Kensington Custom Framing Design Center, however, has managed to fight off the franchise competition and is thriving at its new location on Winchester Boulevard near Campbell Avenue.

Owner Michael Symons said he owes his success to "word of mouth, quality, price and service." But the real secret, he said, has been getting involved in the community.

"You become the local frame shop and everybody knows you," Symons said.

During his nearly 20 years in business—12 years in Campbell, six in Willow Glen—Symons has reached out to the community by donating time and service. He is doing that again by donating framing for the paintings of Willow Glen artist Charlotte Yep. Her work will be auctioned during a KTEH public television fundraiser on Nov. 3

Symons agreed to frame nine of Yep's large, "photo-realistic" watercolors for the auction. Symons and Yep will appear in a short segment taped at Kensington Custom Framing, which will be replayed periodically during the auction.

"When you frame up to nine pictures for somebody, it's a lot of time and effort," Symons said. "You wonder if it's worth it, but it ends up coming back tenfold."

Symons and Yep collaborated on a similar KTEH auction five years ago. In that auction, Symons said, Yep sold her paintings for prices ranging from several hundred dollars for limited edition prints to around $7,000 for originals.

Yep has gone to Kensington to have her watercolors framed for practically as long as the business has been open.

"He's a friend as well as a framer," Yep said of Symons. "His work is exquisite. He has a good eye for putting things together, and the quality is always there."

Kensington Custom Framing Design Center, 2069 Winchester Blvd., is open Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 408.376.0231.