The modern customer demands a personalized experience, and that’s where product customization comes in. Also known as product personalization, product customization describes the process of delivering customized goods and services to customers.
In the eCommerce industry, customization has become increasingly popular. Brands on board with the trend position themselves strategically and gain an advantage over competitors.
So, why are so many Shopify stores adopting product customization, and how does this appear in real-life examples?
Product customization benefits both consumers and merchants, strengthening the business relationship while leaving both parties satisfied with the exchange. Consider the following benefits as an example.
Product customization doesn’t always have to be an elaborate exercise. In some instances, a small change can have a big impact. Consider the following practical and effective examples of product customization.
A drop-down menu allows customers to choose from a selection of product variants. No changes are made to the actual products. Instead, the aspect of personalization is incorporated by mixing and matching variants.
Drop-down menus work particularly well when a customer orders a batch of products.
Allowing them to build their own package lets them choose their favorite options, try new variants, and get creative with their choices.
The Cookie Crate’s “Build My Own Dozen” is a prime example of using a drop-down menu to personalize a shopping experience. Hungry customers can choose up to four different flavors of cookies, with the drop-down menu guiding them on available options. Rather than order 12 of the same cookies, customers can choose up to four flavors for themselves or as a delicious gift.
Upselling is an effective strategy to increase revenue and boost customer loyalty. Incorporating an upcharge option on a product choice set is an alternate way to upsell customers on a product by offering optional add-ons to the interested item.
By offering affordable and customized nice-to-haves and optional extras, merchants can boost sales while offering an exclusive product.
Applying an upcharge per product has become a popular tactic for gift items. Consider how Gigi & Olive incorporates an upcharge menu for their Picante Pre-mixed Cocktails. Customers can add a personalized note on the product page and wrap the bottle for a small fee.
Taking the customization one step further, the bespoke note is added in a text box, and the gift wrapping has two (different priced) options — while the actual product remains unchanged.
A little bit of text can go a long way in customizing a product. Adding someone’s name or chosen text to a product personalizes the item and makes it one-of-a-kind.
Personalizing the product is as simple as adding a text box with limited characters on the product page, and asking customers to fill in their preferred information.
Madison Iron & Wood sells personalized signs which are perfect for the home and personalized to the customer’s preferences. The information blocks are compulsory, ensuring that the customer provides the text and date for the sign.
The brand takes its customization efforts one step further by allowing customers to choose from various sizes and existing color options. While the sizes directly impact the price, the available colors are selected from a drop-down menu and have no impact on cost.
A color swatch allows customers to choose from a selection of pre-determined colors. In some instances, color swatches include different patterns, gradients, or tints.
Just as a customer may browse the shelf of an online store and choose a product in their preferred color, eCommerce merchants use a color swatch to achieve the same goal. Usually, a drop-down menu includes all available options, and the customer can select their favorite color. It’s useful to change the color of the demo product to indicate how the final product will appear depending on the chosen color.
Starlet Satin uses color swatches when selling their satin pillowcases. Customers can click on the different color boxes and customize their order based on their preferred variant.
Top tip: add a little bit of excitement to the name of each color to boost customer engagement!
File uploads kick personalization up a notch, creating an entirely unique product. Certain products can engrave or print a customized image using a photograph for reference.
Customers uploading files allows merchants to provide a personalized, visual product. For best results, photo guidelines should be stipulated on the product page.
As an example, Everpiece Jewelry sells personalized dog tag chains that are made to honor the memory of a beloved dog. Not only does the brand upcharge for text engraving, but customers can upload a photograph of their beloved pet and receive a lifelike image on a dog tag to cherish forever.
Having an intuitive, customizable experience boosts customer satisfaction and makes it easier for the merchant to manage the order.
Love Wrist sells Love Couple Bracelets with engraving, showing how different personalization options can work together to create a unique item. In this example, customers choose from three colors in a color swatch and add desired text in a text box. The end result is two matching bracelets with engraved text for him and her.
Giving your customers an opportunity to personalize their orders has never been easier.
Simply integrate Product Options & Customizers into your Shopify store and follow the prompts. With the Product Customizer plugin, you can add unlimited product variants, upcharge with add-on pricing, and increase average order value — while keeping your customers happy!
Ready to find out more? Add Products Options & Customizer to your Shopify store today.
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