FAQ


What does Indy Upcycle do?
Indy Upcycle sells art and craft materials at Pay-As-You-Wish pricing.
The items in the store have all been rescued and are longing to become something special.
My #1 goal is to help give great materials new life. It’s alarming how many art materials are just thrown away when they could have been used by someone else.
My other goal is to re-energize and inspire people to create pieces when they find something new or different in my store.
Come in and visit, you never know what you might fall in love with.


Where are you located?
The address is:
6358 N. Guilford Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46220
(between Good Earth and 3 Sisters Cafe)
Our building has a parking lot in front.


What are your hours?
Our hours are evolving and as the business grows. Currently they are:
Monday Closed
Tuesday 10am-5pm
Wednesday 10am-5pm
Thursday 10am-5pm
Friday 10am-5pm
Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday Closed


How can I contact you?
Mandy@IndyUpcycle.com
317.643.2278
Click here for our contact form.


Does upcycle mean recycle? Is your store kind of green?
Upcycling is the process of converting unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality. (like turning a t shirt into a reusable shopping bag.)
Recycling (also known as downcycling) involves converting materials and products into new materials of lesser quality. (like turning old bricks into gravel.)
So, yes, my store is kind of green. In fact, it’s better than green!


Are donations tax deductible?
Is Indy Upcycle a worthy cause that helps a lot of people in the community?
Yes.
Is it tax deductible?
No.
To be tax deductible requires a lot of red tape, loss of ownership, and it’s really unnecessary.
We are not a not for profit, but if you need that, we have a few good recommendations.
We encourage people to sell items they can sell, donate items to groups they support, and look to us before they consider throwing perfectly usable things away.


Why would I donate my stuff to your store if I can sell it myself?
I would think you wouldn’t donate to my store if you could sell your items yourself. You paid good money for all of it and some of it is still brand new! I want you to make your money.
The people who donate to my store are people who want to support my store and/or don’t have the time or interest in selling the stuff themselves. I also get people who donate because they love the experience of seeing people ogle over their awesome materials.
I just don’t want to see usable materials and equipment getting thrown away.


Do I bring my donations to the store? Can you pick up?
In most cases, donations should be brought to the store during business hours. In extremely special cases I, or someone helping me, may pick donations up. This is usually the case for unusually large donations.
If you or someone you know owns a business that would like to host a drop-off point, contact me for a collection kit.


What kind of art/craft supplies do you take?
All art and craft materials, supplies, and equipment are welcome and desired. From fine arts like oil painting, to the crafty needle arts like knitting, to the folk arts like leatherworking.
For a list of specific things we are looking for, please visit our wishlist. The list is not exhaustive, but it should give you a good idea of things we would love.


Do you really take partly used tubes of paint?
Yes, it is still useable!
I’m not in the business of selling new things in sparkly new packaging, though I will have that stuff quite often. I’m in the business of giving old materials a new life.


Do you take large items, like old sewing machines?
Yes, provided that they are functional and appropriate for art and craft applications. (Sewing machines, irons, spinning wheels, etc. are ok. Weed eaters, washing machines, etc. are not ok.)


Can you sell my finished crafts?
No. The main reason is that it confuses the concept of paying as you wish.
I will, however, take donations of finished products and let people pay as they wish for those items. I will sell some of my stuff in the store that way.
If you are a regular here at Indy Upcycle, feel free to share images of your work or a link to your shop on our Facebook page.


Can I buy all the bin fulls I want? Or buy all your jewelry making supplies?
In order to offer a fair shopping experience to all of my patrons, we reserve the right to limit your daily purchase. (This rule is also good for preventing people from overwhelming themselves with too many new projects at one time.)
It’s also good practice not to buy ALL of something we sell just for the sake of taking it all. If you need 100 corks, and I have 150, take just what you need so that another artist has a chance to use them.
We are an art and craft community, after all.


Why can’t you just tell me what to pay?
That’s just not how it works here. Ultimately, you choose the price you pay based on what you are getting. If you find a full tube of cadmium yellow oil paint, two yards of vintage fabric, and a sheet of dichroic glass, you’re probably going to pay more for your handful of supplies than the person next to you that has a bin full of styrofoam balls, craft felt, and acrylic yarn. I trust your judgment on the value of what you have selected.


Do you retail stuff too like a line of scissors or knitting needles, etc.? Or is it all really donated?
The stuff in my store has all been donated. I may have a new item here and there, but don’t assume that I will. My business is not in competition with big craft stores. I can not and do not intend to replace them.


So, your store might not always have what I want?
Correct. I will probably always have something you will want though.


I collect glass beads. Would you hold them for me when you have them or would that not be fair?
I can’t promise that I’ll have the resources to hold items for people. It doesn’t mean don’t ask. I’ll do my best.