Money spent on packaging will be a good return on your investment because of the sales you wouldn’t have had otherwise. If you are not currently offering gift wrapping here are some tips from some of our customers.
Set up a designated area for a gift wrapping station. Over The Top Boutique in Hendersonville, TN uses a back room with a long counter space along with gift wrap paper cutters, a tissue paper rack and ribbon dispensers to keep everything handy.
The Gift Shoppe at Perkins Drugs and Patricia Jane and Company both utilize a small space behind the checkout counter. These areas are neatly organized with all their gift wrapping supplies including stacks of gift bags, ribbon, gift boxes, personalized labels, tape dispensers and scissors.
Make sure your packaging includes Christmas, wedding, baby, feminine, masculine and kids designs. To save money, you can get cutter box sizes of gift wrap for these. Or you can simply use a solid color bags and change up the tissue paper colors or prints.
Advertise your free gift wrapping by placing a sign in your display window and at the cash register along with a sample wrapped gift. With every sale, ask the customer if they would like their purchase gift wrapped. If you do print, radio or TV advertising also mention your free service there.
For those of you with a Facebook fan page or email newsletters, show pictures of items gift wrapped and mention your service. Also, if you Twitter send out message about it.
To encourage customers to think of items for gifts, wrap some of your merchandise in clear cello with ribbon. This is a great way to move product.
Keep a couple items of your most popular merchandise pre-wrapped for “Gifts to Go” so that hurried customers can grab a gift and be out the door. This saves both of you valuable time.
Finally, make sure your wrapped gifts have a custom printed label. This will promote your business with the gift recipient and you just may gain a new customer.
Great personalized service is what will set your business apart. Remind your customers to shop local to keep their sales tax dollars at home with store owners who care about their community.
Kathy Green & Buffie Baril
Marketing Dept.
