Instead of writing “Happy Birthday” on a friend’s timeline on Facebook, users can now send actual gifts right to their friend’s doorstep through the new program launched by the social media juggernaut.
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The program, according to Facebook, appears to be pretty simple. Registered Facebook users can pick out a gift from either a birthday reminder notification or from a friend’s timeline. Users can add a message and it will be ready to ship.
According to Facebook no address is needed. The friend receiving the gift will be notified instantly where they can enter shipping information, swap out a size, color or style before the item is shipped to them. Once those steps are completed, the gift will be delivered to the receiver’s doorstep, just in time for the holidays.
The Facebook news section states, “Every day, millions of people share special moments with their friends on Facebook by saying “Happy Birthday,” “Congratulations,” or simply, “I’m thinking of you.” Now there is another way to celebrate those moments.”
Facebook says “hundreds of gifts” are currently available with more scheduled to be added everyday including “cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, a stuffed animal from Gund, or a digital gift card from Starbucks.”
Although the feature is not available to every user on Facebook yet, it soon will be. For some selected users, they will see a new tab on the Timeline that says “Gift.” By clicking on the icon, users will be directed to the gift section of the site where they can start shopping.
The gift program is also expected to be offered through the Facebook app on Android phones, according to article in USA Today. The app, the article states, “is being pushed out randomly to a small slice of Facebook users in the U.S. An iPhone app is expected to come within weeks.”
Erin Lynch is the associate editor at Multichannel Merchant. Erin can be reached at 203-358-3755 or by emailing her at [email protected]. You can also follow her on Twitter at @LynchMCM or on LinkedIn.