Is this a service you would use?

[wildwildsouth]

I've inherited quite a bit of money and am planning to open my own business within the next couple of years. I have a few ideas but this one I feel is genius. However, people I speak to in real life about it don't seem that impressed.

My idea is a shop that does wrapping. It would sell lots of wrapping paper, sellotape, scissors etc but on top of that it would offer a wrapping service.

So someone could come in one gift and ask to have it wrapped really nicely with ribbons and bows etc. Or someone could come in with their full Christmas presents needing wrapped. Maybe the ones they have for their kids from Santa, they might choose just a basic wrap which would cost less etc.

There would be trolleys etc near the entrance for people with lots of things needing wrapped.

Is that a service you would use?

Nope. But I guess I’m not the demographic you are looking for. I wouldn’t spend money on something I could do myself.

No

It's not one I would personally use but I'm sure some would - especially around Christmas.

Have you thought about how much you'd be charging for?

No it isn't. And I honestly can't see it making any money either.

No, because of additional expense. Also I think things are moving away from fancy wrapped gifts because of the environmental impact.

Sorry no I’m not financially well off to do that.

It would be a lot of hassle traipsing gifts to your location then have to go back and pick them up.

I'm afraid I wouldn't, even though I hate wrapping! Doesn't seem worth it for one gift, and I wouldn't be keen on handing over all my Christmas shopping. I think you would need to charge quite a bit to make it worthwhile too.

No but I love wrapping myself. I think people who don't love wrapping themselves probably don't care about the fancy additions either. I can see it being useful at Christmas time but it's the sort of service the local brownies group would offer rather than a business model. Lots of shops or online retailers have a gift wrapping service for extra cost, particularly at Christmas.

Would the people have to stand and wait while you wrapped a stack of gifts? Or would they be able to go off and come back for them? Would they have to book a wrapping slot? How would you serve other customers if you have to wrap 27 presents for someone standing waiting? Or coming back at 2pm for them? How would you price the wrapping service?

No, definitely not. By the time someone's brought you the present/s they could have done it themselves.

Yeah when I think of the people using it I always seem to picture busy mums coming up to Christmas or men with their last minute bought presents 🤣

No

Nope. No money in it and most my presents are bought last minute and popped in a nice gift bag. There's no way I'd waste time taking them to a shop when I could have done them myself in less time (and money) while watching the TV.

No, I wouldn't use that service, and opening a wrapping business for presents is a great way to lose all of that money you've inherited.

I hate wrapping but still wouldn't use it I'm afraid. It would be way too much faff to bring all my presents for everyone in, and I wouldn't want the additional expense (and we're a high earning family). Sorry.

No. I can’t possibly imagine how that would make enough money to cover business rates, let alone rent, insurance etc etc.

No not for me. I wouldn't buy enough presents on a regular basis to need them wrapped. My DD13 is our designated wrapper as she loves wrapping presents.

I agree that Christmas is your best bet. A pop up shop in a shopping mall would test the market.

However due to environmental reasons we've moved to reusing gift bags with recyclable tissue paper over the top. So I wouldn't be using it. Except Christmas when we do wrap everything in non glittery paper.

If you offered a home wrapping service and decked the place out with decorations and birthday balloons etc or big pieces that you left for 2 days and collected, maybe

No, I wouldn’t spend the money, and even the effort saved wouldn’t be worth it as carting all my gifts somewhere is more hassle than sitting in front of the tv wrapping for a bit.

My big sis is into having things fancy wrapped, and has money to spend on it and I don’t think she would because at that stage buying all the fancy wrap and doing it yourself is ok as she has time.

For this to work it would need to be somewhere VERY high end, and at the point of purchase so wrapped when you buy.

Or a service that physically goes to wealthy peoples houses and wraps and arranges there so they don’t have to do anything.

Sorry.

No. I'd buy something that could be gift wrapped in the first place, IDK Jo Malone, JL, any of the major retailers if I wanted to pay a premium for wrapping.

You want them to choose and buy the present, deliver it to you, and then collect from you once wrapped? How is that convenient or worth a premium?

Possibly if you offered pick up and drop off service and then only at Christmas. Would not use for one off gifts. Would not seem worth it. Also echo pp about moving away from fancy wrapping due to environment.