An American Adventure, Then and Now
Back in the 1960’s, my father, Ron Mickel, opened a small home goods store where in addition to paint and garden products, he offered a custom picture framing service. Very quickly, his store became known locally for high quality, exacting craftsmanship, customer-first service and fair prices.
When Nielsen® created an aluminum frame that could be custom-cut like solid wood, he saw the potential for serving customers, especially artists and photographers, outside the Toledo area. So he put an ad in ‘American Artist’ magazine, and basically forgot about it, until the post office called him asking that he please pick up his mail. His PO Box was filled with orders, the largest being from the Chico State University Art Department. I remember this being a very exciting time in our family as this new area of our business took off. We all got busy and went to work!
Looking back, it was crazy. Little did he know he had created a new industry, transforming what was once an expensive “professionals only” task to an easy and affordable “do-it-yourself” project.
Today, American Frame is a much larger organization, located in Maumee, OH, and quality, craftsmanship, service and affordability remain our watchwords. Naturally, as our business has grown, so has the reach of these values.
We understand that high quality is not just about the end result, but also about how the result is achieved at every level, from the materials used to how production scraps are recycled. Craftsmanship is as much about teamwork is about an individual’s skill, which is why all of us work together in one location; it’s the best way to maintain rigorous production standards and communication. Affordability is key to us all. By monitoring our competitors and working with strong suppliers, we are able to keep our prices low and product quality superior. Service is why we are here. You always come first. Period.
To us, this is a highly personal pursuit, not just because we’re family, but because you are entrusting us to help you frame the things you make: to frame and preserve your pictures, print your art and photography, and frame your keepsakes. What is more personal than that?
So let’s get started and have some fun! Find your frame style use our site to design your custom treatment….print your images or upload them for sale on our Art Gallery, and by all means, enjoy the savings that we’re so pleased to pass on to each and every customer.
Happy Framing,
Laura Jajko
lauraj@americanframe.com