This business makes $25,000 a month sending messages on potatoes

Dubbed the 'stupidest idea ever', the venture called Potato Parcel brought $2,000 in profits within two days

A unique business that lets you send personalised messages to your loved ones on potatoes is becoming all the rage these days.

A 24-year-old man named Alex Craig started the business in May 2015 in Dallas, US, charging $8 to $10 a piece. Dubbed the “stupidest idea ever” by his girlfriend, the venture called ‘Potato Parcel’ nonetheless brought him $2,000 in profits within two days.

Five months later, Craig sold the business to an entrepreneur Riad Bekhit for $40,000. Now based in San Bruno, California, Potato Parcel recorded its highest sales to date, $25,000 in February. The business buys Idaho Russet potatoes from local grocery stores and uses Pilot G2 gel roller pens to write the message.



“We’ve made our investment back within a few months,” Bekhit told Quartz. “There’s just something about receiving a potato when opening a package—it’s something people don’t forget.”

Bekhit has also added new products, which include Potato Pal (a potato with a picture of someone’s face) and Potato Postcard (a postcard pasted onto a potato). Further, he’s also created holiday-themed spuds, such as the Lump of Coal Potato (a potato that’s spray-painted black) and Spooky Tater (a potato painted to look like a pumpkin).

Potatoes were also surprisingly popular gifts for Valentine’s Day as sales for the first 12 days of February exceeded $1,000 each day, says Bekhit.



Bekhit aspires to make Potato Parcel a global business and has expanded to the UK, Canada, and Australia. However, a host of copycats, including Mystery Potato, Mail a Spud, and Potato in the Post—has sprung up since the launch of Potato Parcel.

“Potato Parcel is the originator. … The competitors do not have as much web traffic as we do,” he says.

And not the same innovation either. “None of them add images to the potatoes,” he noted.



Here's a look at the kind of potato messages people have been sending to their loved ones:

When @TheGamingJess gets you a Christmas present 😂 #potatoparcel pic.twitter.com/ry5FTu2sIW

— luukzilla (@luukzilla) December 15, 2015

Which of my children will claim this fun package sent to me?? 😉#potatoparcel pic.twitter.com/1BJ2i6vNxD

— Kim Duderstadt (@kduder4) December 17, 2015

Get a sweet potato for your sweetie this Valentine's Day! It's a gift they will always cherish ❤️ #Valentine pic.twitter.com/eJQK7UPcld

— Potato Parcel (@potatoparcel) February 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/TomasARead/status/697870861257175040

Prom season is just around the corner! What better way to ask than on a potato?! #potatoparcel #prom2016 pic.twitter.com/gnlZOfrE5Q

— Potato Parcel (@potatoparcel) February 25, 2016

Oh how we love potato puns! #potatoparcel #wtf #hilarious #package #surprise #taylorswift @taylorswift pic.twitter.com/xg00ZAhZ2p

— Potato Parcel (@potatoparcel) February 17, 2016

Hey Girl. It's me, Ryan Gosling...on a potato 😏 #ryangosling #meme #potato #hilarious #package #gift #giftsforher pic.twitter.com/NSjNnTsFPX

— Potato Parcel (@potatoparcel) March 3, 2016

Behold the Pugtato! #pug #pugs #pugsofinstagram #potatoparcel #hilarious #package #noveltygift #potato pic.twitter.com/7a3Eufw9H8

— Potato Parcel (@potatoparcel) March 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/betchinger/status/705041194250854400

Be good to someone this weekend. Happy Friday! #surprise #potato #happybirthday #birthday #carbs pic.twitter.com/RLZ5lunxab

— Potato Parcel (@potatoparcel) March 11, 2016

https://twitter.com/jamierusso_/status/680844996275253248

@potato_parcel made @MangoLanguages ' holiday gift guide! https://t.co/0CVDL5AGOW #potatoparcel #christmasgift pic.twitter.com/oXoXwjAVFV

— Mango Languages (@MangoLanguages) December 20, 2015

Christmas cards look best on a potato 😏 #christmas #cards #postcard #gift #funny #hilarious #christmascards pic.twitter.com/Ye2wd0dxnL

— Potato Parcel (@potatoparcel) December 18, 2015

Start your week off with the right mindset and always know that potatoes gonna potate! #motivationmonday #hilarious pic.twitter.com/JHNDFyhNJS

— Potato Parcel (@potatoparcel) March 7, 2016

This article originally appeared on Quartz