If you have a knack for gift-wrapping and an entrepreneurial spirit, why not start a gift wrapping business?
In the United States alone, wrapping paper and supplies are a $3 billion industry with steady growth each year.
This is a great way to make some extra money and have fun at the same time.
With a little planning and some creative marketing, you can be in business really quickly.
In this post, we will show you how to get started in just a few easy steps.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure for more information.
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The Benefits Of Starting A Gift Wrapping Business
If you love wrapping gifts, it may seem strange to you that many people simply don’t have the time, patience, or expertise to wrap presents.
With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s a great time to make some extra money doing something you love.
What’s awesome about this side hustle is that the money from wrapping presents is great.
You will be amazed at how much profit you can make by offering professional gift wrapping services around the holidays.
A gift wrapping business is a great way to be your own boss and make some extra money.
This is a business idea that works no matter what the time of year. There are various occasions year round that require gift wrapping:
- The holidays – Christmas and the other winter celebrations
- Valentine’s Day
- Birthdays
- Corporate events
There are many benefits to starting a gift wrapping business, including the ability to set your own hours, work from home, and be creative.
If you are organized and have a good eye for detail, you can easily start a gift wrapping business.
All you need is some basic supplies and a little bit of time to get started.
The most important thing is to be creative and have fun with it!
How To Start A Gift Wrapping Business
Gift wrapping is a unique and fun way to make extra cash.
With a little bit of preparation, you can become a business owner in no time and start making money this week!
Here are the basic steps to starting your own gift-wrapping business:
Create A Business Plan
Come up with a brand identity for your business. This includes creating a company name, logo, and tagline.
Your branding will be what sets you apart from other gift wrap businesses.
There are quite a few online tools that will help you come up with great business name ideas that are catchy and fun.
You’ll also want to create a business entity in your local municipality whether that be as a sole proprietorship or as a Limited Liability company (LLC).
Consult with an accountant if you are unsure what path to take.
As a business startup, you won’t need to invest too much money in the beginning but you might need to register your business name and open a small business bank account to help at tax time.
Your business plan should also include the kind of business you will go after – your target audience.
You may want to work in a shopping center or you may decide to target corporate clients.
Market research will be important at this stage so you can make sure your new business actually has potential customers to target.
Check out any other gift-wrapping businesses in your area and look at the services they offer and the prices they charge.
Gather Your Gift Wrapping Supplies
Before you launch your gift wrapping business, make sure you have all the supplies you need.
You’ll need a good supply of wrapping paper in various colors and patterns, ribbons and bows, tissue paper, gift bags, boxes, and labels.
You may also want to invest in a cutting mat, good scissors, and a tape dispenser.
To get started, start small and build up your inventory as you get more clients.
You can find many of the supplies you need at your local craft store or at dollar stores.
One tip: make sure to get good quality paper – you don’t want all your hard work to be wasted in paper that rips right away.
Once you have a good selection of supplies, start marketing your business to friends, family, and local businesses.
Wrapping Paper
You’ll need a wide variety of styles to accommodate all of your customers.
A present for a 6-year old requires different paper than a gift from a boss to an employee.
Stock up on cartoon-themed paper or other paper suitable for children.
Some children like reindeer and others like snowmen.
A variety of children’s paper will make your parent customers happy.
You’ll also require wrapping paper more suitable for adults.
Try to get a variety o patterned and plain wrapping papers. Your customers will enjoy having options.
Consider different seasons
It’s possible that you might be asked to wrap presents for weddings, birthdays, work gatherings, or New Year’s Eve parties.
It might be worthwhile to have a few options for these types of events, too.
Look online for wholesalers. Nice wrapping paper can be quite expensive for a small quantity.
You’ll earn more if your supplies cost less.
Tape, scissors, ribbons, bows, and gift tags
Stick to the basics. Instead of carrying every color of ribbon and bow, stick to neutral colors or colors that complement many of your styles of wrapping paper.
You’ll save a lot of time and money.
A variety of “to-from” tags will ensure that you have something suitable for everyone.
A Workspace
Ideally you would have your own craft area where you can wrap presents in peace and have everything you need close to hand.
Some gift-wrappers will travel to the customer’s home and wrap there when requested, if you do this, consider charging an additional fee.
Fortunately, with a gift wrapping business, you’ll need little more than a place to work, a few inexpensive supplies, and a telephone.
There are few businesses that require less to get started.
Learn How to Wrap Gifts Beautifully
The next step is to hone your wrapping skills.
Maybe you are already fantastic at wrapping presents that look like a work of art.
