We sell on Etsy and need packing peanuts badly! How do I find companies in my area who want to unload them?
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You might do better collecting on Freecycle and Craigslist. You could also ask friends who work to collect for you.
I am not a fan of the packing peanuts, but if you have your heart set on them, talk to all of the businesses in your neighborhood and see if they can message you when they get in large shipments or maybe they will make arrangements for you to stop by weekly to pick up the materials.
Hallmark stores, dollar stores, vitamin shops, and even the big box stores that sell glassware may be willing to work with you.
I have agreements with friends who work for similar places we meet monthly for me to get my recycled supplies, which in my case, are the air pocket pillows, the brown meshy wraps or cream/brown packing paper.
If my regular suppliers are out, I have been known to go out on trash night and pick up boxes filled with packing supplies from the curb (I go to the more expensive houses in my area and always find TONS!)
IF you go this route, SAFETY FIRST!!! BE CAREFUL TO CHECK FOR CLEANLINESS AS THESE CAN HARBOR SILVERFISH AND OTHER YUCKIES YOU DON'T WANT IN YOUR CAR OR HOUSE. Leave them sit out in a dry place (like if you have a covered patio) overnight and in the morning, inspect carefully before using.
Our NEXTDOOR website always has people offering free boxes and packing materials....so that can be helpful also.
Hope this helps!
I have always had good luck with finding shipping materials at my local furniture stores.
Just contact them and ask about picking any supplies up before they "trash" them.
You can also check at their unloading area to see what they have already trashed as all of this material is usually very clean and easy to pick up.
Larger pieces of foam works well when peanuts are unavailable.
Another shop to ask is a nearby florist, especially one that sells other items as well as fresh flowers.
BoxGiver.com has a bunch of packing peanuts that people give away.
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