In 2025, gifting is no longer just about the product; it’s about the story. From birthdays and holidays to corporate appreciation and milestone celebrations, people want to connect through meaningful gestures. That’s why personalization has become the driving force in the gifting industry.
But personalization isn’t just about names on packaging or customized colors anymore; it’s also about video. A short, heartfelt video message from the sender can transform a simple gift box into an emotional experience. And thanks to user-generated content (UGC), video platforms like BrandLens, brands can now invite their customers to add that personal touch through guided video prompts without the need for any app downloads or complex tools.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to elevate gift experiences using UGC gift box video content, why it works so well, and how BrandLens enables brands to scale personalized video content efficiently.
Why Video Adds the Ultimate Personal Touch to Gift Boxes
A typed message or a printed card doesn’t always capture the full emotion behind a gift. A video, on the other hand, does. It brings the sender’s voice, facial expressions, and true intention to life, helping the recipient feel that much more connected.
Imagine a mother sending her son a care package with a video message saying, “Proud of you. This is your reminder to take a break and treat yourself.” Or a corporate client gifting employees with personalized thank-you notes on video during the holidays. These moments go beyond gifting; they build loyalty, trust, and emotional resonance. This is the psychology of UGC.
This approach is ideal for:
- Birthdays & anniversaries
- Holiday gifting
- Wedding & baby showers
- Corporate appreciation
- Customer loyalty programs
Video personalization for gifts doesn’t just enhance the recipient’s experience; it boosts brand recall, increases repeat gifting, and transforms customers into brand advocates.
How to Let Senders Add Videos with Ease Using BrandLens
With BrandLens, integrating video into the gifting experience is frictionless and intuitive for both the sender and the recipient. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Design a Branded Video Prompt
Start by choosing or creating a prompt that encourages genuine storytelling. Some popular prompts include:
- “Why are you sending this gift?”
- “Share your favorite memory with this person.”
- “Say something that’ll make them smile.”
You can fully customize the recording interface with:
- Animated overlays
- Branded logos
- Emojis and stickers
- Audio prompts or music
These features encourage high-quality submissions and make the process more enjoyable for customers. With BrandLens, you can create budget-friendly and branded video content.
Step 2: Deliver the Experience at Checkout
Once the user places an order, display a prompt to “Add a personal video message” at checkout or in a follow-up email or SMS. Customers don’t need to download anything when using BrandLens. They can just click and record on any device.
This app-free experience ensures:
- Higher participation rates
- Zero tech friction
- Seamless brand consistency
You can go over our blog on 4 Things to Know Before Managing Your First UGC Project, so you’ll be on the right track.
Step 3: Recipient Scans and Watches
Once the video is recorded, a unique QR code is generated. This QR code can be:
- Printed directly on the gift box
- Included on a branded card insert
- Added as a sticker or hang tag
When the recipient scans the code, they instantly view the personal video message in a beautifully branded viewer. The moment is intimate, surprising, and deeply memorable.
Real-World Example: Hershey’s Kisses x BrandLens
A standout example of UGC in the gifting industry is Hershey’s Kisses’ personalized video campaign in Southeast Asia. Powered by BrandLens, this campaign let buyers scan a QR code inside the gift box to record a heartfelt video message. The recipient could then scan the same code and watch the video, turning a simple chocolate gift into a memorable emotional moment.
The results were powerful:
- 20,000+ personalized videos created
- 35% engagement rate
- 300,000+ total campaign interactions
By combining video personalization for gifts with QR code accessibility, Hershey’s elevated holiday and Valentine’s gifting into a meaningful, shareable experience, while generating over 60 hours of branded content and long-term brand loyalty.
View the posts about the Holiday Kisses activation here:
How to Scale Personalized Video Content Across Gifting Campaigns
Whether you’re a boutique flower shop or a high-volume consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand, you can scale personalized gifting with UGC without losing that one-to-one magic.
Here’s how:
- Reuse and Reprint QR Codes: Create dynamic or reusable codes that link to your BrandLens recording prompt and include them in every gift box.
- Sort by Occasion or Product: BrandLens auto-tags every submission so you can filter by type (e.g., “Mother’s Day,” “Wedding Gift,” “Thank You”) or sender name.
- Repurpose Content Beyond Social Media: share select videos on your website or social media to showcase real stories. But don’t limit your UGC to Instagram or TikTok. You can embed approved customer videos on product pages, in post-purchase emails, or even in printed inserts using scannable codes. For more inspiration, check out 12 Ways to Use UGC Beyond Social Media.
- Leverage Crowdsourcing at Scale: Campaigns that invite customers to co-create branded content not only increase engagement, they also diversify your content library. Crowdsourcing helps reduce production costs while generating authentic, usable assets. Read about the 5 Benefits of Crowdsourcing for Your Content Strategy.
- Track Analytics: Know which videos are opened and watched, and tie them to campaign success.
This is especially valuable for:
- Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands offering personalized gifting
- Subscription gift box services
- Corporate gifting platforms
- Product companies running seasonal campaigns
Tips for Making the Experience Easy & Impactful
Adding a video prompt doesn’t mean adding complexity. To ensure your customers love using this feature, consider the following:
- Keep Prompts Short and Emotional: For example, “Say something they’ll never forget” or “Leave a birthday wish they can replay.”
- Add Cisual Branding: Use branded frames, seasonal overlays, or even customer-submitted stickers.
- Let Users Review: Always allow preview and retake options before submission.
- Track Performance: BrandLens provides data on open and watch rates so you can optimize campaigns.
- Add Sound Overlays or Music: A subtle use of audio cues elevates the experience.
When done right, UGC in gifting industry applications not only increases customer satisfaction but also turns casual buyers into long-term advocates. In a world saturated with products, what truly stands out is emotion. Adding video content for gift experiences transforms a commodity into a story. With tools like BrandLens, brands can enable video personalization for gifts at scale without the technical burden.
From Hershey’s campaign success with personalized video QR codes to small businesses adding heartfelt birthday videos, the impact is real and memorable.
Want to add a personal touch to every gift box? Request a demo and let BrandLens power your next campaign.
