Let’s face it, in today’s busy, modern world, gift packaging is not at the top of everyone’s priority list!  For those of us who are less organised, usually remembering a friend’s or a relative’s birthday the day before the event, we then begin a mad rush to find a suitable present and card in time.  We know that we need to find a gift that suits the recipient’s personality and we don’t want it to be totally obvious that we almost forgot their special day!  So, we spend the little time we have searching for the perfect gift and a nice personalised card to match.  Then we breathe a huge sigh of relief, content in the knowledge that we have now achieved our goal!  At this point, we have tired ourselves out so much on the present search that gift packaging is the last thing on our minds!  So, in order to bring our shopping journey to a swift conclusion, we usually buy the first gift wrapping item we lay our eyes on OR in a bid to save some time and money, we convince ourselves that there are some suitable wrapping paper off-cuts in the cupboard under the stairs which will be perfect for the job! 

Ok, so we aren’t all this disorganised and some of us do spend as much time on gift packaging as we do actually searching for the gift.  The aim should be to make the whole gift package look as appealing as possible and this will of course make all the difference to the recipient as he or she will appreciate the extra effort and attention to detail.  

Top 5 Gift Packaging Tips

1. Don’t underestimate the power of the packaging!

The gift itself is perceived as the most significant element in the present giving process.  However, frequently, as outlined in the scenario above, once the gift has been purchased, the packaging is considered less important and often little thought will go into it.

The presentation of the gift is just as important as the gift itself. The luxury gift packaging is the first element the recipient will see so it is essential that this creates a lasting impression.  Remember…you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so the way the gift is packaged should indeed reflect the quality of the gift itself.

2. To wrap or to pack…that is the question!

Choosing the right gift packaging is essential - a mistake here means a negative impact on the overall appearance of your gift.  Nobody likes to receive a poorly packaged gift.  It just gives the impression that the giver ‘couldn’t be bothered’ and may end up disappointing the recipient.  Therefore, spending some time considering the best gift packaging option is important.  There are so many choices available - you may opt for a gift box, gift bag, BoxBag®, tissue paper or gift wrap. Furthermore, there are many choices within these categories, such as colour, style, design and size.

Your decision as to which type of packaging to utilise will be based upon one or a combination of the following considerations:

Firstly, you should consider the time element, coupled with the shape of your gift.  For example, if you are short of time and your gift is an awkward shape to wrap, using wrapping paper, the task will undoubtedly take longer, so you may prefer to consider using a gift box or a gift bag along with some tissue paper.

Secondly, you should consider how much protection your gift requires and how strong the packaging needs to be.  For example, will your gift need to be posted or is it fragile or breakable?  If so, a gift box with tissue paper for padding will offer your gift more protection, whereas, a gift bag, even when placed in an envelope to be posted, could get creased, damaging your gift on the inside.

Thirdly, if your gift is a fairly obvious shape, such as a DVD, CD or a bottle, you may wish to disguise its shape to help create anticipation so that the recipient gets more of a surprise.  A gift bag, gift box or a BoxBag® would be suitable in this case.

Fourthly, if you have a gift comprising of multiple elements, you may wish to create a bundle or hamper style gift.  Each of the gifts could be wrapped individually in tissue paper and placed inside a gift box and finished with ribbon or a star bow.

Finally, your gift packaging choice will depend upon how aesthetically pleasing the end result is to the recipient.  For example, if he or she is a dog-lover and you find a gift box with a doggie design but can’t find the same theme on a gift bag, this will of course influence your choice, knowing that the recipient will appreciate the thought and effort.

3. Simplicity is the key to effective gift presentation

When packaging your gift, it is important to bear in mind the recipient’s personality and what he or she will like.  With so many accessories available it is tempting to go overboard but this can actually affect the overall impact of the gift itself.  Therefore, try to match the packaging of the gift to the person it is being given to.  Choose two or three co-ordinating colours and finish with some ribbon or a star bow.  Introducing too many colours may result in the gift packaging looking over the top and cheap.  If you are partial to craft, plain gift boxes can be decorated with items which relate to the recipient’s hobby and a theme can be created.  For example, if Tennis is the hobby, the lid of the box could be decorated with miniature tennis balls and racquet embellishments available from a craft outlet. There is no limit to how you can decorate your gift packaging.  Just remember to keep it simple.

4. Watch the pennies - budget time!

Whilst shopping, most of us set ourselves a budget when buying a gift and card.  Subsequently, when we buy the gift packaging we often end up spending a lot more overall than we had originally anticipated.  This can be avoided from the outset by simply deciding on a budget for your gift, card and packaging in its entirety and sticking to it.

5. Go to Twinklepeeps.com

We look forward to your visit!

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