Now that I have a rough idea about user concerns and possible solutions, I wanted to understand how competitors are approaching these concerns. I like to aggregate insights and possible solutions before doing competitor analysis because by seeing the solutions and approaches in the competitors’ apps we/ can reinforce or weaken certain ideas.
Here is some data gathered from competitors
| | How do they help choose gifts? | How do they help personalize?
(how to help the user know what the giftee wants) | How do they help address delivery time concerns? | How do they help address budget concerns? | How do they deliver? | Reminder to gift? | Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Giftagram | - categories list
- search list | no | no | - navigation and a list with fixed 50-100, 100+$ | - send a text and have the giftee enter an address
- or enter address | no | - gift delivered to the giftee
- they enter the address yourself | UI wasn't very appealing
missing many of the features needed per research |
| Goody | - feelings filter
- values filter
- category filter | - giftee creates a wishlist and shares it with friends | - text to the giftee
- they will know when it gets delivery | - swap with equal or lesser value | - send a text and have the giftee enter an address | - upcoming tab with notifications
- imported contacts | - good UI, but too busy
- built-in network effect | UI is crowded |
| Giftful | - bring your own link from anywhere
- suggested links
- public/ private accounts of people where they create their own wishlists
| - gifters claim and buy the gift on the 3rd party site. | - delegated to external links | - does not address | - delegated to external links | no | - no need to create your own e-commerce web app
- easy onboarding with links to items from other e-commerce platforms
- good UI | - willingness to create a wishlist is questionable
- giftee should already have the app |
| Givingli | - shop tab
- e-gifts, e-cards
- categories are based on feelings, not occasion
- Search | - the gifter can send gift cards
- the giftee can swap the gift sent for anything else of the same or lesser value | - delegated to external links like Amazon
- the address is entered by the giftee
- giftee is notified when gift arrives | - no filter
but you can see the price and set the price of the gift card
- the giftee can exchange for the same or lesser value | - send a text and have the giftee enter an address | yes
- birthday/ holiday fixed filter
- linked to contacts
- monthwise reminder | - beautiful interactions
- able to send gifts digitally with a card and message
- built-in network effects | - this is mostly to send gift cards and is very limited for actual physical gifts
- giftee should already have the app |
| Giftata | - discover tab | - save find profiles
- a long list of info about them | - delegated to external links like Amazon | - price range
- retailer selection
- minimum rating filters | - delegated to external links | - import calendar
- enable notifications | - claimed to use AI | - this is mostly to send gift cards and is very limited for actual physical gifts |
Insights from competitor analysis
- There were many more corporate gifting services than retail services
- Even though this problem seemed like an old problem, startups around this are pretty young with most in their series A round of funding
- Gift registries for occasions were originally a Western concept. Just as tipping culture varies around the world, the gifting culture also has subtle variations