Framer at Michaels Stores

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Framer

Company: Michaels Stores

Location: Dulles-24630 Dulles Landing Dr, Unit 140, United States of America

Job Type: Part-Time

Category: Custom Framing / Retail Design

Date Posted: June 10, 2025

Experience Level: Entry Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Execute custom framing solutions for customers' artwork, photos, and memorabilia.
Provide personalized design consultations to help customers select appropriate framing materials and styles.
Maintain a well-organized and visually appealing framing department and retail space.
Ensure high-quality craftsmanship and timely completion of all framing orders, adhering to established standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original description is brief, framing is a specialized design-related skill requiring aesthetic judgment and technical precision. This summary highlights the core design and customer interaction aspects of the role within a retail environment.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Engage with customers to understand their framing needs and preferences, providing expert advice on design options, matting, glass, and frame selections.
Operate framing equipment, including cutters and heat presses, safely and effectively to create custom frames and mount artwork.
Complete all framing orders accurately and to a high standard of quality, ensuring customer satisfaction and minimizing errors.
Maintain the custom framing area, including organizing materials, managing inventory (SISO and Directed Replenishment), and ensuring a clean and safe workspace.
Assist customers throughout the store, providing friendly service, locating products, and offering solutions beyond framing as needed.
Process transactions accurately using the cash register and follow all cash handling procedures.
Support store operations by participating in truck unloads, stocking, and assisting with Omni channel processes.
Adhere to all company policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and safety protocols.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities have been expanded to detail the specific tasks involved in custom framing within a retail setting, emphasizing both the design consultation and technical execution aspects, as well as broader retail duties.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Formal training in framing or art/design is a plus but not required.

Experience: Entry-level position, typically requiring 0-2 years of experience. Previous retail or customer service experience is preferred. Experience in a framing environment is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

Basic computer proficiency for order entry and system navigation.
Basic measuring skills with attention to detail for accurate cutting and assembly.
Ability to operate or learn to operate framing equipment and glass cutters safely and proficiently.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective customer interaction and relationship building.
Ability to follow instructions and adhere to standard operating procedures.

Preferred Skills:

Previous experience in a retail environment, particularly in sales or customer-facing roles.
Experience selling products or services, demonstrating an ability to understand customer needs and recommend suitable solutions.
Basic understanding of design principles, color theory, and artistic styles to assist with framing selections.

📝 Enhancement Note: Qualifications are presented clearly, distinguishing between required and preferred skills. The connection to design principles is inferred as beneficial for providing effective framing consultations.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

While a formal design portfolio is not typically required for this role, candidates may benefit from showcasing examples of personal creative projects that demonstrate visual acuity, attention to detail, or craftsmanship.
If applicable, include examples of previous framing projects or any work involving precise measurement and assembly.
Highlight any projects where problem-solving or creative solutions were applied to a visual task.
Showcase any experience working with different materials or textures.

Process Documentation:

Describe your approach to understanding a customer's needs for a creative project.
Explain how you would select materials and design elements for a framing project based on the artwork and customer preferences.
Discuss your process for ensuring accuracy and quality in a hands-on creative task.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the nature of a retail framing role, traditional design portfolios are unlikely. This section is adapted to suggest alternative ways candidates can demonstrate relevant creative and technical skills through personal projects and by articulating their process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary for this part-time Framer position at Michaels Stores in Dulles, Virginia, is estimated to be in the range of $12.00 - $16.00 per hour. This estimate is based on typical retail wages in the Dulles, VA area for entry-level positions requiring specialized skills like framing, considering the local cost of living and standard retail pay scales. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, specific store location, and company policies.

Benefits:

Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, and Vision) for eligible part-time team members.
Paid Time Off, accrued based on hours worked.
Tuition Assistance programs for continued education.
Generous Employee Discounts on merchandise, including art supplies and framing materials.
Additional benefits for part-time team members as outlined on mikbenefits.com.

