Image via CrunchBase
NY based Artsicle is an online business that rents expensive art for cheap and was started by Scott Carleton and Alex Tryon. According to The New York Times, the startup has been drawing the attention of many entrepreneurs. Idan Cohen, one of the investors in Artsicle, said, “I thought the art market was ready for innovation and disruption. I thought that Artsicle could reach young people not exposed to the art world yet, but who still want something that looks good in their home, to which they have an emotional attachment, that has a story behind it.”
The idea came to Tryon just a few years ago when she went shopping for a piece of art for herself and was met with attitude by many galleries. Tryon also knew a lot of young people who were interested in art, but couldn’t access it. She calls her startup, “Zappos for art.”
At the start, the company shipped out 30 works a month, now the number is up to about 100. Their roster of artists has grown from 150 to 3,000. Users visit artsicle.com and take a quiz about their taste in art and a portfolio is created for them about works that will interest them. Clients pay anywhere from $25 to $65 a month to rent, depending on the size of the work. After their time is up, they can either renew, trade it in for a different painting, or choose to buy it. Artsicle keeps 50% of the rental price and 30% of sales, while most galleries keep 50%.
Own a local business?