Tokyo, Japan - LINE Yahoo Corporation, operator of the popular eCommerce platform Yahoo! Shopping, announced the launch of a new "Gift Function" aimed at revitalizing the gift market in Japan.
This feature allows users to send gifts to recipients without knowing their physical address, streamlining the process via SMS or email.
The Gift Function is available at participating stores that offer giftable products.
According to a survey conducted by Yahoo! Shopping, more than 57% of users have either purchased or considered purchasing gifts on the platform.
Popular items include candy, alcohol, and flowers during seasonal events such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas.
However, users often need help finding the right gifts, understanding how to send them, and obtaining the recipient's address.
The Gift feature aims to solve these problems by providing a seamless social gifting experience.
To use the feature, users select a gift from over 1 million products offered by participating stores by keyword search or browsing popular items by category or occasion on a dedicated web page.
After selecting the product, users click the "Send as Gift" button, which generates a URL they can share with the recipient via SMS, email, or LINE.
The recipient then enters the necessary information, such as address, through the URL provided.
Once the recipient completes the form, the sender receives a notification and proceeds with the standard purchase process.
Purchases made through the Gift feature are eligible for Yahoo! Shopping's regular promotions, such as "5% Every Day" (with payment limits and terms) and "Days of 5" promotions, which allow users to earn PayPay points.
Yahoo! Shopping can deliver gifts within 1-3 days from the order date by selecting products from the "Excellent Delivery" category, catering to last-minute gifting needs.
LINE Yahoo plans to encourage more stores to adopt the gifting feature.
It aims to enhance the platform by providing features that help users find and send gifts that delight recipients, even when their preferences are unknown.
The company aims to create a shopping environment that inspires users to send gifts casually throughout the year, beyond seasonal events.
