The Great Frame Up
The Great Frame Up is a custom picture framing retail franchise founded in 1971 under parent Franchise Concepts, Inc. It serves individual consumers, businesses, and DIY enthusiasts through independently owned stores across the U.S. offering custom framing, art, mirrors, gift cards, and an online art gallery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersSaint Peters, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Great Frame Up does
The Great Frame Up is a retail franchise system specializing in custom picture framing, operating under the parent company Franchise Concepts, Inc. (FCI). Founded in 1971 and headquartered in St. Peters, Missouri, the brand operates a national network of independently owned franchise stores across multiple U.S. states including California, Illinois, and Indiana. The company's core product is professional custom picture framing, delivered through extensively trained design staff who assist customers in selecting frame designs, matting options, glass types, and materials to complement room décor, lifestyle, and budget. Beyond custom framing, the business offers a portfolio of complementary products and services including corporate/business framing, custom framed mirrors, gift items, gift cards (both eGift and physical formats), pre-framed artwork, and an online art gallery platform called ShopForArt.com featuring over 10 million images that can be printed on paper, canvas, acrylic, metal, or wood. Select locations also offer Do-It-Yourself Framing for customers who prefer a hands-on approach.
The company's technology stack centers on computer-aided framing design and order management systems, supplemented by a proprietary web-based marketing system available to franchisees for local store marketing and customer engagement. The ShopForArt.com platform serves as the primary e-commerce channel, enabling customers to browse images, customize size and material, and have selections shipped directly to a local The Great Frame Up store for framing. Distribution is exclusively through the franchise model, where independently owned and operated stores serve local markets while benefiting from FCI's national brand recognition, combined buying power with publishers and suppliers, a National Marketing Fund, and ongoing franchise support including training, site selection, lease negotiation, and build-out assistance.
The business serves three primary customer segments: individual consumers seeking custom framing for personal items (artwork, family photos, diplomas, wedding photos, memorabilia, sports items, mirrors); business/corporate customers needing office art, awards, and professional display framing; and DIY enthusiasts preferring hands-on framing experiences. Pricing is quote-based and varies significantly with frame materials, matting, glass type, and size, with basic custom poster frames starting around $120 for two frames. The company's revenue model combines professional services (custom framing) with hardware/retail sales (pre-framed artwork, décor), gift card transactions, and franchise royalties at the parent level, monetizing through both direct retail transactions and the franchise licensing fee structure.
The Great Frame Up firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Great Frame Up
- Legal name
- The Great Frame Up
- Website
- https://thegreatframeup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Great Frame Up is a custom picture framing retail franchise founded in 1971 under parent Franchise Concepts, Inc. It serves individual consumers, businesses, and DIY enthusiasts through independently owned stores across the U.S. offering custom framing, art, mirrors, gift cards, and an online art gallery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Great Frame Up is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Peters
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
The Great Frame Up business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Framing Services: Core revenue stream from designing and producing custom frames for artwork, photos, documents, memorabilia, and other items. Expert staff assists customers in selecting appropriate frame designs, materials, mats, and glass options.
- Art and Wall Décor Sales: Sale of pre-framed artwork, prints, posters, and wall décor accessories through retail stores and ShopForArt.com online platform.
- Gift Items: Sale of gift items including pre-framed artwork and home décor accessories. Gift cards available in both electronic (eGift) and physical formats.
- Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards (both eGift cards delivered via email and physical cards shipped via USPS) that can be redeemed for custom framing, pre-framed artwork, or home décor accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Framing - Project-Based Pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards - Variable Amount |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Great Frame Up product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Great Frame Up designs and produces custom picture frames for artwork, photos, diplomas, memorabilia, mirrors, and other items through a national network of independently owned franchise retail stores. The offering is supported by related products and services including pre-framed art and wall decor, do-it-yourself framing studios at select locations, corporate/business framing, an online art gallery (ShopForArt.com) with over 10 million images, custom-framed mirrors, and gift cards.
Product overview
The Great Frame Up is a custom picture framing retail chain operating as a franchise system under parent company Franchise Concepts, Inc. The core offering is custom framing services, supported by a portfolio of related products including corporate/business framing, an online art gallery (ShopForArt), custom framed mirrors, do-it-yourself framing at select locations, gift cards, gift items, and art/wall décor. The business model combines in-store services with e-commerce capabilities through ShopForArt.com, where customers can browse millions of images and order prints customized to size on various materials. Locations are independently owned and operated by franchisees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ShopForArt: Online art gallery platform offering over 10 million images that can be customized and shipped to The Great Frame Up locations for framing.
