📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Framer
Company: Michaels Stores
Location: Laurel-14240 Baltimore Ave, Laurel, MD, United States
Job Type: Part-Time
Category: Custom Framing / Retail Design
Date Posted: 2025-06-07
Experience Level: Entry Level (0-2 years)
Remote Status: On-site
🎨 Role Summary
- Focus on building strong customer relationships to deliver personalized custom framing solutions.
- Execute framing orders with meticulous attention to quality and adherence to timelines.
- Maintain the visual merchandising standards and stock levels of the ready-made frame department and other assigned areas.
- Provide exceptional customer service, assisting shoppers in finding products and offering creative solutions.
📝 Enhancement Note: While titled "Framer," this role emphasizes both technical framing skills and customer-facing design consultation, acting as a "personal designer" to guide customers through creative framing choices.
🖼️ Primary Responsibilities
- Engage with customers to understand their needs and preferences for custom framing projects.
- Utilize "Elevated ABC Deliver" methodology to build relationships and drive custom framing sales and production results.
- Operate framing equipment and glass cutter accurately and safely to complete custom orders.
- Ensure all framing orders meet high-quality standards and are completed within established timeframes.
- Assist with store operations including stocking, merchandising, and maintaining a clean and safe environment.
📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "Elevated ABC Deliver" suggests a structured sales and customer engagement process specific to Michaels' custom framing service, implying a need for strong interpersonal and consultative design skills.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: High School Diploma or equivalent preferred, with a focus on creative arts or design a plus.
Experience: Entry-level position, 0-2 years preferred, particularly in a retail or customer-facing environment. Experience with visual merchandising or creative problem-solving is beneficial.
Required Skills:
- Basic computer proficiency for order processing and system navigation.
- Accurate basic measuring skills essential for framing projects.
- Ability to operate framing equipment and glass cutter safely and effectively.
- Strong customer service and interpersonal communication skills.
Preferred Skills:
- Previous retail experience, demonstrating ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience in sales, particularly selling creative products or services.
- Basic knowledge of art materials, framing techniques, or design principles.
📝 Enhancement Note: While a formal design degree isn't required, the emphasis on "personal designer" and "creative framing solutions" suggests that candidates with a creative background or interest in design will likely be a stronger fit and should highlight relevant experiences.
🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- While a formal portfolio isn't explicitly required, be prepared to discuss any personal creative projects, design work, or customer service experiences that demonstrate problem-solving and aesthetic judgment.
- Highlight examples where you've helped others make creative decisions or brought a project to completion.
- Showcase any experience working with tools or materials that require precision and attention to detail.
- Be ready to discuss how you approach understanding a client's needs and translating them into a tangible outcome.
Process Documentation:
- Think about how you approach a creative task from start to finish – how you understand the goal, plan your steps, and execute.
- Be prepared to describe a time you had to troubleshoot a creative problem or find a workaround for a challenge.
- Reflect on how you gather information to inform a creative decision, even in a simple context.
📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is an entry-level retail role, the "portfolio" is more about demonstrating a creative mindset, problem-solving ability, and customer-focused approach rather than a formal design portfolio. Candidates should prepare to speak to their creative process and customer interactions.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on research for similar part-time retail positions in the Laurel, MD area with entry-level experience, the estimated hourly wage for a Framer role at Michaels is typically between $13.00 and $17.00 per hour. This range can vary based on specific experience, skills, and performance. (Source: Indeed, Glassdoor data for similar roles in the region as of mid-2024)
Benefits:
- Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision) - Available for eligible part-time team members.
- Paid Time Off - Accrual based on hours worked.
- Tuition Assistance - Opportunities for educational support.
- Generous Employee Discounts - Significant discounts on merchandise, beneficial for creative pursuits.
Working Hours: Part-time hours, which will include nights, weekends, and early mornings as required by retail operations. Flexibility in scheduling may be available depending on business needs.
📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on publicly available data for similar roles in the specified geographic area and experience level. Actual compensation may vary.
🎯Team & Company Context
🏢 Company & Design Culture
Industry: Retail / Arts & Crafts
Company Size: Over 10,001 employees (Michaels Companies Inc.)
Founded: 1973
Team Structure:
- You will be part of the store team, reporting to a store manager or a designated framing lead.
- Collaboration with other store associates is essential for maintaining store standards and assisting customers across departments.
- The custom framing team likely operates as a specialized unit within the store, focusing on personalized service and production.
Methodology:
- Focus on a customer-centric approach to custom framing, guiding clients through design choices.
- Adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for framing production and store operations.
- Emphasis on quality control to ensure finished frames meet customer expectations and company standards.
Company Website: https://www.michaels.com
📝 Enhancement Note: While not a traditional corporate design role, the "design culture" at Michaels, particularly in framing, is centered around helping customers bring their creative vision to life through personalized solutions and quality craftsmanship.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Design Career Level: This is an entry-level role focused on developing foundational skills in custom framing, customer consultation, and retail operations within a creative environment.
Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Store Manager or Custom Framing Manager/Lead.
Design Impact: Directly impacts customer satisfaction by providing expert design advice for framing and delivering high-quality finished products that preserve and enhance their artwork or memorabilia.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential advancement to a Custom Framing Lead or Manager role within a store.
