# Potato Parcel

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{{short description|American company}}
thumb|right|A selfie with a Potato Parcel message reading "Birds Tho".

'''Potato Parcel''' (or '''PotatoParcel.com''') is an American company that delivers [potato](/source/potato)es with personalized messages of up to 140 characters or one picture.<ref name="Atkins 2016" /><ref name="Burke 2015" /><ref name="Swanson 2016" />

==History==
In May 2015, Potato Parcel was founded by [mobile app](/source/mobile_app) developer Alex Craig, a 24-year-old [University of North Texas](/source/University_of_North_Texas) alumnus, and was later promoted on [Reddit](/source/Reddit).<ref name="Lewis 2015" /><ref name="Taylor 2015" /> Originally, Potato Parcel was based in [Dallas](/source/Dallas), [Texas](/source/Texas).<ref name="Burke 2015" /> Craig said he would buy the potatoes from the local neighborhood [Walmart](/source/Walmart).<ref name="Robertson 2015" /> Reportedly, profits per month ranged between [$](/source/United_States_dollar)10,000<ref name="Hailey 2015" /> and $13,000.<ref name="Beattie 2015" /><ref name="Volkman 2015" /> Potato Parcel proved popular on websites like [Twitter](/source/Twitter).<ref name="Taylor 2015" /> In an email interview with ''[MarketWatch](/source/MarketWatch)''{{'}}s Kathleen Burke, Craig said "I wanted to create a brand new way of sending a message outside of apps and technology by allowing anyone to send an anonymous message…on a potato."<ref name="Burke 2015" />

In October 2015, Potato Parcel was sold to Bay Area entrepreneur Riad Bekhit for $40,000 and moved to [San Bruno, California](/source/San_Bruno%2C_California). Bekhit says he uses a [Pilot](/source/Pilot_(pen_company)) G2 [gel](/source/gel_pen) [roller](/source/rollerball_pen) pens to write messages. Since the move, new products include Lump of Coal Potato (a potato that is spray-painted black), Potato Pal (a potato with a picture of someone's face), Potato Postcard (a postcard pasted onto a potato), and Spooky Tater (a potato painted to look like a pumpkin).<ref name="Woolf 2016" /><ref name="Truong 2016" /> A [burlap sack](/source/Hessian_fabric) is also available for shipping.<ref name="Saxena 2016" /> In April 2016, Bekhit said profits per month ranged between $20,000 and $25,000.<ref name="Woolf 2016" /><ref name="Bloom 2016" /> Potato Parcel has expanded shipping to [Australia](/source/Australia), [Canada](/source/Canada), [Europe](/source/Europe), and the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom).<ref name="Atkins 2016" /><ref name="Woolf 2016" /><ref name="Truong 2016" /><ref name="Saxena 2016" />

Potato Parcel also inspired a number of other delivery companies. Another company of the same name based in [Australia](/source/Australia) delivers at the cost of [$](/source/Australian_dollar)10 a message of 15 words or fewer.<ref name="Beattie 2015" /> Potato Parcel also inspired Brick or Potato, which allows the customer to choose between a brick or potato with a personalized message at the cost of [£](/source/Pound_sterling)6.99.<ref name="Scott 2015" /> Potato Messenger, started by two art students Will Richards and Daniel Butson, mailed 1,000 potatoes to [Parliament House, Canberra](/source/Parliament_House%2C_Canberra) painted and arranged as the [rainbow flag](/source/Rainbow_flag_(LGBT_movement)) to protest for [marriage equality in Australia](/source/Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Australia).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/lanesainty/these-teens-made-a-giant-pride-flag-out-of-potatoes|title=These Teens Made A Giant Pride Flag Out Of Potatoes To Support Marriage Equality|last=Sainty|first=Lane|website=BuzzFeed|date=24 September 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-17}}</ref> It also inspired Bananas Gone Wild, founded by electrocardiogram technician Davonte Wilson of [Plano, Texas](/source/Plano%2C_Texas), and Nannergram, founded by Konnor Willison and based in [Lehi, Utah](/source/Lehi%2C_Utah), which delivers bananas with personalized messages.<ref name="Burke 2015" /><ref name="Pomranz 2016" /> There is also Eggplant Mail, which delivers [eggplant](/source/eggplant)s.<ref name="Diamond 2016" /><ref name="Foley 2016" />

== Reception ==
''[Cosmopolitan](/source/Cosmopolitan_(magazine))''{{'}}s Tess Koman reviewed ''Potato Parcel'' with "It's the new [glitter-bombing](/source/glitter_bombing), but way more depressing."<ref name="Koman 2015" /> ''Tech Cocktail''{{'}}s Elliot Volkman said "these are the perfect way to tell people exactly how you feel."<ref name="Volkman 2015" />

==See also==
*[List of Internet phenomena](/source/List_of_Internet_phenomena)

