Walking into a Michaels store, you’re greeted by a vibrant world of art supplies, home décor, and DIY inspiration. Tucked away in a specialized section of the store is a lesser-known but highly skilled role — the framer. Professional framers at Michaels play a crucial part in helping customers preserve their cherished memories and valued artworks through custom framing services. This article dives deep into what it means to be a framer at Michaels, covering their responsibilities, required skills, and the rewards that come with the job.
TLDR
Michaels framers are specialized retail employees who focus on custom art and photo framing for customers. They blend artistic sensibility with technical know-how and use precision tools and materials. The role involves working directly with customers, designing custom frames, and ensuring top-tier craftsmanship. It’s ideal for creative individuals who enjoy hands-on work in a collaborative retail environment.
What Does a Framer at Michaels Do?
Framers at Michaels are artisans who combine retail service with fine craftsmanship. They primarily work in the Custom Framing Department and serve customers looking to protect, display, or enhance items such as photos, diplomas, artwork, jerseys, and memorabilia. Their job is not just about slapping a frame around a picture — it’s a tailored service that involves many steps, from design to final assembly.
Main Responsibilities
- Consulting with customers to understand their framing needs and preferences
- Designing custom framing combinations using frame styles, matting, and glass types
- Measuring and cutting materials precisely to fit artwork/décor items
- Using framing tools like mat cutters, glass cutters, and point drivers
- Assembling the frame with attention to alignment, protection, and aesthetics
- Maintaining a clean, organized workspace and ensuring safety protocols
- Processing sales transactions and entering orders into the computer system
The job requires more than a grasp of aesthetic preferences — it demands precision, patience, and attention to detail.
Who Makes a Good Framer?
The ideal Michaels framer is a blend of left- and right-brain thinker. They must be both technically proficient and artistically inclined. No two framing jobs are the same, which means flexibility and creativity are key. Successful framers are also excellent communicators, since they need to explain intricate design options to customers in a friendly, understandable way.
Key Skills for Framers Include:
- Artistic Understanding: Knowing color theory, layout composition, and matching customer preferences
- Manual Dexterity: Comfort in using tools and executing precise cuts
- Customer Service: The ability to listen, advise, and build rapport with a wide range of customers
- Problem-Solving: Figuring out the best techniques for unusual items like shadowbox projects or textile mounting
- Inventory Knowledge: Staying familiar with in-stock frame styles, mat boards, and materials
Often, Michaels provides on-the-job training, so prior experience isn’t mandatory — though a background in visual arts or crafts certainly helps.
Typical Work Environment and Tools Used
Framers work in the store’s framing center, which is usually located near the back or side of the store for space and safety reasons. It’s part workshop, part design studio. The area is often filled with sample frame corners, stacks of mat boards, large cutting tables, and high-precision tools.
Some specialized tools an average framer might use include:
- Mat cutters and bevel knives
- Glass cutters and safety gloves
- Underpinners and point drivers for securing artwork inside frames
- Dry mounting presses
- Digital imaging software for order input and design previews
These tools help ensure that each custom frame is built to last and looks amazing. Safety is also a top priority, and framers are trained to use all equipment correctly to avoid injury.
Day in the Life of a Michaels Framer
A typical shift may start with organizing pending orders and checking on completed frames. Framers then move on to customer consultations, which are often the most engaging part of the day. Helping someone decide how best to frame a wedding photo or a child’s artwork can be both challenging and rewarding.
Throughout the day, the framer will alternate between consulting customers and working behind the scenes in the workshop. Some days might involve more hands-on building, while others lean more toward design and sales. Flexibility is key because some framing orders can be quick and simple, while others may take several hours to complete.
Challenges of the Job
While rewarding, being a framer isn’t without its challenges:
- Customer Expectations: Art is subjective, which makes agreeing on “the right” frame a collaborative and sometimes delicate process.
- Precision Required: A single misplaced cut can ruin a project, especially on premium materials.
- Physical Demands: Standing for long periods and handling heavy glass or frames can be tiring.
- Fast Turnaround: Especially during gift-giving seasons or promotional events, the workload can double.
Despite these hurdles, many framers find deep satisfaction in the tangible results of their work and the joy it brings to customers.
Opportunities for Growth
Framers at Michaels don’t have to remain stationary in their careers. With strong performance and initiative, they can move up within the store — possibly into supervisory roles such as:
- Framing Department Manager
- Merchandising Supervisor
- Assistant Store Manager or Store Manager
In addition, the skills gained in custom framing — such as customer service, craftsmanship, and inventory control — are highly transferable to other artistic and retail environments. Some employees even use their skills as a launching pad into freelance framing or their own art businesses.
Benefits and Compensation
Michaels typically offers a mix of part-time and full-time roles for framers. Compensation can vary by region and experience level, but generally ranges from minimum wage to around $18 per hour. Some benefits that may be available include:
- Employee discounts (particularly appealing to artists and crafters)
- Health insurance for eligible employees
- 401(k) retirement plans
- Paid training programs and advancement opportunities
Perhaps one of the most satisfying “perks” of the job is witnessing firsthand how your creativity helps someone celebrate or preserve a treasured memory.
Testimonials from Real Framers
Many current and past Michaels employees who have worked as framers highlight the rewarding nature of the position. One employee shared:
“Custom framing can be hard work — and some projects are really complex. But when a customer tears up seeing their grandfather’s war medals beautifully framed, it’s worth every second.” — Sarah J., former framer in California
Others praise the blend of creativity and technical learning. The constant exposure to new challenges keeps the job interesting and fuels professional growth.
Final Thoughts
If you’re someone with a keen eye for design, a love of working with your hands, and a passion for helping others showcase what matters most to them, the role of a framer at Michaels might be your creative calling. It’s a position that blends art with purpose, offering both a steady paycheck and an outlet for expression.
So next time you walk through the aisles of Michaels, take a moment to appreciate the talented team tucked away in the framing center — they might just be the store’s best-kept secret.