Working in the right frame of mind
By Mira Reverente Special to the Acorn

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers HANDS-ON- Camarillo resident Debbie Rice looks through a sample book of picture mats to find just the right color to complement a frame. Rice is owner of Fast Frame in Old Town Camarillo.

Debbie Rice may not be a professional artist, but she knows how to make artwork look better. And although she's not a photographer, the Camarillo native goes out of her way to bring a new dimension to photographs, whether they're the mountains of Yosemite captured by Ansel Adams or a child's portrait taken at Sears.

Rice, who was recently named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, owns the Fast Frame store in Old Town Camarillo.

"I was not surprised at all that Debbie was nominated and won," said Tom Kelley, president and CEO of the Chamber. "She certainly deserves the honor. Not only is she a good entrepreneur, she is an active contributor in the community as well."

The former stay-at-home mom bought a Fast Frame franchise 15 years ago and has turned it into a successful business. A lifelong Camarillo resident, Rice moved the shop into its current space on Ventura Boulevard five years ago, taking over a shoe store where her family used to buy shoes when she was a child.

"It was quite accidental that I got involved in the frame business," Rice said. "I've always liked to work using my hands, but I never had any formal art training. Many years ago, I walked into a frame store and liked what I saw. I persuaded the owner to let me observe and show me the ropes."

Rice said earning her customers' trust when it comes to handling their artwork or family photos has helped make her business successful. "Unlike other stores, we do not send out whatever it is that our customers bring in to be framed," she said. "I've discovered through the years that some people get really uncomfortable with the thought that their precious painting or war medals will be shipped to another location. So everything is done on-site here."

The small store's walls are neatly stacked with moldings and mats in every color, size and finish. Rice said there are no limitations to preserving memories or artwork and that everything from ballet shoes to BB guns to baptismal gowns can be preserved and framed. "I entered a contest once and entered this BB gun in a shadow box," Rice said. "It was the most challenging project I've ever done due to its unusual size and shape. In terms of complexity, I would say that the Japanese kimono is a close runner-up."

Rice encourages her longtime customers to preserve their mementos and heirlooms and to go with the best materials that they can afford, such as ultraviolet-resistant glass. "It really pays off after 10 or 20 years because the heirlooms are in mint condition, ready to be passed on to the next generation," Rice said.

Through the years, both loyal and new clientele have come to trust Fast Frame with their cherished artwork and photographs.

Rice attributes it to her handson approach to the business. Like most small business owners, Rice spends much of her time at the store, when she's not traveling out of town to visit her two children and three grandchildren.

Fast Frame is at 2320 Ventura Blvd. For more information, call (805) 484-9133.