Gifts that Give
Back: Givewrap
Story
Isabel Chen
Content Marketing Manager
In our latest edition of the Seller Spotlight Blog Series, we asked 5 questions to Michelle Tirtabudi, Givewrap Founder. Discover her insights on transforming gift-giving and her entrepreneurial journey.
1. Can you tell us the story behind Givewrap and how the brand was founded?
Givewrap became a business, oddly enough, by accident! My Co-Founders and I, our background is in Advertising. We started our own Creative Agency, Orphan, a couple of years ago, and came up with ‘Givewrap’ as a fundraising initiative, for one of our clients - the Children’s Cancer Institute. Givewrap turned into a business overnight after a number of charities reached out and asked to be involved too.
Through advertising, Ant, Hans and I have worked on so many global and famous brands, but we always wanted an opportunity to build on our own Brand. When we saw how many people loved the Givewrap concept, and wanted to see it grow, we decided that this was it. Givewrap gave us not only the perfect place to put our talents to good use, but it also gave us real purpose. Givewrap exists to do a whole lot of good by giving back to those who need it the most. For Ant, Hans and I – we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of something that we believe, could make a huge and lasting difference in the world.
Through advertising, Ant, Hans and I have worked on so many global and famous brands, but we always wanted an opportunity to build on our own Brand. When we saw how many people loved the Givewrap concept, and wanted to see it grow, we decided that this was it. Givewrap gave us not only the perfect place to put our talents to good use, but it also gave us real purpose. Givewrap exists to do a whole lot of good by giving back to those who need it the most. For Ant, Hans and I – we couldn’t be more proud to be a part of something that we believe, could make a huge and lasting difference in the world.
2. You were one of four Amazon Australia Launchpad Innovation Grand winners, how has this grant transformed your business?
Last year’s grant from Amazon was a game-changer for us. Winning the Launchpad was actually Givewrap’s proper launch into market. As part of the grant, the Amazon team helped us get our product ready for distribution through Amazon FBA. And when Christmas came around, Amazon helped promote Givewrap in a way we would never have been able to on our own. Last Christmas, Givewrap sold out twice on Amazon Australia. Today, we are preparing to launch on Amazon US and Canada in a month’s time. Amazon has been an incredible retail partner to Givewrap, and we can’t wait to see the business go further as we expand into multiple markets with Amazon.
3. How does Givewrap give back to the community?
In 2023, Givewrap committed to donating $1 to its charity partners, with every product sold. Giving is in our name, and as a social enterprise, giving is what we wanted the Brand to prioritise. In its first Christmas, Givewrap donated almost $20K across the Starlight Children’s Foundation, RSPCA, Children’s Cancer Institute, and Gotcha4Life.
Givewrap hopes to one day be able to donate up to 50% of its profits to charity. With Givewrap, our goal is to donate $10M to charity over the next 5 years.
Givewrap hopes to one day be able to donate up to 50% of its profits to charity. With Givewrap, our goal is to donate $10M to charity over the next 5 years.
4. How has selling in the Amazon Store opened doors to new opportunities?
Selling on Amazon has definitely been our most consistent revenue stream. As a small business with a small team, we have to really prioritise what we want to achieve, and strictly manage how we deploy our time, resources and efforts. For Givewrap, we have been concentrating on expanding our bricks and mortar distribution in Australia. Selling on Amazon throughout the year has definitely validated demand for our product outside of our obvious Christmas peak period. This has in turn supported our conversations with retailers, to potentially promote Givewrap during other gift giving events throughout the year.
5. How do you see the brand evolving in the next five years?
Givewrap’s dream is to become the first brand of wrapping paper that people actually care about - to become the first brand of wrapping paper that people actually ask for, by name.
In 5 years’ time, all going well, Givewrap is going to the most famous and loved brand of gift wrap in the world. How? By being stocked in major retailers in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. And by expanding globally with the Amazon store.
The Givewrap brand will also be seen as the biggest innovator in the category. The Givewrap team have a bunch of cool ideas we’d love to bring to life, particularly in the gift wrap product and ecommerce areas (watch this space!)
By Christmas 2029, when people think of gift wrap, they will think Givewrap. Currently every major shopping mall around the world has a Christmas gift wrapping station. 5 years from now, they will have a Give-wrapping station.
Finally, 5 years from now, the Givewrap brand will be synonymous with doing good.
Just like with Patagonia, people all over the world, will be proud to purchase Givewrap products. By this time, we will have donated millions of dollars to charity, and as a result, made a real and lasting difference to those in need.
In 5 years’ time, all going well, Givewrap is going to the most famous and loved brand of gift wrap in the world. How? By being stocked in major retailers in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. And by expanding globally with the Amazon store.
The Givewrap brand will also be seen as the biggest innovator in the category. The Givewrap team have a bunch of cool ideas we’d love to bring to life, particularly in the gift wrap product and ecommerce areas (watch this space!)
By Christmas 2029, when people think of gift wrap, they will think Givewrap. Currently every major shopping mall around the world has a Christmas gift wrapping station. 5 years from now, they will have a Give-wrapping station.
Finally, 5 years from now, the Givewrap brand will be synonymous with doing good.
Just like with Patagonia, people all over the world, will be proud to purchase Givewrap products. By this time, we will have donated millions of dollars to charity, and as a result, made a real and lasting difference to those in need.
Location
Australia
Category
Health & Household
Amazon launch
2023
