It’s a Wrap! Jane Means - Gift Wrapper to the Stars
13 Oct 2018
Want to wrap like a pro? Britain’s gift wrap guru, Jane Means, talks to Angela Sara West about wrapping for the Queen and Victoria Beckham, working with luxury brands and stores such as Harrods, YSL and Ralph Lauren, plus her tips for taking your wrapping skills to a whole new level.
Ever struggled to wrap a bottle, bicycle, guitar, football or hamper? Struggle no more… help is at hand from professional present perfectionist, Jane Means, who handles those hard-to-wrap gifts with the greatest of ease and makes even the simplest of presents look like a million dollars.
Dividing her time between London and Singapore, the designer and superstar wrapper’s been providing luxury gift wrapping services for individuals, charities, businesses and leading brands, from Chanel to Dior, for over 20 years. She works for A-list celebrities and royals, as well as being an adviser for luxury brands. The second-to-none gift stylist also runs gift wrapping courses, designs her own collections of ribbons, gift wrap, tags and labels, which are sold worldwide, and offers bespoke filming packages, alongside design and consultancy services.
An avid Blue Peter fan, the gift wrapping specialist fell in love with packaging as a child. “I would leave the best-wrapped gifts until last and have always had a keen eye. From a young age, I travelled the world and it opened my eyes to wrapping styles and techniques, particularly in Japan. I love how an inexpensive, mundane gift can be transformed into something luxurious with just some paper, ribbon, love and imagination!”
Floral foundations & growing a gift wrapping business from scratch
Born a creative soul, Jane was brought up on a farm in rural Lincolnshire. She worked in the travel industry after leaving school and continued to travel extensively, giving her an unique insight into cultures, ideas and new products unavailable in the UK. She says she’s always loved simplicity, understated classics and the unusual, scouring markets overseas for different materials such as papers, ribbons and decorations, which she would bring home to sell at local craft fairs.
She then trained as a florist and her crafting career kicked off at her kitchen table, where she created custom-made cards and wedding stationary before realising her true passion, gift wrapping. Having set up her company in 1995, she complemented it with courses after founding her gift wrapping academy following a teacher training course. In addition to running her school, which attracts clients from all over the world, she started offering exclusive wrapping services for some of the world’s most distinguished companies.
Passionate about business, despite her critics’ doubts her formula would work, Jane’s sheer determination, drive and entrepreneurial flair grew her burgeoning business into a hugely-successful global brand. Her phenomenal portfolio now boasts successful services for diverse clients, from high street stalwart WHSmith, supermarket chain Aldi and Arsenal Football Club, to transport giant Eurostar, credit card company American Express, the BAFTA film awards, and high-end boutiques Jo Malone, Aqua di Parma and Crème de la Mer. She’s also trained staff in the Royal Household and at many of the UK’s top stores, like Liberty of London (where she has demonstrated live in its famous windows), Fortnum & Mason and ‘the greatest department store on earth’, Harrods.
Famous faces & royal wraps!
The princess of presents’ “classic, quirky and understated” style has made her the go-to gift wrapping favourite for the most discerning of clients. With each undertaking unique and tailored to their specific needs, Jane works with her hand-picked qualified team of gift wrapping stylists to transform gifts into creative masterpieces. Highly discreet, she and her specially-trained team work relentlessly to tight deadlines for celebrities, luxury brands, blue-chip companies, press launches, embassies and royalty.
How does it feel to be an adviser for luxury brands and to wrap for famous faces, including Victoria Beckham and The Beatles, for whom she wrapped a 6ft leather rhino?!! “I never dreamt that my hobby would go on to be a global brand! Even after 24 years, I still get a buzz from new challenges. Every day is different and I love my job. During the last year, I have had some incredible work when luxury brands have asked me to design their looks and packaging.”
The queen of wrap
Known as the “Gift Wrap Guru”, there have been numerous highlights in Jane’s career, which has seen commissions from Highgrove House, the family residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and even seen her wrap for the Queen!
