Where Can I Buy Cool Erasers?
Erasers are an essential for any classroom, but let’s face it, they can be a little boring. Fortunately, erasers have come a long way from those pink block erasers of the past (although they are still around and still work great!). Erasers come in all shapes, sizes, and styles these days, from plain Jane to trendy and modern. In this post, we’ll go over some of the places that sell cool erasers perfect for classrooms, book fairs, school stores, and more.
A Short History of Erasers
People have been using various items to try to erase pencil and pen markings for centuries, including soft bread, rubber tablets, wax blocks, and even rough things like sandstone. However, what we know as the modern eraser wasn’t discovered until 1770 by an English engineer named Edward Nairne, who stumbled across using a type of rubber known as “gum elastic” or “caoutchouc” as an eraser totally by chance. He began selling his version of the eraser, which has been improved over the years to the erasers we know today. One major improvement happened in 1839 when Charles Goodyear developed his method for curing rubber called vulcanization. This improved the eraser’s durability considerably.
Did you know there are various types of erasers made for different purposes? Most modern erasers are made from soy-based gum, synthetic rubber, vinyl, plastic, or other gum-like materials. For example, Art gum erasers are made of soft and coarse rubber that works well for erasing large areas without damaging the paper. Kneaded erasers (also called putty rubber) absorbs graphite and charcoal from surfaces, which is very useful for artists. Poster putty is another type of extra absorbent eraser that lifts graphite or charcoal markings without smudging.
Where to Buy Cool Erasers
The bright, colorful erasers shaped to look like different characters or items are known as novelty erasers, and they are typically made of vinyl. They can be attached to a pencil or separate and come in a full range of sizes. Here are some of our favorite places to buy novelty erasers:
Online
Online is a great source for novelty erasers, with huge selections of styles and themes to choose from. Students today really like erasers shaped like food items, with popular items like boba tea, sushi, and fast food flying off the shelves. Students also like erasers shaped like quirky animals, including axolotls, cute puppies and kittens, pandas, and more. All of these types of erasers and more are available via online shopping websites, however, it’s important to research where the items are coming from before purchasing. Some novelty erasers are inexpensive because they are poor quality, and no teacher wants to waste their money on unusable erasers. Go with a reputable supplies like GEDDES to avoid falling victim to this common mistake.
Catalogs
All reputable suppliers of school supplies should be able to offer a physical and/or digital catalog for customers to browse all their offerings. Most school supply suppliers will offer a variety of fun and useful items, like erasers, pens, pencils, highlighters, art supplies, novelty toys, fidget toys, and more! Use the index in the back of the catalog to find the exact items you’re looking for easily.
Physical Stores
Finally, there are physical brick-and-mortar stores where you can purchase novelty erasers, although these will typically come with a higher price tag. You can try negotiating a lower price by speaking with the store manager and placing a special order, or let your money benefit the school and students by purchasing the erasers through the school store, school fundraiser, or school book fair.
Let No Mistake Go Uncorrected!
Erasers are a classroom essential, but with the tons of styles and themes available today, they are also fun for students to collect! Check out online stores, catalogs, and physical stores to find the best deals and biggest selection of erasers for your classroom. Bonus tip: fun erasers make great prizes for a classroom reward system!
GEDDES has all the school supplies your classroom needs, from writing tools and accessories to paper products to art supplies and more. Find out why schools have trusted us since 1924 for high-quality school supplies at great prices.