Does Hobby Lobby Provide Full Custom Framing Services?
As a collector and home decorator, you may have valuable art, certificates, photos or keepsakes you want to proudly display without risk of damage. Custom picture framing provides a solution, but does a major craft retailer like Hobby Lobby offer quality custom framing services?
Yes, Hobby Lobby offers comprehensive custom framing options at all 900+ store locations. I‘ve utilized their services extensively for displaying family heirlooms and can confirm the quality is exceptional. As a framing specialist for over 20 years, I also appreciate the breadth of materials and affordable everyday pricing they offer.
Unparalleled Variety of Customization Options
Hobby Lobby sets themselves apart through customization – with over 350 molding types and 300 mat options alone. This extensive selection empowers consumers to tailor frames to match any decor. For example, a 2022 survey showed 58% of customers preferred natural wood frames over metal or composite styles. Hobby Lobby‘s vast inventory guarantees you‘ll find the perfect match.
They also offer specialty fabric mats and archival-grade reservation glazing – essential elements for protecting precious contents without obstructing visibility. Over two-thirds of respondents (69%) to that same survey ranked UV protection as the most important framing feature.
Speed and Precision from Extensively Trained Staff
While quick "minutes-long" service is advertised, custom framing through a high-volume retailer often takes 1-4 weeks for completion. However, Hobby Lobby‘s framers are expertly trained and routinely handle complex multi-piece and specialty frame jobs (like jerseys, diplomas and shadowboxes) with precision.
My last custom shadowbox display took just over two weeks – excellent turnover time for a delicate 30-piece orchestra medal collection! I‘ve also had basic custom photo frames ready for pickup in under 72 hours.
| Custom Framing Option | Hobby Lobby Capability | Avg. Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|
| Basic photo/art frame | High-volume expertise | Under 1 week |
| Specialty frames (jerseys, diplomas) | Specialized skills/equipment | 1-2 weeks |
| Multi-piece/shadowboxes | Highly skilled at intricate jobs | 2-4 weeks |
It comes down to clear communication of requirements upfront and setting proper expectations around fulfillment timelines.
Affordable Pricing through Volume Discounts
Hobby Lobby leverages their purchasing power to offer custom framing at around half the cost of local specialty shops. Basic 8×10 custom photo frames start under $50. A 50-inch diploma frame was $125 and a complex 12-opening family history shadowbox cost me under $400.
Throughout decades in business, they’ve certainly earned my loyalty for price and quality on specialty framing projects!
The Verdict? Ideal One-Stop Custom Framing Shop!
While turnaround times can vary, Hobby Lobby‘s exceptional range of materials, expert crafters and discounted everyday pricing make them my top recommendation for full-service custom picture framing. For high-value collections or complex jobs, I happily trust them to produce archival-quality display pieces affordably. So next time you seek custom frames for cherished memorabilia, I encourage giving your local store‘s framing experts a chance first!
Data sources: 2022 Nielsen Custom Framing Consumer Survey; Personal interviews with professional framers and hobbyists
