Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Savannah Larson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Savannah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Back in 2016, I had just finished high school and like most people at 18 I really had no idea what I wanted to do career-wise. Then my dad, Todd Larson, who had had a successful crown molding business for many years, suggested I start a business installing professional grade frames on bathroom mirrors. He had seen the gap in the market when some of his customers would ask for a simple, decorative trim for their bathroom mirror. He would oblige, using pieces of baseboard, chair rail, or crown molding and glue them to the mirror.

One day he was touring a model home for inspiration and came across a company that manufactures high quality frames in over 50 styles, any size, specifically for use on bathroom mirrors. We looked into it, and the company had a wonderful dealer program I signed up for. We ordered a sample case and our first frames which were offered to my dad’s customers. They were thrilled with the product!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Savannah Larson, owner of Frames for Mirrors. I started this company back in 2016 to provide the Tampa Bay and Sarasota area’s homeowners with a custom framing service for their bathroom mirrors. With so many houses being built in Florida, and hundreds moving here every day from all over the country, these new homeowners need a special way to make a big impact in their homes.

We offer over 50 styles and colors to choose from and our team guarantees precise measurements to ensure the perfect fit. This is important when it comes to fitting frames in between 2 walls and making sure adjacent medicine cabinets will still open. Other challenges we can deal with include oversized mirrors, sometimes over 130” long.

At Frames for Mirrors, we maintain a high level of professionalism at all times, and will keep you updated throughout the process. We’re able to complete most installs in about 15 minutes per frame and there is no mess left behind onsite.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My business hasn’t always been a roaring success. There were times over the years where it was really slow. Usually this was during the summer months when many people are traveling or spending time with their kids while they’re out of school for the summer. Not one to be idle, I used my experience volunteering as a window washer to start washing windows for a time. It wasn’t long before the frames picked up more business and I was able to focus just on framing mirrors again.

Then during the pandemic, I chose to not take any more customers for a time and accepted a job offer as a car detail vendor for dealerships. It was during the pandemic that Frames for Mirrors became busier than it ever had been. I think this was partly because most people were focusing on improving their homes since they were under lockdown or working from home.

The other factor I believe that contributed to our growth was I got more serious about marketing my business, trying new things and really focusing my attention on what was working and what wasn’t. I revamped my website and hired a professional photographer for my content.

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

Personally, I found the best way to reach new customers was through Facebook, joining local community groups where locals can promote and recommend businesses. From the homeowners’ point of view, this is an invaluable resource for those new to the area who don’t know where to start to find reputable contractors. It’s a form of word of mouth, the best advertising strategy there is.

Making customers aware of my presence on platforms where they could leave reviews also put me on the map. When they review me on Nextdoor for example, my business is shared with the neighborhood they’re a part of, an audience I don’t have access to without their recommendation. People trust their neighbors, especially when it comes to professional services.

Here’s 3 tips I’d suggest for those just starting out in social media:

1) Try different platforms, have a presence on the main ones like Google, Yelp, Instagram and Facebook; but try out others as well like Angi and Nextdoor. Always thank your customers for their business and politely ask for a review when they have a moment.

2) Schedule your posts ahead of time. This takes more time initially but once you have a plan for the next month or so, you’ll have consistent posts that you don’t have to worry about it.

3) Try to engage in meaningful ways and support other local businesses. Follow others that have similar businesses to yours or that could collaborate with you. Introduce yourself and build your network so when people need your services, or hear others that do, they will want to hire you or recommend you.

Contact Info:

• Website: Framesformirrorstampa.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/framesformirrors
• Facebook: Facebook.com/framesformirrors
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frames-for-mirrors/
• Yelp: Yelp.com/framesformirrors
• Other: https://nextdoor.com/pages/frames-for-mirrors-brandon-fl/?init_source=org_pages

Image Credits
Jasmine R Photography