Imagine almost any popular gift—jewelry, clothing, home décor, even food—and there’s a good chance that someone, somewhere has figured out how to enhance it with a digital image. It’s no surprise the personalized photo print gift market is robust.
Looking for a culinary novelty for dad on Father’s Day? The outdoor chef will love a potholder depicting special family memories. How hard is it to find a wedding shower gift that is truly unique?
Consider a custom umbrella adorned with the happy couple’s engagement photo. What mother could resist a sterling silver necklace with her favorite photo embedded in a tiny bead?
A Selection of Personalized Photo Print Gifts
Customodish: Unique Photo Jewelry
Customodish is a photo jewelry design company based in Columbia, Missouri. It specializes in “projection” jewelry. It’s a photo novelty craze currently flooding online Etsy shops. Each piece of jewelry is designed around a single, molded-plastic lens that looks like a small bead. The customer’s image is embedded on one side of the bead and enlarged when projected through the other side. Consumers can see their imbedded images by holding the beads up to a smartphone camera lens or by shining a bright light source through the bead.
This projection effect is achieved using microphotography, according to Steve Rowe of Esco Optics, in Oak Ridge, New Jersey. “A 3mm piece of artwork is inset on the plano (or flat side) of the lens. It works like a mask, blocking some of the light and allowing the (image) to illuminate on a wall or other surface. By using a light source such as your smartphone flashlight to illuminate the lens, it projects an image on nearby objects. The lens also enlarges the artwork so it is clearly visible at a legible size.”
Founded in 2016, Customodish was an early supplier of projection jewelry. Their extensive collections feature sterling silver and 18K gold-plated projection necklaces; bracelets; keychains and rings; and braided rope projection bracelets. They also offer a variety of more conventional photo-engraved necklaces and personalized nameplates.
Fujifilm Personalized Photo Products
Fujifilm North America has offered personalized photo gifts for two decades. They provide high-quality printed products from photo calendars to mugs. As a popular supplier in the photofinishing market, Fujifilm continues to expand its inventory as well as services for consumers. They are also adding a new line of customizable products for small business owners in retail and online sales.
In the consumer space, Fujifilm’s Personalized Photo Products Group (PPPG) produces literally millions of orders a day. Moreover, it routes gift orders through Fujifilm labs in Greenwood, South Carolina, and Portland, Oregon—delivering finished products to its retail partners, independent photo labs or directly to consumers.
Customers can choose from among 250 distinct photo products currently available. They can place orders via Fujifilm’s GetPix kiosks, the Fujifilm Kiosk Photo Transfer app or the company’s online Wonder Photo Shop (wonderphotoshop.fujifilm.com).
Professionally finished wall décor and personalized photo gifts are still the most popular merchandise for consumers. “Our wall décor products, specifically canvas, acrylic prints and metal prints, remain very popular,” says Bing Liem, president, Imaging Division, Fujifilm North America Corporation. “So are our travel mugs, barware, photo books, greeting cards and holiday ornaments. We’re really excited about the continued advances in product innovation as well as the overall array we are able to offer.”
Newest Product Offerings
Fujifilm’s photo drinkware includes more than 140 ceramic photo mug designs. They also offer an assortment of frosted pint glasses and mugs; stainless steel mugs; plastic and steel tumblers; thermos bottles; and wine glasses. The company also added a slim, white water bottle that recalls memories of a vintage soda bottle.
Availability of the company’s newest product offerings, including snowglobe ornaments and travel drinkware, is mixed among Fujifilm’s retail kiosks and the Kiosk Photo Transfer app.
“Fujifilm continues to expand its personalized and photo product assortment through the kiosk,” says Liem. “Recently, Fujifilm added wall groupings to the kiosk. This allows users to shop for a group of wall décor products, enabling them to visualize and purchase them together. Three additional products offered on the kiosk are personalized wrapping paper, gift bags and return address labels.
“In addition to these exciting new products added to the kiosk, there are also features and notifications that make the consumer experience even more seamless,” Liem continues. “Users can now simply scan a QR code to transfer their images to the kiosk from their mobile device. They can also opt-in for e-mail or text notifications to track the status of orders shipping back to the store. Finally, the kiosk software allows for easier filtering and searching for products through its new interface.”
Print on Demand Hub
Additionally, in January, Fujifilm launched a new partnership with Gooten, a leader in the print-on-demand industry. The collaboration will provide print-on-demand solutions to retailers, small businesses as well as online merchants worldwide with Gooten’s out-of-the-box technology solutions.
