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August 15, 2008

A legacy unfolds

Courtney Crauthers

EDMOND — When Jeff Green was 17-years-old, he took a job working in the picture framing department of Hobby Lobby, which his uncle owns.

“Hobby Lobby’s base was founded on picture frames,” Green said. “All of us boys grew up on the frame table.”

Eventually he became an executive of Greco, the picture framing division of Hobby Lobby, and owned a third of that division. After 26 years in the family owned company, Green took his skills and his connections to begin his own business, Red River Frames, which was something he always had dreamed of doing.

Two-and-a-half years ago, Green was given a unique opportunity. Through his connections, he was given a factory, with truck loads of picture framing materials, and a warehouse in Choctaw. In 2006, he opened Red River Frames, a commercial picture framing business.

“I know without a doubt, it was all God,” Green said.

During the next two years, Green grew Red River Frames by 50 percent each year. However, he had lived in Edmond for 16 years and he, his wife, and their five children were consistently taking long drives to Choctaw. About five months ago, Green decided it was time to live, work and go to church in one community and moved the majority of his business to Edmond.

Green said he has not taken any profit from Red River Frames. His 22-year-old son, Kyle, builds and designs the frames, who eventually will take over.

“I just want to build the business for my son,” Green said.

Kyle and his siblings all know how to build a frame, Green said. Kyle said he played basketball and lived in Los Angeles for a year. When his dad told him about the business and asked him to work with him, Kyle moved back to Edmond.

Kyle said he enjoys working with his dad and having the freedom to design what he likes.

One of Green’s long-term goals is to make enough profit with the business to follow in his uncle’s footsteps by donating to Christian organizations.

“We want to give God the glory for everything we’ve done here,” he said.

The father and son team already has had great success. Fine Art Limited, an official licensee of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, recently commissioned them to frame two commercial art pieces. Limited and numbered editions of each art piece will be sold on QVC, a shopping network. Kyle and Green will then frame the total number of pieces that were sold.

“It’s a huge deal for us because we’re really a small company,” Green said. “This is by far the biggest order we have had.”

One of the pieces includes a poem by Maya Angelou, which she wrote to inspire future olympians.

Green said they will continue to grow by selling and building frames for retail stores. Also, the factory Green acquired originally sold manufactured framed art at flea markets. Kyle and Green continue to use the picture frames, molding and prints acquired to sell art at the Old Paris Flea Market.

FOR MORE information about Red River Frames, call 650-9011 or visit www.redriverframes.com.

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