With the rise of the pallet upcycling phenomenon in North America and around the world, pallets are no longer just invisible, unsung heroes of industry. They are increasingly making their way to center stage. And chances are that stage is built from old pallets.
When Ginette Organic Beer, a craft brewer located near Ghent, Belgium was looking to build portable serving bars for various events and promotional locations, upcycled pallet material seemed like a logical choice. Evocative of crates, the lightweight and flexible bar units provided both an industrial and inspirational flavor that supported the young company’s brand and values. It has distributed about 50 units so far with various clients and partners.
“We chose this method of construction to be more to the idea of recovery rather than always about consuming,” stated Hamoir Didier of Ginette. “To show people that creativity is a path to the future.”
“The reason why we’ve chosen pallets for our bars is plural,” added Arthur Helsmoortel, also of Ginette. “The wood is recuperated from one of our associate’s second job, the pallet wood is easily modeled to our wishes, it can be broken down into multiple parts for easy transport, and let’s be honest, it looks awesome!” Increasingly, businesses and households alike are embracing the use of upcycled wood packaging material in projects ranging from rustic cupboards to brightly stencilled seasonal signs and more.
The New Normal for Pallet Spotting
Not that long ago, I would dig instinctively for my cell phone to capture images of upcycled pallet tables or interior wall cladding I encountered in shops or restaurants. Such “must click” moments are becoming more infrequent as pallet fixtures are more commonly seen.
My phone is more likely to stay in sleep mode unless I am particularly surprised or inspired by an upcycled wood project.
What continues to astound me, however, is how the pallet upcycling trend has bloomed. Consider that 1001pallets.com, a leading pallet upcycling site, has over 342,000 Facebook Likes, while Pallet Ideas, a similar offering, has more than 89,000. These impressive numbers demonstrate how powerful a social trend can be.
Making Something of Beauty from Scrap
When I talked to pallet upcycling artisans about their motivation to work with old pallets, the idea of recycling and renewal always seems to find its way into the conversation. “My relationship with pallets just fell in line with my love of recycled items in general,” commented Rebecca Cooper of Riverside Studio of Niagara Falls, Ontario. Cooper offers a range of rustic wood home decor, accents and furniture. Her work is available on Etsy, the peer-to-peer e-commerce website that specializes in handmade items.
“Making something useful from "street side" garbage just makes me feel good,” Cooper continued. “I am so glad people are catching on to the trend of reusing items and getting creative in the process!” She is finding that there is increasing interest in her upcycled pallet creations.
The celebration of recovery and reuse has also been at the heart of significant pallet upcycling events, including PalletFest in Denver, Colorado and Pallet Palooza in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Both events were billed as celebrations of upcycling. Pallet Palooza offered $2000 in prizes with proceeds in support of Goodwill.
Industrial: The Style That Supports the Upcycling Trend
One of the forces fueling the pallet furniture and decor trend has been the adoption of items evocative of industrial settings in home and retail applications. This style is known as Industrial style, also referred to as Industrial-Chic, Industrial-Rustic, or Rustic-Chic in various articles about style which include references to the use of old pallet or wood packaging material. While the overall impact of Industrial style on the popularity of pallet upcycling is uncertain, it clearly has been a positive influence in its growth.
As one 2013 article about Industrial style in Forbes Magazine (7 Ways To Add Cool Industrial Style To Your Home) advised, “Hit your local salvage yard, flea market or swap meet to reclaim a weathered wood piece from its former factory glory. Old floors are great for new paneled walls or islands, and old window frames and doors can become new wall hangings, headboards, tables and art.”
Small Pallet Businesses: A New Spin on Pallet Value Added
The robust interest in pallet upcycling has given birth to many small businesses to serve it, such as Rebecca Cooper and others who display products on Etsy, or the emergence of pallet party organizers around the country (See sidebar on page 46.) Talk about value-added in comparison to a #1 recycled 48×40! While most items sell in a range of less than $200, some items are priced north of $1000. Before you auction your nailing equipment to join the pallet crafting bandwagon, however, Etsy indicates that many of the entrepreneurs have made just a handful of sales on that e-commerce platform.
One artisan, Justin Baker of JustinWoodCustoms, has been working with old pallets for close to three years. “I started it as a hobby,” Baker explained. “Certain friends started buying pieces and requesting a few custom pieces here and there.”
While Baker has been selling projects for two years, it is only in the last year that his business has began to thrive. “I'd say this past year it changed a lot. I quit my full-time job and took a leap of faith to start my own business selling custom woodwork. Although at times it’s been rough, I definitely know I finally found my passion.”
Exactly how such passion continues to spur the unbridled enthusiasm for pallet upcycling remains to be seen. For now, however, pallets have never looked so good.
Pallet Parties Spring Up Around the Country
One of the spinoffs of the pallet crafts trend has been the emergence of small businesses, including pallet party providers, who manage events where participants pay to take part in a pleasant social environment, and ultimately create and take home a pallet creation. We interviewed Jesse Jones-Patrick of Pretty Pallets, which hosts pallet parties in the Pacific Northwest.
What exactly is the pallet painting party niche? It seems like several have popped up around the country. Is it a new phenomenon?
Jones-Patrick: It is a new and growing idea. It’s similar to the paint and sip classes, but offers more customization and broader selection of choices – so not everyone is doing the same thing. The upcycling home decor has really taken off and everyone loves the rustic farmhouse style that pallets offer. The pallet painting parties allow attendees a more relaxed environment using stencils, rather than free handing and gives them the opportunity to make something customized and unique they want to hang in their home.
Can you tell us a bit about how you got involved with pallets and your pallet party business?
Jones-Patrick: I saw an adorable pallet sign in the winter of 2015, and I thought “I could make this (for cheaper).” Turns out – making it was a lot more expensive and harder than I thought. We wanted to give people the opportunity and ease of access to make their own pallet sign, streamline the process, and make it fun, memorable and cost effective. My sisters and I are best friends, and we love to work together – so this was a natural fit for us.
Was there a breakthrough/lightbulb moment or moments for you when you first decided to get serious about pallets?
Jones-Patrick: When I made my first sign and showed my sisters, I said, “We should host parties”, more or less just in passing. Next thing I knew, my oldest sister Stephanie sent me a photo with 60 pallets in her garage. That was the moment I realized, “so I guess we’re doing this.” We did a launch party in the San Jose Bay area before my family moved to the Pacific Northwest, and the turnout was great and the interest was unbelievable. People loved the idea of customizing their designs with us, and attending a party where we bring everything and instruct how to create their own masterpiece.
How do you go about sourcing your pallet material and preparing it?
Jones-Patrick: We have local vendors we work with to ensure our demands are met. We worked very hard to find vendors who provide us with quality European shipping pallets. They are very clean and are something we all hang in our own home. We have workshops where we breakdown the pallets, plane/sand, assemble and stain prior to our parties. It’s pretty labor intensive to prep the signs, but it’s worth it come party time.
Anything else to share?
Jones-Patrick: Always use personal protective equipment when working with wood. Be careful of nails and splinters. Always wear eye gear and masks to protect yourself from the wood particles. Have fun. Pallets are so versatile in what you can make with them. Recycling and making art is such a fun and unique experience.
