After 35 years in framing, Dawn and Garry Malo looking pass on business to a new generation of owners

Dawn and Garry Malo, owners of New Hamburg’s Profiles In Art, are on the hunt for the next generation of owners to take over their business as they prepare to retire early next year. Photo by Galen Simmons

By Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After nearly 35 years helping locals find the right frame for the right piece, Profiles In Art owners Dawn and Garry Malo are looking for someone to take over the business as they prepare to retire early next year.

Even as they moved from Baden to Wellesley to their current location at 6-73 Hincks St. in New Hamburg, the Malos have been dedicated to working one-on-one with their customers to find the right materials so they can custom-build frames that suit their taste, their home décor, the pieces themselves and their budgets.

“We’re old,” Garry laughed. “I’m 74 and she’s 72. The business is doing really well; it’s just we’ve been at it for 35 years and it’s time.”

“It’s just he’s going to be 75 next year, so we just figured freedom-75, you know?” Dawn added. “I love what we do and we would be quite willing to work with (a new owner) on the transition or work casually or whatever. We just want the freedom while we’re healthy to do what we can, be there for other people and travel.”

The business is a full custom-framing outfit with a storefront where Dawn works with customers to determine their exact framing needs and a workshop in the back where Garry uses his saws, computerized matte cutter, his board cutter and jointing equipment to build perfect frame for art, collectibles, souvenirs or pretty much any other item that can be framed.

The Malos do not sell prefabricated frames. Instead, they provide a custom service, meaning every frame they make or repurpose or spray paint or cut down to size is unique. Dawn says it’s important not to have the frame overshadow the piece being framed and she uses symmetry, lines, different styles of edges, materials and colours to tailor each frame to the item, its owner and the space it will be in.

With a customer base spanning across the region and beyond, the Malos want to ensure their devoted customers are taken care of after they retire.

“People tend, no matter what, to go back to the same framer,” Garry said. “If somebody moved to Toronto – we’ve had that – they’ll come back here. It’s not something you do every week – maybe every year or couple years – either, so people remember the experience they had.”

Though the Malos have only been working three days a week at the shop in recent years – something they decided to do as they wind down toward retirement – they say business is back to pre-pandemic levels and there is more than enough demand for the right future owner to scale the business back up.

“It has to be someone who’s in the decorating/art (world), that sort of thing, who’s comfortable with it; someone who enjoys meeting new people because that’s what it’s all about, being able to meet someone and have them feel confident and open up a bit about their home,” Dawn said. “It’s very intimate what you’re doing.”

After they retire, the Malos are hoping they’ll have more time to dedicate to the causes they care deeply about, including the Bolivian Children Foundation – an organization close to their hearts they’ve supported for more than two decades through in-store fundraisers.

Anyone interested in taking over Profiles In Art can call the business at 519-656-1073 or email dawn@profilesinart.com.