Sam Flax Art & Design Store

What can I say, other than this is the artist’s biggest candy store. I particularly work in encaustics and this is only place in several states I can buy supplies on site. Not to mention the other mediums get the best of me and I end up with lots of ideas and supplies. I usually get a Mother’s Day gift of two hours alone in the store, and believe me, it passes quickly. The selection of materials marvels any other retail store I’ve seen. Plus the staff is very knowledgeable, not just someone off the street who doesn’t know art. I live a few 80 miles away, but it’s no burden to make the trip knowing what awaits. Plus they give discounts for students and military.

Although they have good prices on art supplies they are almost always out of the basics… don’t keep their shelves stocked very well. The staff isn’t very knowledgeable and seems to change quite frequently, the really good people that used to be there are long gone. It used to have a great frame selection upstairs but most of their frames are poorly made these days. It’s pretty much hit or miss getting what you need when going there.

This place has a pretty good furniture selection. I actually came to Sam Flax Art & Design Store after I got disappointed in the other store in downtown Atlanta. Even though I came there one hour before closing I managed to find what I was looking for to get into our new house in Alpharetta.
Their prices a bit lower that the other local furniture markets offer. I don’t know why it took me so long to finally get there and get what I needed! I will return soon! High score!

I happened upon Sam Flax by accident yesterday while walking around the area, and I am so glad I did! This place has so much to choose from and I was completely surprised to see such a great Filofax selection, as well as Waste Not Paper. I will definitely be coming back here in the future!

The store itself is interesting enough… I’m leaving this 2-​star review because of the frustration to get IN the daggone store. WHAT store has window/​door access on Peachtree Street, the most desirable walk-​up street in the city, yet what’s on the Sam Flax door facing Peachtree? A sign that reads «Please enter at the front of the store.» So you walk around to the BACK of the building and walk up a sidewalk ramp you think is going to take you to the door, but NO, when you get to the top, it dead-​ends at a rail, so you turn around and go back down and finally make your way to the door… BUT WAIT! Not THAT door. THAT door ALSO has a sign to please keep going to yet ANOTHER freaking door. I don’t know what the owner is thinking, but they have either never done a walk-​up of their own business to experience it like a stranger, or they just don’t care that the introduction to the store feels like you’re trolling the backside of a suburban strip mall. A very low-​class first-​time experience, wouldn’t dream of going there after dark. Note to the owner: Hidden doors are cool for bars and poker dens, but for retail stores, notsomuch.

Love this place. It gets all my money. As a pro artist I appreciate a knowledgable staff. They always seem to have what I need at a better price that their competitors. Just used their giclee printing for the first time… aces!

Poor customer service experience — unwilling to make honor a returned item. Be aware before you make purchases here.

Sam Flax is an artist’s paradise. They have everything. And more. It is heaven. It is even more heavenly with 15% off from a MODA membership. (And if you spend a lot, march down to MODA and get a membership card now).
Ok … why the low star rating?
They charge $ 100 more for stretching a canvas than Binders. Binders was $ 175 and Sam Flax was $ 269. Ok — that is more like $ 94.
My bigger beef? The estimate they gave me at the framing desk was only $ 182. Then at the front desk for checkout it was $ 269. I was like «huh»? And by this time, my art was already being worked on … It isn’t like I could walk away. Explanation? Supplies were $ 182 but the miscellaneous were another $ 80+.
I feel taken. Oh, that’s because I was.

