One of my goals last year was to be able to pay for all my grocery store purchases by earning that money back by selling totally random things I had collected on my walks along the beaches surrounding our home or just from our walks in general.
And well, a lot of other projects sort of creeped up on me {the kitchen remodel, my husband deciding to tear up the yard and install a religious sized family garden, gardening season of course and then traveling} that my goal of earning my grocery money back got put on the back burner.
But I’m ready to tackle it now.
Last year we spent $1,493.04 on groceries.
And now I’m ready to start earning that money back. And who knows… maybe I’ll even make enough to pay for this year’s grocery tab as well. We’ll see.
This morning I listed 2 magnificent boxes of “Native Organically Harvested Maine Driftwood” for sale in my Etsy shop for $89.95 each.
I based my price on a three factors:
Quantity of clean driftwood in each box, “free” shipping and aesthetically pleasing natural packaging.
Maybe you think I’m crazy. And maybe not.
Below you’ll find the listing photos and description.
Here is my Etsy listing:
This listing is for {1} 17” x 11” x 4” box filled with local, native, organically harvested saltwater driftwood in various sizes from the beaches surrounding my Maine home.
All driftwood has been lightly rinsed with fresh water and dried in the sun.
Each piece of driftwood is unique and has its own bit of character to it. You will receive the exact box of driftwood as shown in the listing photos.
Also included in the box is a reclaimed chum net and a mini pottery whale ornament.
*******
So what do you think. Will it sell? 🙂 🙂 🙂
~Mavis
Anna Himes says
I cannot say I am in the market for driftwood organic or not, however I can’t wait to see who does buy it. Please keep us informed.
jessica says
It will totally sell because there are people who have plenty of money and would rather pay someone else to do the *dirty* work for them! lol
Tammy says
Yes, I think it will sell quite well. One use I can think of right off is people who make and sell macrame. I live in a land-locked area, and even when I drive the 4 hours to the ocean, there isn’t driftwood on the beaches I’ve been at. So if I were selling macrame, I’d pay for unique pieces of driftwood!
Jennifer says
Yes, someone will buy it. I predict an owner of a beach house or a designer going for that vibe. Honestly, the price floored me, but that happens quite often in life. 😉
CherylV says
And for us crafting folks, you never know what we’ll need or want. I cannot begin to tell you of the things I’ve gone looking for only to have to either make them myself or use something in a different manner than it was intended. Right now, I’d love so sell off shovels of SNOW!!!
Margo says
Believe it or not, I saw jars of water with a plastic carrot floating in it being sold as a San Diego snowman! Don’t remember the price, but the old adage, “a fool and his money are soon parted”.
Erin says
I weave wall hangings & make macrame pieces that I often mount on driftwood I find during my beach trips. (I’m not a seller – I just make for the fun of it & as gifts). Just search “driftwood woven wall hanging” and “driftwood woven tapestry” or “driftwood macrame” on Etsy & you’ll find all sorts of creators who do the same! The driftwood, especially, will sell. I usually hunt the beach for pieces that are at least 2ft long. But a lot of makers weave up smaller, more economical pieces for folks who can’t afford the cost of a large woven piece. I’m excited to see what sells here!
Christie says
Yes, there are people out there with way more money than me. It will sell! Good on ya’ for being so industrious!
Christy says
I have sold a variety of “natural gathered” items over the years. I won’t say what because I don’t need any more competition 😀
Some items are no longer sell as well as they did… the postal service change a few years ago to include the size of box not just weight in the cost has impacted this.
The driftwood will sell, but I have no idea if it is the right price point. You might want to consider posting on ebay and allow people to submit a “best offer” to see where the price point is. I list all my items on both ebay and etsy.
Kim says
Sounds cRaZy that it would sell, but I bet it will. You never cease to amaze me.
Kelly-Jo says
Yes, I bet it will sell. I have a neighbor who sells Fir cones and Alder cones on eBay. The crafting world is huge and many people don’t live on the water so that helps too. Time will tell!
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, where did you purchase the box in which you are shipping the driftwood? I am always looking for stuff like that and have a hard time sourcing it.
Mavis Butterfield says
Amazon and Ebay are a good place to get new shipping boxes.
Lynn Y says
I heard USPS is getting rid of their ‘Regional’ boxes. However, if you order some before they are out, they will allow you to use these convenient-sized boxes for regular Priority once they officially discontinue Regional A and Regional B rates.
Heather C. says
Reptile keepers (hermit crabs, lizards, snakes ect) actually purchase this stuff and pay by the pound. Might be a different marketing audience 🙂
janie says
I think it will sell. Just wonder how much it’s going to cost to ship? Shipping charges are so high.
