Make Money by Saving Money on your Art Supplies

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Good business owners know that the best way to keep your profits high is to keep your costs down. Art supplies are costly! Particularly if you shop at your local art shop, although in theory I prefer to support my local economy and stores, my expreinces with cut throat cost at most art stores including Hyatt's in Buffalo, Ny and my local college bookstore, I really had to find wiser and more affordable venues. The following article has some very useful information. I would add that if you are near a college or university, you could create flyers stating that you will by their unused art supplies, many students take an art appreciation course beacuse they have to buy $200 in Art supplies, and barely use any of it and never get any future utility, they are always quick to sell at bargain prices. I know this from experience.>

Six Ways to Save Money on Art Supplies

Six Ways to Save Money on Art Supplies
By Jamie Jefferson

With the economy in the shape that it is, everyone is looking for ways to save money on things they need. If you're an artist, you need to know how to pay as little as possible for your art supplies, especially when money is tight. Here are six quick tips for finding art supplies at a discount.

1. Buy in bulk. One of the easiest ways to save money on art supplies is to buy in bulk whenever you can. Artist supply companies may give you a price break (sometimes as large as 30 percent) if you buy in large quantities. You may have to do some searching and asking around to get the best deal. Once you have established yourself as a repeat customer, the supply company may be more inclined to offer that discount.

2. Shop auction sites. Look for your favorite art supplies on auction sites such as Yahoo Auctions, eBay, or WeBidz, where you may able to find brand new art supplies for much less than retail prices. Some sellers may even have them listed well below wholesale.

3. Buy local. Check out local art supply or crafts stores, which generally have sales throughout the year, especially when new items are being added. Pay attention to unadvertised, in-store sales. If the store has a mailing list, make sure to sign up because the merchant will often announce special sales to newsletter recipients. If the store has a website, make sure to sign up for online newsletters and check for online coupon codes before you buy, as well.

4. Shop yard sales and estate sales. Quite often people will purchase art supplies thinking they'll enjoy a particular craft. When they actually start the hobby they find they don't like it after all and have spent quite a bit of money for supplies they'll never use. You can often find some really good deals on art supplies like this.

5. Don't throw out the Sunday advertisements. Larger national chains will often place coupons in Sunday's papers because they know more people read newspapers during the weekend. Some coupons can be as much as 40% off a regularly priced item.

6. Make your own art supplies. You may be able to make art supplies cheaper than you can buy them. For example, make your own finger paint with unflavored gelatin, cornstarch, sugar, cold water, food coloring, and dishwashing liquid. Make your own modeling clay can be made with cornstarch, water, and baking soda. Search online for "homemade art supplies" and you'll come up with a number of websites offering recipes, often using materials you have in your kitchen cupboards.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Susies-Coupons.com, where she shares the web's best coupons for discount art supplies including discounts at the top online art supply stores.

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