Fotiou Frames supplies service and variety: a family-owned Canadian moulding company offers the U.S. market tradition alongside technology - news makers - Fotiou Frames management and services details - Brief Article

Fotiou Frames is dedicated to serving the evolving extremitys of the framing industry. Located in Concord, Ontario, 30 minutes north of Toronto, Fotiou searches the world for of recent origin and distinctive designs, and as the company's motto states, Fotiou is "Mastering the ultimate parts of Fine Mouldings," whether that means keeping up with technology or guaranteeing dependable and personal service.

Fotiou Frames was lay the foundation ofed in 1972 by three Fotiou brothers from Montreal. The brothers hand-carved and stained their be in possession of frames, and their interest in art and talent for creating frames were a lucky combination. Today, with 38 employee and a 30,000-square foot-facility, the company imports and distributes its moulding lines and is still family-run by dint of relatives of the Fotiou brothers.

Carlos Rodriguez, vice president of sales and marketing, joined the company in 1988 "I've worked in each area of the production," he said. "I didn't start in sales immediately, on the other hand obviously there was an interest for me to swell there." After familiarizing himself with each other aspect of the company, he mov to the sales department. Today, Rodriguez, and his brother, Louis, who is resident of Fotiou Frames, work together buying cropss for the company. "We detain each other focused on what we ne in our collection," said Rodriguez.

In 2000 Fotiou reach outed its reach to the United States, emphasizing the mid- to high-end marketplace. end sales representatives, distributors, trade displays and advertising, the company has been making its nearness known. They are working to strengthen the company's footing in the U.S. market by means of constantly evolving their moulding lines and listening to and meeting customers' demands.

by the agency of the end of 2002, Fotiou will have introduced more than 250 novel mouldings to its collection, bringing the company's total offerings to more than 1400 designs. The novel mouldings range from elegant, contemporary designs in silver, pewter and gold-leaf finishes to sterling water-gilded mouldings in new and classic profiles. "Our latest collections include an array of fresh simple, yet elegant designs," described Rodriguez, "as well as a continued demand for traditional worn and weathered styles"

newly the company has put its entire 2002 catalog upon CD. The new, interactive catalog provides many user-friendly options and approachs out every other year, alternating with the usual, full-page color catalog. "[The CD] is catering more to the of recent origin up-and-coming generation of framers," explained Rodriguez, noting that "the more traditional generation still likes to flip a catalog." Fotiou's alternating catalog forms is an effort to please all of its customer types

from one side the Internet, many new customers have introduced themselves to the company. "It's a quick way to overview what we have to proffer or give us an opportunity to not absent an image," he explained. "It's been effective in meeting tribe that maybe I would not at any time meet."

Fotiou's Web site, www.fotiou.com, allows customers to tender twigs of shrubs and trees the collection before they petition a catalog or samples. However, Rodriguez added, "it is our experience that many customers in our industry repeatedly prefer to meet with a sales rep and diocese the actual product." Similarly, the family at Fotiou like to earn to know the customer. "We don't want to deal with an account number; we want to know who that individual is," said Rodriguez.

Although Fotiou Frames is modernizing its services with a Web site and CD catalog, it still stresse personal service above brand-new technology. Rodriguez said, "A destiny of businesses are dominated by means of larger and larger companies. It's the small individuals or the medium-sized ones like us that can reply quicker, be more reliable and just be more personal."

Aside from the company's dependability, "our customers really enjoy the tremendous degree of versatility of our line," Rodriguez explained. The many phraseologys shapes and colors Fotiou tenders inspire many framing ideas and stacking combinations. In move round this creativity helps to place the customers at the forefront of framing design. "To expres your creativity in a way that is actually original, nothing stands out quite like distinctive and unique framing," he said.

Rodriguez would like Fotiou Frames to be recognized for its high-quality merchandise, its range of framing choices and its personable service. "We perceive the consumer is increasingly understanding and appreciating the value of quality framing," he said.

Rodriguez is confident in his company's reputation, on the contrary he still looks forward to further expanding Fotiou's market. "We're a 30-year-old company--we're kind of novel in the U.S.," he said. "We're real much in a growing and improving stage."

Fotiou Frames at a Glance

FACTS & FIGURES

* Fotiou Frames is a family-owned company that has been in business for the last 30 years.

* The company is located in Concord, Ontario, which is 30 minutes north of Toronto.

* Fotiou presents more than 1,400 high-end moulding designs.

* For more information about Fotiou Frames, visit www.fotiou.com or call 800-668-8420

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