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?

Your first step should be a detailed financial forecast model. Once you've done that it will be fairly obvious why this isn't going to work.

I wouldn’t personally but as an example of businesses in this field have a look at Jane Means - she does tutorials and courses etc.

I may not be your target sales demographic but I do see the occasion when I would like to go the extra mile and buy an additional value added high end luxury touch in terms of super deluxe ultra luxurious innovative gift giving with the added extra wow initial impression factor for special gift receiving moments to capture. The wrapping would need to be to at another level rarely achievable at home and worth digitally recording to capture the moment eg especially for high value or sentimental jewellery or presentation of a key to luxury real estate or new big boys toy etc. I am thinking along the lines of luxury exotic materials and boxes and the added surprise elements of origami decorative gift wrapping experience on top. It would be expensive but worth the expense to experience for special occasions. So essentially no for normal gift wrapping done by most boutiques and luxury department stores etc. And ideally if you offer a bespoke all inclusive package (minus the gift item of course) for collection, repackage wrapping, delivery and special presentation and videography to capture that recipient unwrapping “therapeutic” moment! Friends and family have recently purchased new luxury vehicles and the delivery was mundane arriving in a cover lorry and slowly driven out on to the drive. Would be amazing if it was say a hybrid unbox therapy and Bond or Supercar Blondie delivery presentation via helicopter etc!

Nope. I quite like wrapping.

It's been said that you shouldn't attempt to start a business unless you're already familiar with the mechanics of how such a business works. Merely having a bright idea isn't enough - and if you need to borrow money, the bank will want to be satisfied that you know what you're doing before they'll lend you any. It sounds like a non-starter to me.

No, I enjoy wrapping

I'll be honest - I can only really see any demand for this in the run-up to Christmas, @wildwildsouth. I can see the temptation of a wrapping service when I have all the Christmas presents and stocking presents to wrap, but I can't think of any other time of the year when I have multiple presents to wrap.

So you'd be paying all your overheads - rent, utilities, staff, stock - for something that would be standing idle 10 months of the year.

It might work as a seasonal business, from your own home or temporary premises, in the run-up to Christmas.

No. I can't see it making any money.

Nope. I can't see that working, sorry.

Unless it's Christmas, people are usually just going to have one present to wrap at a time. Total faff driving / walking to shop then either waiting for it to be wrapped or returning again to collect. Much easier / quicker / cheaper to just wrap themselves.

At Christmas, maybe, but then that would be a very seasonal business.

Nope.
But also I can buy all that stuff at any supermarket or card shop.
The only thing you are offering that is different is the wrapping up. But I wouldn't be able to justify the cost, it would be much cheaper to just do it myself.

"Especially since most places offer it free now at point of purchase."

Eh? Since when?

I agree that this idea is rubbish and will never work but most places really don't offer free wrapping at "point of purchase"

No sorry, a bit of an effort to take presents somewhere for wrapping, then pay for parking etc

How about a mobile wrapping van?

I would not want to traipse to a shop with all of my Christmas gifts, but if you came to me, parked outside and all I had to do was hand over my bags, I might consider that.

In all honesty, I can't see you making money from this tho.

I think investing in a business which is just generating waste isn't the way to go when the there is a growing focus on waste reduction.

In the last 5 years our family has tried to move from recycle to trying to find more ways to reduce or reuse where it is easy to do so. This means we don't buy anything that is going to have a short low value life before being recycled or landfilled, instead sometimes having meals out/experiences instead of physical gifts and definitely not buying fancy wrapping/ribbons/cards which are quickly discarded.

SIL and I have a generic gift bag for birthdays that has been (carefully) reused now for a few years and the kids love seeing the same bag again and again. I put dn's unwrapped birthday present(s) in it to give to her, SIL stores it and puts ds's birthday gift in it a couple of months later and the cycle continues. Saves money, effort and waste but to us is special in a different more thoughtful way.

Nope.

I haven't bought wrapping paper for years - I don't like the waste and we are an eco-friendly household.

I reuse what I am given by other people, and have accumulated plenty of reusable gift bags etc.

Even Amazon nowadays uses reusable bags rather than paper as gift wrap.

No
at christmas charities often do this in big shops or shopping malls

I agree wholeheartedly with WeAllHaveWings !

Absolutely not and not for financial reasons

@wildwildsouth

Yes definitely back to the drawing board. You all make great points and I am upset to find out I am not a genius after all thanks for everyone's input, I'll take it all on board.

Perhaps you are a genius? Even if not, definitely smart enough to test your potential market before launching headfirst into it.

Hope you find the very niche thing you're looking for.

It wouldn’t be a service I use but I am use lots of ppl would.

Very smart to use the board as a market research tool 😁

It depends where you live OP. Not sure this would be so popular in the UK, however when on holiday in India I have seen exactly this and it does stay busy. Bare in mind, they have huge weddings very often and a many different festivals to celebrate throughout the year. Whereas in the UK, apart from Christmas, I can’t see people making much use out of this service

I think it could work as a business from home, but not with the overheads of paying for premises.

I think the only people who care for this service are the really wealthy. You would be throwing money away. It's neither genius or unique.

But then again, I have come across instagram businesses who offer it and they actually do seem to have clients and be doing well, so it depends on your market I guess.