GIRL POWER Mandy McGimpsey is now in her seventeenth year as a framer, and what a brilliant ambassador for the industry she is! Passionate, creative and with endless energy.
If you are active on social media, you will already know Mandy McGimpsey aka Girl Framer aka @kingstongallery aka @speedframer.
Mandy was initially cynical about social media. “I was the last one to get a website, to get an iPhone and to get active on social media, but now I am a complete convert!” Mandy’s previous career was in IT in London, but she hated it. In 2001, on her parents’ suggestion, she followed her creative streak and started to train at Kingston Gallery every Saturday, while still commuting all week. Then in May 2002, she took the shop over and has not looked back. She told 4walls: “I love it! It may not be as lucrative but I love the lifestyle. I get time with my boys. Taking something someone loves and making it look even more beautiful is the perfect way to spend my days!”
Mandy’s social media posts very much reflect her approach to customers. Showcasing beautiful artwork. Giving advice. Not a hard sell approach at all but a regular drip feed of inspiration and ideas. “Then when customers want framing,” she believes, “they remember me!” This is reach and engagement at its best! In terms of framing trends, Mandy is loving the current popularity of white and scandi wood effects, and Farrow & Ball colours. Her favourite work includes the images shown, featuring Torre and Canaletto. She recently framed some of Scott Naismith’s work (Issue 31) which was beautifully complemented with a white frame and moulding. The secret to Mandy’s success is her integrity. She says: “Customers would say I am an honest framer. They want my advice. My opinion.” Mandy has two sons, Connor (7) and Noah (4). Connor has definitely inherited his mother’s artistic talent. She reckons: “I could fill a filing cabinet with his work!”
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