Oxford Hill Frames on SDVoyager.com

A little article by SDVoyager about Oxford Hill Frames and the philosophy behind what we do.

http://sdvoyager.com/interview/conversations-inspiring-sarina-dahlan-dann/

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarina Dahlan-Dann.

Sarina , can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I went to UCSD for Psychology and Visual Arts. After that, I spent over a decade in advertising and marketing for large corporations. Together with my husband, David, we own Oxford Hill Frames. Our company creates custom handcrafted hardwood picture frames for art galleries and frame shops. We make everything right here in beautiful San Diego. He does the hard part – designing and building the gorgeous heirloom quality frames. I manage our marketing strategies and our online platforms. Marketing for a small B2B company is a galaxy far, far away from the work I was doing for Fortune 500 companies. Most of the work is done by building relationships and joining communities. The people in the framing industry are incredibly supportive of each other and we count ourselves lucky to have friends within the community.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Custom framing is one of the last bespoke services in the U.S. In a frame shop, you can bring in most anything you want to be preserved and get framing specially designed to suit YOU. A well-designed frame elevates the art or heirloom and brings it to another level. It is a luxury business in a sense that no one needs framing – it’s not a jug of milk or gas for your car.

Many small shops lost their market shares to big box stores offering the promise of cheaper, do-it-yourself framing. The tradition of preserving memories, highlighting art collections, and curating heirlooms for the home is practiced by fewer people. But, there is a movement toward local, high-quality products crafted with pride and expertise. Traveling, social media and online searches open our eyes to other ways of living.

As a culture, we are becoming better informed. We’re replacing quick fashion and cheaply made clothes with high quality, versatile pieces unique to our personality. We are learning to spend more wisely – choosing things that leave lasting impressions instead of a one-night stand. We’ve learned to appreciate quality over quantity.

At Oxford Hill Frames, we find that partnering with frame shops who embody this same philosophy works well for us. Our identity has always been about beautiful, high-quality handcrafted hardwood frames made in San Diego and that’s not going to change.

Women who are at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey should find their own philosophy and embrace it. Your business should be an extension of your belief system because if it is not, you may find yourself doing something against your values down the road. KNOW yourself + BE yourself.

what should we know about Oxford Hill Frames? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We create handcrafted hardwood frames for frame shops and art galleries. All our frames are made in San Diego. The frame designs are inspired by various aesthetics: from Arts-and-Crafts furniture to Mid-Century Modernism, and Japanese gates to electric guitars. However varied in influences, what comes across in each frame is the craftsmanship and attention to detail. We hand-select the wood for each frame for the best quality. Woods, from American White Ash to African Zebrawood are allowed to show their true beauty.

Our brand embraces the William Morris quote, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” We’re most proud of the quality of our work and the service we provide to our clients. We build heirlooms that our clients’ customers can proudly showcase in their homes.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
Speaking generally, I think the biggest barrier is that some people don’t think there are barriers. Statistics show that there are fewer female leaders in positions of power – in both private and public sectors. Reasons for that are too many to list here. Acknowledging that it exists makes everyone more aware. And awareness is power.

I’ve been fortunate to have had strong female leaders throughout my career. At the Fortune 500 corporations I worked for, I was given opportunities to attend leadership seminars and management classes, as well as connect with colleagues in other companies. In the framing industry, there are quite a few female owners – perhaps because they’re typically small businesses in a creative field. But unfortunately, I think my experience may be an exception rather than the rule. We have to keep making it happen, ladies!

Contact Info: