United Art and Education helps
teachers prepare for back to school

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July 20, 2007
Carrie Sorvart - Aboite & About
While students are busy buying necessary supplies and new clothes during the summer months leading up to the new school year, teachers are also busy preparing for the return of students to their classrooms. One place in Fort Wayne, United Art and Education, helps teachers get ready by selling all kinds of educational supplies and decorations to start off a new school year.

“We hope to have everything teachers need for their classrooms to make learning fun and exciting,” said Mike Count, manager of the retail store on North Clinton Street.

The company began in 1960 as a local school supplier serving schools, churches and small retail stores in Allen County. In 1984 part of the warehouse was opened for customer pickups. In that same year, their service also extended to all Indiana schools as well as parts of Michigan and Ohio. The first retail store was opened on North Clinton Street in 1991. Since then, other retails stores have opened in Mishawaka, Indianapolis, Greenwood, (in Indiana) and Hilliard, Centerville, Sharonville, and Cincinnati (in Ohio). Over the years, United Art and Education has become known as a great resource for teachers, students and parents alike.

The Fort Wayne retail store contains more than 22,000 products that make learning creative and fun. There is a wide selection of art materials available for art teachers and students or anyone who enjoys art. Some of the art products include paints, brushes, easels, canvases, drawing supplies, printmaking and silkscreening supplies, clay and modeling materials, fabric painting supplies and art instruction resources. Educational supplies include kindergarten through 8th grade teaching resources, classroom decorations, educational toys, games and puzzles, student awards and kindergarten through 12th grade art and craft supplies.

“We have educational games so they can get some learning in as well as have fun,” said Angie Leach, director of marketing for United Art and Education. “We have a unique mix of materials.”

There is a variety of educational games and activities to keep kids’ minds active over the summer or to help entertain them while riding in a car or airplane during vacations.

“It keeps them busy and used their mind a little bit,” Leach said.

Besides offering retail stores, United Art and Education also has a web site, www.UnitedNow.com, where customers can find more information about the company, purchase items and find project ideas. Customers can also call in orders to the warehouse on Airport Expressway.

Although United Art and Education is geared a lot toward teaching and art supplies, anyone can shop at the stores, online or by phone.

“Just about anyone can find something here,” Leach said.

She said there are many gift ideas for parents and grandparents to buy for children, as well as gift cards available for purchase. Leach said the gift cards would be a good gift for teachers because it would be something different.

“Gift cards from United Art and Education are really appreciated, and they can put them to good use for their classrooms,” she said.

Through the remainder of the summer, United Art and Education has a couple of different sales and promotions going on. A fall art sale starts August 20 at the North Clinton retail store. It’s a great way for art students going back to college to stock up on needed supplies. There will be a wide selection of basic art materials included in the sale.

United Art and Education is also having Teacher Appreciation Days, an annual back-to-school event that runs from July 23-August 31. There will be special activities and deals for the kickoff day on July 23, including double bonus coupons (coupons may be used through the event, but will be doubled on that day). Coupons can be found online or at retail stores.

“Many people take a teacher’s time for granted, but at United Art and Education we appreciate everything they do to help build a brighter future for the children,” said Brian Deaton, eastern retail operations manager.

Also on the kickoff day is a scratch and win prize party. The first 500 customers, age 18 and over, at each of the stores will receive a game piece, which is scratched off to reveal prizes such as t-shirts, gift certificates, denim bags, Sharpie markers and other products. Every ticket is a winner. Beginning July 23, the first 2000 customers at each store location can pick up a free 2007-2008 school-year calendar.

Each Friday during Teacher Appreciation Days, two customers at each store location will win a grand prize package valued at $200 or more. Winners do not need to be present to win and will be contacted by United Art and Education.

“All year we have teachers stopping in to find things for their classrooms and (we hear) about how much time and money that they put into their jobs, which isn’t as much a job, but a calling,” said Donna Estep, assistant store manager at United Art and Education in Hilliard, Ohio. “They spend hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars of their own money to be able to provide their students with a great education. They come to us looking for items that will save them both time and money.”

The Fort Wayne retail store is located at 4111 N. Clinton St. The store’s hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 483-3161 or visit www.UnitedNow.com.

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