It is amazing how the wrapping of a gift adds to its perceived value and makes the recipient feel even more special. Gifts wrapped at stores also have a special quality about them that helps brand the retailer, too: Everyone knows a blue Tiffany box comes from the famous jeweler.

If you are considering a gift service in your store, think about:

Budget: Will you offer it for free, as a form of advertising, or charge some minimal fee for the time and effort involved? Some stores charge for gift-wrapping but then offer to waive the fee if a customer spends more than a certain dollar amount.

Supplies: Flat wrap, gift bags, decorative boxes or a combination? Your budget will most likely determine the quality and quantity of materials you choose. To keep costs low and maintain a uniform look, it is wise to choose an all-occasion wrap in which you can just change out the color of the ribbon for seasonal use.

If your budget does not allow you to personalize in such a way, you might consider choosing a color that represents your store or church, and add a seal or sticker with your store's information that will complement the packaging.

Training: Some staff will have the natural ability to gift-wrap and will need little training. Other employees will needs lots of training and practice. Many craft stores as well as gift markets offer free seminars and classes throughout the year.

If you do not train your staff properly, you will be wasting supplies and may not get the look you are trying to achieve.

Alternatives: If you do not have the space, manpower or budget to accommodate a gift-wrapping service, you could hand it over to another group or ministry within the church. Some church bookstores let their youth groups, schools or mission groups provide gift-wrapping services for donations to their ministries.

Before you enter into an agreement with another group, you might want to make sure your business administrator is on board and that you come up with a written agreement with the ministry that will be offering the service.

This agreement should stipulate who purchases the materials, the times the service will be offered, the advertising that will take place and expectations of conduct and quality of the gift-wrapping.

-Kelly Graham is co-manager and buyer for Prestonwood Bookstore at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, the 2006 Church Bookstore of the Year.

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