Blick Art Materials,

16 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601

"staff was not super helpful. when it came time to check out i tried to use a gift card but there were activation issues. i had to call corporate offices while standing at checkout, who were also not helpful. i even showed the staff the email with confirmation of purchase of the gift card and they still couldn’t help. so i bought the supplies i needed on amazon for cheaper which i hate doing, but i am in a time crunch and it sounded like i wouldn’t get an answer for a few days. i’m sure it was just an odd situation, but the way it was handled left me feeling sour. i work in customer service and i understand having off days, but i did not feel welcome or like anyone really wanted me to be able to use my gift card. it felt like the staff was insinuating the gift card was stolen, which made me very uncomfortable. i likely won’t shop at this location again."

"My experience at Blick Art Materials was remarkably poor today. I entered the store hoping to discuss framing for my artwork, only to be greeted with a level of service that was both unhelpful and dismissive. The staff’s insistence on having the art present for a quote, despite my clear description, was perplexing and their tone bordered on condescending. After all you can buy art framed online without the artwork present. When attempting to glean even a basic estimate by referencing a sample frame, I was stonewalled with an impractical price range of $450 to $5000, without any meaningful dialogue or consideration of my needs. This was done by the employee who greeted and by her colleague that overheard our conversation. This was not only unproductive but also showed a lack of interest in potential business and customer care. Contrast this with my experiences at Michael's and Flax Art & Frame on Wabash, where the representatives were courteous and proactive, demonstrating how customer inquiries should be handled. It's evident that Blick's staff could benefit from a reminder that customer engagement is at the heart of service-oriented businesses. I left Blick feeling that my business was neither wanted nor valued, a sentiment I would caution potential customers to be wary of. Buyer Beware!!!! If you're seeking framing services and expect a basic level of courtesy and assistance, I recommend looking elsewhere."

"Nicole, the store manager, is a stellar customer service provider and her store is immaculate! I emailed late last week and she was über responsive. She helped me get what I was looking for and when I arrived at the store today it was beautiful! The retail shows great attention to detail and the store staff were all in good moods, this close to the holiday!! Amazing! I highly recommend Blick in general and this location takes the cake! Bravo!"

"Great store with really good prices. I had no idea there were so many makers for brushes. Staff was quick to help."

"Great resource for creativity and a surprising number of cards and gifts. Little fun things. It’s like stocking stuffer heaven and a detailed art supply store."