# Digital Gifting Online shoppers use digital media tools for gift ideas. By [Katherinev123](https://www.trendhunter.com/katherine), Contributing Editor | Published Jan 10, 2012, updated Jan 16, 2012 | Category: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/business-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/digital-gifting ## Key Figures - Trend score: 2.6/10 - Evidence articles: 7 ## What is the Digital Gifting trend? **Digital Gifting:** Many consumers will admit they're not very good gift shoppers. To help those who have trouble shopping for the ones they love are digital media tools that make it extremely easy to shop for presents. These tools, which range from social media-based apps to other helpful online tools, take the guesswork out of gifting so that shoppers can rest easy, but they also present an opportunity for brands to reach people who may have otherwise ignored them. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 7 featured examples - Articles from: Dec 26, 2010 to Dec 2, 2011 - Published: Jan 10, 2012 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence), [Reduction](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/reduction) - Megatrends: [Curation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/curation), [Gamification](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/gamification) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Themes within the Digital Gifting trend ### Digital Gifting Tools The rise of digital media tools for gifting presents provides an opportunity for brands to reach people who may have otherwise ignored them, making it a great trend for ecommerce companies to capitalize on. ### Social Media Gifting Online retailers looking to tap into the group gifting market can use plug-ins (such as The Gifts Project) to create social media-based gift giving that is incredibly convenient and attacts large groups of potential customers. ### Personalized Apps for Gifting The popularity of apps like Whimventory, which allows anyone who is interested in getting you a gift to see what you have been wanting, highlights a growing demand for personalized online tools that provide convenience in the gifting process. ## What the Digital Gifting trend means for industry ### For E-commerce The rise of digital gifting tools provides ecommerce companies with opportunities to increase sales and create a better user experience for their customers. ### For Social Media Marketing The increasing popularity of social media-based gift giving and personalized gifting apps highlights the value of marketing to consumers through social media channels. ### For M-commerce The rise of personalized apps for gifting demonstrates the growing importance of mobile commerce and the need to provide customers with convenient mobile-based solutions for their needs. ## Trend signals for Digital Gifting Trend score 2.6 out of 10, from popularity 39%, activity 31%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 39% - Activity: 31% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Digital Gifting trend 7 featured examples from Dec 26, 2010 to Dec 2, 2011. - [Miniature Vintage Photo Albums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/printstagram): Printstagram Turns Digital Instagram Photos into Physical Gifts (Category: Tech) Implication: Innovating the e-commerce industry by creating an affordable and personalized gift option for social media users. - [Coffee-Branded Holiday Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-lets-merry): The Starbucks 'Let's Merry' Site is Dedicated to Christmas (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Food and beverage companies can create holiday-themed online hubs to promote their products and engage customers with exclusive deals and offers. - [Social Media Coffee Gifts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-card-egift): The Starbucks Card eGift Program is for Any Occasion (Category: Business) Implication: The retail industry can adopt digital gift card programs like the Starbucks Card eGift program to enhance the online shopping experience and attract more customers. - [Group Gifting Plug-Ins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-gifts-project): The Gifts Project Uses Facebook to Arrange Online Group Gift Giving (Category: Business) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunities include implementing plug-ins and features that enable online retailers to tap into the group gifting market. - [Virtual Twitter Gifts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gift-a-follower): Gift a Follower to Your Most Loyal Tweep and Say Thank You (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Companies that specialize in online sales of goods and services, such as Amazon and Alibaba. - [Terrific Gifting Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whimventory-web-app): Whimventory Web App Lets You Create a Universal Wishlist (Category: Tech) Implication: E-commerce companies have the opportunity to integrate universal wishlist creation into their websites in order to simplify the gift-giving process for customers. - [Tweetable Gifting Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/giftee): Giftee Lets You Reward Your Followers With Real-World Gifts (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: E-commerce businesses can explore opportunities to integrate real-world social gifting services into their platforms, allowing users to purchase and send gifts to their followers… ## Recent trend clusters - [Assisted Conversion](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ai-assisted-checkout) (Business) - [Occasion Commerce](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/occasion-commerce) (Business) - [Autonomous Merchandising](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autonomous-merchandising) (Business) - [Assisted Choices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/weight-loss-medication-support) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Business - [Performance-Based Creator Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creator-ad-platforms) - [MIami Pop-Culture Shirts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miami-pop-culture-shirts) - [Natural Deodorant Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/target-beauty-studios) - [Mini Beauty Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-luxuries-store) All articles: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business)