“Wrapping a gift for the Queen was in my early days and since then, I have wrapped for other royals and celebrities. Some of the proudest moments of my career have included designing a look for a well-known French fashion house and seeing the results on a billboard whilst I was in New York. I was jumping with joy and getting some very odd looks from passers-by!”
The world wrapped up…
Based in London, Jane’s sensational services have taken her all over the world, to Monaco, Switzerland, Singapore, Milan, Paris and beyond, and her prolific travels, along with trend forecasting, have been hugely influential in her work.
“Travel is undoubtedly my biggest inspiration. The sights and smells of India, the architecture of Iran, and the tropical foliage of the Far East have all given me some great ideas. My father-in-law lives in Japan, which has been my biggest inspiration. It’s where I have seen all the various folding techniques with fabric and learnt basic origami.”
Success secrets
A huge success story in the gift wrapping world, Britain’s wonder wrapper Jane’s inventive wrapping skills are second to none, securing her position at the top of the pack. “To stay in front of competitors, it’s vital that you are a leader, not a follower, and always have something new to offer. Competition is always good, but I have no time for copycats. It’s frustrating when you see your images used on competitors’ websites, and in exactly the same format. However, I have a good legal team and am a spokesperson for ACID (Anti Copying In Design), which is now a good deterrent.”
Small screen wraps & crafty Christmas collaborations
The queen of wrap collaborated with the queen of Christmas craft, Kirstie Allsopp, last year, lending her meticulous eye for detail as the Christmas Wrapping Judge on Channel 4’s Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas.
Jane also frequently teams up with our favourite TV crafting couple. “I regularly make appearances on The Crafty Beggars with Julie Peasgood and Wendy Turner Webster, and Sky Sports just before Christmas. Other TV work generally comes in last minute. Last year, I appeared on ITV’s This Morning, BBC Radio 2 with Chris Evans and Channel 4.”
This genius gift wrapper has also presented her own show on Create and Craft TV and often features in commercials for big-name brands like L’Oréal.
Gift wrapping perfection
Jane ably applies her background in floristry to her creative wrapping work, adding stunning ribbons, embellishments and accessories to her exceptionally-beautiful and artistic packaging. “Floristry taught me which colours go with what, and I am very lucky to just match various colours together and they somehow work!” There is, however, a downside to her craft. “Being a florist, your hands get extremely tired, and the same applies to gift wrapping.”
How can we give a gift a luxury look on a tight budget and turn a bland present into a showstopper? “Embellishments are key. If you’re on a budget, tie in some fresh foliage, such as holly, ivy or sticks from your garden. You can also tie in mini baubles. If you’re doing a pile of presents, it’s nice to place them in size order if they are boxes; tie them all together with a ribbon and tie in an embellishment at the top.”
Jane says there’s one essential item which will instantly give your gifts a polished look. “Double-sided tape is a must, as you don’t have any visible tape. The gift will look clean and professional. It makes a huge difference…”
Her favourite techniques, embellishments and materials to use? “I love pleating paper around a box as it’s so easy and transforms the item immediately. Tied in with some fragrant foliage, it looks amazing and smells wonderful, too!”
Luxurious creations - Presentation is king
Passionate about presentation, Jane’s wrapping know-how guarantees gifts give the wow factor. Wrapping presents to perfection with her stunning signature style, she likens gift wrapping to fashion, and says learning a few simple techniques can create luxurious masterpieces.
Britain’s leading gift wrap guru says embellishments, such as holly, ivy and twigs, are essential for making presents stand out in a pile. The most common mistake people make? “Using too much paper when wrapping a box. It’s important to cut the paper down to the correct size. It will then fold in much more easily.” She also advises pre-measuring your materials beforehand to avoid waste, and using good-quality ribbon and elegant embellishments. Presentation is everything, after all, and those finishing touches are key to catching the eye.
Tricky shapes suitably wrapped
Taking the stress out of gift wrapping, Jane has handy hints and tips and tricks aplenty for tackling that ultimate gift wrapping bugbear… an awkward shape. “Materials can often make all the difference, and paper isn’t always suitable for round or awkward shapes. I always have some cellophane and tissues handy as this moulds around awkward shapes much more easily.”
