A couple of weeks ago we were at the Gap and I spotted this on the wall.
It’s a bicycle from Public Bikes that was disassembled and shot for this in-store display (thereby they’re not for sale). I thought they were pretty darn good looking. I’m more of a bike admirer than an actual bike rider (apologies to my cycling enthusiast father), so I feel like a bit of a poser saying this, but… I really want those posters to hang in our house. Not sure where, but somewhere. Here’s a better shot of one of the panels from the Public Bikes blog.
I talked with the manager at my local Gap and they “made a note” to call me when they’re done using them for display. This was promising because I expected to hear “sorry, we’re not allowed to give those away” (which I’ve heard at other stores when I’ve asked, like Target). But it wasn’t totally confidence inspiring either – because it sounded a bit like a “don’t call us, we’ll call you.” So I also decided to randomly tweet about wanting them once the store is done with them, and a Gap manager elsewhere heard my plea and is going to try to snag me a set once they’re bumped for holiday decor. Oh the power of Twitter. Who knows if it’ll actually work out, but I gave it the ol’ college try.
Is there any store display out there that you’ve been admiring (or thinking about recreating/DIYing)? Perhaps something at Anthropologie? Have any of you used actual store decor in your home? If so, how’d you go about getting it? Was tweeting involved? Or just regular old fashioned in-person asking? We always hear about folks who just get a call weeks or months later when the store is done with something (like friends of mine who got movie posters from Blockbuster when they were finished displaying them as new releases). Fingers crossed…
Kat says
Oh, and I’d LOVE to have one of those Frog & Toad wall hangings that they have in most children’s books sections at Barnes and Noble bookstores… but I doubt that’ll ever happen.
Mary says
my best friend worked at bed bath & beyond for a long time, and a couple christmases ago got to take home a giant polar bear from the display window. ever since i’ve been coveting cool display pieces. perk of working in retail..!
Rachel says
I have a feeling the the power of the world wide web of internets will get you more than one. I’m all excited to hear about when one shows up on your porch! Good luck with the plea on the interwebs!
Ashley C says
During college, I spent a summer in Granada, Spain. I got a poster of a bull fight from the wall of a butcher and a poster for an opera from the window of an ice cream shop. (I asked for both first). The opera poster is framed and hanging in my kitchen. The bull fight poster will hopefully go in a my (future) son’s room some day. The cool thing is that I actually attended both of the events.
mariel says
I was in love with Lenny Kravitz in high school and my friend that worked at Sam Goody got me a lifesize cardboard cut out. He lived behind my door and would freak everyone out. I’m so jealous because I know you met him Sherry. Please tell me he was nice!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- he was so nice! As was his daughter. Super genuine guy. And very handsome of course.
xo,
s
Beatrice says
Is KB in RVA? I’m just a natural born sleuther ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
I would love if KB were in VA right now!
xo,
s
Adrienne says
I work at Target and I’d love to take some of the display’s home but they all have to be thrown away, employees can not even have them. We get people asking us all the time for ours. Sadly they just end up in the trash.
R. Pyper says
So jealous — you’ve got the luck! When I asked for moss-covered Christmas wreaths at a Bath and Body during post-holiday sales, I was told no way; they were destined for the dumpster, and that was that. Made me feel like stalking the dumpster.
Korie says
My sister-in-law’s best friend used to work for a movie theater, and she managed to sneak a few new release posters out! We have The Matrix, Casino Royale, and Quantum of Solace. Definitely very cool.
She also got several of the big cardboard displays from when Tokyo Drift came out. She hasn’t worked there for a while, which is a shame cuz I would have loved one of those massive Optimus Prime cardboard displays! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- you totally had the hook up!
xo,
s
mp says
I really wanted a life-sized display of my favorite singer (an extremely handsome man), but Peaches (the legendary music chain now out of business in Richmond) never called. So George Strait never came to live in all his glory in my home.
