MannequinFilter: How to get mannequins in Washington DC?

August 6, 2009 6:34 AM

How could I acquire 2-3 mannequins in the Washington DC area? This is for a non-profit/charity group project. They need to be free or very cheap. The mannequins will be used to make a permanent display in the group's headquarters. Details within.

Call me crazy, or maybe I watched this movie too much as a child, but I have volunteered to help out a local non-profit organization (which shall remain nameless) by creating a display that needs a few mannequins.

The problem? I don't know where or how to find mannequins in the DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia area. To complicate matters, my budget is something approaching zero. Anything I spend on this will come out of my own pocket, and there isn't a lot in there on most days anyway.

I just moved to the area, and don't really have a network of local friends yet, so I'm kind of stumped. I guess my wife and I could start calling local department stores and asking if they have any old/broken/surplus mannequins they want to get rid of, but I thought I would poll the Hive to see if there were any better ideas.

I did find a local source for used mannequins, but their prices even for damaged units start at over $100, which is impossible for me.

I do have access to a station wagon, so I could drive somewhere to pick them up, but I'm kind of at a loss on how or what I should do next. Any suggestions or ideas would be very gratefully received.

posted by seasparrow to grab bag (4 comments total)

Have you tried Freecycle? It's a long shot, but maybe worth a look.
posted by Ladybug Parade at 6:46 AM on August 6

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/clo/1306893927.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/for/1303679011.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/for/1303659873.html

If you talk to them and let them know this is for a NPO they might cut you a deal or even be nice and give'em away.
posted by OuttaHere at 7:02 AM on August 6

Any small locally-owned clothing shops (used, new, uniforms, army surplus) that would consider donating any? A clothing store I'm familiar with here in Fargo has a bunch of levtover, blemished, or "not fitting current decor" display hardware in their basement that they rarely use; there's probably a similar situation near you. Ask aound locally, the store get the tax deduction since you're a non-profit (plus a "thanks to 'Just Pants' at Kirkwood Mall" sign near your display, maybe?), plus they clear out some of their storage space, and you get mannequins for free.
posted by AzraelBrown at 8:17 AM on August 6

Resolved: Heartfelt thanks to a local angel Mefite who asked to remain anonymous that let me have a mannequin he wasn't using!
posted by seasparrow at 6:46 AM on September 23