Along with using “flexible” wrapping materials, the gift wrapper extraordinaire also advises avoiding stripes on difficult shapes, as mistakes will be easily visible.
This gifted presenter’s biggest wrapping challenge? “I love a challenge and my most tricky item was probably a rocking horse, live in front of an audience. I love being put under pressure, so the trickier the item the better!” How about a pile of problematic-shaped presents? “If they’re all awkward shapes, place them ready-wrapped into a large basket and add a ribbon to the handle.”
Personalisation, personalisation, personalisation
Looking to truly wow your recipient? Introduce personalisation into the gift-giving experience. Jane says this is a huge trend in the Christmas gift-wrapping world. “People are always seeking something different. Many companies will print your own wrapping paper and ribbon. I prefer to think of the recipient and adapt my materials to that particular person. So, if someone loves Italy, I would wrap the item in a map of the country and use red, green and white ribbon.”
Ribbons galore for gorgeous gifts!
The wrap star says everything she designs has a story and, revealing ribbon as her “biggest addiction”, is justifiably proud of her innovative ribbon cards. “I’ve always loved haberdashery, and especially ribbon. It makes such a difference on gifts when you have a fabric ribbon and I also use it to trim skirts and canvas bags. I introduced the ribbon cards as many people don’t know which rolls to choose, so we decided to put a set of three on the card. These have been really popular, and still sell well after five years.”
Wonderful workshops & magical masterclasses
Looking to learn a skill for life? This is the gift that goes on giving… Whether it’s a wedding, birthday or tricky-to-wrap Christmas present, a session with Jane will ensure every event is meticulously covered.
Along with fun, private at-home or workplace classes offering expert tuition from the best of the best, Britain’s wonder wrapper runs popular courses at handpicked venues and boutique hotels around the UK, in Singapore and Australia. Any plans to expand the global empire? “I did a course in India last year and have a large following there, so I’m looking to implement them in India now, too.”
From London, Lincolnshire, Manchester and Winchester, to Harrogate, Hampshire and Glasgow, you can learn hands on how to wrap ANY gift and tie the perfect bow at one of Jane’s Christmas workshops, which run until November. “I will also be doing masterclasses in December at Coworth Park in Ascot, Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds and Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxford.”
She’ll also be hosting a one-off unique festive gift wrapping and calligraphy course with top calligrapher, Judy Broad, whose impressive client list includes Aspinal and Chanel.
The gift wrapper extraordinaire has plenty of other projects in the pipeline. “I’m always designing new products and will shortly be launching my new collection of embellishments, which is really exciting. I’m also planning another book and am currently liaising with publishers. I plan to do more TV work, too, and will be adding lots more content to my YouTube channel.”
In-store Christmas appearances
You can catch Jane and her talented wrapping team in luxury London stores, where they will be on hand to help with Christmas wraps. “I’m already booked for Dior, Selfridges and Armani, and I’ll also be demonstrating at events at venues such as the Chelsea Physic Garden. Our Christmas bookings usually come in last minute, so we could be anywhere!”
Renowned blogger Jane loves sharing her tips, photography, thoughts and design ideas on her blog and Instagram page @janemeans, which are both bursting with creative ideas and inspiration. “I’m always looking for collaborations with bloggers and would love to expand on this, especially in the wedding market!”
Jane is also the author of bestselling book Giftwrapped, while her DVD, The Art of Gift Wrapping, is positively packed with inspirational ideas, helpful hints and tips for transforming mundane presents into luxury gifts, whatever the shape, size, occasion or budget.
Getting sticky with it…
There are also some special plans under wraps to celebrate National Wrapping Day on 20th December. As the perfect person to present their brand, Jane’s getting stuck into her role as the Ambassador for the sponsors, Scotch Tape. “We’re currently working behind the scenes and will be launching an event before the big day!”
No excuse now for not having Christmas completely covered… Happy wrapping!