Kerry says
I saw some really beautiful wall art at Coldwater Creek last year. There were three sizes/shapes of what looked like a cross between flower petals and butterflies made out of paper. Each piece was sligtly bent and stapled to the wall. The effect was lovely – like a big floating wave of flowers or butterflies in flight. If only I could have gotten one of each, it would have been easy to trace and recreate my own. Maybe I will try from memory …
Susan W says
My mother in law works part time at Starbcuks and she snagged me a great yarn ball wreath a few years ago from their holiday display. I love it!
http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/sf/12-8-08%20yarn%20wreath.jpg
Angela says
Oh wow, I just saw a painting of a bicycle that was across two canvasses & it was aptly titled “front” & “rear”. For some reason when I saw it I thought of John but didn’t send a link because I couldn’t actually make the connection as to why I thought John would like it….turns out you probably would have. Too much blog reading I say LOL!
Emma says
Yay for the plug for Public Bikes! They are definitely for the bike admirer, and not for the traditional hard-core rider. I’d highly recommend test-driving one (if you happen make a trip out to San Francisco), or ask your local bike shop if they’ll stock one. Oh so pretty and ride oh so smoothly.
More of a functional than aesthetic acquisition from a store, but I recently grabbed a cheap industrial-strength (and very plain) book shelf from the recent Borders liquidation at their Ann Arbor headquarters. A nice reminder of the heyday of brick and mortar book stores.
ashlee says
i can’t remember what it was called – nor will i likely ever be able to find it again – but i found this store in toronto once, a few years back.
the entire thing was shabby chic with handmade vintage looking furniture, refurbished antiques, a ton of glass knobs, beautiful fabrics. you should have seen it. amazing. i couldn’t buy anything obviously because the pieces were HUGE and i couldn’t fly back home to nova scotia with them. and….they didn’t deliver cross country at all. boo.
i admire displays in ikea catalogues all the time. i really wish we had one here. it would make my day.
Lauren says
I worked at Express in college and all of the employees used to get to take home the large display posters after a new floorset if we wanted them. I also scored some cute little Christmas trees and some amazing champagne/gold “door beads” that are twice as wide as a normal doorway and now serve as an amazing headboard :)
Sarah Schloemer says
Years ago, Bath and Bodyworks had a holiday display of different jewel-toned mini gift boxes with perfectly matching ribbon hanging from the ceiling. I wanted some of the perfect little boxes so I asked if when they were done I could get some. The lady told me to hold on, and came back with their biggest bag full of ’em! They didn’t use all of the ones sent to them. Since then though, I’ve asked, but not succeeded (Banana Republic couldn’t give away a New York skyline background because it was copyrighted to the photographer, the store contractually had to destroy it after use.) Anyway, that’s my store display story. I’ve got my fingers crossed for you guys!!!
Nora says
This will be a great idea for my friends, who met when she fell off her bike and met her future husband!
Jenny says
Once I scored thick mod paper board (back displays) from Target. I asked and employee said sure!! It was all heading to the dumpster, so sore for me. What a shame if all this just goes to a landfill. I say start dumpster diving….and ok, tweetin’!
Chelsea says
I used to work at Gap and they were always giving the displays away. Actually one of my co-workers had wallpapered a whole room in his apartment with the black and white Gap Body underwear ads (…i don’t judge haha). So I think the odds of you getting it are good. If not you could always call the Gap at the Summit shopping center in Louisville, Kentucky- that’s the one where I worked. They might be able to send it your way.
Suzanne says
Banana Republic had great safari photographs once! They were beautiful! Didn’t ask for them but wished I would have! I now have wall space to put them on!
Carol says
I work at Trader Joe’s as a store artist. The store is constantly in a state of change. I have been able to donate much of my signage ( partially repainted) to my teacher daughter’s first grade classroom as it becomes a thing of their past. She has some awesome classroom signs now!
Marina says
OMG! OMG! OMG! I have a friend who works at Banana Republic and I never even thought to ask her for story decor, hey the rimes :), any way I plan to now!! Thanks for the marvie idea!
Emily says
I have an “e” from an old Panera sign. One of my friends dumpster dived for it. It’s sitting on my mantle now.
