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?

Nah.

Not really. I'd like the idea but probably wouldn't. Maybe a mega wealthy neighbourhood might. Its dead in the water before it even starts. Back to the drawing board.

No, and I would think twice about a business before you understand the basic principle.
Don't give up the day job and invest your windfall carefully, so many businesses fail in the first few years.
Do your homework.

It would be very seasonal wouldn’t it? ie Christmas. That’s the only time of year people are overwhelmed with wrapping, and for most people that is kids presents who need cheap as chips wrapping paper and clear labels, no ribbons, no fuss.

The sort of people who would need a wrapping service are the sort of people who would be so disorganised they wouldn’t know you existed . And for them the wrapping done in department stores in the perfume department is a godsend!

no way too bad for the environment.

No sorry I wouldn't

No because of what most other posters have said.

There are a few gift wrapping "gurus" I like to follow/watch, eg Jane Means, Arona Khan, Neelam Meetcha, but they have all diversified into things like offering wrapping courses, teaching groups or one to ones etc. I don't know if they do their own marketing but it's very slick and full on with regular emails, offers, incentives etc. So if even these established and talented wrappers are looking round for extra income schemes, I think you'd find it practically impossible.

This pretty much already exists... every xmas a pop up stall in the shopping centers does it and I guess the rest of the year theres not really a market for it.

I do always wonder who is lazy enough and rich enough to pay someone to do such a basic task.

nope. I can't imagine traipsing in with all my pressies for you. A lot of places offer giftwrap when buying the gift, and I would pay a bit extra for that for a nice present or a special present.
It would be so seasonal too wouldn't it? You'd be trying to make a living off selling wrapping paper most the year round.
You'd be better off with a chi-chi little gift shop that sold nice wrapping stuff alongside gifts and stationery and cards.

No I wouldn't.

I love wrapping-epecially at Christmas.

Sounds like such a slog to bring you the presents and then collect them after they are wrapped-also would have to be pricy to cover materials and rent etc.

I can't see it working.

The only thing I could see is a pop up in a big posh town centre or mall where ppl might use it as they pass by over Christmas. But even then I wouldn't want to wait around for ages for you to wrap them.
So on the whole OP-it's a no from me.

No -as others have said.

People who care about well wrapped gifts are usually interested enough to do it themselves- great dramatic effects are very easy to copy, you tube and pinterest are full of ideas and methods.
Many other people don't care and will use any colourful cheerful paper for the family.
Neither group would use your service.

You are hoping to appeal to an extremely small niche market.

THis business sounds a great idea to lose a lot of money.

The only way I would use it is if you were a collection point for Amazon deliveries. So family can send the kids gifts there, I can go collect and have them wrapped all at the same time, but obviously it would have to be cheaper than Amazon's own wrapping service.

no, to much hassle tbh

But thanks to the PP who suggested Jane Means on instagram-now following!!!

No sorry

Anyone else picturing the rowan Atkinson scene in love actually?

Definately not.

No, there are much better ways of spending your inheritance!

What price point op? I would buy the items and would like to see nice stationery and maybe some gifts as well in the shop. Not bath and body but maybe jewellery, trinkets, reusable items like shopping bags, beeswax for food wrap etc.

I like wrapping though so would buy bits but probably not the service unless it was cheap enough

No but maybe it can be a good add on to say a business that sells gifts type things, cards, anything gift related.

If you had a drop off and collection service, you would have to go through and make an inventory of all the gifts before I left, which could take quite a bit of time. And then when I collected, what is to stop me saying something wasn't returned to me because I wouldnt know straight away as everything would be wrapped. I could be coming back to you after Christmas and complaining that my expensive gifts had gone missing or been swapped for something else. And if I had to wait and watch you then I might as well do it myself.

Sorry OP, but I wouldn’t use that. Some might, but with retail going the way it is I think it’s unlikely.

Someone would have to buy a gift, then go to the additional lengths of dropping it off at yours to be wrapped before taking it home/giving it away. I doubt many would pay you enough for this to cover your overheads.

Maybe a gift shop in a popular town would work better?

No.

But I used to live near a shop that offered posting services, all the stuff you’d get from the Post Office but it wasn’t a post office. That was great. You could do one of those and offer a wrapping service. So people could get it wrapped and posted all in one.

Our local shopping centre used to have this around Christmas time, it was ridiculously expensive and clearly not enough of a business to operate year round

Have t read the whole thread but why don't you get a van you can work out if the back of. Fit it out really nicely, have a table inside, drive to peoples houses and do their wrapping there. Van would also advertise your business and no need to pay rent.