Edges Art Framers
New Zealand's heritage is preserved in the paintings and photographs hanging in museums, galleries and homes. Stamped on the back of these art works will often be the names of long forgotten framing studios, from small towns and big cities. And this history, old and new, is continually being updated by the work of framers throughout the country.
Despite the wide availability of ready-made frames, there is still a demand for the skills of small framing companies. In Hawke's Bay alone there are 14 businesses offering picture framing services. One of these, Edges Art Framers of Havelock North, has five staff busy making frames suiting the varied requirements of their customers. Edges owner, Suzi Merson, has worked in framing for 15 years. Having taken "ages" to decide what career was for her, she was one day intrigued by a picture hanging on a wall and the fact that someone must have worked out how to frame it. It didn't take her much longer to phone a manufacturer, explaining that she was interested in picture framing, organise a visit and (to his surprise) purchase $20,000 of big machinery!
Within months Suzi had set up shop in Taumarunui and worked there for almost four years before selling up and moving to Napier. Here she set up with a partner before selling her half and setting up a mobile framing business. However Suzi decided this was not as much fun, because she was spending half the day on the road and consequently had little time for framing, which was the creative side she really wanted to pursue.
Suzi bought an existing business in Havelock North which she renamed Edges. She eventually moved to new, custom built premises in late 2005, where she reports that things are going amazingly well.
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