Offering a gift-wrapping service during the holiday season is an excellent benefit for your customers and an edge for your business. We are all in a hurry as we shop for those special gifts and getting them wrapped even for a fee is a terrific way to inspire customer loyalty and provide a valued service. Several of our Internet-based customers are shipping their items gift wrapped. When something I purchase online comes to me gift-wrapped it says something very positive to me about that business and I feel special when I open the box. We have customers who provide a basic free wrap and charge for a more deluxe wraps. Others will provide the deluxe wrap free when the purchase is large or the customer is especially important.
If you decide to offer a gift-wrapping service, it is very important to be able to wrap those gifts quickly and attractively. We all know that time is money so I want to pass on a few wrapping shortcuts learned over the years gift wrapping for our catalog and advertising photography. Believe me, when you are facing a stack of fifty or more items to wrap for a deadline you learn to be fast! The above video shows an “out of the box” (pun intended) method that has made my job easier. I hope it will help you also.
In the video, you will learn how to get a lovely gift wrapping result quickly and efficiently!
Supplies:
1. Gift wrap of your choice (counter rolls* or smaller 85 foot rolls)
2. Scissors
3. Tape, both regular and double sided
4. Your choice of ribbons or bows (for help with bow making see our Bow Making blog.)
5. A supply of gift boxes for those items not boxed by the manufacturer.
6. You might want to offer gift enclosure cards as a resale item to go with your wrap.
* If you are using the large counter rolls, you will need some sort of dispenser to hold your wrap.
Of course, you need to set up an area for wrapping. The area can be a simple table or two set up in a corner away from the traffic flow or an elaborate gift wrap section right in your store. Have enough space to wrap your largest item and store the equipment and supplies. For more ideas on setting up this service, see our blog on Free Gift Wrapping vs. Charging for Gift Wrapping.
Wow that was really great. Gotta get some of that double sided tape. I offer free gift wrapping with my business also. It’s the little things you do for your customers that they appreciate especially if It’s one less thing they have to do this Holiday Season.
I was amazed to watch you do the box wrap, I always had troule with the end of the boxes, so much paper left over I cut it off but ,it did not look as professionally done as yours, I also wasted a lot of paper by not measuring the box Thanks for the Video
I have been gift wrapping for the public for five years but you had a couple of tricks to save time that I had not used. Thanks for the help.
I have been wrapping gifts for MANY years using a method very similar to this. I was thrilled to pick up a couple of new tips that will make my packages look even more professionally wrapped. It is amazing how excited and special the recipients feel when receiving packages with these little extra touches. Thanks for the tips. I look forward to more.
Awesome way to handle those ends that are too long. What a time saver for me.
Yes, I do offer free gift wrapping, trust me you will recoup your costs with the customers that keep coming back. Most even leave a tip, because they are so appreciative.
Great tutorial! I’d love to see one on bow tieing!
Very informative. I use to work in a gift wrap department at a store & I thought I’d learned a lot then. Very clever on turning back the ends. Thanks for the video.
Wow! I think I may actually use some wrapping paper this year! Great tutorial!
Thanks!
Tamara
http://www.laycisbowdaciousbows.com
I thought I knew all there was to know about wrapping (my dad was in the packaging machinery business); turns out I didn’t! Thanks for the helpful video and especially the timely articles and cost detail. You’re helping me more than you know in these tough times. Best wishes for the season, Kris H.