Trend: Gift Registry 2.0

Users can create a personalized wishlist with items from any site on the internet.

Trend Description:
Gift Registries 2.0 allow users to pull all their wishes together which might occure while surfing the internet. Most big online retailers and department stores have been featuring an online gift registry, next to the more traditional „wedding table“ at the store for years, but well, that is just ONE store. Gift Registry 2.0 allows to tag and list items across every single e-commerce site. That might not be quite as good as a personal genie, but when shared with the right friends and family-members, many wishes will come true. And consumers who thought they might have it all, might also find inspiration by surfing other users’ wish lists.

Cases:

The Things I Want
The Things I Want is one of the most advanced Gift Registry 2.0 sites. Users can create a variety of wish lists and pull together products and services from really any site on the Internet. Consumers simply have to register and bookmark the site. Whenever they come across an item they would like to have, they simply click the TTIW bookmark and an automated “bot” will grab all the product information, including price, picture and URL – which than can be shared with future gift givers. Items can also be ranked (must have, love to have, like to have) and tagged, which allows users to check out other users lists with similar wishes (if those are not password restricted). Another great feature is, that users can lock themselves out from seeing what people already purchased for them.

Wish Bin
WishBin is another online gift network. Users can create different wish lists for a variety of occasions (birthday, baby shower, wedding, etc.). While browsing the Internet they simply can add items by adding the product URL into the Product URL box and clicking on Add Item. Users can also download the WishBin Toolbar to simplify the process of adding items. All wish lists can easily be shared with friends and families, so called “buddies”. Users can’t browse wish lists of people who are not on their buddy-list. WishBin is free. Right now WishBin supports 27 online retailers and promise to add new retailers when requested by users in within 48 hours (if the retailer agrees).

My Registry
My Registry works similar to the above Gift Registry 2.0 sites. Users can My Registry offers also a selection of links for the actual party-invitations and accessories for weddings, baby-showers, graduations, anniversaries, etc. The creators of My Registry also took some time to design special email invitations to announce the registry. SMS gift alerts let users instantly know when a gift from the wish list has been purchased. And there is also a photo gallery to share memories of the actual event or party.

Trend Impact:
Gift Registry 2.0 is a great concept to spur business and ecommerce. It might be a little embarrassing to tell people in person what you expect them to give you, but it seems to be acceptable - and of course less binding - to send an invitation to an online wish list. As a gift giver you just have to choose, click and buy. How easy is that? Plus, you can be sure, that you will give a great gift! Special features like tagging and ranking items enhance the social networking potential of Gift Registry 2.0 and also open up new possibilities for marketing companies to feature their products.

The Things I Want

WishBin

My Registry

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