In 1981, still newlywed Michael and RuthEllen Simpson decided to start their own business in Pittsburg, KS.  With the help of RuthEllen's brother, they opened The Finishing Touch, a small custom framing store, on Broadway.  After only a few years, they had added a wholesale division and ran out of space.  They decided to move across the street to their current location on the corner of 7th and Broadway.

 

While their more than 40 years in business have brought many ups and downs, they agree that they are blessed to be where they are.  In 2014, The Finishing Touch framed more than 80,000 pictures for their wholesale contracts alone.  In 2013, they also added a printing division to the business making it a completely turn-key operation. 

 

The retail continues to give the city of Pittsburg and its residents a reliable option for custom framing.  RuthEllen's expertise with fabric and shadowboxes makes her a valuable asset to the community. 

 

In 2014, The Finishing Touch was recognized as a finalist for the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award.  In 2015, they were nominated again and won this noteworthy honor.

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In 2016, more growth was experienced when a wholesale production facility was purchased at 808 E. Jefferson in Pittsburg. The move was made official in July of '16 and has allowed the company to continue to move forward with their ever growing wholesale contracts. The new facility has 40,000 square feet which accommodates their storage needs, production manufacturing, and printing services.

 

Michael and RuthEllen are forever grateful to their family and community that have helped and continue to help their business to grow.