and Noel is now really building momentum. Both stores are very busy – largely through word of mouth.
Two previous We Frame It outlets in Orkney and Thurso have been sold to former employees and continue to flourish.
Noel puts his success down to his passion, commitment to innovation and integrity. He says: “I always show it rather than sell it. Customers need to decide for themselves. It takes time for people to understand the value of bespoke framing and the same goes for conservation mountboard and specialised glass. But being patient pays off. As does always giving best advice, even if it means less revenue. I am really proud of my reputation as an expert and so it is essential that I always stick to my principles.”
Noel enjoys a great relationship with Larson-Juhl – and he is particularly appreciative of the regular stream of new products. He loves to try new things!Noel’s main prediction for the industry is that it will get much more specialised. “There is no point fighting on price,” he told 4walls, “I compete on quality”. Going forward, Noel believes there will be fewer framers, but there will be much more of a focus on the top end of the market, where customers appreciate expertise and a premium offer, and are willing to pay for it. Noel is very excited about the future and has a strategy! “Only 5% of people have ever had a piece of bespoke framing. I have a plan to make this 20% - watch this space!”
Noel’s top tips
Best investment:
Pricing software
Best advice received:
Don’t ever be ‘cheap’.
Advice to give:
Innovate! Invest in new equipment. And your team – train them. Look after them. Delegate to them. They are your best assets.
Most bizarre framing request:
A rugby seat! Signed by all the players when the stadium was demolished.
What’s not to like about Nottingham?Noel’s best-selling artist is Jay Nottingham whose very distinctive and atmospheric landscapes are loved by locals and tourists alike.
Jay was born in Bedfordshire in 1972 and currently lives in Wales where he is a full-time artist. He specialises in oil paintings with which he has mastered his own distinguishable style. He combines a palette knife with delicate brushwork to achieve pieces full of texture and vibrant colour.
It is hard for Noel to pick a favourite artwork of Jay’s other than: “The ones that sell the best!” The Talisker Distillery (opposite) is one that stands out and is loved by art fanatics from both sides of the Atlantic as well as by whisky drinkers, of course!
A specially commissioned painting of a lifeboat at Portree (opposite) has just been completed by Jay in support of the RNLI – a charity close to Noel’s heart. Limited edition prints are being sold with £10 from the sale of each one going to the RNLI. This activity is going to be replicated elsewhere later this year.
Visit weframeit.co.uk to see more of Jay’s work. Prints can be ordered from Robin Walker Art on 07885 438652 or We Frame It on 01463 223400.
