SHADOW BOX CUSTOM FRAMING SERVICE BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

Blue Ridge Keepsakes takes its name from the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Asheville, North Carolina, and reflects a focus on lasting preservation and regional craft. We operate in the premium custom framing and preservation industry, launching in 2026 as a direct-to-consumer manufacturer of museum-grade shadow boxes. Our core offerings are custom shadow boxes for sports, military, weddings, corporate awards, and family heirlooms, combining traditional woodworking with archival materials, UV-filter glazing, and sealed mounts to protect high-value memorabilia. We deliver these through personalized nationwide design consultations, in-house fabrication, quality control, and insured shipping. One-line: We make heirlooms that protect value and look like art.

Our target customers are collectors, veterans and military families, newlyweds, corporations buying award displays, and households preserving generational items. Short-term goals are to open an Asheville workshop and showroom, launch e-commerce and design-consult booking, and fulfill 500 orders in year one. Long-term goals are to scale national DTC operations, add B2B channels with corporate and museum partnerships, and standardize a premium production line while keeping custom design services. What sets us apart is museum-grade preservation combined with bespoke woodworking and guided design, delivered with nationwide reach and white-glove handling. One-line: We scale artisan care into a national preservation brand.

Problem

Many owners of high-value memorabilia—sports jerseys, military medals, wedding bouquets, corporate awards, and family heirlooms—keep these items in closets or storage because standard framing and display solutions cannot accommodate three-dimensional pieces. As a result, items remain unseen and suffer accelerated physical degradation from dust, humidity, and light.

Existing options are typically consumer-grade frames or bulky storage that prioritize appearance or cost over long-term preservation; there is a lack of nationwide, preservation-focused, custom solutions that combine museum-grade materials with tailored designs for 3D objects. This leaves owners without a reliable way to both protect and showcase meaningful items.

There is a clear need for archival-grade display solutions that protect fragile pieces and present them as visible, lasting art.

Solution

Many cherished three-dimensional items sit hidden or deteriorate because standard frames and cheap boxes don’t fit or protect them. We offer custom shadow boxes that combine personalized design consultations with museum-grade materials (UV-protective acrylic, acid-free matting) and archival mounting, delivering gallery-ready, long-term preservation and installation for home and office display.

One clear promise: preserve and showcase treasured objects with artisanal design and professional-grade conservation.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to preserve and celebrate the world’s most important stories by transforming treasured memorabilia into archival-quality works of art through artisanal craftsmanship and personalized design. We use museum-grade materials and meticulous attention to detail to honor every item entrusted to us and protect memories for future generations. We strive to be the premier U.S. destination for turning personal achievements and family history into beautiful, lasting displays.

Key Success Factors

Success rests on museum-grade materials, master craftsmanship, a co-creation customer model, fast unit economics, and partner-driven referrals.

• Museum-standard materials that preserve art and command premium pricing.
• Master-level craftsmanship delivering durable, high-value shadow boxes.
• Personalized co-creation process that builds trust and justifies premium prices.
• Rapid unit economics: 2-month breakeven and 1-month payback per unit.
• Scalable growth and profitability: 500 units in 2026 to 2,300 units in 2030 with $1,715,000 EBITDA, driven by interior-designer and collector referrals.

Financial Summary

The financial plan shows strong early performance with rapid breakeven and cash coverage.

Financial requirements: minimum cash balance of $1,190,000 (Jan-26) to cover launch and operations; breakeven: Feb-26 (2 months); payback: 1 month. Pricing tiers range $850–$1,650 per unit, supporting the above margins and returns.

Overall outlook: cash-positive from launch with a 30.43% IRR and scalable revenue to $2.95M by Year 5.

Funding Requirements

The startup requires approximately $100,000 to cover capital equipment, two months operating runway, initial salaries, lease/security, and materials to reach breakeven in Feb-2026.

$100,000 covers capex, initial operating runway, and materials to reach Feb‑2026 breakeven.