Who Will Benefit From It?

Currently, most retailers charge for gift-wrapping, and studies show that many consumers are willing to pay between £2-4 for this service. While this helps cover packaging and labor costs, it also creates an opportunity to differentiate yourself by offering a free or low-cost gift-wrapping service. Gift-wrapping is relatively new in retail, leaving some gaps in how businesses currently approach it. Take Boots, for example—they only offer a simple gift box option where everything ordered gets placed in one container. This isn’t ideal if someone is buying multiple presents at once, and it feels restrictive given that this is a paid service. Meanwhile, Selfridges wraps items in a festive box with branded tissue paper and a personalized message card, adding a personal touch. However, since they provide this service year-round, the color palette doesn’t feel particularly Christmassy, and the branding can spoil the surprise if recipients know the gift wasn’t hand-wrapped. Amazon, on the other hand, offers a solid gift-wrapping service with paper and tissue in their signature colors and a personalized gift card. Their prices start at £3.05, which seems fair considering the quality of the packaging."

Why Should You Offer It?

Providing gift-wrapping as part of your product offering is a fantastic way to enhance your customer service. If you’re a smaller business, your competitors might have larger budgets, but excellent customer service is priceless. Once customers trust you based on service, it’s tough for rivals to lure them away. Gift-wrapping is also an easy way to offer a full-service solution. If you’re just starting out, you can test this service during the holiday season to keep costs down. As we’ve seen, there’s definitely room for improvement in current gift-wrapping strategies. Especially if you specialize in certain gift products, you can make this service stand out and become a leader in your niche.

How Do You Get Started?

First, decide what kind of gift-wrapping service you want to offer. If you expect a high volume of orders around Christmas, a “one-size-fits-all” solution like a gift box might work best. Our white presentation boxes are perfect for this type of packaging, and they can be finished with colored tissue paper for a polished look. These boxes double as external packaging, eliminating the need for additional boxes, which cuts costs and might allow you to offer free gift-wrapping—a great unique selling point (USP). These white boxes are made from durable cardboard with a professional finish. They come in pizza-box style, tuck-in flaps, or base-and-lid designs. They’re affordable and available in various sizes to match your products. We also sell tissue paper, which many businesses opt for in their brand colors to maintain consistency across their offerings. This keeps your packaging uniform while presenting a product that can easily be handed over to a recipient without worry. For a more customized approach or to mimic traditional gift-wrapping, colored paper is a cost-effective and eye-catching option. While these papers can be pricey at high-street stores, our bulk discounts make it easier to afford what you need. Available in blue, yellow, red, and brown, you could even let customers choose their preferred color, adding an extra layer of value. The paper features a ribbed texture with a smooth finish, providing added protection against impact damage and excellent tear resistance. Finish it off with a thick festive ribbon for a professional and luxurious look.

A Special Mention

We couldn’t write a packaging blog without mentioning Firebox, a store known for its quirky and unusual gadgets. They’ve flipped the gift-wrapping concept upside down with their unique “CrapWrap” service, described on their site as an “exclusive and thoroughly slapdash gift wrapping service.” It involves wrapping gifts in a deliberately careless manner. Aimed at students, men, and those with a sense of humor, this service is designed for poor gift wrappers, making gifts appear “so bad, they’ll think you wrapped it!” While not ideal for the high-income suburban shoppers, it’s certainly worth praising for its lighthearted take on the holiday season. Wishing you success with your Festive Early Bird shoppers and hoping this Christmas brings prosperity to your business! Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @kitepackaging.