Rebecca says
My sister-in-law is a movie theater manager and gave us 2 Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows Part 1 posters that were advertising the movie in 3D. The movie ended up being in 2D. Cool.
Brittany says
A year or two ago, either Macy’s or JC Penny’s had these massive peace signs on display for Christmas that I really wanted to spray paint black or purple (they were white and brown) and hang above my bed. But they said they wern’t authorized to release them to me.
On the flipside, when I was about 8 maybe and Monster’s Inc. had just been released on DVD my mom snagged a HUGE Sully cut out and put in in my room and surprised me. I loved having it (and it made all my friends jealous ;))
Ally says
You can buy starbucks displays when they’re done with them. (I worked there). I got these awesome garlands for 5 bucks a piece after Christmas. The best part is they’re magnetic, so I could hang them up on the doorframes of my classroom (and now front door) without having to drill or otherwise damage the surface.
Sylvr says
A large portion of my furniture and accessories are old props or (slightly) damaged merch I picked up along the way working as a Visual Manager for Macy’s and others. I’ve even been lucky enough to score a full sized mannequin that I like to use at Halloween, and we never gave those away! It’s all in the timing, if you notice a store is going through a remodel, that’s the time to strike.
Brooke says
I work at the Gap, and if you have a friend who is an employee there or at Banana Republic, they can ask to have the poster when the marketing changes. More than likely they can get it and give it to you! I desperately want the black and white typography that says “So Glad You’re Here”, and I am waiting for the campaign to change, so I can hang it in my house. If you don’t have a friend, then just ask the store manager or the brand manager. They will be happy to do it – well, most of them.
Kelly says
I don’t have a story about acquiring an in-store poster, but I had to smile when you mentioned Public Bikes, because I have a beautiful orange bike from them! They are so stylie, and they are in my town – San Francisco!
Kimberly says
YEARS ago when I was in middle school this store in our town started a campaign using a yellow smiley face. I wanted one of those big smiley faces so bad, so my mom talked to the store manager who said they’d give me one after the campaign was over. That store was Wal-Mart and of course they used the yellow smiley faces for years and I never got one :(
Several years ago I did steal a Nautica poster of a good looking dude off a MARTA train in Atlanta; I plead temporary insanity as I do not condone stealing and felt super guilty as soon as I’d done it.
Becky says
Hey guys, love your blog, just an FYI I work at a gap and we have a switch to holiday in the next 2 weeks and we call it lights on by nov 4 th. Meeeeaning… Call them in the next week cause someone will have to take it down, we usually just recycle them at the end of the year. Good luck! We get some pretty cool posters!.
Julianna says
That picture reminded me of this website: http://thingsorganizedneatly.tumblr.com/
Love it.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, totally! Love that site!
-John
Johanna says
Never underestimate the power of a simple question – I scored two huge signane letters that used to spell out “Öffentliche Bücherei” (public library in German) on the former local library building. It was being torn down and I was lucky enough to run into one of the architects planning the new building – and he actually called me back to say I could get my favorite letters. Plus, the day I asked, two of the guys went into the already half-demolished building with me and tore down one of the interior signs as well – man, that double-sided tape they used was hard to get off the wall. I just stood there and encouraged the guys working their pocket knife :) Planning on putting my big H and Ö in our office – I’ll send you some pics as soon as we get around to it!
Iva @in my studio says
I just found your blog and I seriously cant belive how much I am loving it. In some parts, its very similar to my life. One daughter, loving husband and one old house which we remodelled ourselves. Will def be on my bookmark and come back for more pics and updates!
Iva
Pierrette Ashcroft says
There is an entire blog devoted to images like this. Check out http://thingsorganizedneatly.tumblr.com/
It takes organizing to an entirely new level. Enjoy.
YoungHouseLove says
Love that site!
-John
Wendy says
As a former GAP employee, give it about 4-6 weeks and check back with them.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Wendy!
xo,
s
Jessica says
So funny you mentioned this because I currently have pictures on my phone of an amazing display at Anthropologie that I’m itching to replicate. It almost looks like a fabric rope canopy. Sounds weird but it’s very cool and beautiful. I just need to brush up on my sewing machine skills. Eek! I’ll be sure to post some pictures on my blog once I have.
