Gift Wrapped Orders - profit or cost?

[deniser]

Just wondering what others do when someone requests gift wrapping?

Do you see it as the sale of another item and make a profit on it? Or offer it as a service at cost?

Do you have branded gift packaging or have a more haphazard approach?

How much do you charge? What does the customer get for that? Do you exclude gift wrapping on certain items because they are big, awkward in shape or because a dropshipper doesn't offer the service?

And do you allow gift recipients to make exchanges? Do you include a gift receipt with the parcel hiding the price?

Would be interested to know what the rest of you do.

 

[TotallySport]

We looked into this and although this won't answer your question, we opted not to offer it, packing odd shapes is a pain when you have time, but can you imaging at peak times trying to packing things properly so a customer would be happy, then worrying about sorting out all their labels, then making sure your staff are capable. Then you will get the unhappy customer who wanted a bow, or a pink bow not a white one.

There are also shopping centres offering it for free, then making sure you have all the materials in and making sure you have enough but not to much.

 

[AndyP]

LOL...I am with TotallySport on this. We also looked at this at one time but pretty much came to the same conclusion.....bad enough when you quiet, horrendous when you are busy.

It will be interesting to hear other peoples thoughts though.

 

[sysops]

I'll third that. We have very peaky order output, ranging from 100 to 1500 orders a day. This is hard enough to manage without the added staff overhead of 5%-10% of those orders requiring giftwrap.

 

[gadus6106]

It depends on your market. If you're selling products that people would conceivably send to someone else as a present, then customers will want to be able to have them sent out as a gift.

If physically wrapping is too time intensive for your sales turnover then there are still other options: eg don't send pricing details out, invite them to add a gift tag with a message, add a bow but not gift wrap, etc. These can be chargeable but not too time-consuming at the fulfillment end.

But, yes, definitely a chargeable service.

 

[SillyJokes]

We also decided not to gift wrap. You could over come awkward shaped items by putting them in a bow first or using a variety of attractive bags and sticking a matching ribbon on - this would be quick and look good.

Having said we do not gift wrap, customers certainly want it and ask for it on stuff even though it's not an option.

 

[deniser]

Whilst I would prefer not to do it, we lost sales when we didn't. But it is a nuisance and I hate it! Thanks for the replies. Would still be interested in hearing from someone who does offer it.

 

[skyhi2]

I have a question deniser,although i can not help with your gift wrapping question.

How do you wrap a gift wrapped parcel if it`s all done up with bows and the like ?

That in itself must be more time consuming than a " standard " parcel.

Just asking.

Skyhi2.

 

[deniser]

I have a question deniser,although i can not help with your gift wrapping question.

How do you wrap a gift wrapped parcel if it`s all done up with bows and the like ?

That in itself must be more time consuming than a " standard " parcel.

Just asking.

Skyhi2.

It goes into a mailing bag like everything else. Probably arrives fairly squashed but no-one has ever complained!

 

[JamieM]

We don't offer it either but it is a good value added service if you can. I would say you should definitely look to make a profit from it if possible. However, if it is going to end up quite expensive then I'd maybe consider doing it at cost simply to attract more sales.

 

[maria102]

We offer it in the shop, mainly for fairly desperate looking guys who snap our hands off when we offer it, works really well - they turn up, we suggest presents and then wrap it. We have an option to add this on the website for an extra £1.50 but we haven't activated, I just think if its not how they like it wrapped or if everything gets squashed in the post it may prove more trouble than its worth?

 

[Deleted member 61074]

Cant you get some specially designed inner packaging so rather that gift wrapping - you just pop the item into a specially printed bag?

 

[KateCB]

We offer gift wrapping - yes it can be hectic at Christmas, but we charge depending on the size of the item; for smaller items its £2.00 - nice foiled plain wrapping paper and shiny ribbon - for larger items it goes from £5 - 8 for similar service, jsut more of it. WE use the same paper all year as it doesn't say Happy Christmas etc, just a classic gold/silver or red foiled paper with contrasting ribbons.

Our customers use it mainly at Christmas; they know what they are buying, our goods are not priced so no danger of a price label being left on, invoice is sent to purchaser via email so we can send directly to the recipient if required - once it is wrapped it goes into the usual courier pack or box depending on size and never had a problem. We make a small profit on it, not much, but enough to make it worth while.

 

[eWAY Eddie]

A handy option to offer, especially at times like Christmas where customers are too busy to worry about wrapping presents themselves.

 

[deniser]

I was looking for some nice colourful packaging in wholesale quantities and think I may have found it, only it is in Holland (I think from the language of the site). Have contacted them and am waiting for a paper catalogue as the site isn't very clear. If anyone is interested it is www.kadodesign.com.

Will let you know what transpires. It looks as though a 200m roll of coloured paper is about 50 to 75 euros (plus postage) which seems good value.

Haven't found anything near as appealing in the UK.

 

[SillyJokes]

Rajapack also do bulk gift packaging. Doubt they would be the cheapest, but surely you don't have to go to Holland to get wrapping paper?

 

[gardgemakroni]

I have visited several cities in the U.S. around certain holidays. Many of those companies that specialize in gifts, sell and offer gift wrapping. Pricing should depend on how elaborate the gift wrapping is really nice and prices should start at $3 bucks.

 

[Tigglet]

We supply a lot of internet retailers with bespoke branded gift boxes along with made to measure corrugated postal outer cartons. Please contact us if you would like a quote.

 

[She Says]

Rather than gift wrapping I have mini jute gift bags for sale and also package gift sets in either the jute gift bags or organza bags. This works really well as it is pretty enough to be delivered direct to the gift recipient without us spending extra time on wrapping.

 

[vivid steve]

I can be a bit of a gift wrapping paper bore! sorry but it's what we think about everyday! Our business designs and manufactures Handmade Gift Wrapping Paper, Gift Bags and Gift Boxes. Our experience would say that it is a great service to offer, that will improve customer satisfaction, but is unlikely to convert a sale. As such if you offer the service you should still expect to make some margin on the service offered. However if you expect to make an additional charge the wrapped item should look wow! Our first experience of this was visiting Takishimaya in New York, we bought some drawer liners and small soaps, the assistant took the items out the back and was gone for what seemed like an age. However when she came back the items looked amazing, we have been promoting our experience in this store for years because of the wow factor of the wrapping... could't tell you anything about the soap, but I remember the wrapping! This was long before we started our wrapping business... so a well wrapped gift can give significant added value to an item. Your customers can benefit from that as long as the wrapping is fabulous!! Have fun...

 

[emmylou74]

I wrap the item in tissue paper. I do this for both online and in store bought products and people really like it, doesn't take long at all to do it.