The Art Institute of Philadelphia Supply Store is located on street level adjacent to the lobby of the 1622 building. 

The Art Institute of Philadelphia Supply Store is a specialized retail outlet. It carries most of the art supplies and books needed by students, as recommended by instructors and Academic Directors. This helps ensure that the student purchases the right books, materials, and supplies for each assigned project at a fair price. Most items are priced well below manufacturers’ suggested price, and most kit books are discounted.

There are some items, such as most stationary supplies, that are available at surrounding stores in wider choices than the Supply Store can provide.

Supply Kits
The Supply Store purchases, packages, and distributes the first quarter supply kits for new students. The kit contains supplies and textbooks carefully selected by the department Academic Directors and the Education Department. Most of the first quarter kit items are professional tools that will last throughout your student career, as well as most consumables that will be required the first quarter. Each kit contains a list of contents, and if an item is missing or damaged the form should be returned within ten business days of receiving the kit for a replacement. No replacements for missing items will be provided after 10 business days.

Supply kits are purchased through the accounting office and picked up during orientation.

Discounts
Most of the non-textbook items in the store are priced well below suggested retail prices, and most are below the prices of other suppliers in the area. A majority of our textbooks are discounted 10% from list price due to agreements that The Art Institute of Philadelphia has negotiated with the publishers, and we pass on to our students.

Students who work at the Supply Store and Housing Resident Assistants (RAs) receive an employee discount of 25% on general items and 10% on books. (See the Student Employment Advisor in Career Services for an application if you wish to work at the store.)

Student Accounts
A student-prepaid charge account at the Supply Store can help you to budget your supply expenses. To establish a student account, a deposit may be made by cash, check, or credit card. Purchases are made against the account balance, the current status of which is available at any time, and a record of all purchases is maintained within the supply store’s computer system.

Cash withdrawals are not permitted, and the person responsible for the deposit may close the account at any time. A request must be made in writing to close an account and receive a refund. All refunds are given through the Accounting Office in check form.

Credit accounts accrued from book buy-back credits are not redeemable for cash--just store merchandise and books.

Used Books
During the last week of the quarter, books may be returned for half the cover value in store credit during normal business hours. Books are sometimes not eligible to be taken back for various reasons (i.e. new edition, not using the text next quarter). A representative from Budget Text Corporation will be brought in during the last week of classes for those whom seek an alternative to store credit. Graduating students may turn any qualifying books in for cash to the Budget Text representative. (Note: Budget Text makes their own rules as to the books they will take and the prices for them.)