We recently connected with Meredith Forte and have shared our conversation below.

Meredith, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Frame Avenue Design is definitely not your average picture framing company. I created a mobile service where I assist clients with framing projects, art installations, and designing fabulous gallery walls from the comfort of my clients homes. This in-home service gives me the opportunity to see the spaces where the artwork would be hung, and I can select picture frames and design gallery walls that would suit my clients style, which is not the type of personal service you can get at any picture brick and mortar.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a dc native, born and raised in Montgomery county, Maryland. I attended Bethesda Chevy Chase high school and worked at a frame shop after school. It was here that I learned the basic skills of framing artwork. After high school, I found myself working at a picture frame shop during my college years which is where I truly honed in on my craft. My boss went to framing school (yes, there is such a thing) and had a very good eye for attention to detail, which she passed on to me. After college, I came back home and worked at a gallery/picture frame shop on K st, right around the corner from the White House. My boss at this frame shop was very business savvy and taught me the business side of running a store. Working at these three shops gave me the experience and wisdom I needed to finally open a picture frame shop of my own, which I did when the timing was right.

Fast forward to the present day, Frame Avenue Design is one of the most successful picture framing company in the area with clients ranging from the average suburban family to DCs powerful and elite such as the Vice President of the United States, reality tv stars and athletes. I couldn’t be prouder of the business I have built, but it would not have been possible with out LOTS of hard work, dedication, and the support of my creative community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey as an entrepreneur has most definitely had its ups and downs, but one particular situation was a defining moment in creating the path to where I am now. I started my business in 2000 by opening my own brick and mortar picture framing store in downtown Bethesda. I gained a very good reputation with my clients and community and built the business I had always dreamed of. After 15 years in that location, I suddenly lost my lease and had no where to go. I felt frustrated and defeated and didn’t know what my next moves would be. It was then that I relied on the strength and support of my friends, family and most importantly my daughters to make a huge pivot in my career and move my shop home to my basement. This was not an easy adjustment for me, as now I had to seek out clients rather than relying on street traffic and window shoppers, but I made it work. I really had no other choice. Picture framing was what I loved to do and (not to toot my own horn) I was very good at it. With a lot of networking and lots of social media marketing (something I was also surprisingly good at), I created an amazing new business model by servicing my clients in their homes, and I was thriving.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Just as I pivoted my business to an in home service, social media – particularly Instagram, was gaining momentum in our everyday lives. I saw I niche and dove right in to see how I could use Instagram to my benefit, gain clients, and showcase my work. I went to entrepreneur/social media meet ups and classes whenever I could to better understand how to use IG. I also reached out to local influencers in the creative field to see how they use IG and get insights and advice on how to make it work for me and my business. Seeking help and advice from fellow creatives and entrepreneurs was a good power move in building my online presence.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.frameavenuedesign.com
• Instagram: @framemastermer

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