Shopify Gift Wrapping and Personalisation: Adding Custom Options at Checkout

Why Gift Options Increase AOV and Repeat Purchases

Customers buying gifts are less price-sensitive and more experience-focused. They are willing to pay a premium for gift wrapping, personalised notes, and packaging upgrades because these options reduce their work and increase the perceived value of the gift. For stores in gifting categories — homeware, jewellery, beauty, food, clothing — adding gift options is one of the highest-ROI checkout additions available.

Options for Adding Gift Wrapping

Method 1: Create a “Gift Wrapping” product with a price (e.g. £4.99) and enable customers to add it to their cart separately. This is the simplest approach but requires manual coordination at fulfilment — the packer must check which orders include the gift wrapping product.

Method 2: Use the Product Options feature (available via Shopify’s theme section or the Product Options and Variants app) to add a gift wrapping checkbox to the product page. This is cleaner for the customer but requires app support for complex logic like “gift wrap all items in order” vs “gift wrap this item only”.

Method 3: Add gift wrapping at checkout using Checkout Extensions (Plus) or a cart customisation app. The customer checks a box during checkout, the upsell is added to the order, and a note is attached to the order for the fulfilment team.

Personalised Gift Messages

Adding a gift message field is simpler than gift wrapping. In Shopify, go to Settings → Checkout → Gift options. Enable “Allow gift messages”. This adds a text field at checkout where buyers can write their message. The message appears in the order details and can be included in packing slips.

Print gift messages on branded cards, not plain paper. The presentation matters to the recipient — a beautifully designed gift card with a personal message elevates the entire experience. Include your store URL on the card so recipients can purchase for themselves.

Custom Engraving and Personalisation

For personalised products (engraved jewellery, embroidered clothing, custom print items), add text input fields to the product page using Product Options apps. Capture the personalisation text before the customer adds to cart, include it in the line item properties, and display it in the packing slip and production workflow.

Apps that handle complex personalisation: Infinite Options (simple text fields, dropdowns), Customize My Product (preview builder for print-on-demand), and PCB (Product Customizer Builder) for fully custom visual product builders.

Fulfilment Workflow for Gift Orders

Every gift option added to checkout is worthless if fulfilment does not execute it correctly. Create a clear workflow: orders with gift wrapping are tagged automatically in Shopify (via flow automation), a packing list filter shows gift orders separately, and gift wrap station is a designated part of the packing bench. Test the workflow with 10 internal test orders before a seasonal campaign.

Seasonal Gift Campaigns

Promote gift options actively during gift seasons. Create a “Gift Guide” collection page, add a “Perfect as a gift” badge to suitable products, and email your list about gift wrapping availability before Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day. The best stores see 15–25% of peak season orders include a gift option — that is significant incremental revenue from a small operational addition.