A LAD raised in Somerset is making waves with his business idea with clients including ex-Premier League footballers, local communities and a footballer who appeared in this year’s UEFA European Championship.
Liam Payne, 23, owns VIP Framing, a framing business for a wide range of customers.
Born in Celle, Germany, Liam grew up in North Petherton and Bridgwater for most of his life, unsure about what to do for a job.
Starting in February 2024, Liam describes the situation of starting up his business as “unique” after working as a prison officer for three years.
Liam said: “It’s a fairly unique situation. I was working as a prison officer for three years, which as you can imagine had its ups and downs.
“At the end of those three years, a traumatic event within the prison happened and my mental health suffered badly as a consequence.
“Two things helped get me through the dark times, the love and support from my girlfriend and also football, however being a Bristol City fan isn’t recommended if you want joy.”
Liam then received a “little payout” from his time working at the prison and wanted to treat himself by getting a few of his luxury shirts framed.
“After some research and different quotes, I was left unsatisfied. One reason was the extortionate prices companies were charging, but the most concerning factor was how these companies framed their shirts. So, I decided to do my own, and VIP Framing was born.
“Here at VIP Framing, we ensure that no damage is done to the shirt,” Liam said.
Liam has gone from strength to strength with VIP Framing and is now planning to work with a Taunton business owner, Damien Hull, who restores retro football shirts to their former glory.
“Damo is actually my cousin and we both share a big passion for football and football memorabilia,” said Liam.
“We do have plans for a huge giveaway soon so keep your eyes peeled for that.”
Working with high-profile names is something Liam dreams of with his business but he says that with VIP Framing, getting your shirt framed is affordable and simple.
Liam has worked with former Manchester City and Swansea City star Wilfried Bony and reveals he was a delight to work with.
Liam said: “He (Bony) ordered 30 frames from us, from the various clubs he’s played at and the shirts he has swapped over the years.
“Some of these shirts include Rooney, Kompany, Ibrahimović and so many more!
“The way the work came about was that he texted me through Instagram and we went from there.”
Liam hopes to take VIP Framing to new heights after his first six months with the business and reckons he can do that by working with more football players.
Another well-known footballer Liam has worked with played in this year’s UEFA European Championships.
Belgian footballer Dodi Lukébakio played three times for the Belgium national team in this year’s football tournament and regularly turns out for the Spanish side, Sevilla.
Liam plans to keep growing and continue to sustain working at VIP Framing as his full-time career.
On their social media pages, VIP Framing say they can “frame anything you want”
Liam said: “Although shirt framing is what we do most, we aren’t limited to that. From framed shorts, boxing gloves, caps/hats, posters, karate belts, medals, and more.”
He says his biggest challenge for him is storage.
“I own a three-bed house, which is plenty big enough however, with frames coming out of my ears, it takes up a lot of room and makes a considerable amount of mess too!
“The amount of people who have things lying around that would look much better on display is unbelievable.
“At VIP Framing we can frame anything you want.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here