Question 1

I'm an installer. How can A.I.N. get me more work?

Accepted Answer

A.I.N. works with internet marketing services to look for art services, interior designer, art consultants, and FF&E companies with a nation-wide reach. Most installers who only work in one region do not that capacity for marketing. We offer the option of using local installation companies instead of the art provider bringing in their own installation team.

Please click on the link to register as an art installer. (https://form.jotform.com/90274848617164)There you can inventory your skills, register your contact information and give the names of references. You'll be contacted via SMS and email when a regional project is pending.

Question 2

How does the process work?

Accepted Answer

Installers register their contact information. (javascript:void(0))When installation services are needed in their area, they're notified via text and email. Details will include the scope, the price and uploaded visuals. If the installer is available for the project, the client will be notified, shown the installer's profile and given their contact information. The two of them will interview each other and decide if the installer is right for the project.
 
Accepted installers work directly with the client for scheduling and design issues. When the project is completed, installers send the client photos of the work and invoice AIN. We'll verify completion with the client and pay the installer with terms that work for all parties.

Question 3

Who are the clients?

Accepted Answer

The clients are corporate art consultants who have a nation-wide reach, commercial interior designers or facility managers who need estimated costs for installation services. It is important to those clients that the estimated price does not change - unless the scope does.

Question 4

What services am I expected to provide?

Accepted Answer

Unpacking, staging, placing, installing, photographing/documenting, frame touch-up/repair, and bringing debris to dumpster and/or recycling bins, or stacking neatly in an area where the trash can be picked up. Art Installer Network will not ask installers to perform services they are not comfortable performing.

In these relationships, we share a client, so please keep us in the loop with all communications with them.

Question 5

What supplies should I bring?

Accepted Answer

* Gloves (eliminate fingerprints and secures the hold.)
* Blue contractor tape.
* A cart to transport the pieces from the receiving department to the install site.
* A multi-purpose ladder (initial project information will include elevations & piece sizes).
* A drill or an awl for creating holes for anchors.
* An assortment of anchors, screws and installation hardware in case some are missing. It would be unfortunate if an installer needs to return the following day if a piece of hardware went missing.
* A "magic eraser" for cleaning scuffs from the wall..
* A shop vac or dust buster.
* Markers and putty for superficial repairs to frames.
* Spackle to fill holes.
* Tape measure.
* 24 and 48 inch level.
* A hammer.
* A Phillips head and a flat head screw driver.

Question 6

What is "performance-based pay" and how does it benefit me?

Accepted Answer

Simply put, the installer who hangs the most pieces is paid the most. And the faster the pieces are hung, the greater an hourly wage.  Some of our fastest installers are making $1000/day.

Installers may be working with other independent installers. All are expected to make A.I.N. and the art provider look good to the end-user (the facility). Installers will work together to unpack, inventory, stage, place, and perform pre- and post-installation walk-throughs.

In most cases, commercial installations have a tight time-line and the art being hung can best be described as "framed posters". Though all the art pieces should be handled with care, the pricing structure favors fast installers over meticulous ones.

It has been our experience that between installers, projects are bonding experiences. Installers look forward to working with each other on future A.I.N. projects. In fact, A.I.N. has even sponsored installers to attend the West Coast Art & Frame show to be representatives of A.I.N.  We've paid for transportation and lodging to Las Vegas so that clients can mingle with the professions wearing Polo shirts with the A.I.N. logo.

Question 7

Who pays me?

Accepted Answer

AIN pays installers as soon as the client and/or the end-user confirms a successful completion.

Question 8

When is the payment made?

Accepted Answer

Clients typically pay their bills 30 days after being invoiced and after they're paid by their client. Some even have 90 day terms. We think the process should go smoother than that, so we step in and pay an installer in 15 days.

Question 9

How is the payment made?

Accepted Answer

Being that we're often paying an installer ahead of payment to us, we make that payment with a credit card. Installers will need a credit card processor, which is easily handled via PayPal.

Question 10

What if a return-trip is needed?

Accepted Answer

If the return-trip is to hang additional art sent after the original installation, installer are paid a trip charge and labor, assuming a one-hour limit.

If a return trip is needed to reinstall a piece that was not installed properly originally, that is on the installer's dime.

We cannot underscore enough the importance of doing a post-installation walk-through with the client (both the art provider and the facility are our respective clients.)

Question 11

Why won't I receive an earning statement from A.I.N.?

Accepted Answer

A.I.N. pays installers with a credit card. When payment is made with a credit card, the credit card company will issue a earning statement to the installer in the form a 1099-K.

Since A.I.N. is an Internet company, projects outside of the State of Wisconsin are not subject to sales tax. In addition, even if in Wisconsin, most of the transactions involved are considered "resales" which are also not subject to sales tax.  With that said, installers should not include sales tax when invoicing A.I.N. for services provided.

Question 12

What if there is more work than what was ordered?

Accepted Answer

Installers should contact their client (usually the art provider) if additional work has been added by their other client (the facility). Regardless of who requested the additional work, contact A.I.N. for pre-approval. The will always be paid for their work. The only concern is who should issue the invoices and to whom.

Question 13

The project required more time than estimated. Do I get more money?

Accepted Answer

Estimates are based on average completion times and are adjusted based on site variables.  If an installer sees that there is more work than documented, please contact A.I.N. as soon as possible. If we do not hear from an installer early in the process, a longer than expected installation may be attributed to the installer being slow. In this environment, slow installers cannot make more that fast installers.

Having said that, we value our relationships with installers, and want the pricing to be fair.

Question 14

Are there any other perks to working with AIN?

Accepted Answer

AIN values their relationship with installers as much as it values their clients.

Top installers receive expense-paid trips to cities that host art related conventions.

Installers who are easy to work with are considered preferred installers and are the first to be invited to help with large-scale installations. (One installers made over $100,000 in a calendar year, and a few others have earned over $50,000.)

Question 15

How do I register with the Network?

Accepted Answer

https://www.artinstallernetwork.com/installer-registration

Question 16

Do you have a video summarizing the relationship between A.I.N. and installers?

Accepted Answer

Indeed! It can be found at THIS LINK.(https://youtu.be/4-Ut0lL-qIY)