How One Woman Built a $300k a Year Mobile Gift Wrapping Business
Saving money on one woman built 300k does not have to be complicated. We rounded up the essentials so you can spend less and skip the guesswork.
Key Takeaways
- How One Woman Built a $300k a Year Mobile Gift Wrapping Business Discover how Michelle Hensley transformed a simple side hustle into a multi...
- Written by Ben Huber Last Updated: April 1, 2025 Home Side Hustles Side Hustle News In the wake of losing her husband to cancer, Michelle He...
- With no prior business experience and having been out of the workforce for over a decade, the odds were stacked against her.
Discover how Michelle Hensley transformed a simple side hustle into a multi-six-figure mobile gift-wrapping business, all while inspiring others to do the same.
Written by Ben Huber Last Updated: April 1, 2025In the wake of losing her husband to cancer, Michelle Hensley found herself at a crossroads, grappling with how to support herself and her family. With no prior business experience and having been out of the workforce for over a decade, the odds were stacked against her. Yet, driven by necessity and a spark of inspiration, Hensley launched Nifty Package Co. in 2015 at the age of 51.
What began as a small gift basket business quickly evolved into a thriving mobile gift wrapping service that now generates over $300,000 annually, with high-profile clients like Warner Bros., Kim Kardashian, and Meta seeking out her expertise. Today, Hensley’s business has grown by 180% in the last year alone, turning a side hustle born out of necessity into a lucrative career that has inspired others to follow in her footsteps.
The Birth of Nifty Package Co.
In the wake of losing her husband, Hensley found herself grappling with a daunting reality. As a stay-at-home pastor’s wife and homeschooling mom, she hadn’t been in the workforce for over a decade. “I was tossing and turning at night, overwhelmed by anxiety. How was I supposed to support myself and create income?” Hensley recalled. The thought of returning to a traditional job seemed impossible, especially with the responsibilities of homeschooling her children and the grief of her husband’s passing still fresh.
A conversation with her son sparked the idea for what would become Nifty Package Co. “One of my sons said, ‘Mom, you had a gift basket company when you were younger. Why don’t you do that again?’ That was the spark I needed,” she said.
Despite her lack of experience, Hensley’s vision was clear: start a business that mirrored the flexibility of Uber, but with a focus on creativity and service.
“I didn’t understand all the key facts of cost of goods, profits, margins, and marketing. I just started,” she admitted. She began by focusing on corporate gift baskets, recognizing that bulk orders would provide more stability than individual sales. These early efforts paid off, and Nifty Package Co. quickly gained traction.
Related: 20 Low-Cost Online Business Ideas With High Profit Potential
Launching the Mobile Gift Wrapping Service
By 2018, Nifty Package Co. was already gaining momentum, but Hensley’s entrepreneurial journey took an unexpected turn early one morning. “I was up at four a.m. to pray and read my Bible, which I had been doing daily for well over twenty-five years. I noticed that my van was sitting on the curb outside the house. I thought, ‘My van is not being used all the time. What could I do to use it more?'” she recounted. This quiet moment of reflection led to a lightbulb moment: Why not take her gift wrapping skills on the road?
Hensley quickly put her idea into action, creating a webpage for Nifty Package Co.’s new mobile gift wrapping service. The response was immediate. “Within about a week, I was wrapping gifts for one of my favorite corporate clients,” she said. Despite the initial challenges, like forgetting to label the first batch of gifts and having to rewrap them, the new service quickly gained popularity.
The turning point came in March 2019 when Too Faced Cosmetics discovered Michelle’s work on Instagram and reached out for a large-scale gift wrapping project. “It was one of the coolest jobs! It was my first big gift design and wrap job,” Hensley shared.
The success of this project not only brought in a wave of new clients, including celebrities and high-profile companies, but it also solidified the mobile gift wrapping service as a cornerstone of her business.
View this post on Instagram
“After that, we started receiving requests from all over the U.S.,” Hensley explained. The demand for her services grew rapidly, prompting her to expand her team and explore franchising opportunities. The mobile gift wrapping service, which began as a spontaneous idea, quickly became the driving force behind Nifty Package Co.’s growth, accounting for nearly 70% of business revenue today.
Related: 56 Legitimate Ways to Make Money Online
Navigating Challenges and Learning on the Go
The rapid growth of Nifty Package Co. came with its own set of challenges, particularly for Hensley, who was navigating the strategies of marketing a small business after being out of the workforce for over a decade. “I had been out of the workforce for fourteen years, so I really had no idea how business or marketing functioned,” Hensley admitted. Transitioning from a life of giving to one of asking for money and generating profit was a steep learning curve. “I’d never correlated sales with asking for money and creating a profit. I didn’t understand any of that.”
In the early years, Hensley’s lack of understanding about business fundamentals posed significant hurdles. Although Nifty Package Co. was doubling its sales year over year, the expenses grew just as rapidly. “Nifty started doubling our sales right away, but as we grew, so did the expenses,” she recalled.
Despite these challenges, Hensley and her team were able to adapt and thrive, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Because I started Nifty as a remote business, we were already prepared when COVID hit,” she explained. As numerous companies scrambled to adjust to remote work, Nifty Package Co. was able to step in and provide curated conference gifts, helping them sustain and even grow during the crisis.
However, 2022 brought a significant setback. Rising costs of goods and shipping led to a $35,000 loss, a blow that left Hensley feeling disheartened. “I felt like an utter failure!” she confessed. Instead of giving up, she decided to dive deep into the financial and operational aspects of her business. “In January 2023, I focused on understanding every single part of the business, KPIs, should I pivot, everything.” The intense focus paid off, as Nifty Package Co. grew by an impressive 180% that year.
Related: 10 Digital Marketing Skills They Don’t Teach You in School
The Power of Branding and Strategic Marketing
As Nifty Package Co. grew, Hensley recognized the importance of strong branding and strategic marketing in setting her business apart. “Branding sets the tone for your reputation. It is paramount to building credibility with your clients and potential clients,” Hensley emphasized.
From the very beginning, she understood that her brand needed to represent beauty, quality, and professionalism, values that would resonate with her high-profile clientele.
Initially, Hensley relied heavily on Instagram and Pinterest marketing to showcase her work. “Most of our new business came from referrals and those two platforms,” she explained. Visual presentation was key; the beautifully wrapped gifts served as the perfect advertisement for her services.
However, Hensley faced a unique challenge: numerous of her clients, especially those in high-end markets, preferred to keep her services discreet. “A lot of clients don’t want others to know we do the wrapping and fulfillment for them. I consider us the gift fairies!” she joked.
Despite this hurdle, Hensley continued to refine her marketing strategy. She understood that in order to reach a broader audience, she needed to expand beyond just showcasing her work. “I have learned all kinds of excellent things through marketing, like the importance of keeping a good client and lead list,” she share
Final Thoughts
Before you check out, double-check one woman built 300k against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.
Originally published at dollarsprout.com.
Ben Huber
Our editorial team researches and verifies every money-saving guide before publishing. Editorial policy · About us
