Meet Chase Means of Fast Frame Frisco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chase Means.

Chase, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Fast Frame in Frisco, Texas is where I currently own my shop. If you ask me why I started my own business in custom framing it all connects to my childhood. When I was young I was motivated to become the best in what I did, I couldn’t allow myself to be discouraged when challenges came about. With that being planted in my head I always welcomed challenges and never settled in comfort. Playing it safe wasn’t the “Means” way.

My mother was my biggest influence and motivator. Growing up my mother was a single parent at the age of 18. She worked on her college degree while also working full time job. Amazingly she balanced all that with the responsibilities of motherhood. I know that she struggled to make a living and make a home. We grew up on a farm in the small town of Cleburne, Texas. At the time, my mother was attending Baylor University and commuting 2 hours everyday. After school, she would head to Hillsboro, Texas to go work at a store in the outlet center. My mother was so driven that by the time she was 21 she had gone from managing one store to managing the whole outlet center. I knew that I did not want all of my mother’s hard work to be wasted. She saved up her money to move us to Dallas and into Plano school and then private schools. My wife, Betty also was raised by a hardworking single mother and understands the struggle. I knew I didn’t want that lifestyle to repeat itself, I wanted to be a great husband and father while providing for my family so we would end the generations before us that would struggle paycheck to paycheck. I did the little steps to help make my plans a reality by taking college courses to learn everything from computer programming, accounting, marketing, etc… I read books and educated myself about everything there is to know for starting and running a successful business. I started by working at Michaels Art’s and Craft’s store. I worked nearly every position in the store and worked myself up to different management positions. I have always been passionate about art and crafting.

Growing up in a farming town played a big part in that, I would rather make something than to buy it. This passion I feel is what drove me to get into a business in the art world. After learning everything I could about custom framing at Michael’s and total sales of 1.2 million my last year there I decided it was time to start my own business. Which brings us back to today. It’s been a privilege to be part of the Frisco community, a community that’s no stranger to giving back. I joined the Chamber of Commerce in Frisco and have also donated to different charities. I even had the pleasure to host a charity event for The Make-A-Wish Foundation by doing a gallery showing and framing all of the auction pieces for their famous Wish Night. They were able to raise over a million dollars for Wishes this year. I think that one of the most rewarding parts of being a business owner is being able to give back to a cause you want to be involved in. I want to encourage anyone who reads this that you should pursue your passions and create a business for it, no matter your situation. You can break the cycle and become an Entrepreneur. Think of what it is that makes you happy and envision your goal and stick to it. You don’t necessarily need a fancy degree to do fulfill it. You could do as I did, the little steps, take community college courses that’s relevant, read books on the subject and so on. Keep in mind there isn’t only one way to do it. It doesn’t matter what path you take, just as long as you don’t stop until you get there. Robert F. Kennedy once said “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly” I had many trials and errors along the way that clouded my goal but I was always remembered the “Means” way.

Its a blessing to wake up everyday excited to go to work because you love what you do and working overtime because you enjoy your job. Plus, getting to be your own boss allows you to have the time to make your own schedule so you never have to miss out on time with your family. I swore that I would always be there for my kids and be at every game or play. My mother wasn’t always able to be at every game but I know she tried her best. If it wasn’t for the support of my mother, the love of my wife, and inspiration of my daughter I wouldn’t be where I am today. I made it, I’m Chase and I’m an entrepreneur.

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?
No there were many struggles along the way. Trying to raise the money was no easy task and took a lot of dedication. I was working multiple jobs at once and working 80 hours a week to achieve my dream. I spent time having to learn framing and going from an apprentice to journeyman framer. I took countless hours of bookkeeping courses as well as marketing and web design courses trying to learn anything I could about running a business. Unfortunately, I ran into several problems getting the legal paperwork finished and almost was not able to get the licensing I needed after all my hard work.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Fast Frame Frisco story. Tell us more about the business.
My business is Fast Frame and we are a frame shop as well as an art gallery. We specialize in framing and preserving memories of all kinds. We frame sports memorabilia like football jerseys or golf balls or even boxing gloves. I am currently in the process of framing two signed Muhammad Ali boxing gloves. There is nothing that we cannot frame here. We love to be challenged and love when somebody brings us a project that they want to be unique. I have framed original signed Picasso’s before as well as Dali’s. We frame military medals, flags, and gear to preserve memories of fallen soldiers and family members. We frame paintings as well as photos. The things we frame range from five dollar photos or posters to million dollar paintings. We like to pride ourselves in carrying something that fits the budget of any customer. We have more inexpensive frames all the way to the closed corner frames that are hand carved specifically unique for each customer and everything in between. I think as a company I am most proud of the fact that we are able to help out so many people by donating framed artwork to charities to raise money. Also, I really love to see the customers faces when we reveal a framed memorial piece of a past loved one or a recent family trip they took. The tears of happiness are really what makes this job so great and so rewarding. I believe that what sets us apart from others is that we are dedicated to helping our customers. We listen to what our customers want and what price range they were expecting and help find something that makes them happy. I believe it is much more important to build a relationship with your customer and to treat them as you would treat friend more than a customer. Above all I think our quality, passion, and dedication to the craft is what helps us stand out from our competitors.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think luck has played a large part in my life and business. I would say that if it were not for luck I would not have been lucky enough to find the perfect location for my frame shop. I would say that I am pretty lucky to have the life and business I have today.

Contact Info:

• Address: 4150 Legacy Drive Suite #412 Frisco, Texas 75149
• Website: www.fastframefrisco.com
• Phone: 972-334-0223
• Email: fastframefriscotx@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastframefriscotx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fastframefriscotx/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/fastframefrisco
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fastframe-frisco-frisco
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-means-687b9486/

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