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Business & Tech

Local Business Owner Named Most Creative Framing in National Contest

Fastframe Eagan owner Tami Phillippi's flag design won in the Most Creative category.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Tami Phillippi's accurate age.

Tami Phillippi, owner of , says she doesn't enter many contests.

But when she does, it seems, she wins.

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That's true of a few Fastfame-sponsored contests that won her air fare and hotel rooms at a couple of annual conventions in Las Vegas, Nev.

And, this year, it holds true for a framing contest sponsored by Larson-Juhl, a picture frame moulding manufacturer located in Ashland, Wisc., and one of Phillippi's vendors.

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Phillippi said she entered the contest because she had an immediate design idea and knew she had to give it a try. 

The contest was company's first annual Made in America contest and Phillippi's entry was an American flag made up of Larson-Juhl picture frame moulding pieces, with the stars crafted on Fastframe's electronic mat cutter. 

Meg Lange, Larson-Juhl marketing field support manager, said out of the 50 submissions, Phillippi's was selected because "we loved the way she incorporated frames into the artwork. Tami was really thinking outside the box."

Contest categories included Most Creative, Most Patriotic and Best Vignette, judged by internal Larson-Juhl employees including sales and marketing, and a Most Popular category determined by Facebook voting.  

The 48-year-old Phillippi has owned her Fastframe franchise since October of 1995, when she opened her store in the Cliff Lake Center. She still is hands-on in the store and loves the customer interaction.

Phillippi says she may start entering more contests in the future, not only because she enjoys winning, but also because they motivate her to do something creative and she enjoys "the fun of doing something creative completely the way you want." 

Phillippi is active in the Eagan community and often donates services to local non-profits. She also is a member of the Rotary Club of Eagan.

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