How can I sell 100 "used" framed art photos?
November 3, 2014 5:28 PM Subscribe
The company I work for (located in New York City) owns an office building which we have recently renovated. All the art in all the hallways was replaced to match the new decor, and as a result we have approximately 100 "used" framed wall art photos - is there a way to sell these all at once to someone?
They are all black and white, neutral/pretty if bland images and are framed identically (simple black frame and a white matting). Something you'd see in a hotel hallway and probably not think twice about.
We don't want to start shipping these individually, I'm hoping to find someone to buy all of them. They're not particularly valuable I'm sure but given that there's 100 of them all in great condition we'd like to recoup some value. I can try craigslist, etc. but are there brokers or companies who would be interested? I'm not sure what to search for and haven't been able to come up with anything yet.
Thanks MetaFilter!
They are all black and white, neutral/pretty if bland images and are framed identically (simple black frame and a white matting). Something you'd see in a hotel hallway and probably not think twice about.
We don't want to start shipping these individually, I'm hoping to find someone to buy all of them. They're not particularly valuable I'm sure but given that there's 100 of them all in great condition we'd like to recoup some value. I can try craigslist, etc. but are there brokers or companies who would be interested? I'm not sure what to search for and haven't been able to come up with anything yet.
Thanks MetaFilter!
I could have sworn I saw an AskMe today from someone who wanted to get into re-selling goods online. Now I can't find the question. Anyway, if you can find it, you should contact that poster (not in a pushy way, obviously, but just check!). If they're not interested, you might find other resellers who will buy a lot of things. Local will save you the hassle of packaging to avoid breakage.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:03 PM on November 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:03 PM on November 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Donate them to the Salvation Army and get the tax benefits. Poor people need art too.
posted by myselfasme at 6:17 PM on November 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by myselfasme at 6:17 PM on November 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Craigslist.
If you're willing to donate, medical clinics and community centers all need inoffensive hallway decorations. You can also contact local schools-- sometimes they hold auctions for student art and can repurpose the frames. You can also check with any art organizations in your area-- artists may buy your frames or they will take them to use for their own stuff.
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:26 PM on November 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you're willing to donate, medical clinics and community centers all need inoffensive hallway decorations. You can also contact local schools-- sometimes they hold auctions for student art and can repurpose the frames. You can also check with any art organizations in your area-- artists may buy your frames or they will take them to use for their own stuff.
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:26 PM on November 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
One more thing, and it's a super long shot-- if you have independently-run frame shops in your area, they may be interested in trading for store credit or cash. If they're truly in excellent condition they may be worth it to the shop to resell or recondition. It's an extreme long shot, though.
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:28 PM on November 3, 2014
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:28 PM on November 3, 2014
Try selling them as a wholesale lot on eBay? Contact an estate sale company and see if they will take them off your hands for a flat price? Go to a consignment shop and see if they will sell them on your behalf?
Donating them might be worth more (for the tax write-off) than the cash you will get for them. I would talk to someone in your company's finance department and see if they have a preference.
posted by ananci at 8:19 PM on November 3, 2014
Donating them might be worth more (for the tax write-off) than the cash you will get for them. I would talk to someone in your company's finance department and see if they have a preference.
posted by ananci at 8:19 PM on November 3, 2014
Seconding the employee option. I have had a couple of employers who did just that. There have been random draw names or first come first serve for everything from furniture (I ended up with a set of side/coffee tables) to used electronics and computers and even a fleet of econo-cars used for deliveries. The company gets money and the employees get a deal.
posted by Leenie at 8:43 PM on November 3, 2014
posted by Leenie at 8:43 PM on November 3, 2014
Maybe a hotel furniture liquidator would be able to buy the lot...
posted by calgirl at 9:14 PM on November 3, 2014
posted by calgirl at 9:14 PM on November 3, 2014
When I was a (commercial) property manager we worked with a couple of companies that placed art (framed reproductions) in the buildings whenever we remodeled. I have no idea how to locate such a company cold as the contacts I had were part of a rolodex that was handed down to me when I started, but I suppose you could Google something like "commercial art placement". Just wanted to let you know that this is a thing, and such companies might be interested in your lot (trust me, the art doesn't have to be stellar or pristine for the average company to display it, it just has to go with the decor. These companies keep a lot of stuff in storage waiting for the right space to come along).
posted by vignettist at 2:28 AM on November 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by vignettist at 2:28 AM on November 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
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posted by studioaudience at 5:33 PM on November 3, 2014