美国国家公共电台 NPR 5 Gift Wrapping Tips From A Pro

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

All right, so that takes care of getting your present to you. But what about making it look just right? Take a tip from a pro 1 - getting those nice crisp folded edges on your package is key.

MIA CANADA: I crease 2 everything.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Mia Canada is the master gift wrapper - that's a job - master gift wrapper at That's A Wrap! in Atlanta, Ga. And she uses her forefinger 3 and thumb to sharpen each fold of paper on every single holiday present she wraps.

CANADA: It gives it a more tailored look. Imagine buying a suit off the rack and then having one that is made specifically for you. And so that's what creasing 4 kind of does to any gift. It just lays the paper down on every angle of the box.

MARTIN: Canada got her start in the professional gift wrapping business 12 years ago at - where else? - a mall.

CANADA: A friend of mine who worked in the management office at a local mall approached me about doing the gift wrapping for that mall. And at the time, I had no gift wrapping experience at all. And that's what I said, like, I give my gifts in bags like everybody else. What are you talking about? And she says, well, no, you're very creative. You'll figure it out. And I was like, oh, snap. And that night I went home and like YouTubed (ph). And then I went to all different kinds of places and got gifts wrapped. And I would deconstruct them and kind of create my own way of doing things.

Thank you for choosing That's A Wrap! Yeah, that's exactly what we do. We wrap. No, you're calling from Toronto? No, we're in the U.S. We're - yes, we're in Atlanta, Ga.

This time of year is very busy as you can imagine. Everybody gifts this time of year. Gift wrapping has definitely - it was a lost art. I think it is definitely on the rise now. And I think that this business just naturally allows me to be around people that are celebrating something, someone they love or - you know, so their spirits are always very high when they come in.

OK. How cute is that?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I love it. Now I don't want her to open it.

CANADA: See?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: See (laughter).

CANADA: Just the thought of the wrapping itself, you know, like it just prolongs the experience. It creates an experience versus 5, you know, a gift bag is really all about, I didn't have time, the presentation of this was last-minute thought versus someone who took the time to either wrap it themselves or to get it professionally wrapped.

I like to ask my clients what kind of emotions they want to evoke 6 when the recipient 7 sees the gift. Do you want them to be happy, cry tears of joy, you know, laugh, feel nostalgic? And once I know that, then I know kind of what direction to go in. I can give this all of my attention and love. It's perfect.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PRESENTS FOR CHRISTMAS")

SOLOMON BURKE: (Singing) Christmas presents around the world.

MARTIN: Oh, I have get to rid of all my gift bags now and start wrapping. Professional gift wrapper Mia Canada of Atlanta, Ga.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PRESENTS FOR CHRISTMAS")

BURKE: (Singing) A present for everyone under one great big Christmas.