In the spectrum of gift-giving, you’ve got the meticulously delicate unravelers and the slightly aggressive giftwrap shuckers. Regardless of where you fall on the scale, those 60 seconds of hold-your-breath excitement(!) before the present-reveal is what Delightfully aims to capitalize on.
The process is simple. First, pick a gift. If you’re out of ideas, Delightfully gives you the option to choose from a curated selection of gifts more traditional or quirky, from Amazon gift cards to gluten-free food baskets. Next, upload photos. Once you’ve added a gift (or have your own), you can access your content straight from your desktop or mobile device. Gift givers can choose to “wrap” their electronic gift certificate with a collage of personal photos, or even guide their recipient along a treasure hunt through a virtual map. (See examples here.) After writing a personal note, the recipient will receive an email from you directly with a link to their gift.
Delightfully prompts people to take the time to select photographs as a way of digitally covering up a gift. For just $3, you can maintain the anticipation, excitement, and surprise of the present. What about the faux paus gift card dilemma? This model also provides a way to alleviate the fear of being labeled “that guy who took the easy way out in the checkout line at the grocery store.” With this service, they’ll know you’ve taken the time to put together a thoughtful way to present the gift.
Co-founded by Jason Shin, Gina Luciano, and James Barabas, Delightfully truly aims to make every gift a memorable one. One fundamental difference with this startup is the foundation on which they operate. “We’re capitalizing on a way to bring joy to people and are much more motivated by the smiles that we put on people’s faces than the frowns we remove,” shares Gina Luciano. So far, they’ve received incredible responses, ranging from “simple genuine remarks” to stories on how their e-gift wrapping “strengthened and renewed relationships.” In the next few years, the team plans to build out channel partnerships with merchants, create more templates for more gift wrap options, and continue to build their customer base.
“Technology like this can further mediate our experiences with each other. It can also bring us closer together,” explains Luciano. Whether you’re surprising your best friend with tickets to see Lady Gaga or just letting someone know you care, a simple effort can really go a long way.
To get moving on your holiday e-gifting, visit Delightfully’s website and join their mailing list for updates on their latest news.