Working Hours: This is a part-time position. Specific working hours will vary based on business needs and may include nights, weekends, and early mornings. Flexibility is expected to support store operating hours and customer demand for framing services.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range is provided based on research into part-time retail wages in the specified geographic area (Dulles, VA), adjusted for the specialized nature of the framing role. The benefits listed are directly from the provided text and are presented with their relevance to a part-time employee.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Retail - Specializing in Arts, Crafts, and Custom Framing. Michaels is a leading creative destination in North America.

Company Size: Large (10,001+ employees globally, with over 1,300 stores).

Founded: 1973.

Team Structure:

Framer typically works within a store team, reporting to a store manager or a designated framing lead.
Collaboration is essential with other store associates to ensure a positive customer experience across all departments.
Interaction with Artistree, Michaels' custom framing manufacturer, may occur regarding order processing and product availability.

Methodology:

Focus on providing personalized custom framing solutions tailored to individual customer needs and artwork.
Emphasis on quality craftsmanship and adherence to established framing standards and techniques.
Utilize "Elevated ABC Deliver" approach for building customer relationships and promoting custom framing services.

Company Website: www.michaels.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context is provided based on the provided information and public knowledge about Michaels Stores. The design culture is framed around the creation of custom framing solutions and fostering creativity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is an entry-level position focused on the technical and customer-facing aspects of custom framing within a retail environment. It serves as a foundation for developing expertise in framing techniques and customer consultation.

Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a Store Manager or Assistant Manager, potentially with direct oversight from a Framing Department Lead.

Design Impact: The Framer directly impacts customer satisfaction by providing personalized design solutions and executing high-quality framing, enhancing the presentation and preservation of customer's cherished items.

Growth Opportunities:

Potential for advancement to a Framing Department Lead or Manager position within a store, overseeing framing operations and mentoring other framers.
Opportunities to deepen expertise in various framing techniques, materials, and conservation methods through on-the-job training and potentially company-provided resources.
Potential to transition into other roles within the retail environment or leverage framing skills in related creative industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path analysis focuses on potential growth within the retail framing structure at Michaels, highlighting opportunities for increased responsibility and skill specialization.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Public retail store setting with a dedicated custom framing area. The environment is designed to be inviting and conducive to creative exploration for both customers and team members.

Office Location(s): Dulles-24630 Dulles Landing Dr, Unit 140, Dulles, VA. This is a specific store location.

Design Workspace Context:

The framing area includes specialized equipment for cutting, mounting, and assembling frames.
The workspace requires careful organization and adherence to safety protocols due to the use of sharp tools and glass.
Opportunities for creative problem-solving in selecting materials and executing complex framing projects.

Work Schedule: Part-time schedule requiring availability during store operating hours, which include nights, weekends, and holidays. The nature of retail work necessitates flexibility to meet customer demand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is described with specific details relevant to a retail framing setting, including the tools and the need for safety and organization.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial interview(s) with store management to assess basic skills, customer service abilities, and suitability for a retail environment.
Discussion of any relevant experience in crafting, design, or hands-on projects that demonstrate attention to detail and manual dexterity.
Potential assessment of basic measuring skills or ability to follow instructions related to a simple task.
Questions about customer interaction scenarios and problem-solving in a service-oriented role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

While not a traditional design portfolio, be prepared to discuss any personal creative projects during the interview.
Focus on projects that highlight attention to detail, precision, and care in handling materials.
If you have any experience with framing, be ready to describe your process and the challenges you've overcome.
Be prepared to talk about how you approach understanding someone else's vision for a creative project.

Challenge Preparation:

Be ready to demonstrate basic measuring skills accurately if requested.
Understand and articulate your approach to following step-by-step instructions for a task.
Think about how you would handle a customer request that requires a creative solution within defined parameters.

