FEATURED STORY FROM THE Best of BG – 2018 ISSUE
The Art Supply Depo:
Offering Quality Art Supplies to Satisy Local Demand
The Art Supply Depo opened its first store in 2011 in downtown Toledo because there was a real need for quality art supplies in the area. “There weren’t any nice fine art supplies stores in town and we figured out that Michael’s and Hobby Lobby, we call them the ‘big-box’ stores for short, don’t carry what the art students need,” says owner Jules Webster.
After five years of success and much demand from Bowling Green students and residents driving to Toledo for their art supplies, The Art Supply Depo opened their BG location in August of 2016. The Toledo location has more gifts and novelty items, while the Bowling Green location has more inventory. The Art Supply Depo specifically caters to what is on the supply list for University art students and carries enough of the product for a large number of buyers. Something that makes The Art Supply Depo different than other stores is that they carry every single product of a line, unlike the “big-box” stores that will only carry the top selling versions of a product. They also have the largest canvas and wood panel selection in the Midwest, consisting of every size possible.
The Art Supply Depo offers more than just art supplies. They also provide classes and educational opportunities for people of all ages and art backgrounds. These range from technical classes that go beyond BG art courses, to fun classes that teach how to use pastels and colored pencils as a creative outlet, to a kids summer camp, including offering a spray painting course. Their stores also change the artwork on their walls and offer gallery exhibitions “to inspire students, the community, and share different ways to paint,” says Webster. Open now for about two years, The Art Supply Depo has enjoyed a successful community welcome and a lot of positive feedback from the area. This popularity has allowed them to continue to expand their services.