About Us - DJ Simons

D & J Simons – From the Heart of Our Family to the Heart of a Home

A family business through and through, the D & J Simons story began in 1900. Over 140 years later, we have a strong legacy that we are immensely proud of. That extraordinary journey continues to unfold and today, we’re still at the forefront of innovation and design, boasting the UK’s largest collection of picture frame supplies.

We’re Award-Winners. In 1996 we won the Queen’s Award for export achievement.
We Have a Wide Collection of Outstanding Products. DJ Simons has the UK’s largest range of picture framing supplies.
We Guarantee Fast Delivery. Often organising requests for products required urgently.
We Have Strong Family Values. Our values remain firmly at the heart of everything we do.

Over 120 Years of D & J Simons

Our great-grandfather Davis Simons was the founder of D & J Simons, starting his business back in 1900, shortly after he immigrated to England from his native country Russia.

A Passion for Furniture Making

Davis always had a passion for furniture making and wanted to succeed in his new country. It was that keen interest that spurred him on to enter the reproduction furniture industry in England, and he became both a manufacturer and supplier.

D & J Simons Through the Generations – the team moved into a 50,000 square foot premises.

Davis built a successful business and was succeeded by his son and our grandfather Jack Simons. Later on the business was passed down to Jack’s sons, our fathers Stephen, Howard and Brian.

In the 1970s, the business further evolved into picture framing, soon becoming the UK’s biggest supplier of picture framing supplies. The business started to expand rapidly, and the D & J Simons’ team moved into a 50,000 square foot premises in Hackney, London.

It was during the 1980s that D & J Simons patented a revolutionary mock-wood, cost-efficient frame. The frame was made from a ground-breaking plastic frame design that replicated the texture and aesthetic look of wood yet boasted all of the benefits of hard-wearing plastic.

As a result a few years later, the family opened a second business called Emafyl, led by Howard Simons, specialising in manufacturing polystyrene picture frame mouldings.

Roll forward forty years and the business is still thriving, run by Davis Simons’ great grandsons, Daniel, Anthony and Robert. We strive to continue our family’s commitment to our customers and the industry.

An International Business

Today, the business operates on an international scale, carrying its rich heritage into the future. D & J Simons is dedicated to investing in the business; to developing modern products to reflect the ever-changing market. The business continues to provide customers with a growing selection of picture framing products, stylish new home furnishing accessories and we will introduce more in the future.

DJ Simons – A Family Business Embellished With Many Milestones

Over the years, the business has celebrated many exciting milestones, reflecting a passion for what we do. As well as being committed to providing the best possible products, we always go the extra mile to develop new innovations, constantly delivering our customers with outstanding service.

One of the proudest moments of the business was when Emafyl was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in 1996. Additionally, the business was the first to introduce the concept of a one-stop-shop for framing services and supplies to the framing industry.

Industry Leaders, Working With Industry-Leading Partners

D & J Simons supplies a wealth of different sectors, including working with some of the biggest names in interior design and other furniture professionals across the globe. We are also proud to be the UK’s only distributor for Valiani’s mount cutting equipment and offer a number of products created by some of the most sought-after manufacturers in the industry. Furthermore, D & J Simons is a major UK distributor of almost every picture framing supplier in the industry.

D & J Simons is bolstered by strong relationships with exceptional designers throughout Europe and that puts us in an enviable position of being able to offer customers exclusive access to new designs often before they reach the open market.

The DJ Simons’ Store in Central London

The business has a generously sized store based in central London boasting over 50,000 square feet and offering more than 8,000 product lines (including over 2,000 different picture mouldings, an extensive range of mountboard and framing sundries). Additionally, the exceptional space allows storage of clients’ stock while offering flexible purchasing options. This gives our customers the added benefit of only being sold what they need.

Within the store, we provide a “chop service”, cutting products to exact size, therefore reducing wastage.

For clients seeking framing machinery products, we offer items manufactured by leading brands such as Cassese, Keencut and many more.

Sustainable mouldings

We do understand that its really important to play our part in making sure that the vast bulk of our wood mouldings comes from a sustainable and we are able to provide certification to our customers.

1900january

The company was established by Davis Simons and became a manufacturer and supplier to the reproduction furniture industry. Davis was later joined by his son Jack.

1970march

The company started to sell its first batch of picture framing supplies.

1980january

The company moved into 50,000 square foot premises in Hackney Road, Shoreditch, London.

1982january

First exhibition stand at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham

1987january

A sister company called Emafyl was opened, manufacturing extruded polystyrene picture frame mouldings at a site by the Thames Barrier London, that, over time, grew to 320,000 square feet.

1990january

First edition of a printed catalogue.

1996january

– Emafyl wins the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement.

2008january

Simons becomes sole distributor of the Valiani mountcutting machines and parts for the UK.