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Original poster

Is this a service you would use?

448 replies

wildwildsouth · 21/04/2021 11:53

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?

OP posts:
ToffeePennie · 21/04/2021 19:58

No I wouldn’t. As a busy mum I hate wrapping, but it’s the secret wrapping before Christmas that’s done with a bar of chocolate, a crap Christmas movie and a slug of eggnog that makes Christmas for me. I wouldn’t want someone else messing with my wrapping ideas either - especially as I have specific colours per child and different decorations that are used as gift tags for family and friends.

goldenchildsister · 21/04/2021 19:59

OP....two things.

1 I am your target demographic. I outsource everything I can including all Christmas wrapping. They come to my house and wrap in my house. They bring their own stuff or I can supply my own or a mix. Ignore posters saying do a van with collection and drop off. Overheads too high and people won't risk their entire Christmas shopping driving off in a van. I am basically paying them for their time and very little else. They will also do my Christmas decorations , again with either mine or theirs.

2 I've spent my entire working life helping new businesses and entrepreneurs get started and build successful businesses. If you couldn't see the glaring flaws in your plan despite others highlighting them, please please be careful when thinking about what to do with your inheritance. I mean that in the nicest possible way.

goldenchildsister · 21/04/2021 20:00

Oh and nowadays would have to be completely ecofriendly / reusable to appeal to my demographic.

LemonRoses · 21/04/2021 20:02

No, sorry. I use free wrapping in a few places but I’d not go out of my way to get something wrapped. It’s something easily done yourself.

Lockdownlumpy · 21/04/2021 20:03

Nope.
My family in France are baffled that I buy wrapping paper and spend hours wrapping before Christmas. Everything they buy, they are offered free gift wrapping at the till.

Livpool · 21/04/2021 20:07

No but I like wrapping. I know loads of people who would though!

custardbear · 21/04/2021 20:09

Sorry but no I wouldn't either. Supermarkets are where I buy my wrap, scissors etc as it's easy and convenient plus good prices.

thisyearsuckssofar · 21/04/2021 20:19

I don't have the disposable income for this service. Why don't you offer a pick up, drop off service in the run up to Christmas? This might be the time where you've most chance of making decent money. Also, if doubt from own home, you won't have the high overheads. I suppose I think it would be a seasonal job where you could get some nice Christmas money more than a year round thing .

BritWifeinUSA · 21/04/2021 20:21

People who can afford to pay extra for a gift to be wrapped would have done that already in the stores. They would buy the jewelry or perfume at a store that provides a wrapping service.

The “mums with a pile of Christmas presents” probably aren’t your target market. I can’t see anyone paying extra to have Lego sets or Barbie dolls professionally wrapped. They would rather spend the extra few quid it’ll cost on more things for the recipient.

thisyearsuckssofar · 21/04/2021 20:22

Ah goldenchild made a good point. Maybe best offering in clients home. Also nice eco brown paper and natural touches would be lovely. I know you can get brown eco tape.

Beancounterz · 21/04/2021 20:32

My friend is a high flyer in the city and at Christmas his firm pays for a gift buying service. A lady comes to his office discusses who he needs presents for and budget, she then messages him with ideas and prices, he makes a selection and shortly before Christmas a pile of wrapped presents is delivered to him. Perhaps you could offer something similar.

eatsleepread · 21/04/2021 20:34

It's a bit niche Grin
I think it would make more sense if you did this as a sideline, while running a coffee shop. So someone could have their present(s) wrapped while they relaxed and had a cuppa. Would save them having to come back too. At Christmas they'd obviously have to wait longer or return later.
It would be even better if you sold gifts too, as you could pre-wrap those, with some on display. Would be more of a money maker too!
I'm not sure how it would work with your insurance. So someone gives you expensive perfume or a tablet to wrap, and you end up breaking it ...
A part of me does think it's a good idea though. I remember when I lived in Paris, and gift wrapping was the norm. Here you could spend a fair bit on a nice shirt, say, from a department store and wrapping isn't even an option!

Happytobejabbed · 21/04/2021 20:35

I don’t think I’d use it.

To do well you’d have to be in exactly the right area and be covered in the right magazines/social media.

If successful you’d be overwhelmed at Christmas and twiddling your thimbs mid summer.

You’d have done a lot of twiddling your thumbs over the various lockdowns.

Dog walking might be a better business plan as the many new dog owners go back to work?

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 21/04/2021 20:35

Sorry, no. I don't find wrapping difficult or time consuming, and the additional time to travel to somewhere to drop off and collect gifts would negate the time saved on the wrapping itself.

I think for you to actually make a profit and cover your overheads you'd have to charge an amount people would not be willing to pay.

Wrenna · 21/04/2021 20:38

Unfortunately not. I’d honestly rather spend more on the gift.

AgentProvocateur · 21/04/2021 20:39

Yes, I would. I hate wrapping and I’m cash rich, time poor. I’d pay even more for you to come to my house and do it.

Skyliner001 · 21/04/2021 20:41

No, I think it would be a right Pfaff to take things to another shop, plus I've moved to tissue paper and jute string, not interested in fancy wrapping any more for environmental reasons. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Onedropbeat · 21/04/2021 20:42

I tend to put things in fabric or reusable bags as gifts to save on the environmental impact

In this day and age most people seem to be conscious about unnecessary waste

However - I imagine there will be a certain demographic who will find a service like this invaluable (men or women who have left it too late, and don’t have the skill to do it themselves)

But then you’d probably need to offer late opening too

Onedropbeat · 21/04/2021 20:42

Also, lots of shops do free giftwrap service

Onedropbeat · 21/04/2021 20:43

@AgentProvocateur

Yes, I would. I hate wrapping and I’m cash rich, time poor. I’d pay even more for you to come to my house and do it.
That’s a better idea - a home wrap service to people who don’t have the time or inclination to lug a load of stuff to a shop to be wrapped

It’s like when I get my car cleaned, I don’t want to drive it to someone, I want someone to come to me so I can be getting on with other things

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 21/04/2021 20:43

@goldenchildsister

OP....two things.

1 I am your target demographic. I outsource everything I can including all Christmas wrapping. They come to my house and wrap in my house. They bring their own stuff or I can supply my own or a mix. Ignore posters saying do a van with collection and drop off. Overheads too high and people won't risk their entire Christmas shopping driving off in a van. I am basically paying them for their time and very little else. They will also do my Christmas decorations , again with either mine or theirs.

2 I've spent my entire working life helping new businesses and entrepreneurs get started and build successful businesses. If you couldn't see the glaring flaws in your plan despite others highlighting them, please please be careful when thinking about what to do with your inheritance. I mean that in the nicest possible way.

OP: this is a very helpful post.

Take it seriously.

ghettihead · 21/04/2021 20:44

I have helped out on a charity wrapping stall once, and we had loads of people using the service. We were based in the middle of a shopping centre so people dropped things off to be wrapped, then carried on shopping and collected later. I can't imagine people going out if their way to drop things off.

Giraffey1 · 21/04/2021 20:45

I can’t see this being financially viable. Stores sometimes offer this as an add on service at Christmas but I think if it was a money making enterprise it would a.ready be service on the high street.

DenisetheMenace · 21/04/2021 20:45

No, sorry. A (probably expensive) waste of money.

goldielockdown2 · 21/04/2021 21:16

I wouldn't use the service as I'd be strangely self conscious about my gifts 😂 in case you were judging what I'd bought for someone.

I think the gift wrap/everything you need for presents store is a nice idea though. I'd shop there.

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