For further information, visit: www.janemeans.com
Jane’s blog: http://janemeansblog.com
Want to wrap like a pro? Britain’s gift wrap guru, Jane Means, talks to Angela Sara West about wrapping for the Queen and Victoria Beckham, working with luxury brands and stores such as Harrods, YSL and Ralph Lauren, plus her tips for taking your wrapping skills to a whole new level.
Ever struggled to wrap a bottle, bicycle, guitar, football or hamper? Struggle no more… help is at hand from professional present perfectionist, Jane Means, who handles those hard-to-wrap gifts with the greatest of ease and makes even the simplest of presents look like a million dollars.
Dividing her time between London and Singapore, the designer and superstar wrapper’s been providing luxury gift wrapping services for individuals, charities, businesses and leading brands, from Chanel to Dior, for over 20 years. She works for A-list celebrities and royals, as well as being an adviser for luxury brands. The second-to-none gift stylist also runs gift wrapping courses, designs her own collections of ribbons, gift wrap, tags and labels, which are sold worldwide, and offers bespoke filming packages, alongside design and consultancy services.
An avid Blue Peter fan, the gift wrapping specialist fell in love with packaging as a child. “I would leave the best-wrapped gifts until last and have always had a keen eye. From a young age, I travelled the world and it opened my eyes to wrapping styles and techniques, particularly in Japan. I love how an inexpensive, mundane gift can be transformed into something luxurious with just some paper, ribbon, love and imagination!”
Floral foundations & growing a gift wrapping business from scratch
Born a creative soul, Jane was brought up on a farm in rural Lincolnshire. She worked in the travel industry after leaving school and continued to travel extensively, giving her an unique insight into cultures, ideas and new products unavailable in the UK. She says she’s always loved simplicity, understated classics and the unusual, scouring markets overseas for different materials such as papers, ribbons and decorations, which she would bring home to sell at local craft fairs.
She then trained as a florist and her crafting career kicked off at her kitchen table, where she created custom-made cards and wedding stationary before realising her true passion, gift wrapping. Having set up her company in 1995, she complemented it with courses after founding her gift wrapping academy following a teacher training course. In addition to running her school, which attracts clients from all over the world, she started offering exclusive wrapping services for some of the world’s most distinguished companies.
Passionate about business, despite her critics’ doubts her formula would work, Jane’s sheer determination, drive and entrepreneurial flair grew her burgeoning business into a hugely-successful global brand. Her phenomenal portfolio now boasts successful services for diverse clients, from high street stalwart WHSmith, supermarket chain Aldi and Arsenal Football Club, to transport giant Eurostar, credit card company American Express, the BAFTA film awards, and high-end boutiques Jo Malone, Aqua di Parma and Crème de la Mer. She’s also trained staff in the Royal Household and at many of the UK’s top stores, like Liberty of London (where she has demonstrated live in its famous windows), Fortnum & Mason and ‘the greatest department store on earth’, Harrods.
Famous faces & royal wraps!
The princess of presents’ “classic, quirky and understated” style has made her the go-to gift wrapping favourite for the most discerning of clients. With each undertaking unique and tailored to their specific needs, Jane works with her hand-picked qualified team of gift wrapping stylists to transform gifts into creative masterpieces. Highly discreet, she and her specially-trained team work relentlessly to tight deadlines for celebrities, luxury brands, blue-chip companies, press launches, embassies and royalty.
How does it feel to be an adviser for luxury brands and to wrap for famous faces, including Victoria Beckham and The Beatles, for whom she wrapped a 6ft leather rhino?!! “I never dreamt that my hobby would go on to be a global brand! Even after 24 years, I still get a buzz from new challenges. Every day is different and I love my job. During the last year, I have had some incredible work when luxury brands have asked me to design their looks and packaging.”
The queen of wrap
Known as the “Gift Wrap Guru”, there have been numerous highlights in Jane’s career, which has seen commissions from Highgrove House, the family residence of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and even seen her wrap for the Queen!
