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| Business World Magazine |
November 2012
1970
s, all operated independently of one
another. The Great Frame Up (the largest
and oldest of the three) launched in 1971
and quickly garnered prestige as a leading
American purveyor of professional framing
services, so vital for the promotion and pres-
ervation of all manner of art, as well as any
minutia of materials one might wish to high-
light and hang-on-the-wall for display. In
1974,
a similarly-focused franchise known
as the Framing & Art Centre was founded
in Canada. Generally situated among neigh-
borhood shopping centers, the Framing &
Art Centres likewise grew and are distin-
guished today as that nation’s largest and
most recognized framing franchise, in fact, it
is the only operation of its kind that has ex-
clusive rights to offer travelers with Air Miles
reward miles - picture that. Deck the Walls
began in 1979. Like the other two, it became
equally engaged and prospered as a provider
of professional framing services, the sale of
specialty prints as well as other forms of wall
art, and accessory galore.
Dave Dahl actually owned several
Deck theWalls franchises in the San Francis-
co area of California. His business was rolling
right along until he experienced what may be
the worst kind of shake-up any entrepreneur
can ever endure – San Francisco’s infamous
1989
earthquake, a 7.1 magnitude event that
resulted in more than 60 deaths and incal-
culable devastation to homes, businesses and
municipal infrastructure. In the wake of that
decimation, Dahl says he and wife ultimately
determined to seek out other geographic al-
ternatives thereby compelling him to sell his
stores. He was subsequently approached by
corporate principals who successfully per-
suaded him to assume a new role as regional
manager. Several years later, in 1994, Deck
the Walls elected to expand the company