Indy Upcycle

Specialties

Indy Upcycle sells previously owned art and craft supplies at pay-​as-​you-​wish pricing. We have fabric, yarn, scrap booking supplies, fine art media, and just about anything that can be used to make any art or craft.

People who no longer need their supplies donate them to us and people needing supplies buy them for a price they feel is fair (usually about half off retail.)

History

Established in 2010.

Faced with a mountain of art materials she would never have the time to use, Indy Upcycle’s owner, Mandy Jared, wanted to find a way to re-​home all of her un-​needed supplies. When her grandmother passed away shortly after that, she realized that this was an on-​going issue for many artists and crafters.

Mandy wanted to create a store that re-​homed these supplies.

Spring of 2010, Mandy met Autumn Wiggins of Upcycle Exchange. After visiting with Autumn, and observing her store, Mandy learned that a LOT of people want to find a good place to donate their art supplies to people who will actually use them, and she learned that pay-​as-​you-​wish pricing is a viable pricing strategy.

October 2010, Indy Upcycle opened in a small artist studio located in Carmel’s SoHo Café. Within three months it outgrew the space and relocated to a much larger, but temporary, space across the parking lot.

It’s almost time to move again. Indy Upcycle plans to relocate to Broadripple in February 2011.

Meet the Business Owner

Mandy J.

Business Owner

Mandy has a Master’s Degree in Art Education and more than 10 years of teaching experience under her belt. If you were to ask her what her favorite part of teaching was, she would say «problem solving.»

Mandy loved learning new ways to make stuff and she loved finding new purposes for things.

«If I could have any job, I would have one where I just come up with new ideas all day.»

In 2010, when she was faced with too many supplies to use, she saw it as another problem to solve. Ultimately, she created Indy Upcycle.

The store has allowed Mandy to exercise her creative thinking skills by helping others learn new techniques, brainstorm ways to complete projects, and learn from her customers.

«Every day something new walks in the door and there’s a new project to be made.»