“Wrapping a gift for the Queen was in my early days and since then, I have wrapped for other royals and celebrities. Some of the proudest moments of my career have included designing a look for a well-known French fashion house and seeing the results on a billboard whilst I was in New York. I was jumping with joy and getting some very odd looks from passers-by!”
The world wrapped up…
Based in London, Jane’s sensational services have taken her all over the world, to Monaco, Switzerland, Singapore, Milan, Paris and beyond, and her prolific travels, along with trend forecasting, have been hugely influential in her work.
“Travel is undoubtedly my biggest inspiration. The sights and smells of India, the architecture of Iran, and the tropical foliage of the Far East have all given me some great ideas. My father-in-law lives in Japan, which has been my biggest inspiration. It’s where I have seen all the various folding techniques with fabric and learnt basic origami.”
Success secrets
A huge success story in the gift wrapping world, Britain’s wonder wrapper Jane’s inventive wrapping skills are second to none, securing her position at the top of the pack. “To stay in front of competitors, it’s vital that you are a leader, not a follower, and always have something new to offer. Competition is always good, but I have no time for copycats. It’s frustrating when you see your images used on competitors’ websites, and in exactly the same format. However, I have a good legal team and am a spokesperson for ACID (Anti Copying In Design), which is now a good deterrent.”
Small screen wraps & crafty Christmas collaborations
The queen of wrap collaborated with the queen of Christmas craft, Kirstie Allsopp, last year, lending her meticulous eye for detail as the Christmas Wrapping Judge on Channel 4’s Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas.
Jane also frequently teams up with our favourite TV crafting couple. “I regularly make appearances on The Crafty Beggars with Julie Peasgood and Wendy Turner Webster, and Sky Sports just before Christmas. Other TV work generally comes in last minute. Last year, I appeared on ITV’s This Morning, BBC Radio 2 with Chris Evans and Channel 4.”
This genius gift wrapper has also presented her own show on Create and Craft TV and often features in commercials for big-name brands like L’Oréal.
Gift wrapping perfection
Jane ably applies her background in floristry to her creative wrapping work, adding stunning ribbons, embellishments and accessories to her exceptionally-beautiful and artistic packaging. “Floristry taught me which colours go with what, and I am very lucky to just match various colours together and they somehow work!” There is, however, a downside to her craft. “Being a florist, your hands get extremely tired, and the same applies to gift wrapping.”
How can we give a gift a luxury look on a tight budget and turn a bland present into a showstopper? “Embellishments are key. If you’re on a budget, tie in some fresh foliage, such as holly, ivy or sticks from your garden. You can also tie in mini baubles. If you’re doing a pile of presents, it’s nice to place them in size order if they are boxes; tie them all together with a ribbon and tie in an embellishment at the top.”
Jane says there’s one essential item which will instantly give your gifts a polished look. “Double-sided tape is a must, as you don’t have any visible tape. The gift will look clean and professional. It makes a huge difference…”
Her favourite techniques, embellishments and materials to use? “I love pleating paper around a box as it’s so easy and transforms the item immediately. Tied in with some fragrant foliage, it looks amazing and smells wonderful, too!”
Luxurious creations - Presentation is king
Passionate about presentation, Jane’s wrapping know-how guarantees gifts give the wow factor. Wrapping presents to perfection with her stunning signature style, she likens gift wrapping to fashion, and says learning a few simple techniques can create luxurious masterpieces.
Britain’s leading gift wrap guru says embellishments, such as holly, ivy and twigs, are essential for making presents stand out in a pile. The most common mistake people make? “Using too much paper when wrapping a box. It’s important to cut the paper down to the correct size. It will then fold in much more easily.” She also advises pre-measuring your materials beforehand to avoid waste, and using good-quality ribbon and elegant embellishments. Presentation is everything, after all, and those finishing touches are key to catching the eye.
Tricky shapes suitably wrapped
Taking the stress out of gift wrapping, Jane has handy hints and tips and tricks aplenty for tackling that ultimate gift wrapping bugbear… an awkward shape. “Materials can often make all the difference, and paper isn’t always suitable for round or awkward shapes. I always have some cellophane and tissues handy as this moulds around awkward shapes much more easily.”
