Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc Johnson.
Hang 1 was conceived and created in 1996 with the goal of becoming the communities premier custom picture framing source in Pacific Beach, California. Over the years, Hang 1 has grown into a full service framing gallery and art installation service. In 2014, Hang 1 moved from the original seaside warehouse location and now conducts business 3 blocks away, at 1135 Garnet Avenue #20. Today, the company has achieved it’s goal of of becoming the totally integrated, one-stop framing center providing value-priced, quality products and professional art installation services to a wide variety of southern California business, military, academic and residential clientele.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Hang 1 got off to a fantastic start back in the mid 90’s, reporting steady growth for the first decade plus. But, like many other retail establishments, the great recession took its pound of flesh. 2009 saw the first decline in sales revenue and by 2014, something drastic needed to be done. Instead of closing the doors, like many of my competitors, I switched my business model to target fine art installation with custom framing as a sideline (It had been the other way around before). I moved the entire operation to a smaller space and consolidated every aspect of the operation. Unable to any longer keep regular hours (like a retail business), I had to see customers “by appointment” (like a professional service). This did upset some of my regular customers and i did receive one bad review online, as a result. But overall, the response has been good, most customers understand and today, Hang 1 is still in the game and again, operating as a profitable business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hang 1 story. Tell us more about the business.
Hang 1 is Pacific Beach’s premier custom picture framing and fine art install service specializing in design, production, and installation of custom picture framing and related services. In addition to framing and install services, Hang 1 offers value-priced, standard sized, readymade frames, acid free matting products, specialty glass cut to size, and thousands of fine domestic and imported moulding styles to choose from. in 2016, Hang 1 began offering custom milled and custom finished frames. Hang 1 is still the place to find gallery product at warehouse prices. Hang 1 custom framing, Drop in and Hang 1,… Today!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
“If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all”. At least it seems that way some times. I wont lie, being a 1099 has been a challenge. But, I have a personality that would never allow me to live a life as a W-2, so I personally, never really had a choice. This journey is not for the weak at heart. This I can tell you with certainty. The banker man was never too keen to take a chance on me (as a 1099), but maybe that banker man has actually done me a favor with his discerning skepticism as today, Hang 1 carries no debt. I don’t really know for sure. I do know that I love what I do for a living and I think it shows in the work that Hang 1 produces. Somehow, after all is said and done, all of the bills manage to get paid at the end of every month, so maybe Hang 1 is the success of which I dreamed about back in the early days.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1135 Garnet Ave #20
San Diego, CA 92109 - Website: www.hang1.com
- Phone: 8582745240
- Email: hang1framing@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hang-1-custom-picture-framing-180091002079608/notifications/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/hang1framing
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hang-1-san-diego
- Other: https://youtu.be/aH5dKHMHi_s
Image Credit:
Autonomous Arts, llc ©2017
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