When it comes to gift wrapping, Jane means business

After working in travel and as a florist, Jane started a company in 1995 creating bespoke cards and wedding stationery. She was commissioned by the Crown Estates of Somerset to make a card for the Queen, which later went on display in Buckingham Palace Mews but this would not be her last brush with royalty. 

It was gift wrapping though that Jane really loved and managed to turn into the business it is today, Jane Means. Known as the ‘Gift Wrap Guru', Jane has clients who travel worldwide to attend her workshops throughout the UK. Jane's portfolio includes services for Harrods, House of Fraser, Lakeland, The Queen Elizabeth Foundation, W.H.Smith, Marks & Spencer, Crabtree and Evelyn and Claridges to name a few.

In between wrapping luxury gifts for companies like Selfridges, Ralph Lauren and The White Company, Jane runs gift wrapping courses around the UK and released The Art of Gift Wrapping DVD last year to glowing response in the press and beyond. Jane also now designs her own ribbons and which can be bought online along with tags, paper and other accessories, many of which appear regularly in home and style magazines.

Lara Cory spoke with Jane about her business and asked for some tips for budding gift-wrapping gurus.

What is your most memorable gift wrapping job?

Wrapping a heavy book for a well dressed lady in London, only to be told that it was being delivered to Her Majesty later that day!  I also wrapped lots of gifts in the ITV 'This Morning' Green room for Richard and Judy in between filming.

Favourite time of year or event to wrap for? 

We run the luxury gift wrapping service at the Country Living Christmas Fair in London in early November which the team all enjoy.  It has a great atmosphere and we are busy all day. We are always grateful to the Country Living Magazine for giving us our big break in the early years and often wrap all of their boxes for magazine shoots and features.

What's the best part of the job?

Seeing a mundane gift transformed in to a wrapped creation with a bit of imagination and a tight budget.

What are your top tips for wrapping gifts this Christmas;

• For awkward shapes I would suggest flexible wrapping such as tissue, cellophane and fabric remnants as it can often be tricky with paper.  For extra large items use a paper tablecloth.
• Use a good quality ribbon but don't use much.  When adding ribbon around a box avoid doing a crossover and just tie a single band with a bow, you'll use half as much.
• Double sided tape and sharp scissors for cutting ribbon are a must as well as your wrapping materials.
• Traditional colours are always popular and this year the Christmas style trends include rich jewel colours like teal, copper and plum as well as some new arrivals including mustard and acid shades.  The biggest trend is wrapping on a tight budget and recycling which is always my biggest challenge.
• When presenting a gift card, don't write on the envelope but add a band of pretty wrapping paper and tie a ribbon bow over the top.  It can also be finished off with a bauble decoration or festive gift tag.
• Brown paper is a real classic and packaging can be re used. If it is heavily creased scrunch it up in to a tight ball then iron out with your hands..this will give an alternative effect which detracts the eye from old creases.
• Collect sticks and feathers on country walks, these make stunning and inexpensive embellishments.  Great for men too.

To buy Jane's designer ribbons and find out about her gift wrapping courses, visit www.janemeans.co.uk

Shoppers who quote the discount code 'MA12' at check out can get £5 off the purchase price of the The Art of Gift Wrapping DVD.