Believe it or not, there was a time when virtually every product was made to order, personalized to fit the customer’s exact specifications. Before the Industrial Revolution, before the era of mass production, every shirt, hat, or pair of shoes was tailored to provide a snug fit for a specific buyer.
Of course, those days are long past… and that’s exactly what makes it so meaningful when you’re able to provide your customers with a personalized touch. And if you’ve got a print on demand e-commerce shop, there are lots of personalization tools that you can use to customize orders and to help your customers feel truly special.
Why Personalization Tools Matter
When you first browse through a print-on-demand product catalog, it may seem overwhelming. There are hundreds of products to choose from and each of them come in a variety of colors and sizes. To help, we’re sharing the top 5 products of 2020. Whether you’re just starting to dip your toes into print-on-demand or you’re an established business owner, these products are a proven and marketable success for any online store.
- Personalization tools allow your customers to buy the perfect gifts, ensuring that the product or the piece of apparel they purchase really shows the recipient that they care. (For example, personalization tools allow your buyers to purchase a Mother’s Day gift and provide it with a special message just for their mom.)
- Personalization tools also allow your customers to customize products to fit with a specific theme, campaign, cause, or season.
- Likewise, with personalization tools, you can create your own pop-up and promotional events, generating excitement about your various product options.
These are just a few of the reasons why we think personalization tools can be a tremendous asset to your print on demand platform. The question is, which tools should you consider?
Our Picks for the Top Personalization Tools
At Gooten, we often hear from partners who are asking this very question. There are a number of third-party personalization apps that we’re happy to recommend. A few of our top choices include:
Zakeke
With the Zakeke platform, you can create a uniquely immersive shopping experience, allowing your customers an easy, visual way of seeing their products and personalizing them however they like. Real-time 2D, 3D, and AR options are available. If you’re looking for a way to make your product offerings feel less static or lifeless, Zakeke is definitely a tool that we can recommend.
Customily
Customily offers a number of features that we like. For one, the platform allows you to build your own personalization template for each item that you list. There is also a great real-time preview feature, making it easy for your customers to visualize exactly what their personalized product will look like. Also note that, in providing customers with an exact preview of their order, Customily can help you increase satisfaction while decreasing returns. Definitely a personalization tool to consider!
Shopify Apps
There are a number of Shopify apps that you can use to enable product customization; there are so many, in fact, that you might benefit from reading a comprehensive guide.
We’ll highlight just two Shopify apps that we’ve used here at Gooten, and that we’ve recommended to our partners.
1. Product Personalizer
First, there’s Product Personalizer, which provides customers with unlimited options for customization, and gives them a live preview function so that they can see exactly what their personalized product is going to look like. We like this one so much because, though it offers a ton of options, the interface is very streamlined and intuitive. It offers a positive customer experience every time.
2. Infinite Options
With Infinite Options, you can indeed create an unlimited number of custom product fields, ranging from text to numbers to calendars to dropdown menus. There are also customized swatches that let customers make products their own. A great app for anyone who uses Shopify.
Learn More About Personalizing Your E-Commerce Offerings
Product personalization is one of the very best ways to improve the user experience, to boost customer loyalty, and even to decrease refund and return requests. As you pursue product personalization options, there are plenty of apps and platforms to consider.
Do you have questions about personalization tools? We’re always happy to talk with our partners, and to help them find the best ways to serve their customers. Feel free to reach out any time you’d like to talk about personalizing your e-commerce options.
