Des Moines-based e-commerce retailer Goodsmiths now offers users the ability to purchase gift cards.
This week West Des Moines-based Goodsmiths announced it will now give its users the option to purchase gift cards. Just in time for the holiday season, the online marketplace’s co-founder James Eliason says the startup is well-positioned to add new features.
“Typically it is hard to buy the ‘perfect’ gift for someone,” Eliason said. “On Goodsmiths, seeing that a majority of the items available are one-of-a-kind, some users may question: ‘Do I think she/he will like this?’ Now, all they have to do is buy a gift card and send it to the recipient over email.”
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For a limited time, Goodsmiths will offer a special promotion that rewards customers who purchase $100 in gift cards with a free $10. The startup also is working with Meredith, Interweave and Prime Publishing on a national ad campaign to help get the word out about Goodsmiths.
“Last year, we started our holiday campaigns a little later than we should (have),” Eliason said. “This year we are beginning now and will continue to do so through December.” Eliason says Goodsmiths is “well-positioned” entering the holiday season, with sales up 135 percent from last year.
This summer the startup launched the Good Guy Project, which aims to help forgetful boyfriends select gifts and remember special occasions. The site was designed to help expand Goodsmiths’ traditional user base—almost exclusively female—and has continued to grow over the last two months.
“It has definitely opened up a new demographic for us and has saved several guys the headache of the ‘Oh, I forgot’ moment,” Eliason said. “More importantly it is showing clever and innovative ways of getting our shops products distributed to more people.”
Credits: Photo from Goodsmiths.com.