Sam Flax is a creative’s dreamland. I can’t believe this was my first time in the store since their move. I think I nearly forgot about them. But they are closer now. It’s on!
I was recently in the need for beautiful paper and, thankfully, remembered them. I can spend a little too much time just looking at and feeling all of the paper, cardstock, envelopes, paints, markers, pens, color pencils, etc. I want to buy it all and just come up with ways to use it. This place is a sanctuary and the idea of it alone brings some peace. What is that voodoo that you do, Sam?
Looking to make some custom invites? Make your own greeting cards? Write a special hand-​written letter/​note (a lost art!) to someone? Thank you cards? Skip the regular stores and give Sam Flax a visit for some quality stock. I’m making it a mini-​goal this year to buy more to write some hand-​written notes and thank you cards this year. So much more personal and intimate than a store-​bought card.
If you are an artist of any sort with almost any medium, you will surely find some goodies here. That may or may not be a bad thing. Even if you want to just dabble or do a project of your own, spend an afternoon perusing, you won’t be sorry.

Sam Flax’s new location is the envy of a freshman art student me— dont mistake this, they haven’t moved again. :) Still in the old Kroger spot a block from SCAD.
If you’re an artist, creative dabbler, or of the like, then you could most likely find your money sink here. As one would say don’t go to the grocery store while hungry, don’t come here with empty wallet and those creative sparks a sparking. Luckily, the second floor has amazing deals and cheap stock. I’ve been killing it here with cardstock and mat board at 50 cents a pop.
They seem to have all walks of artistic outlets covered. From the aspiring comic book artist to the screen printer. Canvas sales almost all the time, and discounts for students and faculty with ID, which seems not exclusive to SCAD and neighboring schools, but also including out of state. I’m unsure how reliable that information is, but upon my last visit they honored my friend’s out of state ID.
They occasionally have classes too, and events so be sure to check in occasionally.
Other products include light boxes, a range of sketchbooks, moleskins, eccentric gifts, artists tables & chairs, spray paint, a good brand range of paints and brushes for several mediums, fancy writing pens, and portfolios of all sizes. They really have it covered. Plus, the staff is pretty knowledgeable and friendly and don’t mind helping you find something within your budget. Great art supply store, top notch everything else, and a definite check out for anyone interested in creating.

I spent 20 minutes standing in awe in front of the color card stock. Bad idea to come here 30 minutes before closing. I found this place after I was disappointed at the cost of a quote I recieved from a printing shop 10 minutes away from SF. I thought I would be browsing through a small stationary store. Wrong. Maaaaaan I wish I had more time to spend here. I didn’t have time to peruse the store like I wanted to. I got stuck at the wall of envelopes my last 2 minutes — they came in all different sizes, shapes and colors. I felt like the guy on the intercom was in the corner looking at me from afar while he made the announcement that the store was closed lol
I found exactly what I needed and I’m sure I’ll find more of what I need when I return. I’ll be back — *in my Arnold Schwarzenegger voice*.

I love this store! They have every paper craft project under the sun. And most of the staff is very helpful and creative. They also have cute gifts and trinkets too. If you have any type if invitation or paper project to complete and need special paper, check here first. If they dont have what you need in stock they can order it or cut paper the size you need. They charge $ 2.00 per cut to cut paper and you can bring in your own paper if you would like.

I am only mildly obsessed with this store. I could spend days in it just wondering around, and making a mat on the floor with some art supplies when I need to sleep, ordering food when I need to eat. This place is nothing short of amazing.

Ah, Sam Flax, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I came to Sam Flax after having an absolutely terrible experience with the owner of Digital Arts Studio and the framing department absolutely hooked me up. They even gave me some tissue to blow my nose (yes, Barry at Digital Arts Studio made me cry), helped me order mats and frames, and found an excellent local giclee printer to print all my prints in just 30 minutes.
If you’re looking for other things art-​related, Sam Flax appears to have it all. And they framed while I waited, giving me time to pick up a few birthday presents over in their gift section and also check out all the items in the bargain section on the second floor. Thanks Sam Flax for saving the day!

Sam Flax has a great selection. I like that they sell huge sheets of chipboard for just a few dollars. Sometimes you don’t want to buy an expensive canvas for an art project and that stuff works just fine.
They have a clearance section upstairs. The stairs are sort of hidden away in the front of the store.
They also play a very cheerful chime when they make announcement over the loudspeaker. I really like the chime.

