The Golden Wrap is a gifting company born out of Sapna Koshy’s passion for creativity. Founded in 2012, the brand has become a go-to choice for corporate, wedding, and celebration gifts. Sapna began as a ‘one-man army’ and has now grown the company to a team of seven.
The art of gifting memories
After the birth of their child, her family moved to Coimbatore. They had to start their lives from scratch. She wanted to contribute to the household in some way, but Sapna had limited options. “We had no one to look after our 1-year-old in this new city, so going to a regular office job was out of the question. Having fewer choices was actually a good thing; it gave me the idea to do something creative and niche from the comfort of my home. I could earn a little money and provide some financial support while giving my 100% to the family.”
The name, Sapna explains, was a spur-of-the-moment thing. “I started this venture as a hobby. I didn’t put much thought into the name because I didn’t know how long I would be doing this. I picked the word ‘golden’ to convey a sense of luxury and premium quality, and ‘wrap’ for the gifting aspect. We have trademarked our name and it has become our identity, since we provide genuine, premium products,” she smiles.
Crafting moments, not just gifts
She started small, creating a few hampers for birthdays or special occasions. Social media wasn’t widely used at the time, which turned out to be a blessing. She used Facebook groups to market herself, as Instagram and WhatsApp weren’t popular yet. “I found out that I apparently ran a niche company! Personalised gift hampers were unique back then, which sent people my way. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would become a full-fledged business. Today, our quality has improved, we keep up with trends, and we offer completely personalised solutions for corporate and special events.” However, no journey comes without its roadblocks.
Challenges: professional and personal
Sapna talks about the challenges in setting up a company. “Like most startups, I started with one simple thing: an idea. I had to work hard to find resources in a city I knew nothing about. I don’t have a background in business, and I had no one to guide me through the process. How to find vendors, how to market myself, how to get clients, how to charge for my time and efforts—all of these were questions I had to find answers to. Every day was a series of trial and error. Every day, I learned something new about myself and about running a company. It was also learning to strike the right work-life balance. I was working well and getting into the groove, but that came with a lot of personal sacrifices. I never gave up, though, there was never a moment of doubt that this was something I wanted to pursue!” She takes us behind the scenes of the company’s workings.
A look behind the wrap
The Golden Wrap team works hard to achieve short turnaround times. “We plan a realistic timeline and convey that to our clients. I have an amazing, dedicated team, all of whom are willing to pitch in extra hours if there is a time crunch. From the beginning, I have been clear on two things: clear communication and deadlines. I won’t deny it, there have been delays due to unforeseen circumstances, but we let the clients know immediately, whatever the situation. Customer experience is the top priority for us, whether it’s the variety of products to choose from, the price range, the friendly staff, or the ability to share thoughts and ideas and get them executed effortlessly.”
In a market saturated with gifting companies, The Golden Wrap stands out. The team aims to provide a seamless experience from the initial interactions to ideation, from placing the order to delivery. They ensure that the customers are satisfied, so they can return to a place they fully trust, where they can communicate freely and receive the best quality results. “Unlike a regular gift shop, we don’t have a stock of products. When someone comes to us with their gifting requirements, we offer 100% customised, personalised solutions. Every gift that leaves our office is made to order. Before anything else, we discuss their requirements: the occasion, the budget, and other things, before designing appropriate hampers. Gifting is an emotional process, and the clients view us as partners, not just vendors,” she describes proudly.
Delivering boxes of joy
Having been in the business for over 10 years, Sapna reflects on the changes she has noticed over time. “Earlier, hampers used to have the same stock products: sweets, dry fruits, chocolates, or wine. Today, people prefer useful gifts like artisanal products, wellness kits, or tech accessories. Clients want the gifts to feel personal—engraved names, customised packaging, and an overall curated experience. Over the last decade, gifting has evolved from mass-produced hampers to premium, personalised, and eco-conscious experiences. It’s not just gifting products anymore; it’s an experience. Presentation and storytelling matter just as much as the gifts. Costs have risen, but so has the perceived value.”
On the topic of customer feedback, Sapna looks back at the positive and the negative. She shares feedback that made her rethink her entire process. One client told her that the hampers were beautiful, but it felt like there was too much packaging for too little inside the box. Another client told her that the hampers didn’t feel like promotional gifts; they felt like delightful experiences. “Both of these made me rethink how we wanted to position ourselves in the market—not just as a gifting company, but as curators of moments and memories. It pushed us to design meaningful, thoughtful, useful hampers as part of a story.”
Heritage as an anchor to modernity
Looking ahead, Sapna wants The Golden Wrap to be the first name people think of for gifting solutions, whether it’s a festival, a wedding, or a corporate celebration. Indians are big on gifting; it is woven into culture, festivals and relationships. The balance between traditional sentiment and modern aspiration is driving the gifting industry at the moment. She aims to build a brand rooted in Indian tradition, while speaking a global design language. “The winning formula is to retain tradition as an anchor, elevating it with modern design, premium quality, and personalisation. My dream is to see our gifts spark joy across generations, and that the brand stands for bespoke gifts made just for you!”
A gilded journey
The Golden Wrap partners with several small businesses. Sapna mentions this specifically as she has the lived experience of being a small business herself. She understands the struggle of having to start a brand from scratch, which makes her encourage people who have the talent, vigour and passion towards their craft, especially women. “Trying to grow a business teaches you a big lesson: you cannot do it alone. You need other people, you need their talents, and you need their support,” she says passionately.
From starting as a solo home-based project to running a full-blown business has been quite the journey for Sapna. She admits, in the beginning, she strove for perfection, only to realise it can be paralysing. Her hampers had heart, which proved to be more important than them being “just right”. When asked about what drives her every day, she puts it poignantly, “What I love the most about my work is the lack of monotony. Every day, every client interaction, every gift is different, and the challenges they bring are priceless. Doing something unique daily gives me an adrenaline rush. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”
