5 Minute Read
Free Shipping Supplies?
What is this nonsense I speak of you may be asking? Yes! Believe it or not, you can get some free shipping supplies from multiple different sources. And I am here in my little corner of the reselling world to tell you more about them!
When I first started my reselling journey, I had no idea the many many boxes upon boxes and such I would be needing to have on hand. I just don’t think that it’s something a lot of us are thinking about when we’re getting started.
I learned the hard way, however, that staying prepared with your shipping supplies is super duper important, especially when you start sending out between 10-15 packages a day! That can make for a pretty hefty headache if your stockpile is running low.
Related: 5 Simple Steps to Selling Over 2,000 Items on Poshmark
What Should You Have on Hand?
Well, what you should have on hand can directly correlate with what kind of items you’re reselling. For example, if you’re strictly a clothing reseller, (which I highly recommend starting out with because it’s the most simple to learn), all you’re going to need is a few different sizes of envelopes, and maybe a box or two for those big and bulky items. (Leather coats, puffer coats, plus sized jeans, etc.)
However, if you’re more of a hard goods seller, you may need to think a little bigger. Heavy items and breakable items are much more tedious to pack and ship, and sometimes I can kick myself for picking up some of these things. *eye roll* But! They can also be highly profitable and worth the time and effort if you do your research on the item. Just keep this in mind when sourcing and you’ll be good to go.
Also, when you sell practically anything else besides clothing, you’re probably going to want to invest in some bubble wrap, packing paper, heavy duty tape, tissue paper, etc. I really recommend buying these items in bulk whenever possible, even as a small(er) reseller. They can get quite costly, but if you purchase the bulk supply, you will be set for months, maybe even a year to come. I like being prepared, so this is the route I take.
Related:
- 14 Little Products That Make Big Changes in Your Business
- Why Having the Right Tools is Crucial for Running Your Business
Where Do You Get the Freebies?! Share your Secret!
Well, it’s not really a big secret, as some people already know about the USPS offering free shipping supplies. You can find them here. I try to use these whenever possible, depending on what I’m shipping. They are perfect for Poshmark sellers, because Poshmark only offers priority shipping.
You can choose from Tyvek envelopes (which are my personal fave because they also protect against the elements), or Padded Flat Rate Bubble Envelopes. They offer a large variety of box sizes, in which you can typically order in packs of 10-25.
They also offer a selection of other shipping supplies as well, but not all are “free.” To get your free boxes and envelopes, all you need to do is set up a free account through usps.com and wa-lah! They will ship them to you free of charge in 5-7 business days. Take this number into consideration if you’re trying to stock up near the holidays, as the shipping time may take significantly longer due to the rush of holiday packages.
Where Else Can I Get the Freebies?
Besides going to usps.com, I recommend asking your local neighbors, friends or relatives, for extra boxes, bubble wrap, etc. Maybe they have some extra tissue paper stored in the attic for projects they never got to, and would like to get rid of it anyways! You never know.
Related: How I Discovered an Often Forgotten Place to Source for FREE
Here’s a cool tip, I even found a local woman in my area on Letgo, (Now a part of OfferUp), that was selling bubble wrap in bulk. We met up once or twice, and she was more affordable than Amazon, so I was happy to do business with her.
The next time we met, she noticed that I crocheted on the side, and asked if I could make her a small item in exchange for the bag of bubble wrap this time. I was thrilled! I of course accepted that proposal, and once again found myself swimming in another large bag of FREE bubble wrap! Yay!
One more suggestion I have, is to check with your big box retailers nearby. They may have extra boxes or packing supplies that they might just be throwing out, and by taking them off their hands, you may just be doing them a favor!
*Quick Tip: Be sure to always always always hold onto those precious Amazon boxes you get your goodies in. They make great reusable boxes and often come in a variety of sizes depending on what you order. I’m always snatching these up when we go to our parents houses as well!
Summary
My goal in making this post today was simply to be able to point you in a few different directions on where you can locate some free shipping supplies for your business. I hope that I’ve helped some in starting up your stockpile and that you have a bit more knowledge on the sort now!
I am always trying to find more tips and tricks on how to propel my business and help other small businesses like me, be able to grow and profit and be successful. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to my blog to stay up to date with new posts about reselling tips and tricks as they come out!
Happy Shipping & Thanks for Reading!
Happy Holidays!
Thank You!
A giant thanks to everyone that has supported me this far into my journey! I greatly appreciate you returning to read my posts hope that you will continue to drop by in the future.
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Happy selling friends!
Platforms
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We have also created a Merch Store that donates 10% of profits to the National Resources Defense Council. If you are interested in helping out to promote Rooted Drawers Stores, please stop by to contribute! Remaining profits will be put towards our ever-growing business and are always genuinely appreciated.
Please feel free to drop any comments below that you would like to add! I am always open to advice, suggestions, or even hearing related stories of your own! I stay as active as possible in the comment section, therefore I will reply to any questions asap.
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Be Sure To Check Out These Helpful Posts:
My Top Ten Tips to Getting Started on Poshmark!
Read All About How to Get Started on Ebay, and when you’re finished, freshen up your store with My Best Ebay Selling Tips!
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