Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Colbert.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Stephanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My grandparents, Tom and Mary Colbert, opened the first location in Naperville in 1987 – then called Framin’ Place & Gallery (part of a franchise that no longer exists). All the work was done on site, from choosing designs to cutting the frames, mats, and glass, to fitting the art into the frames. Clients loved the personal attention and quality work my grandparents and staff provided.
My parents, Kevin and Sue Colbert, bought the business in 1994 and it continued to grow. Our clients’ declaration of “I love it!” became our slogan “You’re Going to Love It!” Over the next 6 years my parents opened two additional retail locations and a central warehouse. They also changed the name to Colbert Custom Framing & Art Printing in 2006 when we started offering custom giclee art printing and related services. In 2011 we grew back to one location that is now our all-in-one facility and gallery. We do everything here – expert designing, frame, mat, and glass cutting, and fitting orders. Editing images, photo restoration, original art reproduction, and other types of custom art printing. We offer hanging services too, to the Chicagoland area.
I started working in the stores fitting orders together when I was 15. (Although we did recently find a receipt I’d turned in to my parents for stapling courtesy hangers to our mailers at 3 cents apiece when I was 8!). At 16 I also started designing with customers in the store, as well as in their homes and offices. After graduating from Purdue in 2007 I accepted a full time management role in the company and continued to grow in the many aspects of the business. In January 2017, I bought the business from my parents and became the official 3rd generation owner. I’m excited for where the picture framing and art printing industry is headed, as our clients themselves have access to creative tools for custom art creation for their homes and offices.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Custom picture framing and art printing is a luxury item. It’s one of the first things people decide to not spend money on when times are tough. So the health of the market can have a big impact on our sales.
My dad Kevin implemented computers and other technologies early on – we are completely computerized, from our point of sale software, to our computerized CAD mat cutter, to our barcode frame joiner, to the Photoshop work we do to print on one of our three large format art printers. Keeping up with the technology and solving technology glitches can be challenging. But this also carries overwhelming benefits.
Finding and keeping the right people has always been key, and it’s not always easy. We’ve learned a lot over the years about what kind of person is best suited for this job and how to have an excellent environment for our staff.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Colbert Custom Framing & Art Printing story. Tell us more about the business.
We do custom picture framing and custom art printing. I like to say that we’ll frame anything that’s not alive. This includes photos, paintings, posters, sports memorabilia, clothing, needlework, heirlooms, objects, etc. We are known for our excellent designs, great customer experience, and high quality work. We’ve enjoyed growing in the custom art printing area as well. Many local artists use us to reproduce their original artwork for shows. Other clients bring their old / damaged family photos to us to restore and reproduce to look like new. Still others are looking for a “just right” art piece for their home and we can make one custom for them, on canvas or other print media.
We are past winner of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year, as well as a past finalist for Illinois Family Business of the Year. Some of our framing has hung in the Smithsonian and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library.
We have also started working extensively with corporations on custom branded artwork for their locations, retirement gifts, recognition gifts, and client / sponsor gifts. Companies love that we can take an idea and run with it and that they can count on us to make the whole process easy and the results impressive.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Many business successes (or failures) are explainable and can be traced to excellent (or poor) work or outstanding (or bad) practices. But there is a good deal of activity or lack of activity that’s driven by the market and whatever is happening in the lives of my clients. I trust in God, because “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). He has been faithful through the years, through good and bad. He gives both success and lessons, and works all things together for our good.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1283 South Naper Blvd
- Website: www.colbertcustomframing.com
- Phone: 630-717-1448
- Email: service@colbertcf.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColbertCustomFramingArtPrinting/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