- Opportunities to develop expertise in advanced framing techniques and materials.
- Cross-training in other store departments, expanding retail and customer service skills.
📝 Enhancement Note: Career progression in this role typically involves deepening expertise in custom framing techniques, improving sales performance in the framing department, and potentially moving into a leadership position within the store's framing area.
🌐 Work Environment
Studio Type: Public retail store setting, specifically within the custom framing department area.
Office Location(s): Located at the Michaels store in Laurel-14240 Baltimore Ave, Laurel, MD.
Design Workspace Context:
- The framing area is a dedicated space within the store, equipped with specialized tools and materials for custom framing.
- It serves as both a consultation area for customers and a production workshop.
- Expect interaction with customers and other store team members throughout the shift.
Work Schedule: Part-time hours, requiring availability during peak retail hours including evenings and weekends. Specific shifts will vary.
📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is a dynamic retail setting focused on customer interaction and hands-on creative work within the framing department.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Design Interview Process:
- Initial application review focusing on basic skills and retail/customer service experience.
- Interview(s) with store management or framing lead, likely including questions about customer interaction, problem-solving, and ability to follow procedures.
- May include a practical assessment of measuring skills or ability to learn to operate framing equipment.
- Discussion of availability and fit within the store team culture.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Focus on demonstrating your ability to work with customers, understand their needs, and provide solutions.
- Highlight any experiences where you've worked on projects requiring precision, attention to detail, or creative problem-solving.
- Be prepared to discuss how you handle challenging customer interactions or tight deadlines.
- Emphasize your willingness to learn new skills and operate specialized equipment.
Challenge Preparation:
- Practice basic measuring with a tape measure or ruler.
- Consider how you would approach helping someone choose a frame and mat for a piece of art – what questions would you ask?
- Think about a time you had to follow detailed instructions to complete a task accurately.
ATS Keywords: Customer Service, Framing, Custom Framing, Retail, Sales, Cash Handling, Measuring, Basic Computer Skills, Problem Solving, Communication, Teamwork, Visual Merchandising, Stocking, SOPs, Quality Control, Creative Solutions, Art Materials, Customer Interaction, Part-Time, Michaels, Laurel MD.
📝 Enhancement Note: The application process will likely prioritize customer service skills, reliability, and the ability to learn technical framing processes over a traditional design portfolio.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Design Tools:
- Custom framing equipment (e.g., mat cutters, joiners, glass cutter) - On-the-job training will be provided.
- Measuring tools (tape measures, rulers) - Essential for accurate framing.
- Basic computer systems for order entry, inventory lookup (SISO, Directed Replenishment), and cash register operation.
Collaboration & Handoff:
- Internal store communication systems or methods for coordinating with other team members.
- Following established procedures for handling custom orders from consultation to completion and customer pickup.
Research & Testing:
- Utilizing product knowledge and resources within the store to help customers select appropriate framing materials.
- Ensuring the final product meets the customer's requirements and quality standards through visual inspection.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "tools" in this role are primarily physical framing equipment and internal retail systems. Proficiency in standard digital design tools is not expected or required.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Design Values:
- Fueling the joy of creativity: Helping customers express themselves through framing.
- Providing personalized solutions: Tailoring framing choices to individual customer needs and preferences.
- Delivering quality craftsmanship: Ensuring each frame is built with care and precision.
- Being the best place for all things creative: Contributing to a helpful and inspiring environment for customers.
Collaboration Style:
- Collaborative within the store team to support overall operations and customer service.
- Working closely with customers to understand their vision and guide them through the framing process.
- Receiving guidance and support from store management and experienced framers.
📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture is centered around creativity, customer service, and supporting each other to create a positive experience for shoppers and deliver quality products.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Design Challenges:
- Balancing customer design preferences with technical framing constraints and material availability.
- Managing multiple framing orders simultaneously while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.
- Troubleshooting issues that arise during the framing process.
- Staying updated on new framing techniques and materials.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Comprehensive training on custom framing techniques, equipment operation, and design principles.
- Opportunities to develop strong customer service and consultative sales skills.
- Hands-on experience working with various art pieces and framing materials.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges in this role are primarily related to the hands-on nature of framing and the need to balance creative design with practical execution and customer expectations.
💡 Interview Preparation
Design Process Questions:
- Describe a time you helped someone make a creative decision. How did you understand their needs?
- Walk me through a time you had to follow detailed instructions to complete a task accurately.
- How do you approach a project that requires precision and attention to detail?
Company Culture Questions:
- What interests you about working at Michaels and specifically in the custom framing department?
- How do you handle working in a fast-paced retail environment?
- Describe your experience working as part of a team to achieve a common goal.
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Instead of a formal portfolio, be prepared to share examples of any personal creative projects or instances where you've applied creative thinking to solve a problem.
- Focus on describing your process and the satisfaction of bringing a project to completion.
- Highlight any experiences working with tools or materials that require careful handling.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating customer service skills, attention to detail, willingness to learn, and a positive attitude, rather than showcasing a traditional design portfolio.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this design position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume to highlight any customer service, retail, or hands-on experience, as well as any skills related to precision, measurement, or working with tools.
- Prepare to discuss your interest in the arts and crafts industry and helping customers with their creative projects.
- Research Michaels' custom framing services to understand the types of products and services offered.
⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.