If not, you can brush up your skills easily:
There are several good ways to learn how to wrap like a pro:
Gift wrapping courses
This is perhaps the best way to learn.
You’ll get immediate feedback and expert assistance.
Search around for classes in your area or look online.
Free Online Videos
YouTube and a variety of other websites are full of instructional videos that will help you to perfect your gift-wrapping skills.
One of my favorite gift wrapping experts is Shiho Masuda.
This professional gift wrapper has a ton of YouTube videos you can look at as well as a paid course.
Check out this article from Wrappily that includes a free tutorial video.
Pricing your Gift Wrapping
One of the most important aspects of the business will be deciding on pricing.
In most cases, your price should depend on the size of the gift and how much time it takes to wrap.
Large items will use up more of your wrapping paper so it makes sense that they will cost more.
You can also offer different types of gift packaging such as gift bags and cellophane.
If you are offering your services in retail locations, a good price structure is probably to charge per gift wrapped.
If your customer base consists of local businesses then you can charge a flat rate or an hourly fee.
Marketing Your Gift Wrapping Business
One of the most important things when you start any business is to promote it and find customers.
When it comes to marketing your gift wrapping company, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
First and foremost, you want to make sure that you have a clear and concise message that accurately reflects what your business is all about.
Secondly, you need to identify your target audience and figure out the best way to reach them.
And finally, you’ll want to create a strong branding strategy that will help set you apart from the competition.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Start by creating a strong branding strategy. This should include developing a memorable logo and tagline, as well as choosing colors and fonts that reflect the overall tone of your business.
2. Next, focus on creating high-quality marketing materials such as business cards, flyers, and website graphics that accurately reflect your brand identity.
Many people might think they don’t need gift-wrapping services but will change their mind closer to the holidays when time is at a premium.
Top Ways To Market Your Gift Wrapping Business
Social Media Platforms
Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites are great places to find customers without spending a dime.
The best platform for you will really depend on your target market.
Create accounts for your gift-wrapping service and post regular updates.
Take videos and reels of you working to wrap gifts and even post tutorials showing the best ways to wrap difficult items.
A Facebook page and an Instagram account are perfect for adding videos of your skills and also for promoting your services in groups and to friends and family members.
Craigslist or Kijiji
Nearly everyone searches on Craigslist when looking for something unique.
Someone is sure to search for your services, and your ad will be waiting.
Local stores
While stores that already offer gift-wrapping services won’t be interested, most stores don’t have these services and would love to offer their customers the convenience factor.
Drop off a pile of business cards.
You might even want to offer a commission on each customer the store sends your way.
Local businesses
This is a great place to get a lot of business quickly and to build up a good name for your company.
Small businesses might need gift wrapping for their client gifts and even gifts for their employees.
You could get a lot of business from one client by targeting local business such as realtors, accountants etc.
Offer business promotions and flat rates to score corporate contracts.
Word of mouth and a little marketing can be enough to keep you busy this holiday season.
Start letting people know of your new service. Put together a simple marketing plan and work your plan.
Tips for success in starting a gift wrapping business
There are a few key things you can do to set yourself up for success when starting a gift wrapping business.
First, it’s important to have a clear and concise business plan.
This will help you focus your efforts and understand the costs associated with starting and running your business.
Second, make sure you have a good understanding of the market for gift wrapping services.
Who is your target customer?
What are their needs and how can you meet them?
Once you have a solid plan and understanding of the market, it’s time to start marketing your business.
Create some eye-catching flyers or postcards and distribute them in local businesses or high-traffic areas.
You can also build an online presence by creating a website or blog where you can showcase your work and attract customers from around the world.
Why starting a gift wrapping business is a great idea
A gift wrapping business is a great idea for a number of reasons.
First, it’s a relatively low-cost business to start up.
Second, there’s a constant demand for gift wrapping services, especially during the holiday season.
Third, it’s a business that can be operated from home, which means you can save on overhead costs.
Finally, starting a gift wrapping business is a great way to be your own boss and set your own hours.
If you’re looking for a creative and entrepreneurial way to make some extra money, then starting a gift wrapping business is definitely worth considering.
So should you start a gift wrapping business?
A gift-wrapping service fits in perfectly with the holidays and can generate a great cash flow for the amount of time invested.
Everyone has presents to wrap over the holidays and many people lack the time, skill, or interest to do it themselves.
Even if you’re all thumbs, you can still learn to wrap well enough to charge others for your services.
Start practicing now!
Develop your client base. Let everyone know about your business before the holidays.
Many people will be too busy to take notice later.
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