Gift wrapping has always been a traditional way to add a special touch to presents, but for Michelle Hensley, it turned out to be the key to transforming her side hustle into a successful business. Hensley, the founder of Nifty Packaging Co., initially struggled with a small profit margin in her gift basket business. However, in 2018, she began showcasing her meticulously wrapped boxes on Instagram, catching the attention of brands and celebrities like Kim Kardashian. This led to a surge in demand for her unique “blind-edge” wrapping style, propelling Nifty Packaging Co. into a full-time job.
With the holiday season approaching, many Americans are looking for ways to earn extra income to cover expenses like travel and gifts. According to a Sidehustle.com survey, nearly one in five Americans planned to start a side gig for this purpose. Gift wrapping is just one example of a holiday-themed side hustle that offers a lucrative opportunity for those with the right skills and creativity.
Hensley’s success story serves as an inspiration for others looking to capitalize on their gift wrapping talents. She now manages a team of nearly 70 employees, including corporate staff, contract workers, and wrappers trained across the U.S. The business brought in over $466,000 in sales last year, with gift wrapping accounting for approximately 70% of its revenue. Hensley emphasizes the importance of having a sought-after style and understanding how to reach clients through local or social media platforms to succeed in the gift wrapping business.
Individual gift wrappers have the potential for significant cash flow, with the average gift wrapper in the U.S. earning up to $21 per hour. Freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Thumbtack offer opportunities for gift wrappers to charge higher rates, ranging from a couple of bucks to over $50 per hour, depending on the complexity of the wrapping design. Hensley’s advice for aspiring gift wrappers is to focus on delivering exceptional service that resonates with clients, as ultimately, it is the client’s satisfaction that determines success in this business.
Aside from gift wrapping, there are other holiday-themed side hustles that offer opportunities for earning extra cash during the festive season. One such example is waiting in line or running errands for people, a service that has seen increased demand during the holiday period. Collins Baffoe, a gig worker on Taskrabbit, shares his experience of earning between $5,000 and $6,000 per month by offering services like waiting in line at restaurants in New York. Taskrabbit’s average hourly rate for waiting in line services is $27, providing a viable income source for gig workers like Baffoe.
Another lucrative holiday side hustle is hanging Christmas lights, as demonstrated by Spencer Claeys, founder and CEO of Northwest Pro Wash. Claeys saw a significant increase in revenue by offering light hanging services during the holiday season, with the average house requiring about 120 feet of Christmas lights. Taskrabbit estimates that hanging lights can bring in an average of $54 per hour, with the potential to charge higher rates for premium services. Claeys emphasizes the importance of having the right tools and equipment, such as a truck, leaf blower, drill, and ladder, to succeed in this side hustle.
For those with a social media following of more than 1,000 followers, creating gift guides with affiliate partnerships can be a profitable side hustle during the holidays. Kelsey Chickering, a principal analyst at Forrester, highlights the growing influence of influencers in driving holiday shopping decisions, with nano- and micro-influencers being particularly effective in driving commerce. Affiliate partnerships offer the opportunity to earn commissions per sale, with platforms like Amazon’s affiliate program paying anywhere from 0% to 20% commission per sale.
Lastly, dressing up as Santa Claus can also be a lucrative side hustle during the holiday season, as demonstrated by Eddy Rich, who has been portraying Santa for nearly three decades. By joining the personalized video website Cameo, Eddy and his son Chris Rich were able to earn $14,700 during the week of Christmas last year, all from the comfort of their living room. With the average Santa earning around $60 per hour, Eddy’s earnings on Cameo far exceed the traditional rates for portraying Santa in person.
In conclusion, the holiday season offers a plethora of opportunities for individuals to earn extra income through holiday-themed side hustles. Whether it’s gift wrapping, waiting in line, hanging Christmas lights, creating gift guides, or dressing up as Santa Claus, there are various avenues for individuals to leverage their skills and creativity to generate additional revenue during this festive time of year. By tapping into these holiday side hustles, individuals can not only supplement their income but also explore new business opportunities and expand their entrepreneurial ventures.
