E-Commerce India - Online Gift Registry is here !

Inviting someone for an occasion personally is an Indian tradition. With onset of mobile phones and increasing travel distance between people, invitations were extended over phone calls. After e-mail has arrived, people just started sending scanned invitation cards. Attending the occasion, irrespective of the mode of invitation, is the norm in many places of India. But what about the gifts? Guests always had the choice of giving the gifts based on their perception of hosts interests and lifestyle. What if the hosts make that choice as well ?

That concept of 'gift registry' has arrived in India as well. The host can visit a gift registry portal, make a wish-list and share this list with the guests. The guests are obliged to buy those gifts for the host. Some such gift registry portals, which seem to be making an entry in India are mentioned below:

1	http://shareurjoy.com
2	http://lamhe.co.in
3	http://indiagiftregistry.com
4	http://wishberry.in

In a way, it makes absolute sense. How many times have we not got the gifts which we stash in a cup-board for long or worse, give it away to some one else? Instead, if we decide and let the other person know what we want, the gifts become completely usable and memories can be cherished. But being very modest people, due to our culture, environment and up-bringing, would we be able to make a bold wish-list? With metropolitan culture spreading around, there should definitely be a segment, which would create and share such wish-list.

From another perspective, it is just a small twist in the sale of gift items - context of occasion and wish-list. The e-commerce store should be able to sell more items when compared to plain selling of items. Wishberry site allows even creation of simple cash gift, where the host picks an amount for which a gift is required and the friends can pool money to provide that 'cash gift'. Shreurjoy site is designed with fantastic user experience including navigation and look & feel. But these sites seem to be not thoroughly tested or used much as there is some default test content seen around.

Technology has brought unimaginable convenience and comfort to the people, but bringing a change in culture or tradition is rare. Every change has resistance until adopted in abundance. What do you think?