Meet a Local Business

Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse

What makes your products or services unique? What will people get from your business that they won’t get elsewhere?

Creative Reuse is unique in countless ways! Because our inventory is made up of donated and used art materials, you truly never know what you might find in our shop and online store. You can find strange and unusual vintage items, rare or discontinued art supplies, weird bits and bobs that you didn’t know you needed in your life, and so much more. Not to mention we accept donations that a lot of other thrift stores won’t accept, like partially used tubes of paint or loose hardware bits! We also offer custom craft kits and virtual learning experiences which center around reused materials and environmentally conscious creativity. You could say that nearly everything about us is unique!

What’s the best way that interested customers can connect with you or find more information?

Our website and social media is kept up-to-date with all of the information about the services we offer! Check us out on our website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and now, even Tiktok!

What inspires your work?

We believe in extending the life cycle of materials so that less things end up in the landfill, and more things get used for creative purposes. Making things with local materials can help a local economy become more sustainable and self-sufficient! We are also passionate about educating the public about the benefits of reuse for the environment, community, and self. We see reuse as a vehicle for boosting self-confidence, learning new skills, and creating opportunity for all.

How can people best support you or your community as we recover from the pandemic?

Please consider shopping secondhand for items that you need. Just ask yourself before buying a new item – “Are there any other ways that I can acquire this without purchasing it brand new?” There are tons of secondhand sites online for pretty much anything you might need- for example, check our online store before buying brand new arts and crafts supplies. We will be reopening our in-person shop to the public this summer, so stay tuned to learn when you can shop in person again, too!

Are there any unique events, initiatives, sales, or opportunities at your store or community that people should be aware of?

We will offer in-person appointment-only shopping for the public starting in mid-June! Our in-person shop has been closed to the public since March 2020, and we have been working behind the scenes to enhance our shop and offer tons of virtual options during the meantime. We are so excited to welcome everyone back to our shop this summer!

And as always, we have tons of interesting and unique items in our online store. Hot tip: we have a new sale section where you can browse discounted items (some up to 50% off!)

You can follow us on social media, check our website, and read our newsletter for more updates and to sign up for your much awaited in-person shopping appointment! We’re excited that vaccines are available to all, and we can’t wait to see you again!

Please provide any other information you want to share that these questions did not cover!

Beyond selling used art materials, Creative Reuse also offers a whole range of custom kits, video tutorials, and live virtual instruction for organizations and individuals. Whether it’s for a classroom, community center, or virtual party, we can help make your group activity crafty and creative, all while fitting your needs and budget. Go to our website to find out more: pccr.org