Do you run a custom framing shop, art gallery, or art supply store with framing services? To keep profits rising, inventory and vendors organized, and customers happy, you need the right tools.
In this blog, we’ll share how art framing software helps run your retail business — and highlight the top five providers with the features you need to be successful.
What Is Art Framing Software?
Art framing software helps framing businesses manage online and in-store orders, inventory levels, payment processing, customer relationship management, reporting, and more.
Unlike generic point of sale (POS) systems, it includes specialized tools such as framing visualization software and automated price calculations based on wholesale material costs. These industry-specific features make it easy for art gallery and custom frame shop owners to manage their businesses — and focus on their artistic hobbies.
Why Your Business Needs Art Framing Software
Art framing software is essential for the success of your custom framing business. It simplifies the way you operate and helps maintain high standards of customer service. Here’s why you need to invest in industry-specific POS software:
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Framing visualization: Upload your customers’ artwork and customize its frame together in real time. Being able to showcase a preview of the finished design makes your customers more likely to purchase.
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Track custom jobs with ease: Art framing software can track and tailor each job to your customers’ exact specifications, whether simple or complex.
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Efficient material management: Software tools for custom framing businesses are uniquely designed to manage complex inventories and multiple SKUs.
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Framing supplier integrations: Most art framing software integrates directly with framing material suppliers, so you can order new materials and products seamlessly. Your system will also update pricing, materials, descriptions, and more whenever your supplier makes changes to a product.
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Streamlined operations: Art framing software consolidates customer data, billing tools, and job orders into a single platform, saving you time and improving business management.
You won’t find these features in generic retail POS software. As a niche business, you need unique and industry-specific software.
The 5 Top Art Framing Software Providers
Convinced that industry-specific POS software is the best move? If you’re ready to improve how you run your custom framing business, consider these top five software providers.
1.LifeSaver
LifeSaver is the top-rated picture framing POS software for frame shops and art galleries. It’s packed with features to meet all of your business’ needs in store and online, including:
- Custom design and visualization tools: With the FrameVue visualizer, you can showcase your finished designs in a live appointment. Combine your customer’s artwork with your framing photos or vendor moldings for a stunning presentation.
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Easy inventory management: LifeSaver’s vendor integrations mean you can add products to your store — complete with details, descriptions, and pricing — in just minutes. Keeping track of your SKUs is extremely simple.
- In-house payment processing: LifeSaver Payments is completely in-house, which allows them to offer competitive processing rates. The plug-and-play terminal system is EMV-compliant for top-notch security, and supports all major credit cards and mobile payment processors.
2. Artisan POS Software
Since 1996, CerTek’s Artisan POS has been helping specialty retail businesses like art galleries and custom framing stores thrive. By adopting Artisan POS, you gain access to features including:
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Detailed inventory tracking tools: Artisan POS excels in managing and organizing various product types and SKUs. With features like product grouping by classes and first in, first out (FIFO) cost accounting, you’ll ensure that the oldest items sell first, keeping your inventory fresh and up to date.
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Full e-commerce integrations: Artisan POS simplifies your e-commerce management with seamless Shopify and WooCommerce integrations, allowing you to oversee your online outlet from a single platform.
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Protections from data loss: Never worry about data loss with Artisan POS’ Remote Operation system. It protects your data even if you lose internet access, and once reconnected, it automatically backs everything up to the cloud.
3. FrameReady
Transform your business with the perfect toolset for independent framers, custom frame shop owners, and art gallery managers. FrameReady streamlines every aspect of your operations, making your life easier and your business more efficient.
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Built for the framing industry: Effortlessly track custom framing orders and specifications, generate detailed invoices, and accurately manage your art and retail inventories.
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Extensive software integrations: FrameReady integrates seamlessly with industry-standard apps like QuickBooks, Shopify, Mailchimp, and Gunnar CMC, simplifying business management and marketing.
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Multiple pricing options: If the full version offers more than you need, opt for the budget-friendly FrameReady Lite, which is ideal for independent framers and artists. If you’re managing multiple locations, the FrameReady Multi Site add-on centralizes customer, invoice, and order management across all your stores for a smoother operation.
4. Artteck
Step up your art and framing game with Artteck, the cutting-edge e-commerce platform that blends POS, product viewing, and inventory management.
Top features include:
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Virtual matting and framing: Artteck offers an extensive database of images and frame mouldings, allowing you to easily visualize your designs. The visualizer is fully featured and includes 2D and 3D models, enabling you to see prints and frames from every angle.
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Print-on-demand: Boost your custom framing shop’s offerings with Artteck’s print-on-demand feature, enabling you to reproduce popular prints and artwork to meet customer demand.
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Complete kiosk and POS features: In addition to its standard e-commerce tools, Artteck can function as a point of sale program on dedicated kiosks, making it ideal for brick-and-mortar businesses.
5. SpecialtySoft
Since 1996, SpecialtySoft has been the go-to point of sale system in the art and framing industry. Whether you're an independent framer or running a large art gallery, SpecialtySoft has got your back with these features:
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Specialized POS features: SpecialtySoft is tailored for art galleries and frame shops, providing seamless sales processing, payment handling, customer lookup, and promotion management tools.
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Detailed frame write-up and pricing: Calculate custom frame job prices and print detailed labels with materials and specifications for accurate billing for every order.
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Integration with shop hardware: SpecialtySoft can integrate and communicate with all your business’ tools and hardware, including Dymo label writers, computerized mat cutters, and barcode scanners.
Transform Your Art Framing Store With LifeSaver
When picking art framing software for your business, consider your unique needs — and how well each provider meets them. Always look for features like order tracking, advanced inventory management, in-house processing, and customer loyalty.
Also, make sure the software includes specialized tools for art framing, like visualization and automatic supplier updates. Consider how easily it integrates with your current systems, how user-friendly it is, the quality of customer support, and its ability to grow with your business.
LifeSaver is an industry-leading art framing solution built to fit your business’ needs, whether you operate an art gallery or a custom framing shop. Schedule a free 14-day trial to see how LifeSaver can optimize your online and in-store business operations.
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