The newest business owner in Waynesboro is looking forward to connecting with her customers and “getting them what they truly want and need for whatever they bring in.”
From family photos or heirlooms to needlework, Megan Knarr said she is committed to preserving your keepsakes for years to come.
Knarr of Waynesboro opened Megan’s Custom Framing at 114 Walnut St., Suite 2, in the Boro Plaza March 12.
A customer service specialist at Sherwin-Williams for the past seven years, Knarr will continue those duties part-time as she launches the framing shop. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
“I’ve always been a visual artist. I used to draw all the time as a kid – I was an only child – and it was a nice thing to keep my mind occupied. That interest developed over the years.” Knarr pursued art history in college and “fell in love with all forms of art because of that.”
Knarr said she took studio classes as well and after having a child, “it brought me back to art again and I started to do vendor shows where I sold my art.” Knarr also illustrated a couple of books prior to starting her job at Sherwin-Williams, where she enjoys working with color.
“I did have some experience at another frame shop, and that got me excited to pursue that as a career. When Cindy (Martin) offered to sell the business to me because she was retiring, it felt very serendipitous.”
Readying the shop to open, “with the reality of me doing everything, has been intense to work through,” Knarr noted. Karen Walters, who owned the business for many years prior to Martin, has offered to help Knarr as needed. “I’m so happy to have her on my team.”
Knarr anticipates receiving an abundance of needlework because of its popularity. “And I also love doing conservation work – it’s a way of mounting artwork in a completely removable way, say, if the owner wants to reframe it in 30 years. It keeps the artwork safe in case the mat needs to be replaced, etc.
“That’s my jam … the framing process. Being an artist for many years, I know to handle artwork because I handled my own.
“Framing is a pretty extensive process. It starts with the design at the counter, and then from there, after the client picks the matting or molding, etc., you order those items and then put it together from scratch. I will use my hands and eyes to bring the piece to perfection. The last step is the most satisfying, when it’s all packaged up and done.”
Knarr will be the sole employee at the framing shop for now. “My fiance, Edward McCabe, is helping me with the behind-the-scenes components. He has excellent customer service from his work as manager of the Red Run Grill in Rouzerville and I’m looking forward to having him here in the shop at times.”
Customer service also is a favorite component of work for Knarr. “I enjoy talking to people about what makes them tick, what they love and what they find beautiful. That’s what I’ve always done with art in general.
“I’m kind of spiritual and I love that aspect, as well as serving the community and having a career based on that service. It really checks a box for me.”
Opening a new business can be challenging, Knarr acknowledged, “but I believe this service is important and will stay around as long as we have physical, tangible items that we value and want to preserve. I hope to do this for the rest of my life, as well as training a new brood of framers. We need to keep this industry going. It’s so important.”
For more information, call 717-655-5206, email m[email protected]
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