Business: New company's owners think outside the box

Moving involves organizing, packing, throwing away - and lots of empty boxes when the grunt work is done.

John and Meegan Hilton Campbell have come up with an eco-friendly solution that removes the unwanted boxes and helps the environment at the same time.

Their Overland Park company, Best Price Boxes, which opened in April, sells "gently used" boxes often at half the price of new, and buys them back at the end of a move. The boxes are then sold to another mover and the process starts again. As long as the boxes meet the "gently used" criteria, they remain in circulation, and out of landfills.

The company is a Dallas-based franchise, with the Campbells' location the eighth in the country and the first in the Midwest.

"When it comes to the environment, it's about finding small changes that lead to big results over time. We offer our customers simple ways to do that while saving money," Meegan said.

She said recycling one ton of cardboard can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and a twin-bed-sized space in a landfill. The franchise locations that make up Best Price Boxes recycled more than 900 tons of cardboard last year.

The company will buy and sell any type of moving/shipping box. The boxes can have tape or writing but no holes or stains.

"So far, we've sent about 400 recycled, gently used boxes on their way to new homes," Campbell said.

Some boxes have gone to homes and businesses in different states, some have stayed in town and some have been sold back to Best Price Boxes.

One of Campbell's customers, a coffee shop owner, recently brought back 10 used boxes after her move.

"They really smell good," Campbell said.

In addition to boxes, the company also sells other moving supplies.

Best Price Boxes is located at 12090 W. 135th St., Overland Park, and will also serve customers at the Campbells' Studdard Relocation Services in Lee's Summit and Studdard Moving and Storage in Leavenworth.

The Web site is www.bestpriceboxes.com.

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