Products and services
- Custom Framing Services Professional custom picture framing where trained experts help customers design frames to complement their art, room decor, lifestyle, and budget. Available at all franchise store locations.
- Framing for Your Business Corporate and business framing solutions including office art, conference room decor, and professional display framing for businesses and interior designers.
- Art & Wall Décor Pre-framed artwork, prints, and wall decor accessories available in-store and through the online gallery.
- Custom Framed Mirrors Custom-framed mirror services that allow customers to add both functionality and style to their spaces.
- Do-It-Yourself Framing Self-service, hands-on framing experience available at select franchise locations for customers who prefer a creative, do-it-yourself approach to framing their artwork.
- Gift Cards Gift cards available in eGift (delivered via email) and physical formats (shipped via USPS) redeemable for custom framing, pre-framed artwork, and home decor accessories.
- ShopForArt Online art gallery sub-brand offering millions of images that can be printed on paper, canvas, acrylic, metal, and wood, with customization for size and framing, and shipping to local The Great Frame Up stores.
- Gift Items Pre-framed artwork and home decor accessories sold as ready-to-give gift items.
Companies that use The Great Frame Up
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Great Frame Up technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Great Frame Up partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Franchise Concepts Inc. (FCI)coreParent company and franchisor of The Great Frame Up brand. FCI is one of the world's largest, most successful franchisors of art and custom framing retail stores. FCI owns two large national framing franchises in the U.S. (The Great Frame Up and Deck The Walls) and the only one in Canada (Framing & Art Centre). FCI provides franchise support including training, site selection, lease negotiation, build-out assistance, national marketing fund, and ongoing support programs.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Great Frame Up competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Crate & Barrel: National home furnishings retailer offering framed art and décor within a broader housewares portfolio. Adjacent competitor for wall décor and framed artwork purchases.
- Hobby Lobby: National arts, crafts, and home décor retailer with in-store custom framing departments. Provides overlapping framing services as part of a broader craft and home goods assortment at competitive price points.
- West Elm: Williams-Sonoma-owned home furnishings retailer selling framed art and custom framing options. Overlaps in the framed art and wall décor category as part of a broader premium home assortment.
- Michaels: Largest US arts, crafts, and custom framing retailer with in-store framing services across thousands of locations. Offers overlapping capabilities as part of a much wider craft and décor portfolio rather than specializing in framing.
Direct peers
- Framebridge: Online-first custom framing service offering mail-in framing with home pickup in many US markets. Competes directly with TGFU's core custom framing offering but via a digital, asset-light model with transparent pricing.
- Simply Framed: Digital custom framing company with curated frame styles and direct-to-door shipping. Targets the same consumer segment as TGFU with a purely online experience and no physical retail footprint.
- Deck The Walls: Sister brand under Franchise Concepts, Inc. offering art and custom framing retail in the US. Closely comparable franchise concept serving the same category under shared corporate parent and support infrastructure.
- Aaron Brothers: Custom framing and art retail brand historically operating as standalone stores inside Michaels; comparable product mix of custom framing, pre-framed art, and wall décor serving similar consumer use cases.
Emerging players
- Art To Frames: Online custom framing retailer offering made-to-order frames with multiple moulding and mat options. Competes on price and convenience in the same custom framing category with a primarily e-commerce model.
Regional players
- Framing & Art Centre: Canadian sister brand under FCI operating a comparable custom framing franchise model. Directly comparable concept but primarily serving the Canadian market rather than TGFU's US footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Great Frame Up social profiles
Digital presenceThe Great Frame Up financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Great Frame Up leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Great Frame Up funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Great Frame Up M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Great Frame Up
What does The Great Frame Up do?
The Great Frame Up designs and produces custom picture frames for artwork, photos, diplomas, memorabilia, mirrors, and other items through a national network of independently owned franchise retail stores. The offering is supported by related products and services including pre-framed art and wall decor, do-it-yourself framing studios at select locations, corporate/business framing, an online art gallery (ShopForArt.com) with over 10 million images, custom-framed mirrors, and gift cards.
Is The Great Frame Up a public or private company?
The Great Frame Up is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Great Frame Up founded?
The Great Frame Up was founded in 1971. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Great Frame Up based?
The Great Frame Up is headquartered in Saint Peters, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Great Frame Up make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Framing Services are the primary driver. The others are art and Wall Décor Sales, gift Items and gift Cards.
Who are The Great Frame Up's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Crate & Barrel, Hobby Lobby, West Elm and Michaels. Direct peers are Framebridge, Simply Framed, Deck The Walls and Aaron Brothers. Art To Frames is listed as an emerging player. Framing & Art Centre is listed as a regional player.
Does The Great Frame Up have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Great Frame Up.