Need a frame?
Need paper?
Need a pen?
Invites? Calendars/​Diaries?
Art Supplies?
Office Furniture?
This place seems to have it all!
Sam Flax new location is easy to get in and out of, easy to get to, and is much nicer than the West Midtown location they left.
The staff here is knowledgable and friendly, and the paper selection is amazing… no matter if you are making your own or ordering custom.
There is even a bargain section on the 2^nd floor.
It constantly amazes me that a Kroger grocery store couldn’t make it here, but I am glad they didn’t because I can walk to this Sam Flax location.

I love Sam Flax. I am a stationery junkie and I always come here to get my fix. They are one of the few places that carries Snow & Graham. They also carry many other brands of stationery. There’s also lots of cute unique gifts if you are looking for that.
Even though I have absolutely no creative abilities, I still walk down all the aisles and drool over the art supplies. One of these days I’m going to buy some and pretend I can paint.
I also come here to get stuff framed. They are super helpful and I love that they are even willing to show you more economical options like using a pre-​made frame and creating a custom matte to save you money. Their custom framing is always done quickly and I don’t think it’s more expensive than other places in town.

I found this place by accident and I could not be happier! I’ve been looking for something very simple for a week or so: two-​inch alphabet stickers. I looked at Target, Michaels and Hobby Lobby, and even though they all had a wonderful selection of alphabet stickers, they were all either too small or too big. So when my friend and I had about 20 minutes to kill after lunch in Buckhead on Sunday, I used my nifty Unilocal app (if you don’t use one, what are you waiting for?), and it pulled up the awesomeness that is Sam Flax Art & Design.
Look, I’m not knocking Michael’s or Hobby Lobby — those places are GREAT in their own right. And Sam Flax might seem a little too stuffy to those used to the warehouse feeling of other craftstores. But, I have to say, this store is beautiful. It feels artsy when you walk in, with all the pieces placed like they all belong somewhere and have an exact purpose. It’s like a condensed version of the bigger stores, their selection whittled down to what you really need in the end. It’s clean, quiet and simple. The staff is pretty friendly, too. I asked someone for help and he took me right to what I needed and was super nice.
And yes, here is where I found my coveted two-​inch stickers. It was a great deal, too, compared to what I’d even seen online: I got a package that came with 4 of each letter and number for less than $ 10. WIN!
I won’t forget them the next time I need to give in to my creative moods. I finished my project this morning, yay!

I recently took a fantastic trip to Greece, and came home with a beautiful canvas painting of my favorite place I visited, Oia.
Once I got it home, I had no clue what to do with it to get it on my wall. After a few google searches I learned I had to get it stretched, and again… clueless.
Luckily, the framing group at Sam Flax knew exactly what to do. The guy I consulted with, Ron, was very nice and explained all of my options– there were surprisingly many.
Less than 24 hours after dropping it off, I received a call that it was ready. For $ 55 (my painting is 24×30) they took care of it. It is now a beautiful piece of artwork hanging on my wall.
Since I never get things professionally framed, I have no idea how the cost shakes out. But time is money, and they did what I perceive to be a fantastic job in a short amount of time. I’ll be back in the future for any other framing needs I have!

I just love shopping at Sam Flax. Over the years, I’ve made the drive over to Northside Parkway from wherever I lived at the time for all kinds of good stuff. The new location on Peachtree is even closer to me!
Invitations. (So perfect if you’ve got a good printer and you are willing to do them at home yourself!) HUGE selection of photo albums. Awesome array of art supplies if that’s your thing (or you like to romanticize about what it’d be like to have *real* artistic ability). Super fun selection of gifts, from stocking-​stuffer types to housewarming or MIL treats. Lovely array of stationery (a weakness of mine). Fun magnets, mugs and the like.
Nice and helpful staff. Definitely worth the savings you can get here, even if you don’t go the DIY route and pay them to do your monogramming, printing et al!