Etsy introduces video gifting feature

New video gifting feature on Etsy (Image: Etsy).

Etsy Inc. expands the digital options offered to gift buyers.

In an email to The age of the store chaina spokesperson for the online retailer, which has been working hard to establish itself as the premier gift shopping destination since January 2024, said customers shopping for gifts can now send a video message to the intended recipient.

Over the next few days, video messages will be available for some buyers during the checkout process for items marked as a gift. The feature will be fully rolled out in the coming weeks. Here’s how it works:

• Gift buyers can send an instant or scheduled notification to the recipient letting them know something is on the way.
• Shoppers have the option to reveal the gift in the notification or leave it as a surprise.
• Customers can create a personalized written note, and now a video message, for the recipient.

“This all makes it easier to make a choice make small purchases, even when you are short of time” a spokesman said in an email. “At Etsy, we are working to level the playing field for small businesses to compete in today’s e-commerce landscape.”

Etsy Provides Gift Mode Guidelines for Presenters

Etsy’s gifting initiative also includes its February 2024 decision to name the talk show host, actress and co-founder of health and beauty product line Barrymore Brands Drew Barrymore for the honorary position of director of gifts.

According to Etsy, Barrymore is on a mission to share tips, tricks and inspiration for finding the perfect gifts, as well as revealing her favorite Etsy product gift recommendations from sellers around the world. A dedicated page on Etsy features curated recommendations from Barrymore categorized by gift recipient type.

Barrymore also plays an active role in the promotion Etsy Gift Mode, an AI-powered shopping hub, launching on the Etsy app and e-commerce site in January 2024, that combines AI and a human touch to help shoppers find the right gift for every occasion.

Once a gift mode customer enters a few details about the person they’re buying for, Etsy uses machine learning (ML) technology to match gift buyers with curated/unique items from Etsy sellers, categorized by over 200 recipients.

According to Etsy, it will continue to refine and enhance the Gifting Mode experience, introduce new features, and expand offerings to serve the needs of gift-givers.