ATS Keywords: Customer Service, Framing, Custom Framing, Retail, Sales, Art, Crafts, Design, Measuring, Cutting, Assembly, Quality, Attention to Detail, Communication, Problem-Solving, Customer Interaction, Retail Operations, Cash Handling, Inventory Management, Visual Merchandising, Teamwork, Part-Time, Dulles VA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and interview process is adapted to the retail and framing context, focusing on assessing practical skills, customer service capabilities, and the ability to learn and follow procedures rather than a traditional design portfolio review.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Mat Cutter: Used for precisely cutting mat board to frame artwork. Skill in operating manual or computerized mat cutters is essential.
Glass Cutter: Tool for scoring and breaking glass to fit frames. Requires careful handling and accurate measurement.
Frame Joiner: Equipment used to join the corners of frame molding to create the frame structure.
Heat Press/Mounting Equipment: Used for mounting artwork or photos onto backing boards.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Point of Sale (POS) System: Used for processing customer orders, including custom framing specifications and payments.
Internal Communication Systems: Tools used for communicating with other store associates and potentially with the corporate framing support team.
Order Tracking System: Software or manual process for tracking the status of custom framing orders from design to completion.

Research & Testing:

Customer Consultation: Involves understanding customer needs, preferences, and the context of the artwork to be framed.
Material Selection: Requires knowledge of different frame moldings, mat boards, glass types, and their properties.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section lists the specific tools and systems used in a retail framing environment, emphasizing the technical aspects of the role alongside customer interaction.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Customer-Centric Creativity: Focusing on helping customers express their creativity through personalized framing solutions.
Quality Craftsmanship: Commitment to producing high-quality, durable frames that protect and enhance the artwork.
Attention to Detail: Valuing precision and accuracy in every step of the framing process.
Collaborative Support: Working together as a store team to provide a positive and helpful experience for all customers.

Collaboration Style:

Direct and helpful communication with customers to guide them through the framing design process.
Teamwork with other store associates to manage workload, assist customers across departments, and maintain store standards.
Following established procedures and guidelines for framing to ensure consistency and quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: Team culture and values are described with a focus on customer service, quality, and collaboration within the retail environment, aligning with Michaels' stated purpose of fueling creativity.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Balancing customer preferences with technical framing requirements and material availability.
Ensuring precise measurements and cuts to avoid material waste and achieve a perfect fit.
Managing multiple framing orders simultaneously while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.
Staying updated on new framing techniques, materials, and design trends.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

On-the-job training in various framing techniques and equipment operation.
Development of expertise in selecting appropriate materials for different types of artwork and preservation needs.
Opportunities to enhance customer service and sales skills, particularly in the context of design consultation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed within the context of the retail framing role, highlighting the blend of technical skill, customer interaction, and time management required. Growth opportunities emphasize skill development within the framing discipline.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Describe a time you had to follow detailed instructions to complete a task accurately.
How would you approach helping a customer choose the right frame for a specific piece of artwork?
Tell me about a time you had to be very precise and detail-oriented in a project you worked on.

Company Culture Questions:

What does "fueling the joy of creativity" mean to you, and how would you contribute to that in this role?
How do you approach working as part of a team to achieve common goals?
Describe a time you provided excellent customer service in a challenging situation.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Be prepared to discuss any personal creative projects that demonstrate your attention to detail, craftsmanship, or ability to work with different materials.
If you have any experience with framing, be ready to walk through your process for a specific project.
Focus on explaining your thought process and problem-solving approach rather than just showing finished products.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation focuses on assessing practical skills, customer service capabilities, and alignment with company values, tailored to the requirements of a retail framing position.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Review the job description carefully and tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and experiences, such as customer service, retail experience, or any hands-on creative projects.
Prepare to discuss your ability to follow instructions, work with precision, and provide excellent customer service during the interview process.
Research Michaels Stores and understand their focus on creativity and customer service to demonstrate your alignment with their values.

⚠️ 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.

Framer