Adding gift messages to your Shopify store helps provide a better experience for customers sending gifts. Whether you're running a small boutique or a large eCommerce business, implementing gift messages can reduce customer service inquiries and make your store more gift-friendly.

This guide covers three methods to add gift messaging, from quick setup to custom solutions:

Option 1: Quick Setup Using Cart Notes

The fastest way to get started with gift messages.

Steps:

1. Open your Shopify admin

2. Click Settings > Checkout

3. Find "Order notes" section

4. Switch on "Show order notes in checkout"

5. Click Save

Pros:

Takes 2 minutes to set up
No coding needed
Works with all themes

Cons:

Basic functionality
Can't customize the label
One message per order only

Option 2: Custom Cart Message

Add a dedicated gift message box to your cart page:

Steps:

1. Go to Online Store > Themes

2. Click Actions > Edit Code

3. Find cart.liquid

4. Add this code before your checkout button:

<p class="cart-attribute__field">
  <label for="gift-message">Gift message</label>
</p>

<textarea
  required
  form="cart"
  class="required"
  id="gift-message"
  name="attributes[Gift message]"
>{{ cart.attributes["Gift message"] }}</textarea>

5. Save and test your cart page

Pros:

- Looks more professional

- Can customize the design

- Message stays if cart updated

Cons:

- Requires basic coding

- Still one message per order

Option 3: Per-Product Gift Messages

Let customers add different messages for each item:

Steps:

1. Go to Online Store > Themes

2. Click Actions > Edit Code

3. Find product.liquid

4. Add this code near your Add to Cart button:

<div class="field">
 <label for="message">Gift Message (Optional)</label>
 <textarea 
   id="message"
   name="properties[Gift Message]"
   form="product-form-{{section.id}}"
   class="text-area field__input"
 ></textarea>
</div>

5. Save and check a product page

Pros:

- Different message per product

- Perfect for multi-gift orders

- Shows in line item properties

Cons:

- More complex to set up

- Needs careful testing

- May confuse some customers

Troubleshooting

Test changes in draft theme first
Check order notification emails for message display
Verify message appears in order details
Clear theme cache if changes don't appear

Take Your Gift Messaging to the Next Level

While these methods work for basic gift messaging, most growing brands need more advanced features. For a premium gifting experience, consider:

GiftTagg (gifttagg.com): Let customers record and send video gift messages at checkout, creating a more personal connection.
Yuzu (yuzu.so): Automate personalized prints with handwritten fonts directly at your warehouse or 3PL, perfect for scaling brands who want professional gift messaging.

These solutions can help streamline your gift operations while creating memorable unboxing moments.