Heritage Frame & Picture Company, Tarrytown
When you want to know the secret to success ask a business that has not only been around for more than a century but is also still thriving. Heritage Frame & Picture Company, which is located at 8 Main Street in Tarrytown, first opened its doors almost 135 years ago and Ted Howell, the current president of the business, is a fourth-generation framer that still follows the rules established by his forefathers.
“The goal of my family’s business all of these years has not changed; it is to make the customer happy so they come back,” said Howell. “You know what— it works. I have seen people who first come in when they are in their 20s and I still see them now that they are in their 40s. It is amazing.”
Heritage Frame & Picture Company was started on Wall Street in Manhattan in 1887 by Howell’s great-grandfather. Once the Federal Reserve took over the block, the business moved over to Fulton Street and it eventually moved to Broadway.
While the building was closed down for a month following the World Trade Center attacks, Howell decided to open up a Westchester location. The Main Street location in Tarrytown opened up in February 2002.
Even though a lot of their corporate business still comes out of Manhattan, Howell decided to close the city location a couple of years ago and work out of Tarrytown. As a result Heritage Frame & Picture Company has been able to do corporate and residential projects throughout Westchester and New York City.
At the heart of the framing business is the need for repeat business and that is something that Howell takes very seriously.
“We don’t want to just frame one item for our customers, we want to be their framer for life,” he said. “Our reputation gets us a lot of business so it is something I am very protective over. People call us because they know they are in good hands. We want to make them happy.”
To ensure the company’s reputation goes untarnished Howell puts a focus on high quality craftsmanship and customer service.
“There is a higher level of quality here than one would receive from a box store,” said Howell. “We are experienced craftsmen who use the best materials. We take the time to make sure that everything is handled right. We spend a lot of time and effort to make sure that everything is perfect.”
When one walks into the shop it is easy to get overwhelmed looking at the various styles of frames that are available, but Howell said that he and his staff work with the customers to fit the right frame for each project.
“It is daunting when you look at all the choices, but deciding what frame to use is actually based on the type of artwork and the taste of the person,” said Howell. “When someone comes in the first thing we try to do is ask them what they have in mind. A lot of times people do not have anything in mind and they want to rely on us. But I do not try to force my taste on them so what I first want to do is glean as much information from them as possible to see what their likes are.”
Howell tries to provide enjoyable experiences for his patrons because unlike some purchases that have to be made reluctantly, getting a frame is a purchase that is made to highlight something that already brings the person joy.
“Most of the people that come in here are doing so because they appreciate artwork and they are getting something framed because it makes them happy. When we give it to them framed they are leaving happy, not like when my refrigerator breaks and I am upset that I have to go buy a new fridge. These people are already happy. There is a totally different vibe.”
Despite the efforts of the craftsmen, there are times when age and conditions can wear down a frame. In those instances Howell is very proud of the lifetime guarantee that Heritage Frame & Picture Company provides.
“Sometimes things go wrong, but you know what we always stand behind it for life,” said Howell. “We have been in business for over 100 years. You can come back after you have had something for 50 years and it is falling apart and we will fix it.”
For more information about Heritage Frame & Picture Company visit heritageframe.com or call 914-332-5200.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
