Software Review: Gift Reggie

Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed in this article and video are based on our personal observations and experiences with Gift Reggie. While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information, the experiences described may not be representative of all users. This article and video do not make any definitive claims about the practices of specific registry services or features. This review is intended to provide a personal perspective on the service and should not be construed as a statement of fact. I encourage readers to conduct their own research and evaluations before forming opinions or making decisions based on this review.
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Our registry service handles 80,000 gift and wedding registries. We often come across other registry software and observe how it affects the merchants who use it.

While eating breakfast and browsing the web via my phone, I recently came across RFD, a merchant in Albany, NY, that uses Gift Reggie (an app added to a Shopify Store).

I observed 21 potential challenges with Gift Reggie's registry service when considering the perspectives of gift givers, registrants, and merchants. I initially wrote those observations down on a tablecloth. I've outlined some of these below. Notably, Shop Local's registry software does not have these same challenges.

Details:

• Please find the store's registry home page here: https://rfdny.com/apps/giftregistry.
• Please find the registry list I reviewed here: https://rfdny.com/apps/giftregistry/registry/237376?_r=1&utm_source=gift_reggie&utm_medium=gift_reggie&utm_campaign=gift_reggie&utm_content=237376.

Gift Reggie: 21 Potential Challenges in the Service For Gift Givers, Registrants, & Merchants

Gift Reggie: Gift Giver’s Experience (E.g. Friend or family member giving the gift) -- Six challenges: 

1. Gift givers may experience difficulty in finding the registrant's gift list because the service doesn't rank as well in Google, and the merchant's registry homepage doesn't display current registries by default. The gift giver must search for the registrant with an exact name match.
2. The registry lists items that are both needed and not needed together, which can make it harder for the gift giver to navigate. 
3. To view larger pictures of items on the gift list, the gift giver needs to leave the registry page.
4. To see a gift's dimensions or other additional details about an item, the gift giver must navigate away from the registry list.
5. The checkout process doesn't indicate that the purchase is a gift, which could lead to a lower likelihood of completing the purchase.
6. There is no field for a gift message during checkout, limiting the gift giver's ability to personalize the purchase.

Gift Reggie: Registrant’s Experience (E.g. Bride) -- Six challenges: 

1. Due to the limitations of the software, registrants may receive fewer gifts.
2. Due to the limitations of the software, gift givers may experience frustration with the service, potentially leading to dissatisfaction with the overall gifting process.
3. The checkout system does not allow a gift message to be included, so the registrant may not receive a personalized message with the gift.
4. There are limited options for the registrant to promote their registry. For example, tools for sharing the registry are not easily accessible.
5. The service does not seem to include an online accounting system for tracking gifts received, which could make it more difficult for the registrant to manage their gifts.
6. If a gift is being shipped to the registrant, their address must be publicly accessible, which may raise privacy concerns.

Gift Reggie: Merchant’s Experience (E.g. Store owner or manager) -- Nine challenges: 

1. Due to the limitations of the software and the consideration of the gift giver's experience shared above, merchants may receive fewer orders.
2. Gift givers and registrants may not be fully satisfied with their experience, which could result in negative reviews.
3. Merchants may need to spend more time contacting gift givers to confirm whether they would like to include a gift message.
4. Merchants may have to spend more time manually updating all of the product information offered in the registry service. (Shop Local’s Syncing service provides this functionality.)
5. Merchants may face issues with selling items at incorrect prices due to the lack of automatic price syncing. (Shop Local’s Syncing service helps mitigate this problem.)
6. Merchants may receive fewer orders due to the absence of built-in marketing tools to encourage registrants to promote their registry.
7. Merchants may find the service less user-friendly, as it does not seemingly integrate fully with Shopify. (Gift Reggie is not built by Shopify. It's a separate service.)
8. Merchants may face additional workload due to the absence of brand partnerships within the service.
9. Merchants may need coding or technical skills to add the service to their website.

Jordyn, my colleague, made this helpful video showing the challenges above: 
https://vimeo.com/928599676/011fccc99c

A business may assume that since Gift Reggie is a Shopify app, it must be a suitable solution. However, as highlighted in the above assessment, the app may not meet all the needs of merchants and customers. There are thousands of Shopify apps, and their quality can vary significantly.

Shop Local: 21 Ways the Service Helps Gift Givers, Registrants, & Merchants

Shop Local: Gift Giver’s Experience (E.g. Friend or family member giving the gift) -- Six solutions:

1. Gift givers can more easily find the registrant’s gift list, as the service helps merchants rank higher on Google, and the registry homepage displays current registries by default. No need to search for an exact name match.
2. Items that are needed and not needed are clearly separated, making it easier for the gift giver to navigate.
3. Gift givers can view larger images of items without leaving the registry page.
4. All item details, including dimensions, are available directly on the registry page, eliminating the need to navigate away from the list.
5. The checkout process clearly indicates that the purchase is a gift, increasing the likelihood of completed purchases.
6. A gift message field is included during checkout, allowing the gift giver to personalize their purchase.

Shop Local: Registrant’s Experience (E.g. Bride) -- Six solutions:

1. Thanks to the user-friendly features, registrants are likely to receive more gifts, as the process is easier for gift givers.
2. The seamless checkout process and other helpful features make the gift-giving experience more enjoyable for friends and family, leading to positive feedback.
3. Gift messages can be included with gifts, ensuring that registrants receive personalized notes.
4. The service offers easy-to-use tools for registrants to promote their gift list, including multiple “share registry” options and suggestions.
5. Registrants can easily track the gifts they’ve received through an integrated online accounting system.
6. The service prioritizes privacy, allowing the registrant to hide their address when gifts are being shipped.

Shop Local:  Merchant’s Experience (E.g. Store owner or manager) -- Nine solutions: 

1. Due to the service’s ease of use for gift givers, merchants are likely to receive more orders.
2. The convenience of the service increases satisfaction among gift givers and registrants, leading to more positive reviews.
3. Merchants receive the gift message and details automatically via purchase alert email, reducing the need to contact gift givers for clarification.
4. Shop Local’s Syncing service ensures that product information is updated automatically, saving merchants time.
5. Price updates are handled automatically with Shop Local's Syncing service, ensuring gifts are sold at the correct price.
6. Merchants benefit from built-in marketing tools to encourage registrants to promote their gift lists.
7. Merchants find the Shop Local service easy to use because it's built by the same company that makes the shopping cart. The registry and cart are designed to work together by the same software company.
8. Shop Local’s service includes brand partnerships, which reduces the merchant's workload.
9. Merchants do not need technical or coding skills to add the service to their website.

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You're invited to learn more about our registry service here:
https://www.shoplocal.org/retailer-online-gift-and-wedding-registry

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gift reggie review wedding registry software shopify

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