Iridescent's "Bad" Business Model (And Why It's Exactly What We Need)
Iridescent is a worker-owned art collective and retail space on NE Sandy Blvd, home to 80+ marginalized, low-income, and underrepresented local artists. Our leadership is proudly immigrant and Indigenous-led. Our entire collective is queer, largely disabled, and neurodivergent. We built this space because people exactly like us need it, and we value the different perspectives we offer each other and our community. We're always looking for people like us who need a space like this.
From a capitalist perspective, Iridescent's business model has been a terrible one. We're a retail space where our artists keep 100% of their profits, and the only money we've been making comes from the space we rent out to them. Our individual artist's monthly fees range from $5-50. We offer mutual aid for those who struggle to pay these fees, free resources and materials, a community room for our members, and a huge support circle for those who have none.
We didn't build this to make a CEO rich. We built this because we, and the people we serve, have no other safety net, no family wealth, and no institutions in our corner. Iridescent fills a gap in Portland that many of us are currently in desperate need of.
This structure isn't sustainable, however, and we need to make money in order to help our community. That being said, we refuse to ask for more money from our artists, some of whom already struggle to pay their monthly fees. We want to fully eliminate the barrier of entry for people who have no other ways to make a living. We believe that we can be a profitable business and redistribute that wealth to the members who need it the most.
So, what are we doing about this, and how can you help?
We've temporarily closed our doors for 1-2 months to fundamentally restructure our business. We're campaigning for funds to make some changes within our space during the closure and secure our future.
While the doors are closed, we're building permanent revenue streams so we don't find ourselves in a place where we can't continue to support our members:
- Expanding our Reach: We're launching an online store to sell products to buyers across the US, hoping to offer more visibility for the collective.
- The Thrift Shop: We've opened a size-inclusive clothing thrift store within our location. We also have our in-house tailor, Beau! If you find something you like but doesn't fit quite right, you can take it upstairs to him for very reasonable rates. All profits from our thrift store will go directly into keeping our space stocked with free resources, and eventually funding compassionate, ethical work opportunities for members with disabilities. Flexible jobs that offer real accommodations and time off without fear of retaliation or loss of employment.
- Sponsorships: We're partnering with like-minded businesses and funding our overhead costs through these generous sponsorships so that we can eventually allow our artists to sell their art at our store for free while keeping 100% of their profits. That's the radical change we want to see from businesses.
Other Ways to Stand With Us
We know not everyone has the capital to donate directly. If you can't give money, there are still ways you can help us survive and rebuild aside from sharing this campaign.
Donate to the Thrift Shop & Community Room
If you have used clothes sitting in bags somewhere, we can take them. We'll sell them, upcycle them, or price them very low for people who need them.
We are also deeply grateful for physical donations to keep our community resources stocked.
We are currently looking for:
- Used clothing: In good condition
- Art supplies: Any medium *new or like new condition only
- Gender-affirming products: Binders, trans tape, packers, etc.
- Sanitary and hygiene products
- Sealed, non-perishable snacks and drinks
You can drop things off at the store or mail them directly to us at:
Iridescent PDX
5258 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR
Become A Member
You don't have to be a vendor to join our community. You can support us with a monthly membership starting at just $5. Memberships include perks like stickers & zines created by our artists, and access to our physical community space, plus the knowledge that your contribution is keeping this place alive. SIGN UP HERE!
Join the Community & Come to Our Events
We'll be hosting a few small fundraising events while the store is closed! Follow us on social media for updates and details on where to find us. You can also join our public Discord server here. We would love to have you hop in, see what we're building, and connect with our artists.
Please, help us keep Iridescent alive. There is a lot that needs to be fixed within the store, but we believe our community needs a space like this, especially right now.
Co-organizers4
