Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Fins.
Hi Adam, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Central Massachusetts with an early interest in medicine, but high school biology eventually steered me toward the physical sciences instead. I’ve always had a technical mind, though it took some time to figure out exactly how to apply it.
My focus shifted toward audio during college after a summer job at a mobile audio company. That experience turned into a genuine interest in sound, leading me to work concerts for the student-run concert venue at school, continue after graduation, and eventually take a technical support role at a well-known audio manufacturer.
While working there, I met my wife (in the pre-app times of online dating), who had moved up from Savannah for school and stayed after graduation, working at a nearby company. After visiting the area a few times and realizing I was ready to move on from New England winters, I suggested the idea of moving south to join her family’s business. We made the move, and fifteen years later, I’m still here and the business is still going strong.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. When I first arrived, I knew next to nothing about picture framing, and because we operated several different businesses at the time, I had to quickly educate myself on management and finance as well. It was a lot to take on at once – balancing a new career and a new city while navigating my role in a family business and planning a wedding.
Over the last 15 years, we’ve navigated plenty of transitions. We made the decision to close some of the businesses, relocated the frame shop, and pivoted the format of our remaining store. We weathered the uncertainty of the pandemic, and more recently, I’ve navigated a divorce. While I’m technically no longer part of the family, the transition has been very amicable. I’ve spent over a decade building deep roots here, and I’m not going anywhere; I remain fully committed to the business and the community we’ve built.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Friedman’s Framing?
As one of the city’s oldest businesses, we’ve been part of the community since 1902. We recognize that picture framing isn’t a daily essential for most people, but we take a lot of pride in the fact that we’ve remained family-owned and operated for over a century. I believe the reason for that longevity is the level of service we provide to every client who walks through our doors.
We still operate with an “old school” mentality: honesty is the best policy, and a handshake should be as good as a contract. Transparency is important to us – we don’t work on commissions, and it’s incredibly rare for us to change a price once a project has started. Our focus is entirely on the client’s needs – making sure a piece of art is framed to the best of our ability, rather than the “most expensive” of our ability. But we’ve also kept the business moving forward with the times, using technology and attending conferences to give our clients the best experience possible.
That philosophy extends to our team as well. Our employees often stay with us for years, even decades, because we give them the space to grow and be a true part of the process. Having that level of experience and tenure means that when someone trusts us with their property, they know it’s being handled with genuine care and respect from start to finish.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
People often say it’s all about “who you know,” but I’ve learned that doesn’t always mean what most people think, especially in this industry. It isn’t about being handed favors or having the right connections; it’s about the fact that art is deeply personal. Because of that, the job is about more than just technical skill – it’s about trust and relationships.
People need to know that the person handling their property understands its importance and “gets” them, not just the mechanics of the frame. Coming from a technical background in audio and the physical sciences, it took me some time to realize that a perfect technical execution doesn’t matter if you haven’t first connected with the client’s vision.
We have clients who have been with us for generations, and that longevity is built on the fact that we treat new clients like old friends from the moment they walk in. Those connections are the real “hidden gem” of this job – they provide the joy and the motivation to keep doing this at a high level every day.
Pricing:
- Varies based on specs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.friedmansframing.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/friedmansframing
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/friedmansframing
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friedman-s-framing/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/friedmans-framing-savannah-3
