Gift Wrapping

[corbing]

We're considering offering gift wrapping this holiday season for the first time and I was hoping some of you could share your experiences with this service.

Has it been successful? What percentage of transactions choose gift wrapping? How much do you charge? Profitable or just a nice service?

We're considering doing it for $4.95 per item and we'll hire a part-time person that does nothing but gift wrap from mid-November through the end of the year.

[KevinC]

I'm curious what others experience is with this also. I have the ability to add it but i'm not sure if its worth it. I think there is no doubt that customers like to see it available, but has anyone actually seen an improvement in conversions because of it?

[KevinC]

nobody has any experience with this? I know somebody must!

[stroudtx]

We gift wrap for about the same and we get customers paying for it all of the time. So there!

[RailMan]

i don't offer anything that could be giftwrapped etc so can't speak from a business point of view, but as a shopper, i would prefer to see that the goods are in good condition before they are given as presents - i wouldn't want my nearest and dearest to unwrap a box only to find the post office staff played football with it ............

maybe gift boxes instead? at least i could open them to check the stuff inside is ok before i give it to someone ........

[appi2]

Give different packaging options.

Basic - whats needed for the item to get through post to the customer.

Gift - option for simple wrapping,bow,tag etc. Delivery to customer or person receiving the gift.

Personal Gift - Include option for wriiten message / card.

Unique exclusive Gift - Next day delivery? The packaging is almost as expensive as the gift! Plus all the above.

And for all of them make sure you send that leaflet / product catalogue. Thier friends have friends too.

The method to our madness was to give the customers enough options to confuse them so they couldn't sit there and say $X for wrapping paper.

Always do the 'Unique exclusive Gift' at a high markup very few will choose that option. However the old "ooh not that expensive - whats cheaper" well madame thats the one we would like you to buy ;)

What sort of packaging gift wrap options?
Think about how you would want to buy the item for
yourself
your best friend
work mate
relatives
etc

what works best? That little personal gem. The card.

[Faith]

We offer free gift wrapping all year around. Even though its free not everyone wants it, but as the holiday season approaches we probably gift wrap around 33% of all orders.

[fabfurs]

We are including a gift bag that fits the purchase as an incentive with free shipping this year. The client can see the product and then decide whether to use the bag or something else.