Melissa says
Back in my fast food eating days, a friend and I once asked someone at Wendy’s for a poster of some chicken sandwich we were obsessed with. They had an extra one in the back and gave it to us!
ColleenwithMurals&More says
I thought you were gonna dissemble your bike and make one! Hey, I’ve got just the bike for ya :D (shh, don’t tell Hubs)
Ok, so when Son #3 was about 9 he complained that I never decorated our house like I did the craft store where I was floral/display designer. (duh – work!) But he was 9 so one year, on Halloween I might add, I went back to work and grabbed all the cardboard ‘tombstones’ I had made, plopped them in the yard, thru some spiderwebs around and became The Best Stepmom Evah. Snap! (that was my collar poppin’, lol!)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- love it!
xo,
s
Dawn says
Someone else may have offered this – I didn’t read thru all of the comments – my daughter works at the Gap. She is checking into getting the poster(s) for me and I’ll send them to you. Wish us luck!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh thanks so much!
xo,
s
KathyG says
I think you’re going to end up with a TON of these!
Linda says
Would look great in your sunroom or playroom!
Jessi says
My hubby was an RA in college + once used a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Jessica Simpson for a safe sex program he did in his all-male dorm. The CD ledge held related “materials”, and there was a big dry-erase quote bubble (“Jessica says…”) over her head where the hubs wrote cheeky, Jessica-esque reminders to be safe. Needless to say, she was quite a popular attraction in the dorm lobby!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- hilarious!
xo,
s
GoP says
Bath and Body Works used to sell off their store props once a year for next to nothing. At least in Oklahoma where I lived at the time. I still have the wooden morter and pestle I bought for a dollar and used a huge glass soap jar to hold cookies for years and years until one of my kids finally broke it!
I did recently score a ball of rough brown twine (very rustic looking!) from the Pottery Barn outlet that they used to tie down furniture for transport. I strung some across my hallway and use mini clothespins to hang up pictures, postcards, and small art.
Amanda says
No stores for home decor, but I begged and pleaded with WalMart for a goodyear blimp from the tire area. I needed it to finish off a display for charity that would be up for 2 weeks. They turned me down consistently. I sent my boyfriend in after that and he was able to get them to give him a balloon! To top it all off, we “won” the display contest, were given $1000 to donate to a United Way charity of our choice, and WalMart got the balloon back with a letter of thanks, even if it was incredibly difficult to convince them of the need.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cool!
xo,
s
Allison says
I am in LOVE with a braided rug I saw on the wall at Anthropologie. Even started a DIY project, but abandoned. I am getting a 2nd wind thinking about it now! Here is a DIY post I found (and pinned!) about it.
http://wallflowerinspiration.blogspot.com/2010/08/dyi-anthropologie-rug.html
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that’s going to look so great!
xo,
s
Brandy @ midcenturymodernlove says
i saw a scrabble board at anthropologie with random words on it. i decided to make one with our family’s names on it since we had just gotten married and now had four daugthers in the house. i love it and wrote about it here:
http://midcenturymodernlove.com/2011/08/02/triple-word-score-the-scrabble-family-tree/
YoungHouseLove says
Cute!
xo,
s
HJJ says
I watch Lie to Me, and I have been ogling the art in Cal Lightman’s office, specifically the vertical boards with horizontal stripes behind the office door. During every scene in his office, I try to get a better and better glimpse of it to see if I could DIY something similar!
Kristina says
Apparently when Borders was going out of business they were selling EVERYTHING, including the section signs (like “FICTION” or “ART) and I wish I had snagged the EDUCATION one before they actually closed. (I’m a teacher.) Oh, well…hindsight is 20/20.
katie says
I have some lucite side tables that used to be part of a display at Victoria’s Secret. They were remodeling and I admired them to a friend who worked there… she snagged them for me on their way to the dumpster.
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- such a lucky score!
xo,
s