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?

I’m afraid I don’t think it would. Maybe in the olden days when people shopped on the local high street and tended to do one or two big shopping days for Xmas. But are people really going to schlep to your location with their Amazon parcels to pay a couple of quid each for wrapping? I think the potential number of customers would be too low.

Those who could afford the service will be buying from the sort of places that offer gift wrap anyway.

Mobile is a better idea. But only as a side hustle. I think outside of Xmas you may struggle to find enough clients to justify it. For birthdays, people get, what 5-6 gifts maybe? Perhaps you could look at making artisanal gift boxes or providing DIY kits for people who hate to wrap.

janemeans.com/pages/london-gift-wrapping-service

I think this lady may have cornered the market (for the very rich)

There is (was? may have since closed!) a shop like this in a town near us. I've never once gone in there and it all looks a bit sad and tacky. With the exception of Christmas, I can't imagine it gets much business.

But no, it takes me 25 minutes to drive to my closest town. I wouldn't do that to have something wrapped. I'd order wrapping paper on Amazon and wrap it myself in 3 minutes.

Honestly can't imagine ever using this. On the handful of occasions I've paid someone else to wrap, the item has been ordered direct to recipient.

If you are looking to invest an inheritance in a business idea I'd strongly recommend you first get a regular job as close as possible to the sector and take classes in running a business (esp from a retail unit). You may already have all this but if not it will give essential experience if you want to make any actual money.

Depending on pricing, I would consider this, at least for stocking presents. I suspect my husband would also use it.

No. It would be a frivolous purchase for too many.

You’d lose money hand over fist.

No. My office is next to a shopping centre (where I normally buy most presents) which has a charity wrapping service at Christmas. I’ve never used it!

Absolutely not.

No, sorry OP.
I think that not only will you not make any money from this but you would end up in debt.
The practicalities of it wouldn't work.
As mentioned previously, how do you man the shop while concentrating on wrapping someone's gifts?
The only way would be to employ someone else to keep an eye on shop while you gift wrap - increasing your overheads considerably.
Do you have any special skills or training in this area?
I once spent a very relaxing creative day (twice) at a woman's home in Cheshire, doing a gift wrapping experience.
She provided all materials etc, and lunch, and it was a lovely way to spend a day with a friend.
If you are trained/talented/gifted in this area, would something like that work for you? - though, I doubt you'll make your fortune with it but at least you'd have more control.
Good luck with your ventures.
I hope you find your niche.

I could afford it but would rather spend money on more presents instead of a wrapping service. Plus your only big business would be at Christmas and it's unlikely you could take on enough work yourself to make a profit.

I can’t see how this would consistently make money to be honest OP. It’s not something I’d use and I hate wrapping.

We have bags and boxes that we reuse for family presents so it wouldn't be any good for me.

No.

What are your other ideas OP? I'm sure we can help you come up with something that would be much more worth your while.

@wildwildsouth

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 🤣

But do you think you'd have enough buisness for the rest of the year?

Nope I wouldn't use it either and I hate wrapping. However if it was a shop that sold a gift and asked if I wanted to pay extra for it gift wrapped then that would be something I might do. It would be handy to have a seperate stall inside big supermarkets for gift wrapping I think that might get used esp at Christmas/ mothersday etc

@minipie

janemeans.com/pages/london-gift-wrapping-service

I think this lady may have cornered the market (for the very rich)

They look stunning. I wonder what she charges!

I think it would work as a mobile service but would be better if you offered some sort of present finding service as well. I think your target market would be men and old grannies who want company whilst choosing and the very time poor. It would also help if you could source locally made high quality items.
Eco options would be required as well. Making up bespoke hampers as well. I know they are loathed on MN but many love them.

I wouldn’t personally. I know people who would. But I think it would be a very seasonal business, and only really be busy enough at Christmas. Even then, I think a lot of parents wouldn’t be able to afford the additional expense of paying to have presents wrapped on top of the cost of the presents in the first place, especially when it’s something they could do themselves.

I wonder if you could maybe look into more of a pop-up service in shopping centres and the like, that operated at those busier time of years. People could buy things, drop them off at your kiosk, carry on shopping or have a coffee and pick them up again later.

I think it could only really work in conjunction with another service like gym/cafe/hairdressers/beauticians etc.
But presumably the rental costs of a unit plus insurance wouldn't make it viable all you round venture. Possibly if you could get an adjoining pop up space to cover Christmas period

A fool and his money are soon parted.

If this is a genius idea I’m sorry OP but you’ll soon be in the poorhouse.

No, I wouldn’t - and I have to say that with a large family, Christmas present wrapping was a huge chore. However, having to take all the gifts somewhere to be wrapped and then collected later would have been even more of a chore!! I tried to wrap stuff as soon as purchased.

Personally, I don’t think your idea would lead to a sustainable business, but good luck if you decide to go ahead.

No, it isn't a service I would use.

I quite like doing my own wrapping, but apart from that, generally people are moving towards internet shopping with gifts delivered directly to the recipient, for example letter box packages are an expanding trend.

The High Street and Shopping Mall are unlikely to ever fully recover from the effects of the pandemic, so you customer base is shrinking.

Vouchers & tokens are another popular gift, and I can see this area increasing.

Then there are things like the logistics for the customer, would they wait for their package to be wrapped, if so where, would you need a waiting area, coffee etc etc? Would you need parking available?

You would need to make all your money at Christmas, to cover the rest of the year expenses, it doesn't seem like a very viable financial plan.

A Christmas pop-up might be fun to do once though! But expect to lose money!

No would be a waste of time and money.

No, and I can’t see how it would be a financially viable business tbh