Retail

COVID-19 hammers the 'Art-o-mat'

Image provided.

September 14, 2020

The Art-o-mat in Winston Salem, North Carolina, which re-purposes decommissioned cigarette vending machines to sell art works by local artists, has taken its share of hits during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Winston Salem Journal report. The company leases the machines to museums and other public venues nationwide to allow patrons to buy original artworks for $5.

Clark Whittington, owner, said 40 to 50 venues typically ordered new artworks monthly prior to the pandemic, selling between 50 and 400 artworks. Only 24 venues were operating in March, he said.

Whittington hires artists to redecorate the machines, then stocks them with artworks wrapped in cellophane that fit in cardboard packages the size of cigarette packs. He leases the machines for a one-time fee, allowing venues to reorder artworks as needed.

Whittington has operated the business for 23 years, and has helped many artists sell their wares.

For an update on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the kiosk industry, click here.