MaddiGgifts Makes the Holidays Greener with Thrifted and Sustainable Gift Service
By Alia Hurst
When you think of the holiday season, what comes to mind? Family? Food? Gifts? Trash?
The holidays can create a massive amount of waste due to overconsumption and gift-giving, yet there are ways to make sustainable changes. We asked Maddi Galusha, who started MaddiGgifts in 2020, about her gift-wrapping service and how she uses reused and Goodwill-thrifted materials to face problems of over consumption and waste production during the holiday season.
Q: What sparked the start of the gift-wrapping service?
“For my very first job, I worked in a gift shop where we occasionally wrapped gifts for customers. It always brought me joy to see the smile on people’s faces when we handed them their gifts! I was also always the one who wrapped gifts for my family holiday celebrations.”
Q: How many people do you get approached by during the holiday season?
“Over the past few years, I have averaged around 10-15 customers, bur with my business moving locations, I anticipate growth in that number this year!”
Q: On average, how many gifts do you wrap per person?
“I would say that it varies quite a bit. Some people come to me with 5-10 gifts while others have had 50+ gifts!”
Q: What kind of materials do you use to wrap your gifts?
“I use a variety of materials. I use gift wrap, gift bags, tissue paper, boxes, ribbon, labels, etc. I also use decorative tins or baskets as well.”
Q: Where do you source your materials from?
“Most of my boxes I have come from packages I have ordered or gift boxes from previous years that I collect from family after the holidays or that customers have donated to me. I reuse as much materials as possible, especially when it comes to boxes. For fabric bows, I use ribbon. The idea behind fabric bows is that they can be removed from the gift and reused or repurposed after the holidays. I do purchase supplies from second-hand stores like Lincoln Goodwill, and I also receive many rolls of recyclable wrapping paper from family members or friends who have unused rolls.”
Q: How is sustainability in the holiday season important to you?
“I think it has become increasingly important, and I am still learning how to integrate sustainability into my business practices. This year, I plan to add a note for my customers about sustainability and recycling during the holiday season.”
Maddi serves the Lancaster and Fillmore County areas. If you are interested in learning more about MaddiGgifts you can find her on Facebook at Maddi’s Gift Wrapping Service or @maddiggifts on Instagram.
If you or someone you know uses Goodwill-thrifted materials to make something new, contact us at info@lincolngoodwill.org for the chance to be featured in an upcoming blog post.
