Doesn't receiving a well-wrapped gift make it that much sweeter? Seeing a stack of thoughtfully packaged presents underneath a Christmas tree warms our hearts most-thoroughly. Vanessa West, owner of Avenue Wrapping in Chickasaw Oaks Plaza, has turned her love for wrapping gifts into a successful business. On her passion-project, she remarks, "I've always loved to wrap gifts, but it wasn't as precise as it is now. Once people started asking me to do it more, I knew I needed to give them a professional product, so I took some gift-wrapping courses. I'm not a halfhearted person; when I do something, I want to do it well."
When she moved to Memphis, Vanessa began offering wrapping services to her neighbors, unknowingly planting the seed of her business. She explains, "I came by way of this naturally; when I posted to Next Door for gift wrapping services, I had a big response that trickled over after the holidays and the requests kept coming."
Her dream to open a shop began long ago. "I remember seeing run-down buildings or interesting spaces and always thinking that'd be the perfect little space for a shop. It's been a dream in my back pocket for so long that I never thought of acting on it until recently." Finally, in November of 2022, Avenue Wrapping became a reality.
Before securing her space in Chickasaw Oaks, Vanessa operated her wrapping business from home, eventually outgrowing her modest guest room. Avenue Wrapping is filled with wrapping paper sheets, greeting cards, children's toys and gifts. "One of my favorite things about wrapping is using artist-designed papers, so I want to share that with others."
While Avenue Wrapping's storefront has expanded Vanessa's offerings, personalized, high-quality wrapping remains her priority. When clients bring in gifts or have Vanessa come to their home to wrap presents, she asks a series of questions to create a unique result. "First, I always ask what the occasion is. If it is a wedding, I ask what the colors are or if they have a photo of the invitation for me to gauge the couple's style. Then I ask them to describe the recipient's personality." These initial questions help her tailor the presentation. Vanessa ensures that the gifts will be suitably wrapped and delivered on time.
Reflecting on her first year in business, Vanessa shares, "As a new business, I think you start with many ideas, and eventually those get narrowed down or changed. We have an upstairs in our shop, which I thought would be a perfect spot for artists and other creatives to host workshops. Since so much of what I do starts with connection, this felt like a perfect thing to try."
"I notice the best inspiration comes when I'm feeling joyful or hopeful." And her joy is evident in every ribbon she ties and every bow she carefully crafts, making Avenue Wrapping more than just a store—it's a heartfelt expression of Vanessa's specific passion for making moments of giving extra special.
"There's so much thought and personal connection put towards gifting. People want to do it well, and when they can't, they find someone who can."