If you're away from family or looking for that offbeat gift, Hassan M Kamal helps you spread the joy with these cool apps and services
Ganeshaidol
Send gift cards anywhere
If you are not sure of what to buy for your loved ones, perhaps a gift card may serve the purpose. But then comes the question, which gift card should you consider — should you purchase for an online store or an offline store? The Android app, Prezz comes to your rescue. Created by GCI Network Pvt Ltd, the app allows you to send a digital Prezz Gift Card to your friends/family, that they can redeem on the app to buy vouchers for a wide range of online and offline retailers of their choice. Currently listed on the portal are Flipkart, Amazon, Jabong, Shoppers Stop, Westside, Hidesign, Marks & Spencer, and Satya Paul, among others.
Available On: Google Play Store
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Book an experience for a loved one
How about staying away from the usual Diwali fixes, and gifting your loved ones something different, like an experience. Giftxoxo is a new service that allows you to offer 3,000-plus experiential activities including paragliding, scuba diving, spa treatments, pre-paid tours and getaways, hobby workshops like horse riding and martial arts, tours to factories and establishments or a special gourmet meal experience. The gifting portal allows you to select multiple experiences across categories. You can also choose from their special festival packs. The best thing is once you have purchased an experience from the website, the receiver gets a physical box set with details about the experience and he/she can book it as per their convenience.
Log on to: Giftxoxo.com
A gift store in your pocket
We wrote about them couple of months ago, and they’ve managed to impress us again. Scootsy.com is perhaps one of the most easy-to-use gifting portals in the country. Simply type your locality (or where you want it to be delivered), and it will show you all the gift stores/items available in that area with probable delivery time. On offer are home decor items, flowers, handbags as well as designer products. You can also use their services for emergency deliveries (from condoms and batteries to chocolate bars and mosquito repellents) 24x7.
Log on to: scootsy.com
Deliver gift across India on the same day
Finding the ideal gift can be tedious, and so is getting it delivered on time. IGP.com (Indiangiftsportal.com) offers same day delivery across 300 Indian cities. You can use the services to send gifts, flowers or cakes on the same day of placing the order via the portal. However, this must be done before 2 pm. Also, on offer are electronics, jewellery, handbags and sweets. You can also send gifts to the US, UK, UAE, Australia and Canada without extra charges.
Log on to: Indiangiftsportal.com or Igp.com