==References==
{{reflist|30em
|refs=
<ref name="Atkins 2016">{{cite web|first1=Amy|last1=Atkins|url=http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/potato-parcel/Content?oid=3739387|title=Potato Parcel|work=[Boise Weekly](/source/Boise_Weekly)|publisher=Boise Weekly|date=March 16, 2016|accessdate=August 11, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808070630/http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/potato-parcel/Content?oid=3739387|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Beattie 2015">{{cite web|first1=Andrea|last1=Beattie|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/11/11/these-quirky-businesses-are-just-too-brilliant-to-fail/|title=These Quirky Businesses Are Just Too Brilliant To Fail|work=The Huffington Post Australia|publisher=[The Huffington Post](/source/The_Huffington_Post)|date=November 11, 2015|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Bloom 2016">{{cite web|first1=Jonathan|last1=Bloom|url=http://abc7news.com/society/bay-area-man-sprouts-business-idea-using-potatoes-to-send-messages/1310688/|title=Bay Area man sprouts business idea using potatoes to send messages|work=ABC7|publisher=[KGO-TV](/source/KGO-TV)|date=April 26, 2016|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Burke 2015">{{cite web|first1=Kathleen|last1=Burke|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/people-are-spending-14-to-send-message-bearing-potatoes-2015-08-26|title=People are spending $14 to send message-bearing potatoes|work=[MarketWatch](/source/MarketWatch)|publisher=[Dow Jones & Company](/source/Dow_Jones_%26_Company)|date=August 26, 2015|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Diamond 2016">{{cite web|first1=Kelly|last1=Diamond|url=http://mashable.com/2016/03/21/eggplant-mail/|title=Send your crush an eggplant in the mail|work=[Mashable](/source/Mashable)|publisher=Mashable.com|date=March 21, 2016|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Foley 2016">{{cite news|first1=Linds|last1=Foley|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/vnln9g/send-real-life-eggplant-emoji|title=You Can Now Send A Real Life Eggplant Emoji By Post|work=MTV.co.uk|publisher=[MTV](/source/MTV_(UK_and_Ireland))|date=March 22, 2016|access-date=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Hailey 2015">{{cite web|first1=Caroline|last1=Hailey|url=https://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/7-dumb-ways-people-make-money/|title=7 Dumb Ways People Make Money|work=GOBankingRates|publisher=ConsumerTrack Inc|date=September 14, 2015|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Koman 2015">{{cite web|first1=Tess|last1=Koman|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/news/a41713/potato-parceling-is-the-new-glitter-bombing/|title=Would You Send Your Enemies a Potato With a Mean Message?|work=[Cosmopolitan](/source/Cosmopolitan_(magazine))|publisher=[Hearst](/source/Hearst_(media))|date=June 9, 2015|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Lewis 2015">{{cite web|first1=Ashley|last1=Lewis|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/spud-article-1.2331189|title=Potato Parcel founder, 24, makes $10K each month writing on potatoes and sending them away|work=[New York Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News)|publisher=NYDailyNews.com|date=August 19, 2015|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Pomranz 2016">{{cite web|first1=Mike|last1=Pomranz|url=http://www.foodandwine.com/fwx/secrets/banana-artist-says-he-ll-make-100000-year|title=Banana Artist Says He'll Make $100,000 This Year|work=[Food & Wine](/source/Food_%26_Wine)|publisher=[Time Inc.](/source/Time_Inc.)|date=April 25, 2016|accessdate=August 11, 2016|archive-date=September 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922221504/http://www.foodandwine.com/fwx/secrets/banana-artist-says-he-ll-make-100000-year|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Robertson 2015">{{cite web|first1=Lindsey|last1=Robertson|url=http://mashable.com/2015/08/18/potato-in-the-mail/|title=Who knew mailing personalized potatoes could rake in so much cash?|work=[Mashable](/source/Mashable)|publisher=Mashable.com|date=August 18, 2015|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Saxena 2016">{{cite web|first1=Jaya|last1=Saxena|url=http://www.dailydot.com/unclick/send-a-potato-through-the-mail/|title=Every single website that mails messages on potatoes|work=[The Daily Dot](/source/The_Daily_Dot)|publisher=DailyDot.com|date=February 29, 2016|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Scott 2015">{{cite web|first1=Ellen|last1=Scott|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/10/09/this-website-lets-you-send-your-friends-and-enemies-a-brick-or-a-potato-5431708/|title=Website lets you send your friends a brick or a potato with a message|work=Metro News|publisher=[Metro International](/source/Metro_International)|date=October 9, 2015|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Swanson 2016">{{cite web|first1=Lauren|last1=Swanson|url=http://www.revelist.com/weird/revenge-gifts-list/2684|title=6 gifts you can anonymously send to your mortal enemies|work=Revelist|publisher=Revelist Media|date=June 1, 2016|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Taylor 2015">{{cite web|first1=Kate|last1=Taylor|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249599|title=Forget Glitter: The New Thing to Ship Your Enemies Is a Potato|work=Entrepreneur|publisher=Entrepreneur Media, Inc.|date=August 14, 2015|accessdate=August 12, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Truong 2016">{{cite web|first1=Alice|last1=Truong|url=http://qz.com/637716/a-business-that-sends-engraved-potatoes-makes-25000-a-month-and-is-inspiring-copycats/|title=A business that sends messages on potatoes makes $25,000 a month and is inspiring copycats|work=[Quartz](/source/Quartz_(publication))|publisher=[Atlantic Media](/source/Atlantic_Media) Co.|date=March 13, 2016|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Volkman 2015">{{cite web|first1=Elliot|last1=Volkman|url=http://tech.co/forget-holiday-cards-send-potato-parcel-2015-11|title=Forget Holiday Cards, Send a Potato|work=Tech Cocktail|publisher=Tech.Co|date=November 27, 2015|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Woolf 2016">{{cite web|first1=Nicky|last1=Woolf|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/26/mystery-potato-parcel-mail-a-spud|title=When cards won't do the trick, say it with a potato in the mail|work=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|date=January 26, 2016|accessdate=August 11, 2016}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://potatoparcel.com/}}
{{portalbar|Companies|Food|Internet}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Potato Parcel}}
Category:American companies established in 2015
Category:Internet properties established in 2015
Category:Online retailers of the United States
Category:Potatoes

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Potato Parcel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_Parcel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_Parcel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.