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?

No. I can't imagine people wanting to traipse a trolley full of presents to your shop, wait for them wrapping then traipse them home again. Way too much faff and wasted time.

No, it's the hassle for me that's the negative. I pay for convenience, so do pay for amazon etc to come wrapped but there is no way I would be lugging my presents around to get someone else to wrap them

No I wouldn't.

Would you collect the gifts, wrap them and drop them off? How much would that cost and how quickly would you do it?

The only time I have a chunk of wrapping to do is at Christmas. Would you be prepared for the massive seasonality of the business, even if you could make it viable?

If you are really keen on the idea, I would run a trial. This December, see if you can open up a "pop-up" stall at a shopping mall or busy town centre. It would be low cost to set up, and give you a good idea of the maximum revenue you can generate (as it will be at the time of year that the service would be most used). Based on the data generated, you may be able to determine whether this is a viable business opportunity in your area.

Op, would I be able to have the gifts delivered directly to you to wrap, and then I collected once complete?

No although I do tend to get a couple of presents wrapped by the charity stalls that set up in shopping centres around Christmas but that's more about making a donation than anything.

I think you'd find those with enough money to throw away on type of service are the ones who shop in expensive shops which do complimentary gift wrapping anyway.

Sorry OP, its a lovely idea but I don't think it's economically viable.

I think maybe ten years ago and in a posh area. I have severe pack pain and wrapping is a problem, but like others I use and recycle gift bags now and pick up some in charity shops. All my social group of retired professionals with good pensions seem to do the same.

No, sorry. I wouldn't pay someone to do something as simple as that. No one is that busy that they can't wrap a present.

No sorry

it is not something i would use, i think you need to look at the area you are in, rent and rates and buying stock, i think adults are buying less gifts and using gift cards, i have 2 grandsons that i buy a small gift and sweets, i then put money in cards to be used for things like pjs and slippers etc. you may find christmas is busy but what about the rest of the year. i wish you luck in whatever you decide.

Are you in the UK? As we wouldn't say "needing wrapped" here, it would be "needing wrapping."

I think it could work as an idea!

Most stores do gift wrapping anyway.

I actually also think that, in the right location - Of you sold gift wrap etc you’d do ok.

I on ow someone who owns a small card shop in a n affluent area. While the majority of their sales are at Christmas they make more than enough for the year - three staff etc.

@wildwildsouth

It could have a small market - say around Xmas or those who don’t know how to wrap.

Could you specialise? I.e. a bike wrapping service? (Something that most people wouldn’t be able to fathom).

There’s a service out there that gifts wraps then uses individual gems to decorate - I think it costs ££££ but you only need a couple of clients a month to make a profit verses having to wrap thousands of gifts at £2.

Unless your business becomes a brand. Becomes the next big thing that everyone feels they need/feel left behind if they don’t use.

Nope.

Firstly I can do it myself easily. But mainly I’d spend more time traipsing to such a shop than it would take me to wrap a present.

Sorry OP the logistics of this is just totally insane.

-Massively, massively seasonal. Prohibitively so.

-Where do you store all the things people want wrapped? For most people it wouldn’t be a ‘while you wait’ service. While you wait is fine for a single item getting a basic wrapping for free in a shop. Not for high-end wrapping you pay for.

-labelling issues. If people bring in loads of gifts and you wrap them, how do you know what gift is for whom? Presumably people will need to give you a full inventory and you label on their behalf but that’s quite a lot of faff for the customer which undermines the convenience of the service.

-risks of losing items, getting gifts muddled up etc - you could easily destroy the reputation of the business if the wrong gift goes to the wrong person or you lose or break an expensive gift.

Most of all I just don’t believe there is a substantial market for the service.

It's a no from me, although i love wrapping stuff. I asked dh and he said no too, he said although he's not very good at, he still likes to do it.

Maybe as a pop-up shop around Christmas time but I don't think anyone would bother with it for the other 11 months.

I wouldn't use this service OP

You really have not thought this through, have you?

Rent and rates are sky high in towns with rich shoppers. If your local rent and rates are not sky high, you will be operating in an area with people who cannot afford your services. Relying on passing trade will not pay your rent.

Wages: how many people will you need to employ to be wrapping up 20 peoples' entire Xmas shop while they wait? Will you be training them up in beautiful wrapping techniques and ensuring they all have a consistent house style? What happens to the trained up staff outside of the Christmas period when you don't need them?

Parking: how are people going to cart a boot load of Xmas shopping to your premises without adequate parking? How many spaces will you need? More than the loading bay immediately outside your shop?

Space: say 20 people at a time wanting their entire Xmas shop wrapped on spec? How much space will all that take up - wrappers, wrapping, table space, present space? Much more than your average shop unit.

Insurance: what will premiums be to replace lost items? What's the likelihood of lost/ mixed up items? Pretty high unless you are super organised.

Stock. What's your USP. What are your margins on high end paper? Why should I pay for you to wrap up my items in cheap paper when I can get decent stuff in the supermarket?

Practicalities: what if I want all my presents wrapped up in different papers? With different styles etc. Do I need to fill out an annoying form so you know what you're doing? What about labels? Do I need to label everything in advance of you wrapping them?

Environment: most people want to stop wasting paper. We wrap as much as we can in reusable and beautiful cloth wrapping. What will you do to attract that crowd?

I could go on and on and on....

Put your money to better use.

My dream job would be wrapping presents and making them look all pretty with co-ordinating fabric ribbons and tags. I would absolutely love this. And I can bring a fine collection of ribbons to the table!

But. I don't think this is a feasible business model, despite the loveliness that it might bring.

I will stick to watching Jane Mears (wrapper extraordinaire) instagram videos and buying her lovely paper and ribbons.

OP you have got a trending thread full of people tripping over themselves to tell you it’s a bad idea. That’s something achieved anyway Well done for listening to them.

No. The local hospice provide this service in my nearest shopping mall at Xmas but I don’t use it.

OP you dont need to think of a new idea to start a business. In fact the 'new ideas' businesses are destined to fail; even in tech where being a pioneer is some sought after goal, you will see all of the biggest companies are second-movers (Apple vs. Microsoft, Facebook vs Myspace, Instagram vs Tumblr).

You just need to choose something already existing that you think you can do a good job of. Services are often more scalable and profitable than bricks and mortar. Like a laundry collection service or cleaning company etc.