Jerry's...150 Years Of Industry Experience Working For You.

Proudly serving artists since 1968! Thank you for choosing Jerry's for purchasing your art materials and frames. Jerry's only business is serving the interests of artists like you. From the first time artist to the professional we have everything under one roof at factory direct savings as much as 75% off traditional retails.

We have always championed low prices for the artist. Our founder Jerry Goldstein started 50 years ago with the pledge to bring down the cost of art supplies by discounting them. Today it is common place but back then he was a pioneer. Providing the lowest prices and best deals is part of our DNA rooted from the very first day we opened our doors. Rest assured we will do the our job daily to assure that you always get the most for less by shopping with us.

Large eCommerce Presence Serving Customers Throughout The World

One Man's Vision To Provide True Value For Artists ...

In 1965, Jerry Goldstein was managing a toy store in Long Island, N.Y. One day he asked a local art teacher for his supply list, and was shocked at the pricing and the fact that there were no discounters for art supplies. Jerry convinced his boss to start selling better supplies, and thus launched the world's first discount art supply store.

Jerry opened his own art materials and supplies store in 1968, introducing thousands of budding and established artists throughout Long Island to the wonder of discount pricing. Jerry believed in treating customers like family, and that tradition continues to this day.

The Boys Launch Mail Order

Jerry's Artarama has always been a family business, with Jerry's two sons Ira and David starting to work in the discount supply store in their early teens and eventually becoming the company's two managing partners. Way back in 1979, David figured it was time to make Jerry's great prices available to everyone in the USA and so started the company's mail-order operation. The first official Jerry's Catalog was on its way!

Beginning with $2,000 of savings, a side office, one phone, and a four-page catalog, “the boys” slowly but surely built a business under Jerry's ever-watchful eye. As the art supply company expanded, Jerry's moved up to a 10,000-square-foot warehouse in 1984, and then a gigantic 28,000 foot facility when they relocated the business to Raleigh, N.C. in 1994.

Today the publication that began at only 4 pages long is now an invaluable resource for artists over 500 pages and growing!

Europe, China and Superstores

In the mid 1990's, David and Ira started to search numerous European countries to import art supply products unavailable in the USA. In 1998 they set out for China, where, they quickly realized, they could unearth the best values for their customers. Further, they found they could also create products with relative ease there. In fact, the line of art materials and products they produced had a revolutionary effect on the U.S. art-supply market.

Seeking yet more space, Jerry's opened an 80,000-square-foot facility in Henderson, N.C. Selling to customers in virtually every country of the world from its top-notch web site. Jerry's staff now serves over millions worldwide.

Starting around 2003, Jerry's started opening super stores with regularity. Today there are 15 discount art supply stores in the chain, including locations throughout the Northeast and the South, plus stores in Texas and Colorado — with more on the way!

Jerry's Artarama Superstores provide more than just incredible discount prices. They also provide instructional workshops, new art supply demos and special art related events, encouraging a sense of community for artists across the country.

More Than A Business ... An Artists' Resource

Over the last ten years, Jerry's has expanded its role as an artists' resource. Part of this initiative is to host numerous events that allow artists to gain first-hand knowledge and education. These events include Jerry's Days and the Art of the Carolinas Tradeshow, held every November in Raleigh. Art of the Carolinas is the world's largest artists' gathering, with thousands of artists from all over the country attending over 100 workshops and more than 40 vendors demonstrating their art supply wares. Discover all the details at www.artofthecarolinas.com.

Another of our recent initiatives is to work directly with artists to create and improve products for the studio and the field. If you have an idea for a product you think artists may enjoy, please contact us at [email protected].

Jerry himself is delighted and amazed at how many new items and incredible values his boys are passing along to their customers. (Rest assured that dad looks over all 500+ pages of our art supply catalog and every web page to make sure Jerry's customers are getting a great deal!)

Serving Artists Everywhere!

Our promise to both accomplished and beginning artists is to treat you as a person, not merely an account. Jerry's is a family business without the layers upon layers of upper management found at many other businesses.

Our friendly and efficient customer service team is at your disposal, and if you want to speak to Ira or David, they are both available to you no matter what the issue.

Your voice is important to us and our fantastic team, and we truly want to know if for any reason you don't feel that you have been serviced with speed, efficiency, and total hospitality. We always want your feedback on how we're doing, especially when it comes to the value and selection of art supplies we offer every day.

