Allan Jeffries Marion, owner of Allan Jeffries Framing, is preparing for a big year in 2014, which will mark the 30th anniversary of his store at the corner of 3rd Street and Sweetzer Avenue.

Allan Jeffries Marion will celebrate his 30th year in business on Third Street in 2014. (photo by Edwin Folven)

While he has enjoyed longevity in the local community by offering custom designs for everything from photographs and paintings to wedding gowns and sports memorabilia, he frames his success by a commitment to helping customers and a passion for philanthropy.

For Marion, framing is the family business. His grandfather and father were involved in the commercial manufacture of frames. With them as inspiration, Marion started a custom framing business while in his late teens and early 20s in his apartment near the corner of Sweetzer Avenue and 1st Street. When the operation grew too large, he ran the business out of his garage. At the time, Marion said he would advertise through flyers on street poles, and a majority of his customers came by word-of-mouth and lived in the surrounding neighborhood.

When the operation grew too large for the garage in 1984, Marion rented the back room of a mailbox center at his current location at 8301 W. 3rd St. The mailbox center went out of business a year later, and the landlord offered Marion the rest of the space. He said he immediately jumped at the opportunity.

“It just kept growing,” Marion said. “For me, it’s not about profit or making the most money. It’s about the people. Providing the highest wages for my employees, and giving back to the community.”

Marion said he donates approximately $40,000 a year to philanthropic causes, such as charities, temples, churches, schools and organizations serving people with HIV/AIDS. He cited organizations such as Heal the Bay, Jewish Free Loan and the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, but added that the list is “too long to remember.”

“I do things for so many events — framing things for silent auctions,” Marion said. “It’s hundreds of things having to do with AIDS, pets and schools. I really believe in supporting the schools.”

Marion also said he is committed to his 13 employees, many of whom have been with the store an average of more than 15 years. During the recession, Marion said he lived off his savings so he wouldn’t have to lay off any of his employees. He added that their years of experience translate into a superior product, which in turn results in customer satisfaction and repeat business.

“You’re getting a frame that is designed here and created here, under the eyes of the people who designed it,” he said. “Nothing gets shipped out. It’s all done right here on the premises.”

Allan Jeffries Framing offers custom framing in any size, and with virtually any type of wood. Marion said no job is too small or too big, and added that they range from a simple custom frame job for $50 to large jobs that sometimes cost in the hundreds of dollars. He added that he also sells commercially produced frames starting at approximately $10.

“We try to offer something for everyone, and we stand behind our work,” Marion added. “If there is ever any problem, we will fix it.”

Marion said that business has been picking up significantly in the days leading up to the holidays, and said customers can receive same-day turnaround on last minute orders.

“If somebody brings something in to be custom framed, literally on the morning of the twenty-fourth, it can be done,” he said. “Our normal preference is two weeks, but we are capable of doing any project in twenty-four hours or less.”

Marion’s recipe for success has also enabled him to open stores in other locations. His shop at 2602 Santa Monica Blvd., in Santa Monica, has been open for 24 years, and three years ago he opened a shop in Manhattan Beach at 2905 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

Marion added, however, that he has strong ties to the Fairfax District — having moved to the neighborhood at age 18 — and said it is the perfect location for his flagship store.

“This is a fabulous area. It has transformed itself several times over the past thirty-five years, and it has been fun to see it happen,” he said. “It’s made up of a lot of small business people, and it has a diverse group of people who live in the area. It’s a wonderful place to own a business.”

Allan Jeffries Framing is located at 8301 W. 3rd St.

For information, call (323)655-1296, or visit www.allanjeffries.com.