# Community-Producing Picture Frames Spark Framing Minimizes Eco Impact and Maximizes Job Creation By Tiana Reid | Published 2013-01-07 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spark-framing References: [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spark-Framing-and-Training/169157873225107) & [sparkframing](http://www.sparkframing.co.uk/) More and more, [social enterprises](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goodbrand-impact) are being made out of almost any kind of service and/or product -- just look at Spark Framing. It is a company that offers bespoke picture framing, stretching, crating, dry mounting, etc. Spark Framing, which is based in Southampton, Hampshire, has the official Social Enterprise Mark. Its social mission is based on providing jobs to those who have previously been homeless. Interestingly, this framing company was perhaps a social enterprise before the vocabulary of social business was in common usage, as it is today. "Spark began as Patrick House Workshops in 1993," the social business writes on its website. "This therapeutic model project was ‘built’ over time by Charlie Wright to service the learning needs of disadvantaged and homeless people from the surrounding local community." Today, it is a sustainable company that is also competitive by using hand-crafted and high quality products. **Contact Information** Spark Framing website Spark Framing on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spark-Framing-and-Training/169157873225107) Spark Framing on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Spark_Framing) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.0/10 - Popularity: 37% | Activity: 16% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Social Enterprise Picture Framing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: create a similar framing company with a social mission to hire and train disadvantaged individuals. - **Hand-crafted Products:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: develop a business model that incorporates the use of hand-crafted, high-quality products. - **Sustainable Business:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: incorporate sustainable practices into business operations and marketing to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. ### Where This Applies - **Custom Framing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: create a company that offers customizable framing services for a variety of art mediums. - **Homelessness and Job Training:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: build a social enterprise that provides job training and creation for those who have experienced homelessness. - **Eco-friendly Products:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: create a product line that is eco-friendly and appeals to the growing market of environmentally conscious consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Adaptive Community Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spark-of-hudson.md) - [Creative Space-Enhancing Companies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bespoke-artworks.md) - [Revived Modular Photo Booths](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frames-booth.md) - [Inventive Charity Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spark-financial.md) - [Event Branding Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frame-me.md) - [Sustainably Made Creative Lighting](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xou-light.md) - [Lighting-Restoring Studios](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vintage-lighting.md) - [Purpose-Driven Popcorn Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gourmet-popcorn-snacks-and-gifts.md) - [Sustainable Creative Craft Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fyrn-studio-series.md)