No art supply company in the world offers more artist paints and brushes, artist canvas, frames and artist materials than Jerry's. That's because our business is concerned exclusively with artists and art: supplying you with everything you need to succeed on your artistic journey is our passion!

In late 2007, Jerry's moved its headquarters into a brand new building in Raleigh NC, just in time to celebrate a major milestone in company history ... 40 years of service to artists! We're looking forward to a bright future, continuing to serve the artistic community.

Jerry Goldstein - Pioneer of Discount Art Supplies

Jerry Goldstein was born a depression baby, just 17 days after the stock market crash of 1929. His father passed away when he was just 3 years of age, and these two events greatly shaped the life of one of the most hard working and friendliest people to ever grace the world.

As a small boy, he took any job he could to contribute to the family, as his mother did not believe in welfare or any type of assistance. He would deliver newspapers or sell for the Harry Stevens Company at Yankee stadium everything from peanuts to beer. He had little concern for the games he worked at, as he was a lifelong Brooklyn Dodger fan and followed them regularly when they became the LA Dodgers.

He honored his country by serving in the National Guard, being of age between the Second World War and the Korean War.

Along the way he took many jobs. After he married his wife Arline, Jerry opened up his own appliance store in Greenwich, CT. His timing was a bit off, as his competitors in NY, at the time, did not have to charge sales tax. After a long struggle, he closed the store while paying all his creditors, although not paying would of been easier. Jerry was a good friend and he made it a point to be honorable and to take his lumps for his losses. He never would use the laws of the land to excuse himself of doing the right thing.

Shortly after the closing of his appliance business, Jerry landed a job as a manager of a toy store. In the early 60's he gave up smoking and to help him do this he started painting. He was shocked that nobody discounted art supplies. He talked his boss into carrying supplies and he officially became the very first discounter of art supplies in the world.

In 1968, Jerry opened his first store in Great Neck New York with his wife Arline. He carried the discount philosophy to his store along with exceptional service. This started a long journey of being an integral part of the artist community throughout Long Island.

Anyone who frequented his store would get personalized assistance, and in many cases a true friend in Jerry. He always knew his customers' families and always helped out no matter what the potential sales could be. He only had one way to treat customers and that is like family!

Students who came to Jerry's in the 60's and 70's in New York would often see Jerry in his Deerfield Beach Florida store in the 90's and beyond often hugging him and telling him how much of an effect he had on their lives. He gave guidance and imparted knowledge free of charge and spent so much time with them that they were happy to see he was still in business! They couldn't imagine how he could treat every customer as if they were spending $500, even if it were only $5.

The Jerry's stories go on and on. But here is one. On one ordinary day back in the late 1960's he was called frantically by a customer. He needed a color but it was 6:15pm and in those days we closed at 6pm. He was a good 30 minutes away. Jerry said that he couldn't stay until then but he would have the color in a brown paper bag at the front door. He took no names and presented no bill. He would often do that. It was a simple accommodation that you would do for anyone you considered family.

Jerry never was motivated by self-gain. His stores today are the same way and naturally give their customers superb service regardless of how much they spend, or if they looked like look like they would spend a lot of money. The Jerry's philosophy is alive and well at Jerry's Artarama and will always be the legacy he leaves behind. His sons Ira and David carry on this philosophy along with his grandchildren Michael, Heather and Dara.

During the 21st century, Jerry was very concerned with the welfare of artists and orchestrated many initiatives to help artists sell their work. Jerry's is today extremely committed to that goal.

Jerry's other concern was education. Finding open education was difficult and through his grandson Michael and his Burning Oak Studios, they started the daunting task of offering Free Art Lessons to anyone who wanted to be an artist, used to be an artist or needed inspiration through a free art lesson. Today there are over 2,000 free art lessons online with over 2 million free lessons taken a year and growing.

Jerry was the consummate family man and was close to his family that included his sons, Ira and David, his daughters-in-law Carol and Randy (who he treated as his own daughters), his grandchildren Michael, (Natasha), Shana, (Matt), Dara, (Mike),Heather and Marissa and his great grandchildren Bryce and Gabriel.

He will be sorely missed by all that knew him.

In his honor, Jerry's is setting up The Jerry Goldstein Foundation, which will seek to raise funds for tuition and scholarship to the very talented young artists in order to inspire them to follow their dreams. If you would like to be integrally involved in the foundation please contact Ira Goldstein at 919-878-6782 at extension 113.

Every purchase you make online at Jerry's we will donate a portion of proceeds to the Jerry Goldstein Foundation to support scholarships for artists.