MIGHTY MITREMAN 4walls enjoys covering new entrants to the world of framing but we also love to feature those whose passion for the sector has thrived over many decades and who continue to succeed, embracing change with an energy and commitment that is both impressive and inspirational. One such example is Jan ‘Mitreman’ Stanlick of Framers Equipment.
Jan has been in the business for over forty years. He loves the industry and is determined to promote best practice to as many people Jan Stanlick as possible. Framers Equipment mantra is ‘Success through knowledge’, a belief instilled into him by his father, Tony GCF. Tony worked with Magnolia Mouldings in a previous incarnation back in the 1970s and Larson-Juhl from 1992 to retirement, and it is from him that a passion for professionalism and craftsmanship was embedded into everything. Jan has seen many trends come and go, but an appreciation of the need for high standards remains constant.
“While fashion repeats itself,” Jan says, “there will always be a high demand for traditional framing. We are seeing a steady growth in this area and an increase in interest for conservation framing, in particular. This goes for both conservation products and UV glass. Education around this is working with more framers feeling confident about upselling which brings better protection for the consumer and increased margins for the framer.
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“Advances in equipment mean more framers can now print their customers’ artwork, with quality control over an image while printing direct onto various different substrates and creating different mediums for displaying and selling artwork. Consequently, we are selling more precision trimmers, substrate cutters, laminators and dry mounting equipment. Jan’s younger brother Peter, managing director of Framers Equipment, runs the sales side – which includes aftersales, Peter Stanlick servicing and parts. “We only sell top branded professional equipment that we can support with aftersales service and genuine manufacturers’ parts. This includes Casesse for underpinners and saws, Hoffman Routers for hardwoods, Danlist Morso guillotines, Smart automatic and manual wall-mounted mount cutters, Fletcher and Keencut mount cutters, trimmers and multi material wall mounted glass cutters – to name a few!” They also sell conservation materials and framing consumables.
Jan became a Guild Commended Framer in 2008, a Guild Commended Examiner in 2014, transferring to a Certified Framer (APF) last year with Framers Equipment now an Accredited Training Centre. Courses are available based on the Guild’s five levels of standards. Jan explains:
“We encourage students to do the basic course first, to prove that they have the fundamental skills and are committed to quality craftsmanship before progressing. Once the foundations are there, we encourage students to develop and to work towards intermediate and advanced stages.”
