ABOUT ARONA
According to Harpers & Queen I was the world’s first gift wrapping consultant. In fact I started wrapping at the age of 3 ½! My grandmother came to stay and not long afterwards her lingerie disappeared only to reappear wrapped in neat little parcels. I had begun gift wrapping!I’ve developed many quick and easy techniques since then and now, if there isn’t time to watch a DVD or attend a training course you can watch my pay to view videos. So, whether for business or pleasure you can wrap gifts or create hampers and gift baskets that look too good to open wherever you are in the world!
My passion for this art form has resulted in me sharing my tips and techniques around the UK and Europe, across the United States and in Japan where I was described as the world’s foremost gift wrapping expert. What an honour. So too was an invitation to train the Prime Minister’s staff at 10 Downing Street.
In addition to training courses, workshops and seminars and demonstrations for corporate and private clients, I have operated gift wrapping services in several locations. In Hamleys toy store in London my way of wrapping a teddy bear proved so popular that customers started buying them so they could have the wrap! The prize for the oddest item to be wrapped goes to a box of Kleenex at Heathrow Airport. The reason why it was wrapped would not be out of place in a thriller!
I design and create wrapped items for a variety of projects. Two of the most challenging involved working with the director Daniel Barber on campaigns for VISA. Wrapping a shoe while retaining its shape stands out as do the mugs for the winter Olympics. I thought I was being so witty wrapping them with a feather trim around the top to look like fur. I forgot that the scene involved four burly skaters. Oops!
I’ve shown lots of quick and easy ways to wrap presents on television in the UK and overseas. Recently I appeared on BBC’s The One Show and BBC Breakfast but the scariest was live on television when I had to wrap a bottle of red wine on the arm of a chair. What were they thinking! Luckily I didn’t drop it. Less stressful was being invited on Ready Steady Cook. I was the first and possibly only person to bring on their ingredients in a wrapped box rather than a carrier bag!
In 2012 I added another string to my bow: Fascinator Masterclasses for hen parties, girly get togethers and birthdays. I also create bespoke designs for weddings, other special celebrations and days at the races.
Paperworld in Frankfurt, Germany is the world’s largest trade show for paper and stationery supplies. In January 2013 I was delighted to be the first person ever invited to give presentations at the show. I was happy to demonstrate my techniques each day which were enthusiastically watched by large audiences of retailers and exhibitors from around the globe.
Best wishes!
Arona
PS: If you need some background information about my work for an upcoming event or publication please click here.