Good luck, Janie
Jeni says
I hope this is okay to mention: Pirateship.com offers great discounts on shipping through USPS, UPS, and FedEx. If you have a printer it would be worth looking into.
Lynn Y says
It’s definitely worth a shot. My husband was going to throw out my growing pile of pumpkin stems before I caught him and told him that I should first try selling them on Ebay. To his disbelief, I sold the pile for around $32 plus shipping. I noticed on Ebay that people buy larger, curvy pieces of driftwood for aquariums. Maybe use that as a keyword?
tia in boise says
Oh! I am so excited to see! This was the goal of yours from last year that I was most interested in following! I’ll be curious to see if people will buy at that price–it does seem high (to penny pincher me).
Rosemary Calhoun says
I just checked your shop, and it looks like someone has put one of the boxes in their “cart” – maybe it will sell today! Lots of people don’t have easy access to driftwood, etc and this will fill a need for those people. Always worth taking a chance!
Stacie says
I think it will certainly sell! Crafters are always looking for unique material.
Patti Vanderbloemen says
I absolutely believe that it will sell, especially since driftwood is not available to those who are landlocked! I moved two years ago into a semi-rural, farm house styled home. I envisioned birch twigs in a wooden vase for my hallway. After tons of searching, I bought both the vase and the ethically sourced birch on Etsy…the vase is a 3’ tall floor vase, and the birch twigs are actually fallen branches…6 1/2 feet tall! It looks even better than I envisioned. So…one man’s trash is definite man’s treasure!!!
Sue says
I live very close to the Alabama and Florida coastline and always pickup driftwood. On one of your post with Lucy I saw those beautiful flat round stones. That is something I would buy.
So give that a thought, good to paint and decorate. Just bought some from Etsy.
Marlene says
My bearded dragon in our household, thanks you! I have been looking for reasonable driftwood for her enclosure, that is also sustainably sourced!
Thanks again,
Marlene
Sue says
I agree that it/they will definitely sell ! It even appeals to me because you’ve done all the work, except that I live close to the beach in Southern New England myself. I especially like your description, and packaging. Here’s hoping this is a big seller for you Mavis!
Mary says
I think they will sell though I can’t afford them. I am one hour from sourcing my own if I want them. I see them as items, as people have mentioned, that individuals may want, but can’t get where they are. I particularly LOVE the add of the chum net bag and the whale ornament. From your comments on Etsy, people love your add-ons.
Kay says
No!! Sorry …that’s way way too expensive… and I think of my own grocery money. A want or a need is of the highest priority for me and my family … and we grow our won vegetables and herbs hydroponically. And we live on a little barrier island surrounded by nature and state parks and I can pickup my own driftwood. Thanks.
Kay says
Absolutely silly. Grocery money???? Wow.
Lynn says
I totally agree with this!
Norma says
I bet it sells. I was just at my favorite nursery Watsons and they are selling a bundle of red twig dogwood branches for 25 for probably 6 branches. I came home and cut about 20 branches off my gigantic shrub that my husband is going to take down. I told him it can’t go until I can get more branches. Not sure how I will sell them but I’m looking forward to an update from you.
Lori says
I suppose there is a buyer for almost everything. Remember the pinecone tree?
Mimi says
It probably will sell, but I bet it would sell faster if it wasn’t priced so expensively
Chelsea says
Yes! My grandpa used to make amazing sailboats out of driftwood for display on bookshelves and such. But he lives in Utah so he didn’t have easy access to driftwood.
debbie in alaska says
Well three people already have it in their cart – so someone thinks it’s a good idea. As for people who say it is silly or are judging — different strokes for different folks — someone may love to create crafts with organic natural materials but they live in the city and don’t have time to search for the materials in nature. Live and let live people. Sheesh. So judgy,
Judi Y. says
It’s beautiful and I love the way you packaged it and what you included!!
Hanna says
I absolutely believe it will sell. Creators of Macramé wall art often use driftwood in their work.
Dana Robinson says
If the wood is long enough you could use it as a ‘bar’ to hang your hooking pillow ..so you don’t have to make or stuff a pillow but a wall hanging with a like twill rope . Also you could make a wind chime with a few of the pieces and charge about $95- 125 depending on the complicity of the work to make it … I love them they are beautiful.. I like by the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and I never thought about gathering the drift wood to sale .I love this idea.. it will sale fast I think ….
Dana Robinson says
Iive by the rivers ..not like .. darn typo
Linda Practical Parsimony says
It will sell definitely. It is not to expensive at all. This is from a former crafter who sold in craft shows for years.