By combining Fujifilm’s broad array of product options and global manufacturing expertise with Gooten’s “smart supply chain” infrastructure, the company expects to create a flawless customer experience with the highest level in quality, style and service. Businesses can access hundreds of customizable products without the need to hold inventory or secure extensive start-up capital.
This strategic collaboration will bridge Fujifilm’s legendary impact in the print and imaging industry with Gooten’s advanced approach to on-demand fulfillment technology.
“The new Print on Demand Hub platform collaboration does not impact Fujifilm’s relationship with our retail partners and kiosk customers,” says Liem. “Instead, it’s a new platform that enables independent online merchants of all sizes, on popular online platforms such as Shopify and Etsy, to sell their content on Fujifilm-produced products.
“This content is not based on consumers’ personal photo images and hence does not compete with our existing customers. Instead, it extends our manufacturing capabilities to a wider range of businesses. Through the Gooten collaboration, we can offer our Print on Demand Hub customers a wider range of products, including an extensive line of apparel.”
For information on the Fujifilm and Gooten collaboration, visit printondemand-us.fujifilm.com.
Kodak Moments Collections
Kodak Moments is the online photo gift store launched nearly a decade ago by Kodak Alaris. It also offers new products aimed at celebrating the “moments that matter most.” In addition to its popular wall prints, photo décor and photo books, Kodak Moments has added a series of image display options called the Moments Collection. It includes sleek, minimalistic gift décor that provides both prints and mounts to display a customer’s favorite images. The Moments Collection includes five display options.
The Moments Stand
This half-circle-shaped print holder is made from two solid, sustainable wood pieces with a natural light finish. Strong magnets in the center of each piece hold a single 4×6-inch photo up for display on flat surfaces.
The gift set also includes 10 4×6-inch images printed on Kodak thermal paper with Xtralife coating. The recipient can easily swap out the other 4×6 images to create a new display.
The Moments Clip
This option is similar to the Moments Stand; however, it features an oblong clip that balances on a flat surface using the pointed “clip” sides of the stand or the rounded “handle” side. It is also held together with magnets.
The Moments Bar
This gift set is described as a modern frame for your favorite moments. It is comprised of two 24-inch natural wood bars, with two holes in the back bar to anchor it with screws to the wall. Ten 4×6-inch prints accompany the product. Customers can display several at a time by sliding the print corners between the two bars.
DIY Poster Frame
The fourth display option is the DIY Poster Frame. It consists of natural wood frames that customers assemble using four magnetic wood borders. Two of the borders have screw holes, screws and anchors for securing them to the wall. The other two magnetic borders hold an 11×14-inch poster in place at the top and bottom of the print. The image, printed on glossy Kodak rapid-dry poster paper, is easily swapped out to display a new image. The kit also includes a 12-inch cord to give the appearance of the frame hanging from a single nail.
Kodak Moments Box
The final option is the Kodak Moments Box. The 5-inch square by 1.5-inch deep maple box has a wooden lid secured by slide closures. The box includes four table easels for displaying pictures, plus 10 4-inch-square prints mounted on single-weight mat board. The images are printed on Kodak Professional Endura premier paper.
Kodak Moments products are available from Kodak Picture Kiosks at local participating stores, the Kodak Moments mobile app or online at KodakMoments.com.
Qstomize Personalized Gifts
There are literally dozens of smaller, independent companies that offer specialized photo printing you won’t find on the big-name websites. For instance, Qstomize is a personalized products supplier in Half Moon Bay, California. It caters to artists and photographers interested in one-on-one or wholesale printing services.
The company’s extensive product line includes everything from home textiles, wall art and clothing to backpacks, luggage and tech products. In addition to the prerequisite smartphone covers, Qstomize prints protective tech products like AirTag key fobs, iWatch wristbands, Nintendo Switch cases and earbud case covers. What’s more, all are customizable with photos, graphics or text.
The most eye-catching of Qstomize’s offerings are its printed sequin products. They include clothing, pillows, bags as well as accessories. Each product is made with a specialized reversible color fabric made of round-, square- or heart-shaped sequins. The white side of the sequins is printable using high-quality, UV-curable inkjet printing. The other side is a solid color. Further, once the image is applied to the white side of the sequins, they can be flipped with the swipe of a hand. Alternating between the printed side and solid color creates the illusion the picture is hidden under the colored sequins.
Additionally, reversible sequin clothes (T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies) are decorated with panels made from sequin material. Smaller products—like pillow covers—are covered on one side with sequin material and finished with a color-coordinated material on the other. The company notes it “cannot print 100% on the sequin and there may be some white spots on the printed side.”
Qstomize also offers conventional printed photo pillows in various sizes, shapes, designs and materials. To view the Qstomize product collection, visit qstomize.com.