Along with using “flexible” wrapping materials, the gift wrapper extraordinaire also advises avoiding stripes on difficult shapes, as mistakes will be easily visible.
This gifted presenter’s biggest wrapping challenge? “I love a challenge and my most tricky item was probably a rocking horse, live in front of an audience. I love being put under pressure, so the trickier the item the better!” How about a pile of problematic-shaped presents? “If they’re all awkward shapes, place them ready-wrapped into a large basket and add a ribbon to the handle.”
Personalisation, personalisation, personalisation
Looking to truly wow your recipient? Introduce personalisation into the gift-giving experience. Jane says this is a huge trend in the Christmas gift-wrapping world. “People are always seeking something different. Many companies will print your own wrapping paper and ribbon. I prefer to think of the recipient and adapt my materials to that particular person. So, if someone loves Italy, I would wrap the item in a map of the country and use red, green and white ribbon.”
Ribbons galore for gorgeous gifts!
The wrap star says everything she designs has a story and, revealing ribbon as her “biggest addiction”, is justifiably proud of her innovative ribbon cards. “I’ve always loved haberdashery, and especially ribbon. It makes such a difference on gifts when you have a fabric ribbon and I also use it to trim skirts and canvas bags. I introduced the ribbon cards as many people don’t know which rolls to choose, so we decided to put a set of three on the card. These have been really popular, and still sell well after five years.”
Wonderful workshops & magical masterclasses
Looking to learn a skill for life? This is the gift that goes on giving… Whether it’s a wedding, birthday or tricky-to-wrap Christmas present, a session with Jane will ensure every event is meticulously covered.
Along with fun, private at-home or workplace classes offering expert tuition from the best of the best, Britain’s wonder wrapper runs popular courses at handpicked venues and boutique hotels around the UK, in Singapore and Australia. Any plans to expand the global empire? “I did a course in India last year and have a large following there, so I’m looking to implement them in India now, too.”
From London, Lincolnshire, Manchester and Winchester, to Harrogate, Hampshire and Glasgow, you can learn hands on how to wrap ANY gift and tie the perfect bow at one of Jane’s Christmas workshops, which run until November. “I will also be doing masterclasses in December at Coworth Park in Ascot, Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds and Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxford.”
She’ll also be hosting a one-off unique festive gift wrapping and calligraphy course with top calligrapher, Judy Broad, whose impressive client list includes Aspinal and Chanel.
The gift wrapper extraordinaire has plenty of other projects in the pipeline. “I’m always designing new products and will shortly be launching my new collection of embellishments, which is really exciting. I’m also planning another book and am currently liaising with publishers. I plan to do more TV work, too, and will be adding lots more content to my YouTube channel.”
In-store Christmas appearances
You can catch Jane and her talented wrapping team in luxury London stores, where they will be on hand to help with Christmas wraps. “I’m already booked for Dior, Selfridges and Armani, and I’ll also be demonstrating at events at venues such as the Chelsea Physic Garden. Our Christmas bookings usually come in last minute, so we could be anywhere!”
Renowned blogger Jane loves sharing her tips, photography, thoughts and design ideas on her blog and Instagram page @janemeans, which are both bursting with creative ideas and inspiration. “I’m always looking for collaborations with bloggers and would love to expand on this, especially in the wedding market!”
Jane is also the author of bestselling book Giftwrapped, while her DVD, The Art of Gift Wrapping, is positively packed with inspirational ideas, helpful hints and tips for transforming mundane presents into luxury gifts, whatever the shape, size, occasion or budget.
Getting sticky with it…
There are also some special plans under wraps to celebrate National Wrapping Day on 20th December. As the perfect person to present their brand, Jane’s getting stuck into her role as the Ambassador for the sponsors, Scotch Tape. “We’re currently working behind the scenes and will be launching an event before the big day!”
No excuse now for not having Christmas completely covered… Happy wrapping!
For further information, visit: www.janemeans.com
Jane’s blog: http://janemeansblog.com
