My first memory of product customization was when I was about five years old at a gift shop on vacation searching for my name on a light-up keychain. The only thing I wanted for Christmas when I was 10 was a Nike ID gift card to design my gym shoes on their website and have my name put on the back of them. Then, I wanted a nameplate necklace for my 18th birthday because what’s cooler than wearing your name around your neck? Product customization has been around for decades, having customizable features on products makes them highly desirable to the consumer. Personalization offers consumers the opportunity to form an emotional connection with a particular product or brand. Customization is not going anywhere any time soon; it’s evolving and becoming even more popular.
Customization Revolutionized With AI Technology
Customization used to be limited to having your name or initials printed on a product. With advances in technology, companies can take personalization to the next level. Artificial intelligence (AI) will transform in-store experiences; It’ll even begin to give consumers the option to try on things like clothes and makeup virtually. This technology will streamline the customer’s shopping experience and let them avoid the annoyance of dressing rooms and testing makeup on the back of your wrist to make sure it will match your skin tone. We are accustomed to instant gratification. We don’t like standing in lines or even waiting a few extra seconds for something to load on our phones. Now, AI will implement the instant gratification we are all so fond of into our shopping experience daily.
Independent Retails Offer a More Customizable Experience
When searching for a customizable shopping experience consumers tend to lean towards smaller retailers and boutiques. We tend to think that local, independent stores are better equipped to create a unique shopping experience than larger retailers. Small retailers are more personable, they have fewer choices, and eliminate the overwhelming atmosphere of a department store. Small businesses have a hard time competing with the low prices that chains offer, but they can compete with higher quality customer service, personalized products and experiences. Customers are willing to overlook prices if they know they will have an enjoyable, personable shopping experience. This aspect will continue to benefit independent retailers as personalized experiences continue to become more popular.
Etsy Has Changed The Game
Sites like Etsy have revolutionized the customization game. Etsy is the host to millions of artists and gives them the platform to sell their creations to shoppers everywhere. The site has given shoppers access to all the small businesses and customizable products that they could ever dream of all on one app. Last year, Etsy’s creators sold $4.97billion in total in products. The best part of Etsy is that the majority of the products are customizable. Etsy gives the shopper the ability to message creators and ask if they could customize a specific product. They even have a feature on their site where you can only see shops that offer customizable items. You can customize anything from jewelry and candles to furniture and crystal whisky decanters. Since its founding in 2005, Etsy has been growing and supporting small creators, and it’s only up from here for them.
Over the years, customization has evolved from getting your name spray-painted on a hat at the boardwalk to now being able to personalize practically anything. Personalization is ever-changing with apps like Etsy, technology such as artificial intelligence and the increasing popularity of boutiques and small businesses. Be on the lookout for how you can create a customizable experience within your own business.
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